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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Events - month view

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December 2022

Farm Food Safety Meeting

December 5, 2022
9am - 4pm
Wayne CCE Building
Newark, NY

Farm Food Safety Meeting

This meeting will focus on updates and key considerations in farm food safety. Topics to be covered include agricultural water quality assessments, traceability procedures, tips for improving flow and efficiency in wash/pack facilities, cleaning and sanitation updates, plus plenty of discussion to answer your questions. 

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? Zoom Series

December 5, 2022 : Looking at the Big Financial Picture for Your Farm
12:30-1:30
Zoom (Online Webinar)

Your farm's big-3 financial records (balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flow) and how to use them to assess your overall financial situation. This information will help you assess what types of investments are likely to be viable for your farm business and whether or not you are likely to be able to use credit to finance that investment.  We will specifically cover Farm Profitability, Cash Flow, and Key Financial Ratios.

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? Zoom Series

December 5, 2022 : Looking at the Big Financial Picture for Your Farm
12:30 - 1:30pm
Online, Registration Required for this Free Webinar Series

Your farm's big-3 financial records (balance sheet, income statement and statement of cash flow) and how to use them to assess your overall financial situation. This information will help you assess what types of investments are likely to be viable for your farm business and whether or not you are likely to be able to use credit to finance that investment.  We will specifically cover Farm Profitability, Cash Flow, and Key Financial Ratios.

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? Zoom Series

December 6, 2022 : Business Strategy and the Farm Business Value Chain
12:30 - 1:30pm
Webinar

How do you create value?  How do you differentiate yourself from your competitors?  In other words - what is your farm's business strategy?  Your investments should be in line with your strategy.  Different business strategies will result in investments in different parts of the Farm Business Value Chain.  Farm Business Value Chain - full range of activities needed to create a product or service.

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? Zoom Series

December 6, 2022 : Business Strategy and the Farm Value Chain
12:30-1:30
Zoom (online class)

How do you create value?  How do you differentiate yourself from your competitors?  In other words - what is your farm's business strategy?  Your investments should be in line with your strategy.  Different business strategies will result in investments in different parts of the Farm Business Value Chain.  Farm Business Value Chain - full range of activities needed to create a product or service.

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? Zoom Series

December 7, 2022 : Using Your Farm's Financial Data to Make Management Decisions
12:30 - 1:30pm
Webinar

Identifying the Enterprises in Your Value Chain.  Your Profit Centers and Cost Centers.  We will cover: Direct vs Indirect Costs and Cost Allocation and Variable vs Fixed Costs and Relevant Range (when does a fixed cost become a variable cost?)

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? Zoom Series

December 7, 2022 : Using Your Farm's Financial Data to Make Management Decisions
12:30-1:30
Zoom (online class)

Identifying the Enterprises in Your Value Chain.  Your Profit Centers and Cost Centers.  We will cover: Direct vs Indirect Costs and Cost Allocation and Variable vs Fixed Costs and Relevant Range (when does a fixed cost become a variable cost?)

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? Zoom Series

December 8, 2022 : Operating Budgets and Strategic Planning
12:30 - 1:30pm
Webinar

Operating budgets are the overall financial plan for the business.  You can use a budget based on your current situation as the base to model new scenarios.

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? Zoom Series

December 8, 2022 : Operating Budgets and Strategic Planning
12:30-1:30
Zoom (online class)

Operating budgets are the overall financial plan for the business.  You can use a budget based on your current situation as the base to model new scenarios.

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? Zoom Series

December 12, 2022 : Enterprise Budgets
12:30 - 1:30pm
Webinar

It is more time-consuming to develop detailed budgets for your enterprises, but it is worthwhile to do this for areas where you are considering making major investments.  We will demonstrate how to move from an operating budget to an enterprise budget to model specific scenarios within that enterprise. 

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? Zoom Series

December 12, 2022 : Enterprise Budgets
12:30-1:30
Zoom (online class)

It is more time-consuming to develop detailed budgets for your enterprises, but it is worthwhile to do this for area where you are considering making major investments.  We will demonstrate how to move from an operating budget to an enterprise budget to model specific scenarios within that enterprise. 

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? Zoom Series

December 13, 2022 : 5 Step Decision-making Process for Capital Projects and Long-term Investments
12:30 - 1:30pm
Webinar

Introduces a structured process for a manager to go through to decide among options for long-term investments, projects or changes to the farm business.

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? Zoom Series

December 13, 2022 : 5 Step Decision-making Process for Capital Projects and Long-term Investments
12:30-1:30
Zoom (online class)

Introduces a structured process for a manager to go through to decide among options for long-term investments, projects or changes to the farm business.

SAVE THE DATES

December 13 - December 15, 2022February 2 - February 8, 2023February 21 - February 23, 2023

Save the Dates for the following Winter Meetings:

  • NOFA NY Virtual Winter Conference, February 2-5, 2023
  • Empire State Expo, Oncenter Syracuse, February 6-7 2023
  • Becker Forum, Oncenter Syracuse, February 8, 2023
  • Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program Regional Winter Meeting, The Desmond Hotel, Albany, February 21-23, 2023 

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? Zoom Series

December 14, 2022 : Cost Volume Profit Analysis and Sensitivity Analysis
12:30 - 1:30pm
Webinar

As you change your prices, volume of sales or costs of production how does your profit change?  What is your break-even point and what output level do you need to achieve a target income? We will also cover sensitivity analysis that will help you see how your results will vary over a range of likely scenarios from best case to worst case.  This will help you assess the riskiness of your plan.

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? Zoom Series

December 14, 2022 : Cost Volume Profit Analysis and Sensitivity Analysis
12:30-1:30
Zoom (online class)

As you change your prices, volume of sales or costs of production how does your profit change?  What is your break-even point and what output level do you need to achieve a target income? We will also cover sensitivity analysis that will help you see how your results will vary over a range of likely scenarios from best case to worst case.  This will help you assess the riskiness of your plan.

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? Zoom Series

December 15, 2022 : Capital Budgeting Tools - Net Present Value, Internal Rate of Return, and Payback Period
12:30 - 1:30pm
Webinar

Capital budgeting is defined as the process used to determine whether capital assets are worth investing in. it's the process of asking: is an asset worth the resources it requires?  Capital assets are usually long-term investments like new equipment, facilities, and other infrastructure upgrades. By incorporating strategically planned capital budgeting into their financial processes, companies can more effectively determine and prioritize which projects, programs and other investment assets could be most financially beneficial in the long-term.

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? Zoom Series

December 15, 2022 : Capital Budgeting Tools - Net Present Value, Internal Rate of Return, and Payback Period
12:30-1:30
Zoom (online class)

Capital budgeting is defined as the process used to determine whether capital assets are worth investing in. it's the process of asking: is an asset worth the resources it requires?  Capital assets are usually long-term investments like new equipment, facilities, and other infrastructure upgrades. By incorporating strategically planned capital budgeting into their financial processes, companies can more effectively determine and prioritize which projects, programs and other investment assets could be most financially beneficial in the long-term.

Annual LOF Advisory Committee Meeting

December 16, 2022
10am - 3pm
Ogden Town Hall
Spencerport, NY

Annual LOF Advisory Committee Meeting

Please join us in-person for our annual winter advisory meeting where you can spend time with the team reviewing the team's educational programs and most importantly providing us feedback. Please pre-registration by December 14th at 1 PM.

CANCELLED!!! Grower Advisory Meetings

December 20 - December 21, 2022
10am - 1pm

Due to a lack of registrations, we have decided to cancel the advisory meetings scheduled for Tuesday, December 20th in Columbia County and Wednesday, December 21st in Saratoga County.  Please look for a survey coming soon in your email!


January 2023

High Tunnel Winter Greens Workshop

January 9, 2023
9am - 12pm
Zoom Webinar

Winter greens production has greatly expanded in the Northeast with increased construction of high tunnels on farms and demand for year-round local food from consumers. In this workshop, we will address common pest and disease problems that arise with winter growing, how to reduce food safety risk in your leafy greens, and tips for marketing and packaging greens to increase sales in the winter months.

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? 1-day, hands-on skills class

January 11, 2023
9am - 4pm
Orleans CCE
Albion, NY

The Eastern NY Commercial Hort Team and the Lake Ontario Fruit Team are offering a 1-day, hands-on course at 5 locations in NYS in January and February for tree fruit farms on using farm financial information and other resources to make decisions about long-term investments or changes to their business.  We will apply the techniques covered in the 8-part webinar series in December to scenarios using sample financial data from fruit farms in NYS.

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? 1-day, hands-on skills class in Western NY

January 11, 2023
9:00-4:00
CCE Orleans County
Albion, NY

The Lake Ontario Fruit Team and Eastern NY Commercial Hort Team are offering a 1-day, hands-on course for tree fruit farms on using farm financial information and other resources to make decisions about long-term investments or changes to their business.  We will apply the techniques covered in the 8-part webinar series in December to scenarios using sample financial data from fruit farms in NYS.  You will work with others in a group through a series of problems and leave with a better sense of how you can organize and interpret your own financial information to make better long-term investment decisions about your farm business.  THIS SESSION IS AT THE CCE ORLEANS COUNTY OFFICE 

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? 1-day, hands-on skills class in the Capital District

January 17, 2023
9:00-4:00
CCE Saratoga County
Ballston Spa, NY

The Eastern NY Commercial Hort Team and Lake Ontario Fruit Team are offering a 1-day, hands-on course for tree fruit farms on using farm financial information and other resources to make decisions about long-term investments or changes to their business.  We will apply the techniques covered in the 8-part webinar series in December to scenarios using sample financial data from fruit farms in NYS.  You will work with others in a group through a series of problems and leave with a better sense of how you can organize and interpret your own financial information to make better long-term investment decisions about your farm business.  THIS SESSION IS AT THE CCE SARATOGA COUNTY OFFICE 

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? 1-day, hands-on skills class

January 20, 2023
9am - 4pm
CCE Wayne County - Note New Date!
Newark, NY

The Eastern NY Commercial Hort Team and the Lake Ontario Fruit Team are offering a 1-day, hands-on course at 5 locations in NYS in January and February for tree fruit farms on using farm financial information and other resources to make decisions about long-term investments or changes to their business.  We will apply the techniques covered in the 8-part webinar series in December to scenarios using sample financial data from fruit farms in NYS.

NEW DATE! - How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? 1-day, hands-on skills class in Western NY

January 20, 2023
9:00-4:00
CCE Wayne County
Newark, NY

The Lake Ontario Fruit Team and Eastern NY Commercial Hort Team are offering a 1-day, hands-on course for tree fruit farms on using farm financial information and other resources to make decisions about long-term investments or changes to their business.  We will apply the techniques covered in the 8-part webinar series in December to scenarios using sample financial data from fruit farms in NYS.  You will work with others in a group through a series of problems and leave with a better sense of how you can organize and interpret your own financial information to make better long-term investment decisions about your farm business.  THIS SESSION IS AT THE CCE WAYNE COUNTY OFFICE 

February 2023

Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Training & Food Safety Plan-Writing Workshop

February 2 - February 3, 2023
8:45AM-~4:30PM on February 2, 8:45AM-~2PM on February 3
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Wayne County
Newark, NY

Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs) Training & Food Safety Plan-Writing Workshop

Goals of this workshop:

  • Understand how GAPs (Good Agricultural Practices) impact produce safety, and how you can improve practices on your farm to reduce the risk of microbial contamination
  • Learn the difference between a FSMA Inspection and a GAPs audit, and learn what is needed to have a USDA GAP/GHP audit and the 2 types (Basic & Harmonized)
  • Begin writing a farm food safety plan that complies with a USDA GAP/GHP Audit
  •  

This workshop is targeted at Mott's growers who need to have a successful GAP audit for the 2023 harvest. However, all farms and organizations are invited to attend.  

We will have several breaks, including a lunch break, scattered throughout the day, but feel free to step away whenever you need to. Lunch and snacks provided. Note: All times are approximate. Time spent on each topic varies depending on audience and questions/discussion. There will be time for questions at the end of each section and a final opportunity for questions when we close for the day.  

Instructors Confirmed: Craig Kahlke (CCE-LOF), Robert Hadad (CCE-CVP), Caroline Boutard-Hunt (CCE-Yates), Judy Wright (CCE-Seneca), and Representatives from NYS Dept. of Ag & Mkts.

SAVE THE DATES

December 13 - December 15, 2022February 2 - February 8, 2023February 21 - February 23, 2023

Save the Dates for the following Winter Meetings:

  • NOFA NY Virtual Winter Conference, February 2-5, 2023
  • Empire State Expo, Oncenter Syracuse, February 6-7 2023
  • Becker Forum, Oncenter Syracuse, February 8, 2023
  • Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Program Regional Winter Meeting, The Desmond Hotel, Albany, February 21-23, 2023 

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? 1-day, hands-on skills class

February 7, 2023
9am - 4pm
Cornell Hudson Valley Lab
Highland, NY

The Eastern NY Commercial Hort Team and the Lake Ontario Fruit Team are offering a 1-day, hands-on course at 5 locations in NYS in January and February for tree fruit farms on using farm financial information and other resources to make decisions about long-term investments or changes to their business.  We will apply the techniques covered in the 8-part webinar series in December to scenarios using sample financial data from fruit farms in NYS.

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? 1-day, hands-on skills class in the Hudson Valley

February 7, 2023
9:00-4:00
Cornell Hudson Valley Lab
Highland, NY

The Eastern NY Commercial Hort Team and the Lake Ontario Fruit Team are offering a 1-day, hands-on course for tree fruit farms on using farm financial information and other resources to make decisions about long-term investments or changes to their business.  We will apply the techniques covered in the 8-part webinar series in December to scenarios using sample financial data from fruit farms in NYS.  You will work with others in a group through a series of problems and leave with a better sense of how you can organize and interpret your own financial information to make better long-term investment decisions about your farm business.  THIS SESSION IS AT THE CORNELL HUDSON VALLEY LAB 

How Profitable Will My New Orchard Investment Be? 1-day, hands-on skills class in Northern NY

February 9, 2023
9:00-4:00
CCE Clinton County
Plattsburgh, NY

The Eastern NY Commercial Hort Team and the Lake Ontario Fruit Team are offering a 1-day, hands-on course for tree fruit farms on using farm financial information and other resources to make decisions about long-term investments or changes to their business.  We will apply the techniques covered in the 8-part webinar series in December to scenarios using sample financial data from fruit farms in NYS.  You will work with others in a group through a series of problems and leave with a better sense of how you can organize and interpret your own financial information to make better long-term investment decisions about your farm business.  THIS SESSION IS AT THE CCE CLINTON COUNTY OFFICE

Apple Leafcurling Midge IPM - Webinar

Event Offers DEC Credits

February 16, 2023
1:30pm - 2:35pm

In recent years, the apple leafcurling midge (ALCM) has become an increasingly problematic pest in many orchards across the northeast.

Apple Leafcurling Midge IPM Webinar

Event Offers DEC Credits

February 16, 2023
1:30pm to 2:35pm
Zoom Webinar

In recent years, the apple leafcurling midge (ALCM) has become an increasingly problematic pest in many orchards across the northeast. Due to its small size and tendency to damage the newest terminal growth, growers often don't notice there is a problem until it is too late to manage effectively. In this webinar, Kristy Grigg-McGuffin (Horticulture IPM Specialist with the Ontario Ministry of Agricultural, Food, and Rural Affairs) will discuss Ontario's experience with ALCM, including its biology, monitoring, biological control, and chemical management.

DEC Credits Available: 1 credit in categories A1, 10, 22

Register here:

https://cornell.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUvf-CuqDMjHt0rRzLXGR7LiMVeh-K6dyrO

LOF's Business Management Specialist Position Evaluations

February 17, 2023
Please arrive 5 minutes early 10:15pm - 11am & 1pm - 1:45pm
Irondequoit Public Library
Rochester, NY

Please join us in this very important process of participating in the evaluation of our 2 finalists for our Business Management Specialist position. 

2023 ENYCHP Fruit & Vegetable Conference

Event Offers DEC Credits

February 22 - February 23, 2023
The Desmond Hotel & Conference Center
Albany, NY

Join us for two days filled with informative sessions on Tree Fruit, Vegetables, Small Fruit, Grapes, and more!

Western NY Fruit Conference - "State of the Industry"

Event Offers DEC Credits

February 27 - February 28, 2023
Monday 12 PM-5PM, with optional banquet dinner. Tuesday 8AM-5PM
RIT Inn & Conference Center
Henrietta, NY

Apologies, but we are at capacity for the program on Tuesday, Feb 28. There are only Monday (half day) registrations available. If you want to register one or more from your organization for the half day program on Monday, Feb 27, please contact Natalie Mrzywka at 585-798-4265, ext. 122 or nlm53@cornell.edu ASAP.

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Nectarines

Nectarines

Peaches

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Plums

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Upcoming Events

2024 Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meetings

Event Offers DEC Credits

April 25, 2024 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meetings 1 of 4
Newark, NY

Join specialists Janet Van Zoeren, Anya Osatuke, and Anna Wallis for a conversation about fruit and berry phenology and pest management, at a new location each month.


Event Offers DEC Credits

May 30, 2024 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meetings 2 of 4
Lockport, NY

Join specialists Janet Van Zoeren, Anya Osatuke, and Anna Wallis for a conversation about fruit and berry phenology and pest management, at a new location each month.


Event Offers DEC Credits

June 27, 2024 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meetings 3 of 4
Penn Yan, NY

Join specialists Janet Van Zoeren, Anya Osatuke, and Anna Wallis for a conversation about fruit and berry phenology and pest management, at a new location each month.


Event Offers DEC Credits

July 25, 2024 : Tree Fruit & Small Fruit Twilight Meetings 4 of 4
Mexico, NY

Join specialists Janet Van Zoeren, Anya Osatuke, and Anna Wallis for a conversation about fruit and berry phenology and pest management, at a new location each month.

2nd Annual WNY Fruit Grower Tour

August 13, 2024

We are excited to announce the second annual Western New York Fruit Grower Tour, the premier fruit tour of the northeast brought to you by Cornell Cooperative Extension's Lake Ontario Fruit Program and Lake Ontario Ag Consulting, LLC!  Located in Orleans County, this orchard field day will highlight new and existing products, chemistries, practices, technologies & equipment that shape the orchard industry today. The Western NY Fruit Grower Tour will again combine two past orchard tour events, the LOF Summer Fruit Tour and the Wayne County Fruit Grower Tour, giving industry members the opportunity to conveniently showcase their product offerings to ONE unified group at ONE time and place!

Save the Date - Western NY Fruit Conference - February 4-5, 2025

Event Offers DEC Credits

February 4 - February 5, 2025 : Western NY Fruit Conference
Rochester, NY

For the 2nd year in a row, we'll be having the Western NY Fruit Conference at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel in Rochester!  It will be another 1 1/2 day conference. Stay tuned for program and registration info as we get closer.

Announcements

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


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:

15 Apr - Virtual Orchard IPM Scout Training - 2-4pm - Zoom

17 Apr - Final Special Permit Training - 1pm-5pm - Irondequoit Library, Register by 8am April 16th

22 Apr - Statewide Virtual Pink Meeting - 3pm-4:30pm - Zoom

13 Aug - 2nd Annual WNY Fruit Grower Tour - Orleans County

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



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


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



2024 Winter Fruit Webinars playlist on the NYS IPM Program YouTube Channel


PACMAN Details and Resources, Meeting Recording Links below:




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.