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)
Apples
Apricots
Asian Pears
Blueberries
Cherries
Currants
Gooseberries
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Raspberries / Blackberries
Strawberries
Unusual Fruit
Upcoming Events
2026 Virtual Orchard Meetup Series
February 27, 2026 : Session 1 - The Impacts of Weather on Pome Fruit Quality and Storability: Lessons Learned
The Impacts of Weather on Pome Fruit Quality and Storability: Lessons from 2025 - The first meetup will be conducted live on Friday, February 27, 2026, at 10:30pm (PST)/1:30pm (EST). The webinar will last 90 minutes. The format will include brief presentations by two SPARC scientists, followed by a packer/grower panel of industry leaders across North America. The meetup will conclude with an open discussion in a very inclusive virtual format. Viewers are invited to share solutions, ask questions, and interact with scientists and panelists. The program is free of charge.
June 11, 2026 : Session 2
Details to follow.
June 18, 2026
Details to follow.
June 25, 2026 : Session 4
Details to follow.
Cornell Fruit Field Day
July 30, 2026
Geneva, NY
Join Cornell researchers in Geneva for Fruit Field Day, returning after 10 years, to tour research plots, learn from experts—including Dr. Terence Robinson with 40+ years in tree fruit research—and explore the latest orchard technologies and practices.