Pears
NY ranks fourth in pear production with an estimated 1000 acres. Bartlett and Bosc are the main varieties grown, and are grafted to various rootstocks. There are some new varieties to try including Magnus, Potomac, Harrow Crisp, and Sundown. Pears are typically grafted to size controlling rootstocks. Pear trees typically take many years to bear fruit, but there are horticultural methods that can help trees produce fruit earlier. Fire blight is a major bacterial disease that affects pear trees. For more information, go to Cornell Fruit Resources: Tree Fruit.
SPARC - Strengthening Pear and Apple Resilience to Climate
Extreme temperature events—both heat and cold—have resulted in recent annual insurable losses exceeding $80 million for the U.S. apple and pear industry. We are working to better understand the physiological responses of apple and pear trees to extreme temperatures and seeking to identify the genetic control of those responses, to help growers choose the best varieties to grow. Click "read details" to learn more and support this effort by completing the survey (available in English & Spanish).
Subscribe Now for Harvest Maturity Reports!
Craig Kahlke, Team Leader, Fruit Quality Management
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
Now is the time to renew your subscriptions to the Harvest Maturity Reports if you have not done so. Your $75 subscription (if in the Lake Ontario Fruit Program partner counties of Niagara, Monroe, Orleans, Oswego and Wayne) gets you critical information on a weekly basis during apple harvest. Fruit samples are collected early in the week from across the region and sampled for internal ethylene concentration, firmness, starch/iodine, and total soluble solids. Results are summarized and recommendations for harvest windows of major apple and pear varieties are either faxed or emailed to subscribers late in the week. Satellite subscribers outside of the four county regions can receive reports as well, for $100.
Managing Fire Blight in 2021
2020 fire blight season recap and a 2021 season out look, including forecasting and guidelines for management.
Winter pruning to manage fire blight (while continuing to grow the trees)
Winter pruning is always an important time to begin your fire blight management program for the season, and this year especially much so. Winter canker removal could make the difference for you between starting spring 2021 with "normal" fire blight pressure, versus potentially giving yourself a handicap by keeping around lingering bacteria from last year's difficult season.
Here we discuss some reminders of how and when to prune for fire blight management, and some tips for how to continue to grow the trees in areas with more severe damage.
Pollinator Resources
MAF Sizer/Grader for Sale
Mario Miranda Sazo, Cultural Practices
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
MAF Pomone 2-lane Optiscan 2000 fruit sizer/grader with Orphea software and CCD camerafrom the Terence Robinson research program at the NYSAES in Geneva, NY. Manufactured in 1994 and purchased in 1996 as a prior demonstration machine and used to grade bushel sized samples of apples, pears, and peaches for quality comparison and research purposes. Unit is 32 feet long. Currently operating one-lane due to lack of parts. As is. Buyer incurs removal cost and labor. Must be removed by July 28th. Price reduced to $5,000. For more information contact Peter Herzeelle
ph373@cornell.edu, 315-781-2602.
Spray Mixing Instructions Considering Tree Row Volume - TRV
Mario Miranda Sazo, Cultural Practices
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
Spray Mixing Instructions Considering Tree Row Volume - TRV
Terence Robinson, Poliana Francescatto, Cornell University
Win Cowgill, Professor Emeritus, Rutgers University
DEC Registered Pesticides for New York
This the the link to access the the NYDEC pesticide registrations. Access labels here.
Bureau of Pest Management - Information Portal - http://www.dec.ny.gov/nyspad/products?13Did You Experience Drought Issues on Your Farm?
Did You Experience Drought Issues on Your Farm?
Please Help Us Collect Regional Information So We Can Help You Be Better Prepared in the Future
As you know, the summer of 2016 was a period of lower than average rainfall combined with higher than average temperatures that led to a drought of moderate to unprecedented severity in New York and much of the Northeast
A 2016 NY drought survey is being conducted and we need your input.
Please click on details for more information.
What Herbicides control which weeds ?
Deborah Breth, Integrated Pest Management
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
This guide is used to identify the most effective herbicides to target specific weeds in tree fruit. First identify the weed, or weeds, then find those weeds across the top of the spreadsheet. For each weed, make a list of herbicides that are effective on the label. Then you will need to double check the label to determine 1) if the tree fruit crop is labeled, 2) if the tree age is appropriate for use,3) what rate is needed for specific weeds and any soil limitations that might impact those rates. You can go to the Bureau of Pest Management - Information Portal to find the labels to determine specific application requirements including the rates, timing, any adjuvants necessary, and any precautions to ensure crop safety.
Revisions in EPA WPS comment period open until Dec. 23, 2015
Deborah Breth, Integrated Pest Management
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
EPA is finalizing changes to the WPS. The WPS is a regulation primarily intended to reduce the risks of injury or illness resulting from agricultural workers' and handlers' use and contact with pesticides on farms, forests, nurseries and greenhouses. The rule primarily seeks to protect workers (those who perform hand-labor tasks in pesticide-treated crops, such as harvesting, thinning, pruning) and handlers (those who mix, load and apply pesticides). The rule does not cover persons working with livestock. The existing regulation has provisions requiring employers to provide workers and handlers with pesticide safety training, posting and notification of treated areas, and information on entry restrictions, as well as PPE for workers who enter treated areas after pesticide application to perform crop-related tasks and handlers who mix, load, and apply pesticides. The full content if you want to review and comment can be found at http://www.regulations.gov/#!documentDetail;D=EPA-HQ-OPP-2011-0184-2510.
A summary chart of major cahnges between the new revisions and the current standard can be found here.
http://www2.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2015-09/documents/comparison-chart-wps.pdf
Labor Cost Calculator for Platform Activities
Matthew Wells, Production Economics & Business Management
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
Download this spreadsheet to help calculate acres covered per day and labor cost per acre utilizing platforms.
New fungicides labeled for use in tree fruit - all Special Local Needs Labels
Deborah Breth, Integrated Pest Management
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
The new class of fungicides, SDHI's, are now registered for use in tree fruit. Fontelis was registered last season, and Luna Tranquility and Merivon were registered this spring. They are all registered in NY as "Restricted Use" fungicides. Due to the special restrictions for use in NY, they also are Special Local Need registrations. In order to apply these materials you must have a copy of the label and the SLN label in your possession. You can access these SLN and label to study or print at these links.
Produce Handling for Direct Marketing
Craig Kahlke, Team Leader, Fruit Quality Management
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
NRAES-51, Successful direct marketing of fresh fruits and vegetables depends on providing quality items in a clean and customer-friendly environment. This publication is valuable for growers who sell seasonal produce at local farmers' markets or roadside markets. It describes postharvest physiology, food safety, produce handling from harvest to storage, refrigerated storage, produce displays, and specific handling and display recommendations for over forty types of fruits and vegetables. Eleven tables and eight figures are included. (1992)
Successful direct marketing of fresh fruits and vegetables depends on providing quality items in a clean and customer-friendly environment. Produce Handling for Direct Marketing, NRAES-51, is an invaluable guide for the grower who sells seasonal produce at local farmers' markets or roadside markets.
The Commercial Storage of Fruits, Vegetables, and Florist and Nursery Stocks
Craig Kahlke, Team Leader, Fruit Quality Management
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
The information contained in this preliminary version of HB-66 has been assembled from information prepared by nearly 100 authors from around the world. The version posted here is a revised copy of a Draft made available online in November 2002 for author and public review and comment.
Animals in Fruit Crops
Orchards and other fruit crops are great habitat for many animals for food, and shelter. Deer, voles, rabbits, wild turkeys, and beavers, have caused damage to trees, bushes and fruit resulting in serious economic losses. Animals also pose a challenge for growers who participate in Food Safety audits to prevent contamination of fruit at harvest time. Growers must take steps to manage animals in fruit crops. P. D. Curtis prepares and updates the Wildlife Damage Management Chapter in the Cornell Pest Management Guidelines for tree Fruit and also for Berries.
Brief Overview of Labor Regulations & Recordkeeping for Farm Businesses
Matthew Wells, Production Economics & Business Management
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
This document provides a brief overview of state & federal labor regulations that apply to many fruit farms in N.Y.S., as well as examples of record keeping forms that assist growers in meeting these regulations.
Apples
Apricots
Asian Pears
Blueberries
Cherries
Currants
Gooseberries
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Raspberries / Blackberries
Strawberries
Unusual Fruit
Upcoming Events
Introduction to Tree Fruit Production
February 27, 2025
March 6, 2025
March 13, 2025
March 17, 2025
March 20, 2025
March 24, 2025
March 27, 2025
April 3, 2025
Thursdays: February 27 - April 3, with two additional Monday webinars on March 17 and March 24
Tree fruit are an important component of the agricultural and homeowner landscape. This course, which offers eight live webinars for its 2025 offering, trains beginning tree fruit growers in fundamental concepts in orchard planning and management.
2025 Respirator Fit Testing in Wayne County
April 17, 2025
Pultneyville, NY
A one day clinic for respirator fit testing will be held in Wayne County on April 17th. Please be sure to register by April 7th, as space is limited.
Respirator Fit Testing in Orleans County
May 7, 2025 : Afternoon Clinic
Albion, NY
Afternoon respirator fit testing clinic will be held in Orleans County on May 7th, save the date.
May 8, 2025 : Morning Clinic
Albion, NY
Morning respirator fit testing clinic will be held in Orleans County on May 8th, save the date.