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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Online Enrollment Form

Not an Enrollee? Enroll Now!

Online Enrollment Form

Events - month view

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January 2022

Farm Tax School Series: Tax Management for Beginning and Small Farm Businesses

January 18, 2022
7pm - 9pm

A one-night virtual meeting for beginning and part-time farmers that provides useful tax information enabling participants to be make better tax decisions for their business.   Federal and state income taxes will be covered.

Farm Tax School Series: Farm Specific Tax Code Benefits

January 25, 2022
7pm - 8:30pm

For farm businesses of all shapes and sizes, tune in to learn more about the tax advantages available for farms. This workshop will include information for the current tax season.

2022 Cornell NYS Tree Fruit Conference

Event Offers DEC Credits

January 27, 2022 : Day 1
TBA
Online

CCE-LOF are excited to bring you another winter tree fruit conference in concert with our counterparts in Eastern NY, CCE-ENYCHP. While we held out hope as long as we could for a live event, we had to stay virtual, but we feel this program is very strong and will allow more attendees the flexibility to attend from their own homes/offices. We listened to your feedback from our conference last winter and we've made modifications. The conference will be two days instead of three, with more time for breaks.

2022 Cornell NYS Tree Fruit Conference

Event Offers DEC Credits

January 28, 2022 : Day 2
TBA
Online

CCE-LOF are excited to bring you another winter tree fruit conference in concert with our counterparts in Eastern NY, CCE-ENYCHP. While we held out hope as long as we could for a live event, we had to stay virtual, but we feel this program is very strong and will allow more attendees the flexibility to attend from their own homes/offices. We listened to your feedback from our conference last winter and we've made modifications. The conference will be two days instead of three, with more time for breaks.

February 2022

NEWA 3.0 Tutorial

February 7, 2022
9am - 12:30pm
Online via Zoom

The new NEWA 3.0 system is online (https://newa.cornell.edu/), and 2022 will be the first year when you will not be able to use the old version. If you have not yet looked at the new website, or if you have looked at it but weren't sure how to best use it, the "NEWA 3.0 Tutorial Online Workshop" is perfect for you.

Financial Future - Futuro Financiero Classes for Western New York Agricultural Managers and Supervisors

February 10, 2022 : Day 1 - Class
9am - 4pm
TBD once participants have registered - Orleans, Monroe, or Wayne County

Financial Future - Futuro Financiero Classes for Western New York Agricultural Managers and Supervisors

Coming to Western New York Winter 2022!

Promoting the development of leadership skills among key employees is an investment in a business owner's most valuable resource - employees! Futuro Financiero is a 5-week professional development program specifically designed to increase leadership and managerial skill-sets, while increasing overall confidence in English language communication.

Futuro Financiero graduates are agricultural professionals, who posses the skills necessary to efficiently manage multi-lingual farm work teams. Participating farm businesses value and promote mutual respect and deeper cultural understanding throughout the workforce. This concept is particularly important where English and Spanish speakers convene to grow and harvest New York State's finest!

EligibilityOpen to all commodities. Spanish-speaking and aspiring Ag managers and farm employees in NYS. The Winter 2022 course will be held in the Western New York Lake Ontario Region. Please contact us for future course locations.


Invierno 2022: Clases de Futuro Financiero para Gerentes Agrícolas y Supervisores del Oeste del Estado de Nueva York

!Proximamente en el Oeste de Nueva York en el invierno de 2022!

¡Promover el desarrollo de habilidades de liderazgo entre los empleados clave es una inversión en el recurso más valioso de un empresario- sus empleados!. Futuro Financiero es un programa de desarrollo profesional de 5 semanas, específicamente diseñado para aumentar las habilidades de liderazgo y gestión empresarial, al mismo tiempo que incrementa la confianza de comunicarse en inglés de los empleados que no hablan inglés como primera lengua.

Los graduados de Futuro Financiero son profesionales de la agricultura, que poseen las habilidades necesarias para gestionar eficazmente equipos de trabajo agrícolas multilingües. Las empresas agrícolas participantes valoran y promueven el respeto mutuo y un mayor entendimiento cultural en toda su fuerza laboral. Siendo este concepto especialmente importante en los casos en los que hablantes de inglés y de español se reúnen para cultivar y cosechar lo mejor del Estado de Nueva York.

Requisitos: Abierto a todas las empresas agrícolas sin importar su rubro de producción; empresas que desean mejorar las habilidades de sus gerentes o mandos medios que hablan español o que cuentan con empleados aspirantes a gerentes agrícolas. El curso de invierno de 2022 se llevara a cabo en la región del Lago Ontario del Oeste de Nueva York. Por favor, póngase en contacto con nosotros para proporcionarles información sobre los lugares y ubicación del curso.

Financial Future - Futuro Financiero Classes for Western New York Agricultural Managers and Supervisors

February 17, 2022 : Day 2 - Class
9am - 4pm
TBD once participants have registered - Orleans, Monroe, or Wayne County

March 2022

Apple R2F Webinar on Rootstock

March 1, 2022
11am - 4pm EST
Webinar

Apple R2F Webinar on Rootstock

The Cornell Fruit Team is pleased to announce a nationwide SCRI Apple Root to Fruit (R2F) webinar for apple growers, extension educators, and crop consultants on Tuesday March 1st,2022, 11am-4pm (Eastern Time). This free webinar will provide an opportunity to learn new findings on rootstock and nutrition for managing 'Honeycrisp' and other high value varieties in the Pacific Northwest and Eastern U.S.

Financial Future - Futuro Financiero Classes for Western New York Agricultural Managers and Supervisors

March 3, 2022 : Day 3 - Class
9am - 4pm
TBD once participants have registered - Orleans, Monroe, or Wayne County

Financial Future - Futuro Financiero Classes for Western New York Agricultural Managers and Supervisors

March 5, 2022 : Day 4 - Graduation
4 - 7pm
TBA

2022 NYS Certified Pesticide Applicator License Pre-Exam Training

March 8, 2022 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 1
Registration 8am, 8:30am - 12:30pm
Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension
Albion, NY

Previously known as DEC Certified Pesticide Applicator License Pre-Exam Training.

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.

Biological Orchard IPM Tactics Webinar

March 14, 2022
1:30pm - 3:00pm
Webinar

Biological Orchard IPM Tactics Webinar

Cornell Cooperative Extension ENYCHP and LOFP are presenting a webinar on biological orchard IPM tactics. Julianna Wilson of MSU Extension will present on mating disruption and biological insecticide options, while Dr. Kerik Cox will review what's available for biological control of diseases.

2022 NYS Certified Pesticide Applicator License Pre-Exam Training

March 15, 2022 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 2
Registration 8am, 8:30am - 12:30pm
Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension
Albion, NY

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.

2022 Pruning Workshops

March 16, 2022 : English Language Pruning Workshop
10:30am - 12pm
Kast Farms, Inc
Albion, NY

Join Dr. Terence Robinson and Mario Miranda Sazo for this pruning demonstration presented in English.

2022 Pruning Workshops

March 16, 2022 : Spanish Language Pruning Workshop
1:30pm - 3pm
Ledge Rock Farms, LLC.
Medina, NY

Join Mario Miranda Sazo for this pruning demonstration presented in Spanish.

What's New in Crop Load Management

March 18, 2022
1:30pm - 4:45pm
Webinar

Cornell Cooperative Extension ENYCHP and LOFP are presenting a webinar on what's new in crop load management. Speakers will be joining us from NYSIPM, Cornell University, Michigan State University, and Valent USA. Topics will include NEWA crop load management tools, including the Pollen Tube Growth Model, the Carbohydrate Thinning Model, and the Fruit Growth Rate Model.  We will also discuss the future of precision crop load management with computer vision technologies, and new materials you will soon be able to incorporate into your apple thinning programs.  For those growing peaches, Dr. Anna Wallis will present on thinning with ACC, the first chemical thinner commercially available for stone fruits.

DEC Certified Pesticide Applicator License Exam

March 22, 2022
8:30am
Orleans County Cornell Cooperative Extension
Albion, NY

A Certification Exam will be administered on March 22 at 8:30am by the DEC to Qualified Applicants. 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 Avon DEC office (607) 622-8264.

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 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.

Announcements

2026 NY Apple Pathology Season: Apple Scab Updates

Apple Scab 2026 Updates Text for news letters and videos:
https://blogs.cornell.edu/coxlab/


2026 Beginning Farmer Competitive Grant Program

2026 Beginning Farmer Competitive Grant Program
$1.7 Million Available for New York Beginning Farmers
New York Farm Viability Institute is pleased to announce that the 2026 NYS Beginning Farmer Competitive Grant Program (BFCG) is now open as of March 16. The BFCG is a competitive funding opportunity administered in partnership with the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets. The program will provide 1.7 million to support beginning farmers in building financially sustainable, independent, commercial agricultural enterprises throughout New York State. RFP closes on June 14, 2026.
Additional details on the project including applicant eligibility, supported project activities, and upcoming informational webinars can be found here: 2026 Beginning Farmer Competitive Grant Program - NYFVI.ORG https://nyfvi.org/grant-programs/producer-grants/beginning-farmer/2026-bf/


SPARC Orchard Roundup Podcast

Check out the first SPARC Orchard Roundup episode. In less than 15 minutes you'll get a sense for what we are seeing across regions in terms of bud stage, flower bud phenology, return bloom, and bud survival. You'll also hear about how phenology varies north to south within each state, and some tips on what weather patterns this winter (past for some, still occurring for others) and spring contributed to what we are seeing.

Find and follow the SPARC Orchard Roundup podcast on your preferred platform. We are on Spotify, Apple, Podcast Index, Podcast Addict, Podchaser, Pocket Casts, Listen Notes, and Player FM.

For links to more ways to listen and the full article visit https://treefruit.wsu.edu/article/whats-budding-across-the-country/

Cornell Crop and Pest Management Guidelines

Cornell Integrated Pest Management has announced a pause in Crop and Pest Management Guideline production for 2026 to allow time to restructure and modernize the program for the future.

The 2025 editions will remain available through the Cornell Store (print while supplies last; online versions available until 2027). https://www.cornellstore.com/books/cornell-cooperative-ext-pmep-guidelines?page=1

An exception is the 2026-2027 New York/New England Greenhouse/Herbaceous Ornamentals Guidelines, which will be published as planned.

Updates will be shared as progress continues.

2026 Respirator Fit Testing!

2026 Respirator Fit Testing Opportunities:

To help ensure a comfortable and well-coordinated clinic for all participants, event time and location details will be provided at the time of registration.

April 2026 - Wayne County - is full for additional testing opportunities contact URMC or NYCAMH

May 2026 - Orleans County - Registration Open Now - https://www.nycamh.org/services/training/respirator-fit-testing/



Clean Sweep NY

The Spring 2026 collection will take place from May 5-8, 2026, in Western, New York. For more information about CleanSweepNY or to request a registration form for the Spring 2026 collection, please email (cleansweep@dec.ny.gov) or call 518-225-8146.

Tuesday, May 5 - Depew (Erie County)
Wednesday, May 6 - Lockport (Niagara County)
Thursday, May 7 - Spencerport (Monroe County)
Friday, May 8 - Waterloo (Seneca County)

More information about CleanSweepNY can be found at https://dec.ny.gov/environmental-protection/pesticides/special-initiatives


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.

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

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 & Materials


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.