Fruit Program News
The Massachusetts Fruit Growers' Association Summer Meeting is on Wednesday, July 10, 2019 at Sholan Farm in Leominster, MA from 10 AM to 2 PM. All are invited. There will be a morning orchard tour, followed by a special presentation on "Climate Trends in New England" by Jeremy Reiner, WHDH Channel 7 Meteorologist. Lunch will be BBQ by Meadowbrook Orchard. After lunch we will have a panel discussion on Harvista use. Two pesticide recertification credits will be offered. Cost is $40 for MFGA members, $50 for non-MFGA members. Preregistration is required. More information and to register click here...
As fruit ripen they become susceptible to spotted wing drosophila (SWD) infestation. Right now that includes strawberries, and very soon cherries and blueberries. Followed not long after by peaches and nectarines. We are catching SWD in traps! For the latest SWD management information, see the SWD sidebar link or click here. Here are direct links to insecticide recommendations for small fruit and stone fruit. Good luck!
Fruit twilight meeting, Tuesday, June 11, 2019. 5:30 PM. Bashista Orchards, 160 East Street, Southampton, MA. 2 pesticide re-certification credits. Light supper served, no pre-registration necessary but $20 registration collected at the door. Meeting stars and UMass Amherst Faculty Autio, Cooley, and Pinero will speak on current horticulture, disease, and insect management. Extension Educators Clements, Schloemann, and Garofalo co-star.
Fruit twilight meeting, Wednesday, June 12, 2019. 5:30 PM. Tougas Family Farm, 234 Ball Street, Northboro, MA. 2 pesticide re-certification credits. Light supper served, no pre-registration necessary but $20 registration collected at the door. In cooperation with University of Rhode Island Extension and Rhode Island Fruit Growers' Association. Meeting stars and UMass Amherst Faculty Autio, Cooley, and Pinero will speak on current horticulture, disease, and insect management. Extension Educators Clements, Schloemann, Garofalo and Faubert (URI) co-star.
Once again current tree fruit bud stages at the UMass Orchard in Belchertown, MA, including pictures, are available on the UMass Fruit Advisor website: http://ag.umass.edu/fruit/resources/bud-stages-photos Every year since 2012, a history of current bud stages are also available. In addition, bud stages back to 2001 are archived in Clements Corner on the old UMass Fruit Advisor website here: http://fruitadvisor.info/tfruit/clements/index.html
The New England Tree Fruit Management Guide, a collaborative publication of tree fruit Extension specialists in each New England state, is available on-line or in print. For New England commercial orchardists, the on-line version at http://netreefruit.org is updated continuously and represents the latest tree fruit production and crop protectant information. It is both desktop and mobile device friendly, and can be a quick handy reference in the field on your smart phone. Individual chapters/sections can also be easily printed for quick reference in the office, spray shed, or for workers. This should be your first go-to for current orchard -- including apple, pear, peach, cherry, and plum -- production and spray schedule information. For those wishing a fully printed guide in reference book form, one can be ordered here: https://www.umassextensionbookstore.com/products/29
