Western NY Fruit Conference
Event Details

Date
February 4 - February 5, 2025
Time
1 1/2 days
Location
DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Rochester
111 Jefferson Rd.
Rochester, NY 14623
Cost
Full Conference - Early Bird by January 24th : $160.00
(addl attendee $160.00 ea.)
Tuesday only (full day) - Early Bird by January 24th : $95.00
(addl attendee $95.00 ea.)
Wednesday only (1/2 day, morning only) - Early Bird by January 24th : $55.00
(addl attendee $55.00 ea.)
Full Conference after January 24th : $175.00
(addl attendee $175.00 ea.)
Tuesday only (full day) after January 24th : $105.00
(addl attendee $105.00 ea.)
Wednesday only (1/2 day, morning only) after January 24th : $60.00
(addl attendee $60.00 ea.)
Host
Lake Ontario Fruit ProgramWestern NY Fruit Conference
Western NY Fruit Conference
February 4-5, DoubleTree by Hilton Rochester
Published Conference Materials
TUESDAY early AM Session 1 - "IPM I" Chaired by Janet van Zoeren |
7:30-8:30 AM - Registration 8:30 Welcome & Housekeeping, Craig (5 min) 8:35 Sponsor Spots (10 min) 8:45 Refining the Apple IPM Program for Internal Lepidopterans with Mating Disruption and Woolly Apple Aphid by Comparing New and Soft Insecticides" - Dr. Monique Rivera, Cornell University (25 min) 9:10 Evaluating the Push- Pull Management Strategy for Ambrosia Beetles in Eastern Apple Orchards - Dr. Kelsey Tobin , Cornell University (15 min) 9:25 Using UV-C: How Close are We to Implementing it and What We Need to Move Forward - Dr Kerik Cox, Cornell University (20 min) 9:45 Taming the Beast: Managing Perennial Weeds - Janet van Zoeren, CCE-LOF (15 min) 10 AM SESSION ADJOURN |
10:00 Break: (~25 minutes) Sign-in DEC credit sign-in |
TUESDAY late AM Session 2 - "IPM II", Chaired by Janet van Zoeren |
10:25 Welcome, DEC reminder, Sponsor Spots Weeds - Janet van Zoeren, CCE-LOF (10 min) 10:35 Preliminary Apple Tree, Weed, and Soil Biological Responses to Zasso Electrical Weeding - Aleah Butler Jones, Cornell University (20 min) 10:55 Meeting the Challenges of Losing Mancozeb and Captan: Past and Present and Future Research - Dr Kerik Cox, Cornell University (20 min) 11:15 Advancements in Stink Bug Management in Tree Fruit - Dr. Brett Blaauw, University of Georgia and Clemson University (45 min) 12:00 SESSION ADJOURN |
LUNCH and visit Sponsors ~12 PM - ~1:15 PM |
TUESDAY, early PM Session 3, "Business" , Chaired by Bonnie Nelsen |
1:15 Welcome, Sponsor Spots - Bonnie Nelsen, CCE-LOF (10 min) 1:25 Using Hectare Orchard Management Software on Bittner-Singer Farm - David Bittner, Bittner-Singer Farms (20 min) 1:45 Knowing Your Consumer - Evan Schutt, owner, Schutt's Apple Mill 2:05 Talking To Your Workers About Unions, Intro -Bonnie Nelsen (10 min) 2:15 Talking with Workers About Unions: Our Experience at Cherry Lawn Farm- Todd & Debbie Furber, Cherry Lawn Farms (30 min) 2:45 PM SESSION ADJOURN |
Break: (~20-30 minutes) |
TUESDAY, late PM Session 4 'Building Soils for Better Orchards Chaired by Mario Miranda Sazo |
3:15 Welcome, Sponsor Spots, Introduction - Mario Miranda Sazo, CCE LOF (10 min) 3:25 Root architecture and function of apple roots - Professor Emeritus Dr. David Eissenstat, Penn State (35 min) 4:00 Soil health in New York State Orchards - Dr. Deborah Aller, Cornell (35 min) 4:35 Questions & Answers (15 min) ~5 PM SESSION ADJOURN |
WEDNESDAY early AM Session 5 - "Fruit Quality/Marketing Updates", chaired by Craig Kahlke |
8:30 AM Welcome & Housekeeping, Craig (5 min) 8:35 Updates from the New York Apple Association - Cynthia Haskins, NYAA (35 min) 9:10 Color Improvement of "Premier" Honeycrisp with the use of sprayable products and reflective fabric - Brian Lawrence, Cornell Agritech (25 min) 9:35 Sustainable Pre- and Postharvest Approaches for Mitigating Stem-end Flesh Browning in 'Gala' Apples - Dr, Yosef Al Shoffe, Cornell University (25 min) 10:00 AM SESSION ADJOURN |
10:00 -10:20 Break |
WEDNESDAY late AM Session 6 - "Precision Agriculture", chaired by Mario Miranda Sazo |
10:20 Welcome/Introduction - Mario Miranda Sazo, CCE-LOF (5 min) 10:25 Why it has been so Difficult to Adopt Digital Ag-Technologies? - Mario Miranda Sazo, CCE-LOF (15 min) 10:40 Accuracy of Two Precision Sprayers for Single-Tree Application - Dr. Brian Lawrence, Cornell U. (15min) 10:55 Options for growers considering current GPS accuracy limitations - Dr. Yu Jiang, Cornell U. (15 min) 11:10 Precision irrigation - Dr. Terence Robinson, Cornell U. (15 min) 11:25 New advances on precision crop load management - Dr. Terence Robinson, Cornell U. (15 min) 11:40 Q&A, Conference Wrap-up (20 min) |
~12 PM - Boxed Lunch & Conference Adjourn |
DEC credits will be available.
Cornell Employees, Students, and Speakers at this conference please contact us regarding registration to this event.
More details and event survey are available at: https://blogs.cornell.edu/nyst..
Meeting the Challenges of Losing Mancozeb and Captan (PDF; 3122KB)
Upcoming Events
Petal Fall Thinning Meetings
May 15, 2025 : Wayne County Petal Fall Thinning Meeting
Sodus, NY
Join LOF team members, in Wayne County to hear updates and petal fall thinning recommendations by Terence Robinson.
May 16, 2025 : Orleans County Petal Fall Thinning Meeting
Waterport, NY
Join LOF team members, in Orleans County to hear updates and petal fall thinning recommendations by Terence Robinson.
Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meetings

April 24, 2025 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meetings 1 of 4
Hilton, NY
Join specialists Janet Van Zoeren, Anya Stansell, and Anna Wallis for a conversation about fruit and berry phenology and pest management, at a new location each month.
May 29, 2025 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meetings 2 of 4
Holley, NY
Join specialists Janet Van Zoeren, Anya Stansell, and Anna Wallis for a conversation about fruit and berry phenology and pest management, at a new location each month.
June 26, 2025 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meetings 3 of 4
Ithica, NY
Join specialists Anya Stansell and Anna Wallis for a conversation about fruit and berry phenology and pest management, at a new location each month. This meeting will include Spanish Interpretation. Este mes en Español También.
July 31, 2025 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meetings 4 of 4
Webster, NY
Join specialists Janet Van Zoeren, Anya Stansell, and Anna Wallis for a conversation about fruit and berry phenology and pest management, at a new location each month.
2025 Cornell In-Depth Fruit School Recordings
April 8, 2025
July 31, 2025
: Recording Available for 2025 Cornell In-Depth Fruit School
Access to the 2025 Cornell In-Depth Fruit School recordings are now available for purchase.