UVM Fruit Blog

Category: Tree Fruit

  • Webinar on Fungicide Resistance by Dr. Michelle Moyer, Extension Viticulturist, Washington State University, on June 24

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    mcontois

    June 22, 2020 Inviting everyone to this webinar on fungicide resistance management. While it’s tailored for grapes, this is just as important for apple growers. No VT pesticide recertification credits are available for this. From: Wine Grape Newsletter On Behalf Of psuwineandgrapes@psu.eduSent: Monday, June 22, 2020 11:07 AMTo: WINEGRAPE-L@LISTS.PSU.EDUSubject: [WINEGRAPE-L] Join us for a live…

  • Foliar Nutrient Analysis, Pest Management, and COVID-Related Items

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    mcontois

    July 29, 2020 As the calendar flips to August, it’s time to wrap up field activities in preparation for harvest in Vermont orchards. 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…

  • Apple Maggot Fly Traps Should go up; End of Scab??

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    mcontois

    By Terence Bradshaw June 25, 2020 Hopefully everyone had some fungicide coverage on for that last rain we got yesterday. It’s hard to tell without doing proper spore counts, but I feel pretty confident saying that primary scab season is done for this year. Scout your orchards for lesions and protect from secondary infections if…

  • Pick-your-own and Farmer’s Market Guidance for COVID-19 Safety

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    mcontois

    By Terence Bradshaw The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets (VAAFM) has released guidance on Farmers Markets and Pick-Your-Own operations that must be followed until further notice. The Farmer’s Market guidance was posted earlier last month and is viewable on the VAAFM website: https://agriculture.vermont.gov/sites/agriculture/files/Farmers%20Market%20Guidance%2005.05.20.pdf. All farms that operate their own farm stands should plan…

  • Grape maturity testing, week of 9/13/2019

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    By Terence Bradshaw Grapes continue to be slow to ripen. Warm days later this week should move early cultivars (Brianna, St Croix) along a bit, but most grapes need quite a bit more heat accumulation before harvest. 9/13/2019 Cultivar Brix pH %TA (g/100ml) Brianna 16.1 2.85 0.71 Verona 16.5 2.75 1.40 St. Croix 17.2 2.93…

  • 2019 grape maturity testing

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    By Terence Bradshaw September is here, and grape harvest will soon be ‘on’ in Vermont vineyards. While the spring was generally wet overall, diligent management should have left you with relatively disease-free grapes and vines. The dry, hot/warm weather since July has been great for grape maturity, but these recent cool nights are likely to…

  • Due 9/ 7: Short, important survey for cider apple growers

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    By Terence Bradshaw Cultivation of specific cider apple cultivars, including European bittersweets, heirloom North American cultivars, and other dual-purpose fruit is a small but growing component of the New England apple industry. I am collaborating with faculty from UMASS and University of Maine to conduct a short-medium term research and education project supporting increased or…

  • Commercial Cider Making Workshop August 24 in Walden

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    By Terence Bradshaw Commercial Cider Making Workshop Presented by UVM Extension & Center for an Agricultural Economy Getting serious about cider marking? Come learn quality control best practices and latest equipment recommendations for handling, storing, and processing of apples after harvest. Learn how food-safe practices can ensure quality control. Discuss potential value-added products with food…

  • UVM Apple / VT Tree Fruit Growers Assn meeting Feb 15, Middlebury, VT

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    By Terence Bradshaw The 122nd Annual UVM Apple Program and Vermont Tree Fruit Growers Association educational meeting will be held on Thursday, February 15, 2018 at the American Legion Hall, 49 Wilson Rd, in Middlebury, VT. The meeting focus this year is on insect management in Vermont orchards. Those include not only traditional pest insects…

  • EAS, FB, CG…observations from this week.

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    By Terence Bradshaw June 10, 2017 CPS crop consultant Eric Boire sent me this picture yesterday of what, on first glance, looks like a first generation codling moth larvae burrowed into an apple at about 10-12 mm growth stage: Figure 1. European apple sawfly damage posing as codling moth injury. We have seen this a…