As the calendar flips to August, it’s time to wrap up field activities in preparation for harvest in Vermont orchards and vineyards.

Foliar nutrient analysis – It is the time in the growing season to collect leaf samples in apples and petioles in grapes for analysis. Apple leaf samples are usually collected between July 15 – Aug. 15. Grape petiole samples may be collected at bloom or veraison, and comparisons between years or blocks should be based on the same time of collection. Veraison samples are a couple of weeks out for most vineyards. Samples should be collected separately for each cultivar or block. For apples, collect 50 leaves from the middle of this years’ terminal growth- not too old nor too young- from throughout the block and the tree canopy. In each vineyard 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- Taking a Foliar Sample: Vineyards and Orchards Taking a Foliar Sample: Vineyards and Orchards (University of Minnesota)

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) Dairy One: https://dairyone.com/services/forage-laboratory-services/plant-tissue-analysis/
(2) University of Maine Analytical Lab: http://anlab.umesci.maine.edu/

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.

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.

UVM Extension helps individuals and communities put research-based knowledge to work. 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.

Important information from the VT Agency of Agriculture. Be safe out there, it sounds like another round of nasty weather is coming this afternoon.-TB

Dear Produce Growers,

As the response to this week’s devastating flooding continues, we hope that you and your families are safe. Our hearts and minds are with you during this time and will continue to be throughout the arduous recovery process. If you need immediate support, please contact Vermont 211 by calling 2-1-1 or texting your zip code to 898211.

The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets has published a AGR.FloodResponse.

Several growers have contacted us with questions about handling produce and produce fields after recent flooding. The guidance below represents the Agency’s best recommendations at this time. If you have questions about how a crop or field may be affected by flooding, please contact the AGR.Produce or 802-622-4412.

Crops Affected by Flooding

Under U.S. law, crops where the edible portion of the plant has contacted flood waters are considered adulterated and cannot be sold for human consumption. Because floodwaters may contain sewage, chemicals, heavy metals, pathogens, or other contaminants, these crops must be discarded, destroyed, or tilled into the soil.

Flooding occurs when water outside of a grower’s control flows into or overflows a field. Pooled water after rainfall alone is not considered flooding. For more information, please see the following U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) resources and guidance:

• Resources for Human and Animal Food Producers Affected by Flooding
• Evaluating the Safety of Flood-affected Food Crops for Human Consumption

Evaluating the Safety of Crops and Fields

While any crop where the edible portion of the plant has contacted flood waters should be discarded, growers may be able to keep crops where the edible portion of the plant has not yet formed, such as immature potatoes. These crops should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis after reviewing FDA guidance.

There is no set timeline for when growers can safely replant after flood waters have receded. Growers should review the FDA guidance and follow these general principles: wait until the soil is fully dry before reworking; implement a waiting period before replanting to allow pathogens in the soil to die off over time; and clean and sanitize tools and equipment that contacted flood waters before using them to replant or harvest. A typical waiting period before replanting may be 30–60 days depending on the crop, weather and soil conditions, and the type and extent of contamination in the soil.

Growers should generally avoid replanting crops that are commonly eaten raw with an edible portion of the crop that grows in the ground (such as radishes) or directly on the soil surface (such as lettuce) unless a longer waiting period is adopted (e.g., 60 days or more). Field cultivation, compost applications, and the use of cover crops may help accelerate pathogen die off in previously flooded fields. Plastic mulch may also be used to limit contact between the soil and replanted crops.

Documenting Damage and Losses

Vermont will be working with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) on a disaster declaration. Once it is safe to do so, please document any damage or crop losses, then reach out to your Farm Service (FSA) County Office. If you have questions about documenting crop loss, call the FSA State Office at 802-658-2803.

Farm First

We recognize that recovery from this emergency will take significant time, energy, and resources. Farmers and their families can contact Farm Firstfor access to resources including technical, legal, or financial assistance as well as to a counselor or trained peer.   

Please know that we are here to support you and your farm during this challenging growing season. Contact us with any questions at AGR.Produce, 802-622-4412, or 802-261-5866.

Sincerely,

The Vermont Produce Program Team

Yikes! This has been quite a week. Even the drier sites in northwest Vermont have seen a couple of inches of rain in the past week, and the worst- apparently my town of Calais- saw over nine and a half inches in the past two days. Southern Vermont is especially hard-hit, and Roads are a mess all over the place. UVM Extension is pulling together a growing list of Disaster & Flood Recovery Resources at: https://www.uvm.edu/extension/disaster-resources. Please let me know if I can help with accessing any resources you may need, whether for your farm or family, we’re in this together. And be safe- my heart is with all of us around the state as we navigate this mess.

As for crop management, disease management is key. Most orchards and vineyards (this is a combined bulletin) would have no fungicide coverage after the recent weather, and we are headed into more wetness. Make sure to cover- tomorrow looks good, generally- with a broad-spectrum material. For apples, consider the summer rots and any scab that would be around from spring, that means captan plus topsin (FRAC 1) / strobilurins (11) / DMI (3)fungicides. Rotate those FRAC codes to minimize resistance. Apple maggot are at threshold in many orchards, so consider treating if your traps have more than an average on one per unbaited or five for baited traps per ten acre block.

For grapes, same story- I’m seeing a lot of disease around the state: black rot, Phomopsis, downy mildew, and botrytis is just around the corner. Keep covered with your most effective materials and be sure to consider downy and botrytis specifically through these storms and extended wetting period, and consider removing symptomatic leaves as you see them. New England Small Fruit Management Guide, Grapes.

I now this season has seen some reduced outreach from my end, but I am handling individual questions all the time. The complications of a bloomtime freeze, May-June drought, July floods, and who knows what’s next make this a really challenging year to make statewide recommendations. Give me a shout if you ever need to. Email always best, but my phone works. (802)922-2591.

Take care out there, Terry

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.

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.

UVM Extension helps individuals and communities put research-based knowledge to work. 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.

FYI

Upcoming Webinars

Fruit Crop Insurance Program – How Crop Insurance Responds After a Loss

Thu, Jul 6, 2023 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT

Crop Insurance is a widely adopted risk management tool utilized by over 10,000 northeast farmers, producers, and growers. This year’s late May freeze event has left the northeast fruit industry preparing for a challenging harvest. This webinar led by crop insurance specialists from Crop Growers will discuss how crop insurance policies respond to losses and what steps farmers need to take to take in the event of a loss. Join us on Thursday, July 6th at 12 noon to learn more.

Register Here

Or

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/9130796888402976598

Denise Russo │Regional Insurance Manager

(C) 802-735-5618

320 Exchange Street, Middlebury VT 05753

CropGrowers.com

The crop insurance provider of Farm Credit East

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: Unless specifically stated: (i) this email does not create a legal relationship between Farm Credit East, ACA and/or its subsidiaries or affiliates including but not limited to Crop Growers, LLP and FarmStart, LLP ("Sender") and the recipient; (ii) Sender disclaims any liability for the content of this email or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided in this email or its attachments; and (iii) Sender reserves the right to monitor and retain email messages to and from its systems as permitted by law. Email messages may contain defects, may not be accurately replicated for viewing on other systems and may be intercepted, modified, deleted or otherwise interfered with without the knowledge of the sender or the intended recipient. Sender makes no warranties related to these matters. This email and any attachments are intended solely for the use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain information that is confidential, privileged, proprietary, private or otherwise protected from disclosure. If you are not the intended recipient of this email, please notify the sender, and delete it from your system. In communicating via email you consent to the foregoing. This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.