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

Password:

Log In To Access:

  • Issues of Fruit Newletters
  • Helpful Diagnostic Tool:
      What's wrong with my crop?

Not an Enrollee? Enroll Now!

Online Enrollment Form

Not an Enrollee? Enroll Now!

Online Enrollment Form

Greenhouse & Tunnels

Greenhouses and high tunnels can extend the growing season, reduce pest problems, better control pollination, reduce the effect of extreme weather events and the negative effects of fruit being in direct contact with precipitation.  Cornell has been working with growers on projects to determine the most effective use of these products.



Western New York locals named 2025 Good Fruit Growers of the Year

Last Modified: December 9, 2025

WNY locals named 2025 Good Fruit Growers of the Year: The DeMarrees of Williamson, New York DeMarree Fruit Farm. 

Click read details for link to full article.


NEWA weather stations moving to a new dashboard!

Last Modified: December 8, 2025

NEWA weather stations purchased through Rainwise (now owned by KestrelMet) are moving to a new dashboard!

Anyone with a weather station that was purchased through Rainwise will likely have received an email or message from the company to let them know that 'Rainwise.net Sunsets January 1, 2026'.

This will not affect your ability to connect your weather station to the NEWA network.


NYCAMH Fit Testing Requirements & Registration Details

Last Modified: October 30, 2025

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.


2025 Western New York Fruit Conference Presentations

Last Modified: February 6, 2025

Conference materials are available here.


Lake Ontario Fruit Webinar Recording & Video Links

Last Modified: July 10, 2020

Check Out Details for Links to recent LOF webinar recordings & video series.


LOF Fruit Bites

Last Modified: July 10, 2020

See details to check out quick "how to" videos on a variety of fruit and orchard topics.



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
view calendar of events

Upcoming Events

Harvest Maturity Report Subscribe Now! - Online Payment Option - Not an Event

August 12, 2026
September 15, 2026

Online subscription now available!

NERME Protecting Your Farm with Progressive Employee Discipline

November 2, 2026 : Introduction to Program and Progressive Discipline

This free, interactive series will prepare farm owners and managers to implement and use progressive employee discipline with their workforce.

Open to all farm types.  The series includes a special focus on progressive discipline systems for H-2A utilizing fruit industry farms.

November 9, 2026 : Importance of Feedback

This free, interactive series will prepare farm owners and managers to implement and use progressive employee discipline with their workforce.

Open to all farm types.  The series includes a special focus on progressive discipline systems for H-2A utilizing fruit industry farms.

November 16, 2026 : Termination

This free, interactive series will prepare farm owners and managers to implement and use progressive employee discipline with their workforce.

Open to all farm types.  The series includes a special focus on progressive discipline systems for H-2A utilizing fruit industry farms.

November 23, 2026 : Special Issues in Discipline/Termination

This free, interactive series will prepare farm owners and managers to implement and use progressive employee discipline with their workforce.

Open to all farm types.  The series includes a special focus on progressive discipline systems for H-2A utilizing fruit industry farms.

November 30, 2026 : Employee Handbooks + Labor Roadshow Kick-Off

This free, interactive series will prepare farm owners and managers to implement and use progressive employee discipline with their workforce.

Open to all farm types.  The series includes a special focus on progressive discipline systems for H-2A utilizing fruit industry farms.

Great Lake Fruit Workers Conference

November 16 - November 18, 2026
Geneva, NY

Announcements

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

16-18 Nov - Great Lakes Fruit Workers Conference - Geneva, Register Now!





Registration Error using FireFox Browser?

Registration Error using FireFox Browser?

If you're experiencing a registration error while using Firefox, please use a different browser. If you don't have one installed, download one of the following and then copy and paste this link into the browser's address bar:
 Cornell Fruit Field Day - https://lof.cce.cornell.edu/event.php?id=2208

Google Chrome: Download the official setup client directly via the official Google Chrome Download Page.
Microsoft Edge: Download the modern Chromium-based installer directly from the official Microsoft Edge Download Page.


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

2026 International Virtual Orchard Meetup Series Playlist Link


Cornell Statewide Pink Meeting Recording - https://youtu.be/cnQtklNa1i4


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:




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/

2026 NY Apple Pathology Season: Apple Scab Updates

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


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 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/


NEWA weather stations moving to a new dashboard!

NEWA weather stations purchased through Rainwise (now owned by KestrelMet) are moving to a new dashboard!



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.