University of Vermont Fruit Blog

Category: Tree Fruit

  • Important industry survey: Food Safety Modernization Act

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    By Terence Bradshaw I don’t wish to burden anyone at this busy time of year with a survey unless it’s important. But this is important. The VT Agency of Agriculture, Food, and Markets (VAAFM) is preparing to roll out implementation and compliance with the federal Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) which will affect every farm…

  • Vermont orchard management: petal fall edition

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    By Terence Bradshaw Bloom status in Vermont orchards is all over the map. Of course, cooler high elevation and inland sites are generally going into full bloom now while Champlain and Connecticut Valley sites are at petal fall (PF). Honeycrisp (in the Champlain Valley anyway) are lagging behind most other cultivars worse than usual: at…

  • Thoughts on orchard management, May 19

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    By Terence Bradshaw Orchards in the Champlain Valley are largely in full bloom now, although Honeycrisp appear to be holding out for a couple of days as usual. I’ve heard reports of good bee flight last Saturday, but cool cloudy weather slowed things the last few days. I did see great bee activity in the…

  • Cider makers’ and growers’ meeting June 28

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    By Terence Bradshaw Save the date: June 28, 2016 we will hold a cider makers’ and apple growers’ educational meeting at Woodchuck Cidery in Middlebury, VT. Topics will include: updates on apple production and cider apple economics projects (Terence Bradshaw and Florence Becot); cider marketing (Farrell Distributing Cider Education & Training Manager Jeff Baker); and…

  • Fire blight…

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    By Terence Bradshaw A quick note on apple scab: we are likely entering an infection period for the disease starting today through Sunday. If you aren’t covered with a protectant, either get one on between rainshowers or come in with an appropriate kick-back material as soon as possible after the rains stop. As we enter…

  • Apple management at pink and into bloom

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    By Terence Bradshaw I traveled around the Champlain Valley a bit today and saw apples well into the pink bud stage (and one open blossom), with a few caveats. Damage from the cold snap in early April is becoming more evident, which coupled with generally weaker trees going into the weather after the heavy 2015…

  • Apple scab, codling moth, and general prebloom orchard management

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    By Terence Bradshaw As I mentioned Monday, we are in the middle of an extended apple scab infection period this week and trees will require sustained protection to protect against the disease. Our situation is not as bad as in the Hudson Valley, which Dave Rosenberger detailed in a blog post last night, where two…

  • Scab management this week

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    By Terence Bradshaw Rainfall beginning yesterday May 1 which will extend through today has caused an apple scab infection period is virtually all Vermont orchards. Rainfall amounts range in the 0.1 – 0.5 inch range, which would not be enough to wash off a well-applied fungicide spray made just before the wetting period. If there…

  • Apple IPM Assessment -volunteers needed

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    Greetings. The UVM Apple Program is seeking THREE volunteer orchard managers to participate in an Integrated Pest Management Assessment. Selected participants will receive personalized, one-on-one consultations to address their pest management needs. We will only be selecting three participants from interested respondents for this round of the program. This is a great opportunity to review…

  • Apple scab infection period expected for Monday May 2.

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    By Terence Bradshaw Even with the best expert systems, on-farm weather stations, and predictive forecasts, sometimes we have to rely on common sense when making management decisions in the orchard. The forecast for most of Vermont is for rain showers to begin Sunday, with higher likelihood in southern Vermont. By Monday, we’re looking at 50-60%…