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

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Online Enrollment Form

Events - month view

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February 2015

2015 Lake Ontario Winter Fruit School

Event Offers DEC Credits

February 2, 2015
8:00 am 4:00 pm
Lockport, NY

2015 Lake Ontario Winter Fruit School
The LOF Winter School is an opportunity to provide updates on recent research results, new pest issues, disease control, new technologies, and fruit supply topics to help growers continue to compete and produce high quality fruit. There are several guest speakers from Cornell faculty, and the team. This is a duplicate school held in Wayne County on Feb. 3, 2015. There is also a concurrent session  for Spanish speaking employees at the same locations.  Lunch is included in the cost of registration. Please click here for complete schedule.  To register by mail, click here.  To register online, click here.  To sponsor winter fruit schools online, click "Sponsorship."

2015 Lake Ontario Winter Fruit School

Event Offers DEC Credits

February 3, 2015
8:00 am 4:00 pm
Newark, NY

2015 Lake Ontario Winter Fruit School
The LOF Winter School is an opportunity to provide updates on recent research results, new pest issues, disease control, new technologies, and fruit supply topics to help growers continue to compete and produce high quality fruit. There are several guest speakers from Cornell faculty, and the team. This is a duplicate school held in Niagara County on Feb. 2, 2015. There is also a concurrent session for Spanish speaking employees at the same locations. Lunch is included in the cost of registration. Please click here for complete schedule. To register by mail, click here. To register online, click here. To sponsor winter fruit schools online, click "Sponsorship."

Updated Farm Food Safety (GAPs) Training for Produce Growers

February 9 - February 10, 2015
8:30 AM Registration, program Runs 9 AM - 4 PM Both Days
Arcade, NY

Are you a farmer interested in produce safety? Are your markets asking for food safety plans or third party verification? Do you want to understand produce safety issues and Good Agricultural Practices as well as the FSMA proposed Produce Rule and third party audits? If so, join us for this multi-day workshop on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) and leave with a farm food safety plan for YOUR farm!

Farm Food Safety Training with GAPs

February 10 - February 11, 2015
8:30 AM Registration, program Runs 9 AM - 3:30 PM Both Days
Holtsville, NY

Farm Food Safety Training with GAPs
• Tuesday, February 10, 8:30 AM - Wednesday, February 11@ 3:30 PM
Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Cornell Vegetable Program, the Lake Ontario Fruit Team, the Produce Safety Alliance, and the Cornell National GAPs program, with assistance from the New York Department of Agriculture & Markets, will be hosting a training for farm food safety or Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), including Harmonized GAPs.
In recent years, several food borne illness outbreaks in produce have made national news. Both the produce industry and the federal government have stepped up demands for fruit and vegetable farms to meet food safety practice standards. These standards are known as GAPs (Good Agricultural Practices).
A new program, Harmonized GAPs, has been developed to combine several food safety certifications into one program. New York's retail produce buyers are asking growers to adopt Harmonized GAPs certification in many cases. In response, Cornell National GAPs Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension have developed a multi-day workshop.
Tuesday, February 10
• What is GAPs?
• How does GAPs work?
• What does it mean for my farming operation?
Wednesday, February 11
• Write a farm food safety plan for your farm*

*A laptop computer is required for the second day. If you are not computer savvy, please bring a person with you that has computer knowledge and skills. If you need to borrow a computer please indicate so on the registration form.
Optional supplemental session
• Mock audit (at a participant's farm during the growing season)



CCE LOF Winter Pruning and Orchard Mechanization Tour in Orleans County

February 12, 2015
8:15-8:30 AM: Registration. Just drive in at registration and follow the Cornell Fruit Event signs!
Medina, NY

Learn on-site the concept of precision pruning and get new orchard mechanization ideas for your farm this winter. This second “Winter Pruning and Orchard Mechanization Tour” is an educational activity sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell University. 
 
Thanks to our three Sponsors (LaGasse Works, N.M. Bartlett Company, and Infaco) there is no charge to attend and lunch will be provided at the end of the tour! Just drive in at registration and follow the Cornell Fruit Event signs! 

Please pre-register by Monday February 9 so we have enough lunches. Pre-registration is mandatory for this event. Please call, or email, Kim Hazel at to register: 585-798-4265 x 26, or krh5@cornell.edu . Please also let us know how many Spanish-speaking employees you are planning to bring for this event. 

March 2015

Pesticide Certification Training & Exam

March 17 - March 20, 2015
Newark, NY

Wayne County Pre-Exam Training to Become a Certified Pesticide Applicator Offered by LOF and NWNY teams, Wayne CCE, and DEC.
Training Classes:
When: Tues., March 17 & Thur., March 19, 2015
           12:30 pm - 4:30 pm
           Registration begins at 12:00 pm
Where: 1581 Rt 88N, Newark, NY 14513
The Certification Exam is tentatively scheduled for Friday, March 20, 2015 @12:30- 4:00pm. Register directly with DEC to take the exam.

April 2015

DEC Special Permit Training in Wayne Co.

April 8, 2015
8:30 AM - 12 PM English Session & 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM Spanish Session
Newark, NY

DEC Special Permit Training in Wayne Co.
DEC Special Permit allows non-certified workers to apply and handle federally restricted use pesticides.
A DEC Special Permit is valid for one year and needs to be renewed every year unless the pesticide applicator becomes certified.

A DEC Special Permit is valid for one year and needs to be renewed every year unless the pesticide applicator becomes certified.  Please bring green "WPS Handler" cards.
  Please pre-register your non-certified applicators for this training by April 3 using the registration form (click here)

DEC Special Permit Training in Orleans Co.

April 9, 2015
8:30 AM - 12 PM English Session & 12:30 PM - 4:30 PM Spanish Session
Albion, NY

DEC Special Permit Training in Orleans Co.
DEC Special Permit allows non-certified workers to apply and handle federally restricted use pesticides.
A DEC Special Permit is valid for one year and needs to be renewed every year unless the pesticide applicator becomes certified.

A DEC Special Permit is valid for one year and needs to be renewed every year unless the pesticide applicator becomes certified.  Please bring green "WPS Handler" cards.
Please pre-register your non-certified applicators for this training by April 3 using the registration form (click here)

2015 NY State Wide Precision Chemical Thinning Training

April 29, 2015
2pm-4pm
Geneva, NY

2015 NY State Wide Precision Chemical Thinning Training

This year we want to educate and help more growers to be as stress-free as possible during the chemical thinning season. This training - the last one conducted by Dr. Robinson before his sabbatical leave- will be conducted at the Agricultural Research Station in Geneva on Wednesday April 29 from 2pm until 4pm (Jordan Hall staff room).

The training will also be broadcasted via WebEx to the CCE Orleans office and to remote users this year.


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 Tree Fruit Scouting Online Course

Event Offers DEC Credits

February 25, 2026 : Week 1 - IPM Fundamentals + Tools

This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season.  Register by February 18th.


Event Offers DEC Credits

March 4, 2026 : Week 2 - Insects: Part 1

This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season.  Register by February 18th.


Event Offers DEC Credits

March 11, 2026 : Week 3 - Insects: Part 2

This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season.  Register by February 18th.


Event Offers DEC Credits

March 18, 2026 : Week 4 - Diseases

This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season.  Register by February 18th.


Event Offers DEC Credits

March 25, 2026 : Week 5 - Weeds, Wildlife, + Wrap-Up

This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach. This course is FREE and provides an annual opportunity for growers to refresh their knowledge in advance of the growing season.  Register by February 18th.

Northeast Fruit Consortium Winter Webinar Series

Event Offers DEC Credits

February 4, 2026 : Management of Up and Coming Strawberry Diseases in the Northeastern United States


February 11, 2026 : Kiwiberry Production in the Northeast


February 18, 2026 : Apple Color and Sunburn


Event Offers DEC Credits

February 25, 2026 : The Dating Game; Updates in Lepidopteran Mating Disruption


Event Offers DEC Credits

March 4, 2026 : Update: USEPA Endangered Species Act and Implications for Pesticide Use


March 11, 2026 : Practical Drought Management for Fruit Growers

2026 Orleans County - DEC Certified Pesticide Applicator License Pre-Exam Training

March 9, 2026 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 1
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.


March 13, 2026 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 2
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.

Announcements

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.

2026 Winter Fruit School Survey Link

2026 Winter Fruit School Survey

If you attended the 2026 Winter Fruit School. Please take a moment and let us know what you liked and how you think we can improve this event.

Event Survey Link https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3Otvd7ylJ106HLo

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

4 Mar - Tree Fruit Scouting Online Course: Week 2 - 4:30 - 6pm, Online, Free

9 Mar - DEC Certified Pesticide Applicator License Pre-Exam Training Day 1 - 8:15am - 12:30pm, CCE Orleans, Reserve by March 1!


11 Mar - 2026 USDA-SCRI SPARC Heat School - 11:30am - 5:40pm, Wenatchee, WA, In-person learning hub in Waterport, NY, & Virtual.

11 Mar - Tree Fruit Scouting Online Course: Week 3 - 4:30 - 6pm, Online, Free

12 Mar - 2026 Cornell Winter Fruit Webinars: Inoculating Orchards with Mycorrhizal Fungi - 11am - 12:30pm, Online, Register Now!


16 Mar - DEC Certified Pesticide Applicator License Exam - 8:30am, CCE Orleans, Register with DEC by March 1st!

18 Mar - Postharvest Water Management, Sanitation, and Traceability Workshop - 9am - 4pm, CCE Orleans, Register Now! 2.75 DEC Credits available in 10,1a,22,23.

18 Mar - Tree Fruit Scouting Online Course: Week 4 - 4:30 - 6pm, Online, Free

19 Mar - 2026 Cornell Winter Fruit Webinars: St. Peachtrick's Day - Cherry Pruning Strategies and Plum Varieties for the Northeast - 11am - 12:30pm, Online, Register Now!

20 Mar - Harmonized GAP Plus+ Plan Writing Session - 7:30am Sign-in, CCE Wayne, Register Now!

24 Mar - Pesticide Applicators Review Course & Exam - Day 1 - 9am - 1pm, CCE Wayne, Register Now!

25 Mar - Tree Fruit Scouting Online Course: Week 5 - 4:30 - 6pm, Online, Free


2 Apr - DEC Certified Pesticide Applicator License Exam - 9am, CCE Wayne, Register Now!

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

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.