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2026 Winter Fruit Schools
Registration Closed, but want to see if there is room for you? Contact Craig Kahlke @ 585-735-5448, cjk37@cornell.edu
CCE-LOF are excited to bring you a return to LOF's Winter Fruit Schools, in which there will be two nearly identical programs on consecutive days in two locations in LOF's territory. We are in the process of putting together the program, and have garnered key input from our growers, businesses, and other personnel. The program will include pest management, pollination, horticulture, precision Ag, an update from the New York Apple Association and much more. We will send you the full program when it's nearly finalized. There will be morning and afternoon breaks, and lunch. Lunches and refreshments during the breaks are included with your registration fee.
Please note registration cost increases after January 27th, So Register Now!
Event Details
Date
February 4, 2026
Time
Sign-in 7:30am, 8:30am - 4:30pm
Location
CCE Niagara
4487 Lake Ave
Lockport, NY 14094
Cost
Registration : $75.00
(addl attendee $75.00 ea.)
Late Registration after January 27th : $85.00
(addl attendee $85.00 ea.)
Host
Lake Ontario Fruit ProgramCraig Kahlke
585-735-5448
email Craig Kahlke
2026 Winter Fruit School - Niagara County
CCE-LOF are excited to bring you a return to LOF's Winter Fruit Schools, in which there will be two nearly identical programs on consecutive days in two locations in LOF's territory. We are in the process of putting together the program, and have garnered key input from our growers, businesses, and other personnel.
2 DEC credits available in categories 1a, 10, 22.
Please note registration cost increases after January 27th, Register Now!
Agenda:
7:30 AM Registration and DEC sign-in
8:30 AM Welcome & Housekeeping
Craig Kahlke
8:35 AM Sponsor Spots
8:45 AM Spring Insecticides
Shianne Lindsay
9:10 AM Grower Panel Discussion on Spring Insect Management Practices
Rob Verbridge, Kevin Bittner, Ted Furber, Dr. Monique Rivera, Shianne Lindsay
9:50 AM Break
10:05 AM Sponsor Spots
10:10 AM WAA Management for 2026
Dr. Monique Rivera
10:25 AM Ambrosia Beetle Biology and Management
Dr. Monique Rivera
10:40 AM Preparing for Restrictions on Multi-Site Fungicides and 2025 UV-C Trials
Dr. Kerik Cox
11:05 AM Herbicides 101: Understanding How Weed Control Really Works
Dr. Lynn Sosnoskie
11:35 AM NYAA Update
Recording
11:55 AM NYSHS Update
Eric Brown
12:10 PM Lunch, Receive DEC Credits, and Visit Sponsors
1:10 PM Sponsor Spots
1:25 PM Update on Cold Hardiness and Tree Decline Research
Dr. Jason Londo
1:45 PM Opportunities for...
Dr. Terence Robinson
2:30 PM Issues with Fruit Color Development and Mitigation Strategies
Dr. Lailiang Cheng
2:50 PM Ways to Improve Color in your Fruit/Research Updates
Craig Kahlke
3:05 PM Break
3:20 PM GPS 101
Dr. Yu Jiang
3:40 PM Grower Experiences with Precision Irrigation
Mario Miranda Sazo and 2-3 growers (TBA)
4:25 PM Final Questions and Wrap Up
4:30 PM Adjourn
Agenda is tentative and subject to change. Session times, speakers, and topics may be updated.
Event Details
Date
February 5, 2026
Time
Sign-in 7:30am, 8:30am - 4:30pm
Location
Rootstock Cider & Spirits
3274 Eddy Rd
Williamson, NY 14853
Cost
Registration : $75.00
(addl attendee $75.00 ea.)
Late Registration after January 27th : $85.00
(addl attendee $85.00 ea.)
Host
Lake Ontario Fruit ProgramCraig Kahlke
585-735-5448
email Craig Kahlke
2026 Winter Fruit School - Wayne County
CCE-LOF are excited to bring you a return to LOF's Winter Fruit Schools, in which there will be two nearly identical programs on consecutive days in two locations in LOF's territory. We are in the process of putting together the program, and have garnered key input from our growers, businesses, and other personnel.
2 DEC credits available in categories 1a, 10, 22.
Please note registration cost increases after January 27th, Register Now!
Agenda:
7:30 AM Registration and DEC sign-in
8:30 AM Welcome & Housekeeping
Craig Kahlke
8:35 AM Sponsor Spots
8:45 AM Spring Insecticides
Shianne Lindsay
9:10 AM Grower Panel Discussion on Spring Insect Management Practices
Rob Verbridge, Tom Coene, Kevin Bittner, Ted Furber, Dr. Monique Rivera, Shianne Lindsay
9:50 AM Break
10:05 AM Sponsor Spots
10:10 AM WAA Management for 2026
Dr. Monique Rivera
10:25 AM Ambrosia Beetle Biology and Management
Dr. Monique Rivera
10:40 AM Preparing for Restrictions on Multi-Site Fungicides and 2025 UV-C Trials
Dr. Kerik Cox
11:05 AM Herbicides 101: Understanding How Weed Control Really Works
Dr. Lynn Sosnoskie
11:35 AM NYAA Update
Cynthia Haskins
11:55 AM NYSHS Update
Jim Bittner
12:10 PM Lunch, Receive DEC Credits, and Visit Sponsors
1:10 PM Sponsor Spots
1:25 PM Update on Cold Hardiness and Tree Decline Research
Dr. Jason Londo
1:45 PM Opportunities for...
Dr. Terence Robinson
2:30 PM Issues with Fruit Color Development and Mitigation Strategies
Dr. Lailiang Cheng
2:50 PM Ways to Improve Color in your Fruit/Research Updates
Craig Kahlke
3:05 PM Break
3:20 PM GPS 101
Dr. Yu Jiang
3:40 PM Grower Experiences with Precision Irrigation
Mario Miranda Sazo and 2-3 grower (TBA)
4:25 PM Final Questions and Wrap Up
4:30 PM Adjourn
Agenda is tentative and subject to change. Session times, speakers, and topics may be updated.
Apples
Apricots
Asian Pears
Blueberries
Cherries
Currants
Gooseberries
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Raspberries / Blackberries
Strawberries
Unusual Fruit
Upcoming Events
2026 Cornell Winter Fruit Webinars
January 22, 2026 : Blueberry Pruning and Soil Health to Minimize Pests and Maximize Yield
Week 1: Blueberry Pruning and Soil Health to Minimize Pests and Maximize Yield
January 29, 2026 : Cost of Production for Fruit Crops
Week 2: Cost of Production for Fruit Crops - A new tool for tree fruit, updates on berry production in NY, and strategies for tracking and using expense data.
February 12, 2026 : Fire Blight Management Updates
Week 3: Fire Blight Management Updates - Pathogen Biology, Defense Inducers, Biopesticides, and Pruning Therapies
February 19, 2026 : Pink and Petal Fall Insecticides - Can We Strike the Right Balance?
Week 4: Pink and Petal Fall Insecticides - Can We Strike the Right Balance?
March 12, 2026 : Inoculating Orchards with Mycorrhizal Fungi
Week 5: Inoculating Orchards with Mycorrhizal Fungi
March 19, 2026 : St. Peachtrick's Day - Cherry Pruning Strategies and Plum Varieties for the Northeast
Week 6: St. Peachtrick's Day - Cherry Pruning Strategies and Plum Varieties for the Northeast
Advisory Committee Meeting - Program Updates
February 26, 2026
Spencerport, NY
Join the Lake Ontario Fruit Team for programming updates and goals. This meeting is your chance to shape the research priorities of our specialists and team. Your insights are vital to delivering the most valuable resources and support to the WNY apple industry.
2026 Virtual Orchard Meetup Series
February 27, 2026 : Session 1
The Impacts of Weather on Pome Fruit Quality and Storability: Lessons from 2025
June 11, 2026 : Session 2
Details to follow.
June 18, 2026
Details to follow.
June 25, 2026 : Session 4
Details to follow.