Penn State's plant pathology department has established a variety of outreach programs for mushroom producers. The department offers two mushroom short courses every year aimed at workers and managers in the mushroom industry. The Mushroom Short Course features programs on production, marketing, composting, diseases, and other topics. The Specialty Mushroom Workshop focuses on the production, marketing, and management of specialty mushrooms such as shiitake, enoki, and oyster. Both courses are held in June at The Nittany Lion Inn.

Periodically, Penn State has sponsored international conferences focusing on specific problems facing the industry, such as a conference on green mold held in 1996, a conference on marketing and producing mushroom compost in 1998, and a conference on mushroom odors scheduled for 2000.

Every year, plant pathologist David Beyer makes presentations to growers at industry meetings and conventions and organizes the Penn State Mushroom Review Program, a workshop designed to illuminate new methods and research on a particular mushroom topic.

For more information on mushroom-related conferences or short courses, contact the Office of Conferences and Short Courses at 306 Agricultural Administration Building, University Park, PA, 16802-2601, call (814) 865-8301, or visit their Web site at http://www.cas.psu.edu/docs/casconf/menu2.html.