University of Vermont

Good morning:

I hope everyone’s holidays have been good ones and wish you all the best as the calendar prepares to turn over yet again. As winter is the time for meetings and learning opportunities, I wanted to highlight a few activities that are coming up:

1. The Northeast Fruit Consortium is again planning to host our winter webinar series (https://www.umass.edu/agriculture-food-environment/fruit/news-events/northeast-extension-fruit-consortium) starting February 4. Please register here (https://go.uvm.edu/2026netfcwebinars).

   There are six webinars planned that cover strawberry IPM, kiwiberry production, apple color and sunburn prevention, pest mating disruption, changes to the Endangered Species Act and implications on pesticide use, and drought management.

   We are charging a nominal fee for webinar access to help support the annual meeting of the Northeast Tree Fruit IPM Working Group which facilitates shared programming and collaborative research and Extension projects among IPM professionals across the region. If you would like a discount code for free registration, please email madeline.baughman before registering Extension activities are available to all growers regardless of ability or interest to pay. Registration for all webinars should be completed at the same time, and the links you receive in your confirmation email should be saved for use on the day of the webinar.

2. The 130th annual Vermont Tree Fruit Growers Association and UVM Fruit Program Annual Meeting will be held February 20, 2026 in at the American Legion Middlebury, VT. The agenda is here (https://go.uvm.edu/26uvmvtfgaagenda) and the registration link is here (https://go.uvm.edu/26uvmvtfgamtg).

While I have you, I’d like to introduce our ‘new’ program support technician Madeline Baughman who will be providing me support for extension and research projects, maintaining the UVM orchard and vineyard, and working with undergraduate students at UVM Catamount Educational Farm. Madeline has worked with me for the past three seasons and graduated last May with a B.S. in Agroecology and Landscape Design from UVM. Many of you have met her already, those that haven’t feel free to say hello when you see her at the meeting in Middlebury.

Thanks for doing all you do for Vermont agriculture and I’ll see you soon,

Best,

Terry

__

Terence Bradshaw (he/him)
Associate Professor, Specialty Crops

Chair, Dept of Agriculture, Landscape, and Environment
(formerly Plant and Soil Science)
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

University of Vermont
117/210 – Jeffords Hall | 63 Carrigan Dr
Burlington, VT 05405

(802) 922-2591 | tbradsha
https://go.uvm.edu/alebradshaw

UVM Commercial Horticulture | UVM Fruit Blog
Horticulture Research and Education Center
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UVM’s Our Common Ground Values:
Respect | Integrity | Innovation | Openness | Justice | Responsibility

UVM is subject to the Vermont Public Records Act and communications to and from this email address, including attachments, are subject to disclosure unless exempted under the Act or otherwise applicable law.

Passing this on from the VT Agency of Agriculture. -TB

We have less than one month to collect survey responses to the Agriculture Drought Impact Survey.

Please encourage the Vermont agricultural community to complete and submit a response to the survey with their impacts before the survey closes on December 15, 2025.

We have 168 responses to date, mostly from small farms expressing the impacts and losses they’ve experienced during the 2025 drought.

You can find highlights of aggregate responses on the Agriculture Drought Impact survey dashboard on the VAAFM drought webpage.

High Level Summary:

1. Scope: This survey is appropriate for all agricultural businesses, organizations, or individuals who raise animals, meat, or poultry and/or grow feed and other crops (including produce, maple products, Christmas trees, horticultural plants), in Vermont for anyone beyond their immediate family.

2. Deadline: This survey is open through Monday, December 15th, 2025.

3. Outreach Resources: We are sharing several items to support survey distribution and completion. These include:

1. Link to the survey: https://forms.office.com/g/dFMQZDQCMe

2. QR code for survey (attached)

3. Printable PDF Version* (attached survey paper copy)

*Printable PDF Version & Process

Attached you will find a printable pdf version of the survey. Please feel free to print these copies to bring on farm visits, to larger events, and/or to have in your offices. As outlined on the top of the pdf, surveys should be sent via mail to the provided address, OR, if a TA provider has filled it out for a farmer, they are welcome to scan it and email it to AGR.Drought. Please note paper copies must be postmarked by December 15th, 2025.

We recognize that this survey is capturing estimated losses and additional impacts may not be realized until spring 2026 or next growing season. At that point, we will reevaluate the agriculture industry need and consider additional data collection tools to capture longer term or more comprehensive impacts from the 2025 drought.

Visit the VAAFM drought webpage, AGR.Drought or 802-828-2430.

• Items accessible on this webpage include survey link, live dashboard of results, agricultural resources (financial support, water sources, technical assistance), and links to other important reporting sites (i.e. drought.vermont.gov).

Thank you for your collective support in ensuring our agricultural community is aware of this ag drought impact survey and encouraged to share their experience.

Thanks,

Abbey

Abbey Willard (she/her)

Agricultural Development Division Director | Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets

116 State St., Montpelier Vermont 05620 | http://agriculture.vermont.gov

Tel:802-272-2885 |

Sign up to receive our weekly Ag Development e-newsletter updates on marketing opportunity, events and grants!

2025 Agriculture Drought Impact Survey_Paper Copy.pdf

The 130th (???) annual meeting of the Vermont Tree Fruit Growers Association and UVM Fruit Program will be held on February 20, 2026 at the American Legion Hall, 49 Wilson Rd., Middlebury, VT. Please hold that date on your calendars and keep an eye out for further details.

Have a happy Thanksgiving,

Terry and the UVM Fruit Program

__

Terence Bradshaw (he/him)
Associate Professor, Specialty Crops

Chair, Dept of Agriculture, Landscape, and Environment
(formerly Plant and Soil Science)
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

University of Vermont
117/210 – Jeffords Hall | 63 Carrigan Dr
Burlington, VT 05405

(802) 922-2591 | tbradsha
https://go.uvm.edu/alebradshaw

UVM Commercial Horticulture | UVM Fruit Blog
Horticulture Research and Education Center
Message me on Teams

UVM’s Our Common Ground Values:
Respect | Integrity | Innovation | Openness | Justice | Responsibility

UVM is subject to the Vermont Public Records Act and communications to and from this email address, including attachments, are subject to disclosure unless exempted under the Act or otherwise applicable law.

Live Webinar Series on Farm Succession and Transfer starting January 8th

Mike Ghia, VT Farm Viability Program

What is the future of your farm? If you are like most farmers, you are so busy with the day-to-day business of farming you find it difficult to take the time to plan long-term, particularly planning for a transition from one generation to the next. It can be especially challenging during times of financial uncertainty. And it can be difficult if there is not someone immediately lined up to take over the farm. At the same time, you probably have hopes for the future of your farm and have thought some about what you would like to happen to your business and your land. With sound succession planning with concrete action steps, it is more likely that the goals and desires of all the generations involved can be met, and there is a greater likelihood that the farm will stay in farming.

The “Farm Succession Planning Webinar Series” is for farmers to learn about key issues, tools and resources to help them make informed decisions and take steps towards transferring their farm to the next generation of their family or a non-family successor. Farmers will learn from professionals who can help in the process and from other farmers. Topics include retirement, financial, and estate planning, taxes, legal entities, and determining goals for retirement, business transitions, and your land. All generations, including family and non-family members, who may play a role in your farm’s future are encouraged to attend.

This series is organized by Land For Good, in partnership with the info for more information

It is time to be thinking about applying ReTain to apples in Vermont orchards. This plant growth regulator slow ethylene production, thereby delaying ripening, reducing fruit drop, and allowing the grower (or customer) to harvest firmware, fresher fruit. Ione important consideration this year is that ReTain does not work as well on water stressed trees, so if you have the capacity, irrigate before applying or apply after a rain. In all reality, it’s time to get this on for our more important cultivars (McIntosh, Honeycrisp, Gala) so I wouldn’t wait. ReTain should be applied with an organosilicone wetting agent and under slow drying conditions. For more details, see Valent’s recommendations, including variety-specific protocols, here.

The UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Program is supported by the University of Vermont Agriculture Experiment Station, UVM Extension, USDA NIFA E-IPM Program, and USDA Risk Management Agency.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. University of Vermont Extension, Burlington, Vermont. University of Vermont Extension, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating, offer education and employment to everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status.

Where trade names or commercial products are used for identification, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied. Always read the label before using any pesticide. The label is the legal document for the product use. Disregard any information in this message if it is in conflict with the label.

I am passing this guidance on to apple growers regarding the legality of using acetamiprid and other insecticides in orchards when blooming weeds are present. As we are in apple maggot management season now, it is important to use materials effectively and safely, and many of us are using Assail to manage that pest. A recent news story contained an error at the end that stated that use of all neonicotinoid insecticides in the presence of any blooming plants is illegal. The Vermont Agency of Agriculture Pesticide Program is reaching out with this clarification.

While this guidance is very much appreciated, we must all remember to do our best and apply pesticides according to Best Management Practices. -TB

The [news story] states that applying a neonicotinoid insecticide if there are any flowering plants in the vicinity would be illegal. That is not accurate. The accurate statement would be that, as of July 1, 2025, applications of neonicotinoids to flowering crops is prohibited. Here is the pertinent language from Act 182 as enacted:

Sec. 4.

6 V.S.A. § 1105c is added to read:

§ 1105c. NEONICOTINOID PESTICIDES; PROHIBITED USES

(a) The following uses of neonicotinoid pesticides are prohibited:

(1) the outdoor application of neonicotinoid pesticides to any crop during bloom;

The language very specifically applies to flowering crops. In addition to the language added to the pesticide law (Chapter 87) the Vermont Rule for the Control of Pesticides (CVR 20-031-12) includes protections for bees in Section 5.04.

5.04 Protection of Bees

(a) No person shall apply a pesticide to a flowering crop, including alfalfa, apple, blueberry, clover, pumpkin, raspberry, squash, or trefoil without prior notification of at least 48 hours to an apiculturist who has an established apiary on the premises.

(b) A person hiring a commercial applicator for an application under Section 5.04(a) shall notify, or cause to be notified, the apiculturist at least 48 hours prior to the application.

(c) A person applying a pesticide that is highly toxic to bees shall:

(1) apply the pesticide during periods and conditions of least exposure, such as early morning or late evening; and when winds are less than nine mph; and

(2) include a 50-foot buffer from pollinator foraging sites, such as natural and semi-natural areas or intentional pollinator plantings or a 20-foot-wide non-pollinator-attractive vegetative barrier higher than the spray release height with an established 60% plant density.

(d) A person shall avoid the application of a fungicide or soil fumigant to pollinator-attractive plants when in bloom.

I have highlighted subsection (c). This section applies if the product being applied is classified by EPA as highly toxic to bees. Pesticides that are in this class will have a pollinator advisory statement on the label similar to the one reproduced below, as well as specific use directions that prohibit application to a crop while bees are foraging. These prohibitions are consistent with the requirements of rule 5.04 (c).

When considered in totality – the language added to Chapter 87, the language in rule 5.04 (c), and the label language for pesticides highly toxic to bees – it is not illegal to make an application to a crop when there are flowering plants in the vicinity of a crop to which application is otherwise allowed by these provisions.

It is good practice to minimize exposure to native pollinators through management of flowering weeds and plants that may be planted deliberately in the orchard , such as clover and legumes, through timely mowing or timing applications to early morning or late evening. In addition, good practice and label directions for use require minimization of drift onto non-target areas, such as where flowering weeds may occur. As we have discussed, UVM has developed recommendations for these practices, and it would be appropriate to remind growers of those recommendations given the attention to this issue.

I should also note that acetamiprid, which is commonly used in orchards for post bloom application, is not characterized as a pesticide highly toxic to bees and does not have the pollinator protection language on the label required for those products.

The UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Program is supported by the University of Vermont Agriculture Experiment Station, UVM Extension, USDA NIFA E-IPM Program, and USDA Risk Management Agency. Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. University of Vermont Extension, Burlington, Vermont. University of Vermont Extension, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating, offer education and employment to everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status.

Where trade names or commercial products are used for identification, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied. Always read the label before using any pesticide. The label is the legal document for the product use. Disregard any information in this message if it is in conflict with the label.

One of our growers recently asked me to check on the rules for making and labeling unpasteurized cider in Vermont, and with the harvest and market season soon upon us, I figured others may have the same question. Cider processing is regulated by the Vermont Agency of Health, so I reached out to them to confirm their guidance on this. There is no concise webpage for this from the state, but we agreed that this guidance from Ohio is correct and applicable to Vermont producers: Apple Cider and Juice | Ohio Department of Agriculture.

Summary:

• Cider is considered a high risk food which may contain potentially dangerous organisms, chemicals, or physical contaminants that may harm consumers.
• Cider sold through any third party must comply with the Federal Juice Rule and be produced using Hazard Analysis at Critical Control Points (HACCP) processes and must undergo a treatment step (pasteurization, UV) that results in a 5-log reduction in harmful bacteria.
• All cider should be processed following the Health Regulations for Food Service Establishments (Robert.Manfredi

  -TB

  The UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Program is supported by the University of Vermont Agriculture Experiment Station, UVM Extension, USDA NIFA E-IPM Program, and USDA Risk Management Agency.

  Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. University of Vermont Extension, Burlington, Vermont. University of Vermont Extension, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating, offer education and employment to everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status.

  Where trade names or commercial products are used for identification, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied. Always read the label before using any pesticide. The label is the legal document for the product use. Disregard any information in this message if it is in conflict with the label.

Grapes are at or near veraison in Vermont vineyards, which signals the start of fruit ripening. This is an important time of year for a few activities. First, bird damage can be expected to begin and increase as fruit ripen. Birds will harvest your berries just a day or two before you’re ready to, so if you don’t have damage yet, don’t think you’re out of the woods. Netting is the best method of protection. Auditory scare calls, propane cannons, and inflatable ‘used car lot’ balloons are sometimes used as well, but their effectiveness is questionable and their annoyance factor significant. Dr. Alan Eaton from the University of New Hampshire wrote a good guide on prevention of bird damage in fruit plantings, available at: https://extension.unh.edu/resources/files/Resource001797_Rep2514.pdf.

Now is the time for plant tissue testing as well. Petiole samples may be collected at bloom or veraison, and comparisons between years or blocks should be based on the same time of collection. Samples should be collected separately for each cultivar or block. In each sample, a random collection of 75-100 petioles should be collected from throughout the planting. Petioles should be collected from the most recent fully expanded leaf on the shoot, not across from the fruit cluster as is collected for a bloom sample. Just remove the whole leaf and snip the petiole (the leaf ‘stem’ off with your pruners. Gently wash each sample in water with a drop of dish detergent, then rinse fully and place in an open-top paper bag to dry. The best analytical lab for grape petiole analysis that will provide recommendation for next year’s nutrient inputs is Dairy One, which is associated with the Cornell Nutrient Analysis Laboratory . Video about petiole sampling: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EHbojLfXek

Disease management: as fruit ripen, they will become more susceptible to the various bunch rots, including botrytis, ripe rot, and sour rot, and canopies can be affected by late-season downy and powdery mildew. Good cultural management for all of these includes keeping the canopy open, ensuring that clusters can ‘see the sun’ by shoot combing / thinning, removal of leaves, and pruning of laterals. There may be a few sprays warranted at this time, with some big caveats. Copper, sulfur, and captan should be avoided as we approach harvest, as they can either inhibit fermentation of contribute to off-flavors in the finished wine. Consider preharvest intervals, too. Visible downy mildew can be managed through leaf removal, or application of one of the various Phosphorous acid products (e.g., Rampart, Fosphite). Some other materials that have efficacy against DM may be found in the New England Small Fruit guide. Be sure to rotate fungicide resistance classes (FRAC codes). There may be a bit of powdery mildew in the vineyard as well, that can typically be managed with a thorough application of stylet oil, applied as soon as it is observed in the vineyard. Botrytis can be specifically managed with fungicides, but it will be difficult to get into any closed clusters like Petite Pearl, and that disease is best managed during the immediate postbloom window. Remember that not all varieties are equally susceptible to disease, and loose-clustered varieties tend to have less issues with botrytis overall. There is some concern regarding spotted wing drosophila (SWD) and its potential to damage ripening fruit, which leads to sour rot infections. This invasive pest has been seen in high numbers in the region this year, but that does not suggest cause for alarm among the vineyard community. SWD have lower preference for grapes than for other soft fruit, and winegrapes that will be processed immediately after harvest are less prone to damage from secondary diseases. Still. Good vineyard sanitation is key in managing this pest. Any damaged clusters with cracked fruit should be removed from the vineyard in the weeks between veraison and ripening, as these attract SWD and other rot-bearing fruit flies. SWD have a preference for protected, shady areas in the canopy, so, again, keeping clusters exposed to sun is a helpful practice. While there are many insecticides labeled for control of SWD, I do not recommend their use in vineyards in any but the most specific cases.

Start making plans for harvest and crush now. This may be a good time to thin out any lagging ‘green’ clusters that developed from secondary buds and are lagging in ripeness. Remember, you’re looking for crop uniformity. You can estimate yield by counting clusters on a few representative vines and multiplying by the typical cluster weight for your vineyard. If this is unknown, use 0.25 pounds (113 grams) per cluster, which is the average we have recorded at the UVM vineyard for Minnesota cultivars from 2010-2020. Your formula should look like this:

Estimated tons/acre = average # clusters/vine * 0.25 lbs/cluster * # vines per acre /2000 (pounds per ton)

For the UVM vineyard, where we have 726 vines per acre [43560 sq feet/acre / (6 feet between vines * 10 feet between rows)] = 726, the crop estimate for 50 clusters per vine is:

4 tons/acre = 50 * 0.25 * 726 / 2000

Three to four tons per acre is a good crop for mature, healthy vines for most cold climate cultivars; some vigorous vines in good health may support higher crop yield but I wouldn’t push mush more than 5.5 tons per acre lest you compromise ripening. If you have too many clusters, thin out the smallest and greenest ones to get your target cluster number. This exercise will help you plan lugs, bins, and tank space, as well as allow you to communicate that information to any wineries you plan to sell to.

The UVM Tree Fruit and Viticulture Program is supported by the University of Vermont Agriculture Experiment Station, UVM Extension, USDA NIFA E-IPM Program, and USDA Risk Management Agency.

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the United States Department of Agriculture. University of Vermont Extension, Burlington, Vermont. University of Vermont Extension, and U.S. Department of Agriculture, cooperating, offer education and employment to everyone without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or familial status.

Where trade names or commercial products are used for identification, no discrimination is intended and no endorsement is implied. Always read the label before using any pesticide. The label is the legal document for the product use. Disregard any information in this message if it is in conflict with the label.

Foliar nutrient analysis – It is the time in the growing season to collect leaf samples for analysis. Samples are usually collected between July 15 – Aug. 15. The UVM Agriculture and Environmental Testing Lab can provide analysis, but at this time their output does not generate fertility recommendations. The following are potential options of labs for analysis. It is recommended that you contact the lab for instructions and costs before samples are sent. Plus, it is important to confirm that they will send recommendations along with the analysis.

1. University of Maine Analytical Lab: http://anlab.umesci.maine.edu/. Direct link to the leaf sampling form here.
2. Agro One: https://dairyone.com/services/forage-laboratory-services/plant-tissue-analysis/

Instructions on collecting leaf samples can be found here.

Wrapping up spraying – Primary insects of concern are apple maggot and codling moth. Both should be managed in high-pressure orchards. AM can often be managed with a single insecticide application based on monitoring with red sticky traps. The threshold is two flies per non-baited trap, or five flies per trap if apple volatile baits are used. Codling moth are between flights in most orchards, so management is advised later this month if this pest is a problem for you. Insecticide options are listed in the New England Tree Fruit Management Guide. Dr. Arthur Agnello discussed these summer insect pests in more detail in the July 7, 2014 issue of Scaffolds .

Summer diseases – It is important to maintain fungicide coverage to protect against sooty blotch, fly speck, and summer fruit rots. Materials should be applied after every 200 accumulated hours of leaf wetness or 2 inches of rainfall, whichever occurs first.

We ate our first peach yesterday, harvest will be here any day now.

TB

__

Terence Bradshaw (he/him)
Associate Professor, Specialty Crops

Chair, Dept of Agriculture, Landscape, and Environment
(formerly Plant and Soil Science)
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

University of Vermont
117/210 – Jeffords Hall | 63 Carrigan Dr
Burlington, VT 05405

(802) 922-2591 | tbradsha
https://go.uvm.edu/pssbradshaw

UVM Commercial Horticulture | UVM Fruit Blog
Horticulture Research and Education Center
Message me on Teams

UVM’s Our Common Ground Values:
Respect | Integrity | Innovation | Openness | Justice | Responsibility

UVM is subject to the Vermont Public Records Act and communications to and from this email address, including attachments, are subject to disclosure unless exempted under the Act or otherwise applicable law.

Climate Adaptation Field Walk at Scott Farm Orchard: Dummerston, VT on August 19

WHEN: August 19, 3:30 pm – 5:30 pm
WHERE: Scott Farm Orchard, 707 Kipling Rd, Dummerston, VT 05301

Adapting to climate change looks different on every farm. This field walk will explore the range of climate risks impacting Scott Farm’s orchards and diversified production, from changing rainfall patterns to extreme temperature fluctuations. Scott Farm Orchard farm manager Simon Renault and orchardist Erin Robinson will share insights into the diverse strategies they’re using to adapt to these challenges, with a focus on business planning and preventative management. ​

Click here to learn more and register!

This event is sponsored by American Farmland Trust’s Planning for Adaptation & Resilience to Climate Change Program in collaboration with NOFA-VT. Thank you to our funders: NRCS-Vermont and the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Farms and Markets.

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