UVM Fruit Blog

Dr. Kevin Folta at University of Vermont February 17

Dr. Kevin Folta, Chair and Professor in the Department of Horticulture at the University of Florida will present a seminar on Friday, Feb. 17 from 3:30-4:30 titled, “Communicating Science with the Public- A Focus on Genetic Engineering“. The lecture will be given in the University of Vermont Aiken Center Room 102 and is free and open to the public. Co-Sponsored By: UVM Departments of Plant & Soil Science, Microbiology & Molecular Genetics, Nutrition & Food Science, and Animal & Veterinary Science; Food Systems and Cellular, Molecular, & Biomedical Sciences Graduate Programs; and Apple and Grape Research and Outreach Program.

Dr. Folta has received numerous awards for his scientific and public outreach program including the 2016 Borlaug CAST Communication Award for outstanding achievement by a scientist, engineer, technologist, or other professional working in the agricultural, environmental, or food sectors for contributing to the advancement of science in the public policy arena. Information on Dr. Folta’s outreach program may be found at: www.talkingbiotech.com.

For more information, please contact Dr. Terence Bradshaw at: (terence.bradshaw@uvm.edu).

Directions to parking and Aiken Center

170217_FoltaSeminar.pdf

New England 2016 Grape Survey

I urge all grape producers, regardless of size, to complete this important survey. It has been difficult to put an appropriate vale on the grape industry in Vermont and New England, and now that they are counting, the industry needs to participate. The grape industry is likely worth a bit more than $4.2 million region-wide, but we can’t tell unless growers report. I am forwarding the following message from the regional National Agricultural Statistics Service Office. -TB

The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, New England Field Office is about to conduct the 2016 New England Grape Production and Value Survey. Last year the survey results indicated the value of New England grown grapes sold in 2014 to be $4.2 million. We were able to publish some State estimates but limited response for some States didn’t allow us to do so. The results were published in the 2015 New England End of Season Fruit and Vegetable Yield and Price Report, https://www.nass.usda.gov/Statistics_by_State/New_England_includes/Publications/Current_News_Release/2016/eos2016.pdf.

I’m asking for your help to encourage grape producers to respond. We will mailed the questionnaires this week and will be phoning those that do not respond around mid-February.

Please contact me if you have any questions.

Gary R. Keough, State Statistician

U.S. Department of Agriculture | National Agricultural Statistics Service

Field Operations | New England Field Office

53 Pleasant St. Room 3450

Concord, NH 03301

T: 603-227-3129 | F: 603-225-1434 | M: 603-568-6535

Gary_Keough@nass.usda.gov | www.nass.usda.gov

New England 2016 Grape Production and Processing Survey Press Release.pdf

2017 UVM Apple Program IPM survey

Hello:

We are conducting an anonymous survey to evaluate past and present Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and other programming in support of apple producers in Vermont and the surrounding region and to guide future research and outreach programming. A comprehensive survey of IPM adoption on Vermont orchards was last conducted in 2012. You may answer none, any, or all questions in the survey, but complete surveys will generate more meaningful results. Appropriate respondents include anyone in Vermont or the surrounding region who grows apple commercially, including small, organic, and cider apple growers as well as traditional retail and wholesale apple growers.

Survey results will be reported to administrators, grant providers, and the academic community to quantify impacts and justify continued support for this work on behalf of Vermont farmers. Your participation in completing this survey is much appreciated. The survey will be open until January 27. It should take 15-20 minutes to complete.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2017UVMapple

Thank you in advance.

Terry Bradshaw

Webinar Series on Crop Pollination

Experts to present webinar series on crop pollination

The majority of U.S. specialty crop growers depend on bees for pollination of their crops. Growers know that without adequate pollination, they would not be profitable. But what are the best pollination strategies for fruit, vegetable, and nut crops? What farm management practices can growers use to support bees and the crop pollination they provide? Experts in crop pollination working under the Integrated Crop Pollination Project will present on these topics and will report on their recent research in this project as part of a webinar series titled: Ensuring crop pollination in US specialty crops. The webinar series will examine the role of wild bees, honey bees and other managed bees in supporting crop pollination and yield in almond, blueberry, tree fruit, pumpkin, and watermelon.

These webinars will all be 45-60 minutes long, with time for questions and discussion with the presenter afterwards. Registered attendees will receive a link to the slides and a recording afterwards.

The register, click on the link for each webinar that you are interested in attending.

· January 24, 2017, 2pm EST: E nsuring almond pollination (Theresa Pitts-Singer, USDA-ARS and Utah State University)

· January 31, 2017, 2pm EST: Pollinating highbush blueberries: bees bring bigger berries (R ufus Isaacs, Michigan State University)

· February 14, 2017, 2pm EST: Pollinating apples and cherries east of the Rockies (Julianna Wilson, Michigan State University)

· February 28, 2017 2pm EST: On-farm pollinator benefits for watermelon pollination (N eal Williams, University of California, Davis)

· March 21, 2017, 2pm EST: E nsuring pumpkin pollination (Shelby Fleischer, Pennsylvania State University)

· March 28, 2017, 2pm EST: H ow to manage solitary orchard bees for crop pollination (Theresa Pitts-Singer, USDA-ARS and Utah State University)

The webinar series will be hosted by icpbees. Certified Crop Advisor CEU credits applied for. Funding for the webinar series is provided by the Integrated Crop Pollination Project, a USDA-NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative Grant (#2012-51181-20105).

2017 Bee Health Webinar Series_POLLINATION.pdf

Clarification re: Apple acreage reporting deadline, Jan 15.

This is a clarification of the message sent to the group on January 5, from Jake Jacobs, UVM Crop Insurance Education Coordinator:

Producers who participate in crop insurance or other USDA-supported programs are required to file yearly acreage reports with FSA and/or RMA as applicable. Those that participate with FSA programs and are insured through crop insurance can report with either RMA (your crop insurance agent) or FSA. However, those who do not participate with FSA would only file with crop insurance. The filing deadline is January 5.

Online Introduction to Tree Fruit Production course offered this winter

BF 223: Tree Fruit Production

an online course from the Cornell Small Farms Program

January 18 – Feb 22, 2017, with webinars each Wednesday evening from 6:30-8pm Eastern time.

Apples, pears, plums, and more! All are important components of the agricultural and homeowner landscape. This course trains beginning tree fruit growers in fundamental concepts in orchard planning and management.

Join Anna Wallis, Regional Fruit Specialist with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program and Dr. Terence Bradshaw, Research Assistant Professor and Tree Fruit & Viticulture Specialist at the University of Vermont in this six week course, which covers basics of tree fruit production, harvesting, and marketing.

Content will include site selection and management, rootstock and cultivar selection, orchard systems, pest management, nutrient management, and harvest considerations for commercial orchards tailored to the northeast U.S.

The course is for beginning tree fruit growers, or experienced growers seeking a refresher on basic concepts in orchard management. The topics covered will be specific to orchard systems. Individuals looking for general farm business management and marketing can find this content covered in other courses, including BF101: Starting at Square One and BF202: Business Planning.

For more information and registration:

www.nebeginningfarmers.org/online-courses/all-courses/tree-fruit-production-bf-223/

Save the Date: 2017 Northeastern NY and VT Grape School March 9

Northeastern NY and VT Grape School

Presented by:
Cornell Cooperative Extension Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program &

University of Vermont Grape Program

Thursday, March 9, 2017, 8:30-5:00
Holiday Inn Lake George, 2223 Canada St. Lake George, NY

AM: Viticulture presentations

PM: Wine faults workshop

Agenda and registration are forthcoming.

Apple acreage reporting deadline, Jan 15.

From Jake Jacobs, UVM Crop Insurance Education Coordinator:

Producers who participate in crop insurance or other USDA-supported programs are required to file yearly acreage/production reports with FSA.

There are different deadlines for different commodities. For apples, the deadline is January 15. If any growers are not sure about filing this report, they should check with their insurance agent or their local FSA office.

2017 VTFGA/UVM Apple Program Meeting, Feb 16

Hello:

As the New Year swings into gear, it’s time to plan for the 2017 VT Tree Fruit Growers Association and UVM Apple Program annual educational meeting. This year, the meeting will be held on February 16 at the American Legion Hall in Middlebury, VT. Attached you’ll find the meeting program and registration form. As we did last year, all registrations will be handled by VTFGA treasurer Ginny Brees, and payment will be by check only in order to reduce transaction costs.

We have a full program this year, and for the regular attendees from past years, it’s important to note that we will be starting a bit earlier than previously, with registration starting at 8:30 and the first talk at 9:00. We will welcome a diverse slate of guest speakers who will discuss critical issues identified during the 2016 growing season, including: Cornell entomologist Peter Jentsch, discussing insect pest management in orchards; Cornell plant pathologist Dr. Srdjan Acimovic who will cover disease, especially fire blight, management; and Trevor Hardy from Brookdale Fruit Farm who will discuss orchard irrigation systems (and the need for them). We’ll also have important updates on changes in the EPA Worker Protection Standard which were implemented on the first of this year, and a recap of the 2016 growing season by myself. Finally, I am especially excited to welcome Chair of the University of Florida Department of Horticulture Dr. Kevin Folta, who will discuss best strategies for science communication from farmers to consumers and the public.

Any registration questions should be sent to Ginny Brees at: dandgbrees; questions about the agenda should come to me.

I look forward to seeing everyone on February 16 and until then, happy pruning!

-Terry

p.s.: I have added a few emails from orchards that may not be on my mailing list; if you received this and would like to join the UVM Apple Program mailing list, please contact me; if you believe you received this in error, please delete, I won’t be re-sending to these addresses again.

VTFGA 2017 Membership & Meeting Registration.pdf
BrochureVTFGA121st2017.pdf

Announcing the January Northern Grapes Webinar: “Integrated Disease Management Based on Cultivar Susceptibilit y and Fungicide Sensitivity”

Here is the announcement for the January Northern Grapes Webinar. Please forward to your mailing lists.

Best,

Alex Koeberle

Alk239

Dear Northern Grapes Project Webinar participants:

The Northern Grapes Project Webinar Series

A recording of the December Webinar “Northern Grapes survey results: How the industry changed from 2011 to 2015” featuring Brigid Tuck and Tim Martinson is now available online. Please visit this link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lc7l-H6q2H4&feature=youtu.be

Be sure to follow our Facebook page Northern Grapes Project for updates and announcements. We encourage your feedback on current webinars and requests for future topics through Facebook.

Announcing the January Webinar:

“Integrated Disease Management Based on Cultivar Susceptibility and Fungicide Sensitivity”

Patricia McManus David Jones
UW-Madison UW-Madison

Tuesday, January 10th, 2016

12:00 Noon Eastern (11:00 am Central)

7:00 pm Eastern (6:00 pm Central)

The speakers will discuss their recent research conducted in Wisconsin on susceptibility of cultivars to downy mildew, powdery mildew, and black rot, and how this knowledge can be integrated into disease management programs. Patricia McManus is Professor and Chair of Plant Pathology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where she collaborates on the Northern Grapes Project to evaluate cold-hardy grape varieties for diseases and sensitivity to copper- and sulfur-based fungicides. David Jones is a M.S. candidate in the McManus lab and a soon-to-be Extension Educator at Michigan State Extension.

If you have received this email from someone other than Alex Koeberle, you need to register via the link below:

https://cornell.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_d9ZymnMfZOpJCy9

Registering for one Northern Grapes Webinar will place you on the mailing list, and you will receive announcements and connection instruction for all further Northern Grapes Webinars.

Registration will close at 8 am (Eastern) on Friday, January 6th.

Registration is NOT required if you received this email directly from Alex Koeberle, as it means that you are a member of the Northern Grapes Webinar mailing list.

All members of the Northern Grapes Webinar mailing list will receive an email the Monday before the webinar containing the web address (URL) for both webinar sessions as well as connection instructions.

Feel free to email Alex Koeberle (alk239) with any questions, if you want to check your registration status, or if you’d like to be removed from the Northern Grapes Webinar mailing list. Please DO NOT respond to the Northern Grapes listserve.

NOTE: I (Alex Koeberle) will be out of the office from December 23rd to January 3rd but will intermittently check my email.

The Northern Grapes Project is online and on Facebook! The December issue of Northern Grapes News is now available online.

The Northern Grapes Project was funded by the USDA’s Specialty Crops Research Initiative Program of the National Institute for Food and Agriculture, Project #2011-51181-30850 and through the New York State Specialty Crops Block Program.

We thank the following organizations and businesses for their support of the Northern Grapes Webinar Series:

Grower Associations Sponsors

Iowa Wine Growers Association

Illinois Grape Growers and Vintners Association

North Dakota Grape and Wine Association

Eastern Winery Exhibition

Colorado Wine Industry Development Board

Michigan Wine Industry Council

Connecticut Vineyard and Winery Association

Wisconsin Grape Growers Association

South Dakota State University Grape Program

Southern Minnesota Wine Grower Alliance