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

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  • Helpful Diagnostic Tool:
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Events - month view

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April 2018

20 Minute Farm Manager

April 2 - April 11, 2018
12:00-12:30

20 Minute Farm Manager
Join us for our April lunch and learn series featuring the best of the Good to Great in Ag Labor Management Series.  Each webinar will take about 20 minutes and provide tips and resources to help you get off to a great start with your employees this spring.  Pre-registration is required but the program is free.

Statewide Honeycrisp Sensory Evaluation - Niagara/Orleans & Eastern NY Blocks

April 4, 2018
10 AM - 2 PM
Geneva, NY

Growers and collaborators,

As most of you know, I've been working on a statewide precision harvest management experiment, that is a continuation of Terence Robinson's work with some modifications. It focuses on Honeycrisp within the 3 main production regions of the state, in which all of some of you were involved.

The main goal of this experiment is to develop guidelines for precision harvest management by determining if Honeycrisp orchards can be evaluated at harvest for storage potential using fruit dry matter content, fruit mineral (peel and flesh) content, the DA meter, and piecing together complex block histories and cultural practices.

2018 Worker Protection Standard Training & DEC Special Permit Training (Wayne County)

April 4, 2018
8:30 AM - 12:30 PM English Session / 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM Spanish Session
Newark, NY

2018 Worker Protection Standard Training & DEC Special Permit Training (Wayne County)
Just like last year, Special Permits (SP) will only be issued for 11 specific pesticide labels and SP trainees will have to pass a test. This will relieve the certified pesticide applicator from "on-site within voice contact" supervision of non-certified pesticide applicators when they are handling federally-restricted-use pesticides for which they hold a Special Permit. The labels that will be covered include Lorsban Advanced, Endigo ZC, Warrior II with Zeon Technology, Agri-Mek SC, Beseige, Gramoxone SL 2.0, Leverage 360, Danitol 2.4EC, Mustang Maxx, Asana XL, and Lannate LV.

Workers requiring general pesticide training/Agricultural Worker Protection Standard Handler training who do not need special permits are welcome to take the class; they will not be tested and will receive a course participation certificate.

Statewide Honeycrisp Sensory Evaluation - Wayne County Blocks

April 5, 2018
10 AM - 2 PM
Geneva, NY

Growers and collaborators,

As most of you know, I've been working on a statewide precision harvest management experiment, that is a continuation of Terence Robinson's work with some modifications. It focuses on Honeycrisp within the 3 main production regions of the state, in which all of some of you were involved.

The main goal of this experiment is to develop guidelines for precision harvest management by determining if Honeycrisp orchards can be evaluated at harvest for storage potential using fruit dry matter content, fruit mineral (peel and flesh) content, the DA meter, and piecing together complex block histories and cultural practices.


2018 Worker Protection Standard Training & DEC Special Permit Training (Orleans County)

April 5, 2018
8:30 AM - 12:00 PM English & Spanish sessions
Albion, NY

2018 Worker Protection Standard Training & DEC Special Permit Training (Orleans County)
Just like last year, Special Permits (SP) will only be issued for 11 specific pesticide labels and SP trainees will have to pass a test. This will relieve the certified pesticide applicator from "on-site within voice contact" supervision of non-certified pesticide applicators when they are handling federally-restricted-use pesticides for which they hold a Special Permit. The labels that will be covered include Lorsban Advanced, Endigo ZC, Warrior II with Zeon Technology, Agri-Mek SC, Beseige, Gramoxone SL 2.0, Leverage 360, Danitol 2.4EC, Mustang Maxx, Asana XL, and Lannate LV.

Workers requiring general pesticide training/Agricultural Worker Protection Standard Handler training who do not need special permits are welcome to take the class; they will not be tested and will receive a course participation certificate.

May 2018

FSMA 7 Hour Grower Training Course Plus optional 2nd Day Farm Food Safety Plan Writing Workshop

May 2, 2018 : FSMA 7 Hour Grower Training Course

May 3, 2018 : Optional Farm Food Safety Plan Writing Workshop

FSMA 7 Hour Grower Training Course
This program is for fruit and vegetable growers who need Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) certification or GAPs/HGAPs (Good Agricultural Practices/ Harmonized Good Agricultural Practices) training required by buyers (i.e. 3rd-party food safety audits based on a written food safety plan) or if you are just interested in learning about produce safety.

Over the course of the training, certified Produce Safety Alliance trainers will cover content contained in these seven modules:
  • Introduction to Produce Safety
  • Worker Health, Hygiene, and Training
  • Soil Amendments
  • Wildlife, Domesticated Animals, and Land Use 
  • Agricultural Water (Part I: Production Water; Part II: Postharvest Water) 
  • Postharvest Handling and Sanitation 
  • How to Develop a Farm Food Safety Plan
An optional farm food safety plan writing workshop is offered on May 3. Separate registration required.

20 Minute Ag Manager Webinars: Basic Farm Finances

May 15, 2018
12-12:30 PM

20 Minute Ag Manager Webinars: Basic Farm Finances
Setting Up Your Farm's Accounts in Your Financial System

Part of a 20 minute lunchtime webinar series held on Tuesdays this summer covering farm business management topics.  

20 Minute Ag Manager Webinars: Basic Farm Finances (Pt.II)

May 22, 2018
12-12:30 PM

20 Minute Ag Manager Webinars: Basic Farm Finances (Pt.II)
Understanding Depreciation

Part of a 20 minute lunchtime webinar series held on Tuesdays this summer covering farm business management topics. 

20 Minute Ag Manager Webinars: Basic Farm Finances (Pt.III)

May 29, 2018
12-12:30 PM

20 Minute Ag Manager Webinars: Basic Farm Finances (Pt.III)
Understanding Assets and Liabilities vs Income and Expenses

Part of a 20 minute lunchtime webinar series held on Tuesdays this summer covering farm business management topics.  

June 2018

20 Minute Ag Manager Webinars: NYS Ag Assessment 101

June 5, 2018
12-12:30 PM

20 Minute Ag Manager Webinars: NYS Ag Assessment 101
20 minute lunchtime webinars will be held on Tuesdays this summer covering farm business management topics.

20 Minute Ag Manager Webinars: Local Zoning 101

June 12, 2018
12-12:30 PM

20 Minute Ag Manager Webinars: Local Zoning 101
20 minute lunchtime webinars will be held on Tuesdays this summer covering farm business management topics.  

20 Minute Ag Manager Webinars: NYS Ag Districts 101

June 19, 2018
12-12:30 PM

20 Minute Ag Manager Webinars: NYS Ag Districts 101
20 minute lunchtime webinars will be held on Tuesdays this summer covering farm business management topics.  

20 Minute Ag Manager Webinars: Using On-line Data and Maps to Assess a Property Remotely

June 26, 2018
12-12:30 PM

20 Minute Ag Manager Webinars: Using On-line Data and Maps to Assess a Property Remotely
20 minute lunchtime webinars will be held on Tuesdays this summer covering farm business management topics.

Garlic Twilight Meeting

June 28, 2018
5pm-7pm
Hurley, NY

Garlic Twilight Meeting
During this field meeting see various cultural techniques to minimize fusarium demonstrated on a field level, including black plastic and white plastic mulches compared to straw and bare ground. We will also have a discussion of allium leaf miner management!

This event is free thanks to the generous support of Northeast SARE, but registration is appreciated.

Controlling Listeria in Apple Packinghouses

June 28, 2018
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Highland, NY

The program has been developed by Ms. Genevieve Sullivan, a Ph.D. student with Dr. Martin Wiedmann's Food Safety Lab at Cornell University. Topics covered will include: FSMA as it relates to fruit packing facilities; The biology of Listeria monocytogenes, including impacts and risk factors; and the practical aspects of packing house sanitation.

Attention Champlain Growers:  We will be hosting a similar event in the northern part of the region in late July.  More details to come! 

Controlling Listeria in Apple Packinghouses: Champlain Valley

June 28, 2018
8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Highland, NY

The program has been developed by Ms. Genevieve Sullivan, a Ph.D. student with Dr. Martin Wiedmann's Food Safety Lab at Cornell University. Topics covered will include: FSMA as it relates to fruit packing facilities; The biology of Listeria monocytogenes, including impacts and risk factors; and the practical aspects of packing house sanitation.

Attention Champlain Growers:  We will be hosting a similar event in the northern part of the region in late July.  More details to come! 

2018 CCE LOF PGR Orchard Tour

June 29, 2018
8am - 1:30pm; lunch & celebration 2-5pm
Geneva, NY

We invite you to attend the talk titled "Understanding the Use of Plant Growth Regulators (PGRs) on Growth and Development of Fruit Trees" (Poliana Francescatto, NYSAES, Geneva), followed by a tour of her research plots at the NYSAES on Friday June 29, from 8am until 1:30pm. Following the tour, there will be a lunch buffet and a grower celebration to honor Poliana's work accomplishments at the Ramada Lakefront Hotel in Geneva from 2-5pm. Pre-register by 25 June 2018
View Details for more information and registration.

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

2024 LOF Advisory Committee Meeting - WNY Winter Fruit Conference Topics

December 6, 2024
Rochester, NY

Please join us for our winter advisory meeting, join the team and provide input for the 3rd Annual WNY Tree Fruit Conference on February 4-5 in Rochester. Please pre-register by December 2th.

Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course Yates County

December 18, 2024
Penn Yan, NY

Fruit and vegetable growers and others interested in learning about produce safety as well as growers who are covered by the FSMA Produce Safety Rule or who anticipate being covered in the future should consider taking this course.

The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in ยง 112.22(c) that requires 'At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.'

From Seed to Success: Turn Your Idea into an Actionable Plan

January 7, 2025 : Session 1: The 30,000-foot view, what are you trying to accomplish? What resources do you have?

Unit 1: Introduction to Business Planning and the Business Plan (Liz Higgins)

  • Session 1: The 30,000-foot view, what are you trying to accomplish? What resources do you have?

January 14, 2025 : Session 2: Introduction to Project Management

Unit 1: Introduction to Business Planning and the Business Plan (Liz Higgins)

  • Session 2: Introduction to Project Management

January 21, 2025 : Session 3: How Business Planning Becomes a Business Plan

Unit 1: Introduction to Business Planning and the Business Plan (Liz Higgins)

  • Session 3: How Business Planning Becomes a Business Plan

January 28, 2025 : Session 4: Your Market and Your Competition

Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Plan for Your Farm (Bonnie Nelsen)

 Session 4: Your Market and Your Competition


February 4, 2025 : Session 5: Revenue and Product Mix to Achieve Your Goals

Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Plan for Your Farm (Bonnie Nelsen)

  • Session 5:  Revenue and Product Mix to Achieve Your Goals

February 11, 2025 : Session 6: Marketing Plan and Evaluation of Marketing Efforts

Unit 2: Developing a Marketing Plan for Your Farm (Bonnie Nelsen)

  • Session 6: Marketing Plan and Evaluation of Marketing Efforts

February 18, 2025 : Session 7: The Basics of Financial Statements

Unit 3: Developing a Financial Plan for Your Farm Business (Steve Hadcock)

  • Session 7: The Basics of Financial Statements


February 25, 2025 : Session 8: Enhancing Confidence in Your Numbers

Unit 3: Developing a Financial Plan for Your Farm Business (Steve Hadcock)

  • Session 8: Enhancing Confidence in Your Numbers



March 4, 2025 : Session 9: Using Financial Statements and Financial Information to Plan and Evaluate an Enterprise

Unit 3: Developing a Financial Plan for Your Farm Business (Steve Hadcock)

  • Session 9: Using Financial Statements and Financial Information to Plan and Evaluate an Enterprise

Announcements

Fire blight management survey

Understanding your perspective on fire blight management systems.

Your input on fire blight management systems is crucial for guiding future research efforts - please help us out by completing a quick survey at https://opinion.wsu.edu/AppleManagement/

Hearing your views and experience from the field will be very valuable in making our research and recommendations realistic and actionable. PLUS you will receive an electronic gift card for $25. The survey will only take 20 min of your time.

Your opinions are important to us, even if you did not have issues with fire blight control and antibiotic resistance in your orchard.


Business Updates



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

2024 Events:

6 Dec - Lake Ontario Fruit Program Advisory Committee Meeting - 10am -2pm, Gates Public Library, register now 


2025 Events:


17 Jan - 27 Feb - Ag Supervisory Leadership Course 104 - Register Now

Feb 4-5, 2025 - Western NY Fruit Conference - DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel, Rochester

7 & 8 May - 2025 Respirator Fit Testing Clinics - CCE Orleans


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

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:




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.