Category: Tree Fruit

By Terence Bradshaw Earlier today I sent a notice from Tom Berry at Senator Leahy’s office regarding availability of emergency funds to farmers affected financially by the COVID-19 pandemic. That was referencing a re-opening of the portal specifically for farms to apply for funds. If you are an ag business that was unable to take…

By Terence Bradshaw It didn’t take long after I posted my last recommendations for someone to point out to me that it’s unlikely that apple scab ascospores can be released through two inches of snow. Point taken. This cool weather has put things into that slow, on-hold pattern a bit, but activity will pick up…

By Terence Bradshaw Here’s a real quick update. Bud stage in warmest Vermont orchard sites is around half-inch green (HIG). At that point, copper should not be applied unless you know the crop is going to cider, as copper applied at any effective rate for this time of year will russet the fruit finish. Frost…

By Terence Bradshaw Yesterday, April 9, we ‘called’ green tip at the UVM Horticulture Farm, orchards. This signals that buds are beginning to open, and therefore green tissue is present that may be susceptible to apple scab infection. The apple scab ascospore maturity model, which predicts the presence of mature overwintering inoculum that could infect,…

By Terence Bradshaw First, UVM Extension Farm Viability Program has posted a page of resources for farm businesses related to emergency loans, grants, and other updates from state agencies: http://blog.uvm.edu/farmvia/?p=1805. Of particular interest to the framing community is the Paycheck Protection Program which provides low-interest, forgiveable loans to small businesses to cover payroll, mortgage interest,…

By Terence Bradshaw I apologize for the late notice. There will be a webinar hosted by the Cornell Workforce Development, Produce Safety Alliance, and Small Farm Program today, April 3 at 10:00 am : COVID-19 and Your Produce Farm. Details at: https://events.cornell.edu/event/covid-19_and_your_produce_farm_webinar Best, Terry Where trade names or commercial products are used for identification, no…

By Terence Bradshaw Hi everyone: It was gorgeous outside today, which provided a good chance to get caught up on pruning, pushing brush, and prepping for a growing season that is right around the corner. This is not my usual message about orchard or vineyard management. Many of our fruit and vegetable farms rely on…

By Terence Bradshaw I’ve been taking notes during today’s VTFGA / UVM Apple Program annual meeting. This is useful even if you didn’t make the meeting on Feb 13. Here goes: 1. Slides from the talks will be available at: http://www.uvm.edu/~fruit/?Page=treefruit/tf_meetings.html&SM=tf_submenu.html They should be up there shortly. 2. Please consider taking our pretty short survey…

By Terence Bradshaw In contrast to the rest of the population, those of us in the fruit growing community hate warm March weather, and this year looks like another which will potentially give us early bud break, at least in the warmer parts of the state in Bennington county and the Connecticut Valley. Reports out…

By Terence Bradshaw It’s a little late in the season, but UVM Spring Break is approaching which means that we have some time to get out in the field and spend some hands-on time with apple and grape growers. The following workshops will be held in the coming weeks, please email me with questions or…