After what felt like a long winter, it seems safe to say that spring is around the corner. I hope everyone’s pruning season is going well, this is the home stretch for sure. I often recommend that growers look for bud damage before commencing final pruning to adjust for buds that may have been killed …
Continue reading “Planning for 2022 growing season in Vermont vineyards; VitiNord”
Hello everyone: There are two regulatory issues happening now that apple and grape growers should keep an eye on and consider getting involved in the process. The first is a bill in the Vermont legislature, H.466, which has already passed the house and is in the Senate Natural Resources committee this week. This bill would …
Continue reading “Two regulatory efforts on agricultural water to stay abreast of”
The growing season is just around the corner after what I suspect was a last-gasp snowfall over the past weekend. This should start my toughly weekly notices, but please, send me any questions to hae\ve in the meantime. A few items that I’d like to remind growers about include: Get your sprayer ready. This probably …
Continue reading “The 2022 apple growing season is just around the corner…”
There is a slight schedule change in the last few Northeast Extension Fruit Consortium webinars. Register for any/all at: https://ag.umass.edu/fruit/news-events/northeast-extension-fruit-consortium Tuesday, March 15, 2022 – 12:00pm (new date) Plum Curculio Research- Update and Management Online Free Speaker(s) / Instructor(s): Dr. Jaime Piñero, Extension Professor, Stockbridge School of Agriculture, UMass Extension Fruit Team and Mr. Jeremy …
Passing this on from the VT Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets. This rule will affect nearly all produce growers once it is fully implemented.-TB From: Sweet, Kristina (she/her) Sent: Thursday, March 10, 2022 2:57 PM To: VTVEGANDBERRY Subject: Northeast Regional Webinar on Proposed Agricultural Water Rule Dear Vegetable & Berry Growers, Those of you …
Continue reading “Northeast Regional Webinar on Proposed Agricultural Water Rule”
The call is open for producers, processors, cooperatives, associations, and similar firms to apply for USDA Value-Added Producer Grants. For more information, go to: https://www.rd.usda.gov/programs-services/business-programs/value-added-producer-grants. Proposals are due at the end of April. The VAPG program funds business and market expansion with the goal of increasing income, jobs, and economic activity through conversion of commodities …
Continue reading “Grant opportunity: USDA Value-Added Producer Grants”
The Lake Ontario Fruit Program released an excellent video that details precision pruning of mature tall spindle trees to help reduce biennialism and reduce subsequent thinning need. See it at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29cF8yOKup0
Passing this on from Jake Jacobs at UVM Risk Management. -TB As I mentioned [in the VTFGA meeting] today, there are proposed changes to RMA Apple Crop Insurance and USDA has extended the comment period to April 15, 2022. Would you mind sending the information below out to your apple growers’ email listserve or via …