Join nationally recognized scientists and extension specialists for a nationwide PACMAN webinar presenting five years of research findings and outlining emerging directions and collaborative opportunities for the next phase of the project. Playlist of PACMAN presentation recordings now available on the Lake Ontario Fruit Program YouTube channel

Week 1: Blueberry Pruning and Soil Health to Minimize Pests and Maximize Yield

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.

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.  Please note registration cost increases after January 27th, Registration Now!  

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.  Please note registration cost increases after January 27th, Registration Now!  

Week 3: Fire Blight Management Updates - Pathogen Biology, Defense Inducers, Biopesticides, and Pruning Therapies

Week 4: Pink and Petal Fall Insecticides - Can We Strike the Right Balance? 

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.

The Impacts of Weather on Pome Fruit Quality and Storability: Lessons from 2025 

This 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.

Learn about food safety on the farm! This event hosted by the Cornell Vegetable Program, Cornell Lake Ontario Fruit Team, CCE Wayne County, and the NYS Department of Agriculture, will cover good agricultural practices (GAPs) to help reduce the risk of microbial contamination on the farm, keeping food and consumers safe.

Week 5: Inoculating Orchards with Mycorrhizal Fungi

This 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.

A Certification Exam will be administered on March 16th by the DEC to Qualified Applicants. Plan to arrive by 8:30am. The fee for the exam is $100: bring a check payable to NYSDEC the day of the exam.  You must register with DEC to take the exam. To register for the exam or if you have questions regarding the Certification Process, please contact Justin Schoff at the Bath DEC office (607) 622-8290.

Cornell University personnel from the National GAPs Program and the Produce Safety Alliance are presenting a workshop on postharvest water management, sanitation, and traceability. This workshop will include a mix of short talks and hands-on activities to provide attendees with applied experience with sanitation, postharvest water, and traceability topics. 

Week 6: St. Peachtrick's Day - Cherry Pruning Strategies and Plum Varieties for the Northeast

Join us for this specialized workshop to cover requirements for this specific audit.  Commercial fruit and vegetable growers are increasingly being asked to have the Harmonized GAP Plus+ audit to satisfy some large buyer's requirements.

This 2-day course will go over the core information to help applicators pass the applicators exam, which students will take on April 2nd after the course is concluded.  *Note: This is not the 30-hour course, and you will need to meet the requirements set by the DEC to qualify for the exam.*

This 2-day course will go over the core information to help applicators pass the applicators exam, which students will take on April 2nd after the course is concluded.  *Note: This is not the 30-hour course, and you will need to meet the requirements set by the DEC to qualify for the exam.*