Lake Ontario Fruit Program Enrollment

Program Areas

  • Food Safety
  • Variety Evaluation
  • Market Development
  • Pest Management
  • Cultural Practices

Enrollment Benefits

  • Telephone / Email Consultations
  • Fruit Newsletter?
  • Direct Mailings
  • Educational Meetings & Conferences
  • In-Field Educational Opportunities
  • On-Farm Research Trials

Enrollee Login

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  • Issues of Fruit Newletters
  • Helpful Diagnostic Tool:
      What's wrong with my crop?

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2022 NYS Certified Pesticide Applicator License Pre-Exam Training

Join agriculture specialist Mike Stanyard from the NWNY Team and Janet van Zoeren of the LOF Program as they review core concepts and commodity specific items in preparation for the Pesticide Applicator exam. This pre-exam training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.

All participants will need to have the most recent Core Manual (3rd Edition) and Category Manuals.  Register by March 1st to ensure manuals are available for the training.

Cost of 2 day workshop: $50, additional costs 

Exam to be held on March 22nd registration begins at 8:30am at Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension, $100 check payable to NYDEC to Exam, and you must register with DEC for the exam.

To reserve a spot register online or contact Kim Hazel at 585-798-4265 ext. 126 or krh5@cornell.edu.

Additional details about the exam https://lof.cce.cornell.edu/ev...






Event Details

DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 1

Date

March 8, 2022

Time

Registration 8am, 8:30am - 12:30pm

Location

Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension
12690 Rt 31
Albion, NY 14411

Cost

2 day training : $50.00

(addl attendee $50.00 ea.)

At The Door Price
DEC Certified Applicator EXAM - bring check made out to DEC day of exam : $100.00

You MUST REGISTER with DEC to take exam.

Host

Orleans County CCE

Kim Hazel
585-798-4265 ext.126


DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 1



Join agriculture specialist Mike Stanyard from the NWNY Team and Janet van Zoeren of the LOF Program as they review core concepts and commodity specific items in preparation for the Pesticide Applicator exam. This pre-exam training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.






Event Details

DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 2

Date

March 15, 2022

Time

Registration 8am, 8:30am - 12:30pm

Location

Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension
12690 Rt 31
Albion, NY 14411

Host

Orleans County CCE

Kim Hazel
585-798-4265 ext.126


DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 2



Join agriculture specialist Mike Stanyard from the NWNY Team and Janet van Zoeren of the LOF Program as they review core concepts and commodity specific items in preparation for the Pesticide Applicator exam. This pre-exam training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.



more crops
Apples

Apples

Apricots

Apricots

Asian Pears

Asian Pears

Blueberries

Blueberries

Cherries

Cherries

Currants

Currants

Gooseberries

Gooseberries

Nectarines

Nectarines

Peaches

Peaches

Pears

Pears

Plums

Plums

Raspberries / Blackberries

Raspberries / Blackberries

Strawberries

Strawberries

Unusual Fruit

Unusual Fruit

more crops

Upcoming Events

2026 Tree Fruit Scouting Online Course

Event Offers DEC Credits

February 25, 2026 : Week 1 - IPM Fundamentals + Tools

This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season.  Register by February 18th.


Event Offers DEC Credits

March 4, 2026 : Week 2 - Insects: Part 1

This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season.  Register by February 18th.


Event Offers DEC Credits

March 11, 2026 : Week 3 - Insects: Part 2

This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season.  Register by February 18th.


Event Offers DEC Credits

March 18, 2026 : Week 4 - Diseases

This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season.  Register by February 18th.


Event Offers DEC Credits

March 25, 2026 : Week 5 - Weeds, Wildlife, + Wrap-Up

This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season.  Register by February 18th.

2026 Eastern New York Fruit and Vegetable Conference

Event Offers DEC Credits

February 25 - February 26, 2026
Albany , NY

The Annual Eastern NY Fruit and Vegetable Conference is two days filled with informative sessions on Tree Fruit, Vegetables, Small Fruit, Grapes, Greenhouse and a special Food Safety Wash and Pack session!  While there you can also visit with more than 50 exhibitors!

Northeast Fruit Consortium Winter Webinar Series

Event Offers DEC Credits

February 4, 2026 : Management of Up and Coming Strawberry Diseases in the Northeastern United States


February 11, 2026 : Kiwiberry Production in the Northeast


February 18, 2026 : Apple Color and Sunburn


Event Offers DEC Credits

February 25, 2026 : The Dating Game; Updates in Lepidopteran Mating Disruption


Event Offers DEC Credits

March 4, 2026 : Update: USEPA Endangered Species Act and Implications for Pesticide Use


March 11, 2026 : Practical Drought Management for Fruit Growers

Announcements

Now Hiring!

Join Cornell Cooperative Extension's Lake Ontario Fruit Program -- a full-time, hybrid role supporting commercial fruit growers through education, applied research, and industry collaboration in western New York. See more details to determine if this role is right for you.

2026 Winter Fruit School Survey Link

2026 Winter Fruit School Survey

If you attended the 2026 Winter Fruit School. Please take a moment and let us know what you liked and how you think we can improve this event.

Event Survey Link https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3Otvd7ylJ106HLo

Save the Date! - Scroll down for Upcoming Events

Have you missed a meeting recently? Scroll down for available recordings or pdf links or visits our YouTube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/LakeOntarioFruitProgram

2026 Events:

for more details click on event title

23-25 Feb - NY Farm to School Summit - Saratoga Springs, Register Now!

25 Feb - 2026 Tree Fruit Scouting Online Course: Week 1 - 4:30 - 6pm,  Online, Free, Register by February 18th!

26 Feb - Advisory Committee Meeting - Program Updates, Details to follow!

27 Feb - 2026 Virtual Orchard Meetup Series - 1:30 - 3pm, Online, Register Now!

4 Mar - Tree Fruit Scouting Online Course: Week 2 - 4:30 - 6pm, Online, Free

9 Mar - DEC Certified Pesticide Applicator License Pre-Exam Training Day 1 - 8:15am - 12:30pm, CCE Orleans, Reserve by March 1!


11 Mar - 2026 USDA-SCRI SPARC Heat School - 11:30am - 5:40pm, Wenatchee, WA, In-person learning hub in Waterport, NY, & Virtual.

11 Mar - Tree Fruit Scouting Online Course: Week 3 - 4:30 - 6pm, Online, Free

12 Mar - 2026 Cornell Winter Fruit Webinars: Inoculating Orchards with Mycorrhizal Fungi - 11am - 12:30pm, Online, Register Now!


16 Mar - DEC Certified Pesticide Applicator License Exam - 8:30am, CCE Orleans, Register with DEC by March 1st!


18 Mar - Tree Fruit Scouting Online Course: Week 4 - 4:30 - 6pm, Online, Free

19 Mar - 2026 Cornell Winter Fruit Webinars: St. Peachtrick's Day - Cherry Pruning Strategies and Plum Varieties for the Northeast - 11am - 12:30pm, Online, Register Now!

20 Mar - Harmonized GAP Plus+ Plan Writing Session - 7:30am Sign-in, CCE Wayne, Register Now!

24 Mar - Pesticide Applicators Review Course & Exam - Day 1 - 9am - 1pm, CCE Wayne, Register Now!

25 Mar - Tree Fruit Scouting Online Course: Week 5 - 4:30 - 6pm, Online, Free


2 Apr - DEC Certified Pesticide Applicator License Exam - 9am, CCE Wayne, Register Now!

30 July - 2026  Cornell Fruit Field Day, Geneva.  Stay tuned for updates.


Webinar Recordings & Additional Meeting Materials

Check out the recordings of some recent webinars and/or conference materials from in person events: Recordings and Playlists are available at https://www.youtube.com/c/LakeOntarioFruitProgram

2026 Recordings

2025 Recordings & Materials




Recording of Precision Apple Cropload MANagement PACMAN technologies at the 2nd Annual WNY Fruit Grower Tour. https://youtu.be/yE6thvf4z0E

2024 Virtual Orchard Meetup Series - Water Wisdom: 






2024 Winter Fruit Webinars playlist on the NYS IPM Program YouTube Channel


PACMAN Details and Resources, Meeting Recording Links below:




In Memory of Robert Brown II

With Deep Sadness, We Honor the Memory of Robert Brown II: A Cherished Friend, an Influential Leader in the Western NY Apple Industry, and a Remarkable Contributor to the Core Mission of CCE (May 23, 1955 -- November 23, 2025) see details https://lof.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=976&crumb=crops|crops|apples|crop*38

NEWA weather stations moving to a new dashboard!

NEWA weather stations purchased through Rainwise (now owned by KestrelMet) are moving to a new dashboard!



NYCAMH Fit Testing Requirements

Considering NYCAMH for your respirator fit testing?

Here are some key facts and helpful tips about medical clearance:

Medical Clearance ? Fit Testing (They are not the same!)

Before you can wear a respirator or be fit tested, OSHA requires a medical evaluation under the Respiratory Protection Standard (29 CFR 1910.134). This evaluation must be conducted by a licensed healthcare provider to determine if you are physically able to use a respirator safely.

read details

2025 Cornell Winter Fruit Webinar Recordings

Recordings now available on the NYIPM YouTube Channel 2025 Cornell Winter Webinar playlist https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ccj8IT-8eI&list=PLoNb8lODb49u16HwAqx7Y_TS5S3vdkrON

Business Updates



Scaffolds podcast

Many of you probably read Art Agnello's statewide tree fruit updates and recommendations newsletter, "Scaffolds". Dr. Monique Rivera is bringing it back, but in a new audio version. Episode one was recorded this week, and is now available for free online at https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/scaffolds


NYS Tree Decline Survey

Your answers could help find the solution to tree decline in the orchard.

Food Safety Virtual Office Hours

Cornell Institute of Food Safety "Virtual Office Hours", Tuesdays Noon to 1pm https://cals.cornell.edu/institute-for-food-safety/resources/virtual-office-hours

Past recorded virtual office hours can be found on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZJs5b7KUuvfcquH3ZtQHo5dSmF2m5MdQ


Pollinator Resouces

Now available Pollinator Resource Links


Meeting Recordings Now Available

Did you miss the recent meeting?  Check and see if we recorded it and added it to our website or Lake Ontario Fruit Program YouTube Channel.

Honeycrisp Meetup recordings available here.

Why are my trees growing so poorly? recording available here.

Additional Recorded Webinars listing with recording and resource link are available at



New Publication on Growing Pawpaws

Are you a fan of pawpaws? These custardy fruits can be hard to come across, so this guide provides information on how to grow your own pawpaw from seed, and how to care for grafted seedlings. Pdf on growing now available.​ https://lof.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=799&crumb=crops|crops|unusual_fruit|crop*50

New Weed Management Technology Survey

Want to move away from herbicide reliance? Are you using novel technologies to manage weeds? We want to know about it to inform our weed science research. A team of weed scientists from University of California Davis, Oregon State University, and Cornell University are asking berry, tree fruit, tree nut, and vine crop growers to take 5 to 10 minutes and answer this short and anonymous survey. Weed Technology Survey link: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_bEpfAijoP7puQDP

For more information on this survey please visit http://blogs.cornell.edu/swd1/2020/12/02/new-weed-management-technology/


Pollinator Webinar Series - Summer 2020

The Pollinator Webinar Series presented by Penn State cover bee health and pollination services.



Bloom Pesticides for Pollinator Health

A reference table created by Janet van Zoeren and Anna Wallis, is now available at https://lof.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=711&crumb=pests|pests.