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?

Local Fruit Industry Employment Opportunities

January 12, 2023

If you are in the Lake Ontario Fruit Region and looking for employment or trying to source employees, the Lake Ontario Fruit Program is providing this space to help the fruit industry. Looking for employment in the Lake Ontario Fruit Region looking then be sure to check out the hiring opportunities linked below.  If you are an employer trying to find employees contact Craig Kahlke with a request and links to the available jobs and application.  

2023 Employment Opportunities:

HH Dobbins & Son looking for Niagara/Orleans County Farm Team Members:

Farm Team Members Needed:

Do you believe that you were meant to be a farmer?

Do you believe that working outdoors no matter what the weather is doing is better than a day sitting behind a desk, on the road driving all day, or in a factory setting?

If so, we might want to meet you.

We are always looking for positive, productive team members to help us operate our fruit farms. Everyday we wake up to face the challenges of growing the highest quality apples in our region. We are a growing farm, under new management, currently running about 160 acres of orchard with locations in Lyndonville, Knowlesville, and Lockport. We get to operate equipment and work outside all year round, sometimes even in bad weather. We enjoy watching our orchards evolve throughout the growing season and taking care of them along the way. But we can't do it without more help - we are currently overworked and not getting all necessary jobs completed in a timely manner - we need help so that we can be as efficient and effective as possible.

Since we have three locations, you'll need to be a good communicator. At times you may need to self-direct while you're working independently at one of the farms. Other times you'll need to contribute as a team member as you may be working with as many as 40 people. When our staff is all working together in a large group setting you may be asked to take on supervisory responsibilities.

We are continuously investing in new equipment and technology. However, we still have plenty of old tired equipment. You'll need to be able to critically think and problem solve as breakdowns do happen and, therefore, plans can change. You'll also need to be proactive about equipment care and maintenance to reduce breakdowns.

In the spring and early summer we spray a lot which means you'll need to be ok with safely handling pesticides. Some of these materials are heavy so you should be able to lift at least 50 lbs. Willingness and ability to obtain a NYS pesticide applicator license would be greatly appreciated.

In a nutshell - we need help continuously improving and operating our farms. We can't do this without adding really good people to our team. People that love farming as much as we do. We happen to farm apples, but we'd like to talk to you if you have any relevant farming experience and interest. We are open and flexible to different schedules - full time, part time, and/or seasonal help.

Can you help?

If you're interested you please contact us - tell us a little about yourself in a resume, email, or an application and we can set up a time to meet you.

Job Listings - https://www.wnyjobs.com/jobpostings/farm-team-members-lyndonville-ny-281036/

Applications - https://unitedapplesales.com/e...





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

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

Electric Weeding in Organic Perennial Crops

January 14, 2025

Join us for a free webinar on electric weeding in organic perennial crops.

View Electric Weeding in Organic Perennial Crops Details

Farm Grant Literacy Workshop

January 16, 2025 : Session 1: Understanding Farm Grant Opportunities

GRANT MONEY FOR YOUR FARM? IT'S POSSIBLE! THIS WORKSHOP WILL SHOW YOU HOW!


January 23, 2025 : Session 2: Identifying Farm Grant Opportunities

GRANT MONEY FOR YOUR FARM? IT'S POSSIBLE! THIS WORKSHOP WILL SHOW YOU HOW!


January 30, 2025 : Session 3: How To Read and Interpret Requests for Proposals (RFPs)

GRANT MONEY FOR YOUR FARM? IT'S POSSIBLE! THIS WORKSHOP WILL SHOW YOU HOW!


February 13, 2025 : Session 4: Panelists

GRANT MONEY FOR YOUR FARM? IT'S POSSIBLE! THIS WORKSHOP WILL SHOW YOU HOW!


February 20, 2025 : Session 5: Panelists

GRANT MONEY FOR YOUR FARM? IT'S POSSIBLE! THIS WORKSHOP WILL SHOW YOU HOW!


February 27, 2025 : Session 6: Panelists

GRANT MONEY FOR YOUR FARM? IT'S POSSIBLE! THIS WORKSHOP WILL SHOW YOU HOW!

View Farm Grant Literacy Workshop Details

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 

11 Dec - Labor Roadshow VIII - Hudson Valley Community College, $75, Register Now

13 Dec - Labor Roadshow VIII - Jordan Hall, Cornell AgriTech, $75, Register Now

17 Dec - Labor Roadshow VIII additional topics - Webinar, 12pm - 2pm, $75, Register now

18 Dec - Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course Yates County - 8am-5pm, Penn Yan

18 Dec - Labor Roadshow VIII additional topics - Webinar, 12pm - 2pm,  $75, Register now

2025 Events:

7 Jan - From Seed To Success: Unit 1 - Sessions 1  - Webinar

14 Jan - Electric Weeding in Organic Perennial Crops - Webinar, 2pm

14 Jan - From Seed To Success: Unit 1 - Sessions 2 - Webinar

16 Jan - Farm Grant Literacy Workshop - Webinar, 12pm

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

21 Jan - From Seed To Success: Unit 1 - Sessions 3 - Webinar

23 Jan - Farm Grant Literacy Workshop - Webinar, 12pm

28 Jan - From Seed To Success: Unit 2 - Sessions 4 - Webinar

30 Jan - Farm Grant Literacy Workshop - Webinar, 12pm

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

4 Feb - From Seed To Success: Unit 2 - Sessions 5 - Webinar

11 Feb - From Seed To Success: Unit 2 - Sessions 6 - Webinar

13 Feb - Farm Grant Literacy Workshop - Webinar, 12pm

18 Feb - From Seed To Success: Unit 3 - Session 7 - Webinar

20 Feb - Farm Grant Literacy Workshop - Webinar, 12pm

25 Feb - From Seed To Success: Unit 3 - Session 8 - Webinar

27 Feb - Farm Grant Literacy Workshop - Webinar, 12pm

4 Mar - From Seed To Success: Unit 3 - Session 9 - Webinar

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: 
1/4 - Trends In Water Availability
2/4 - The Role of Water In Tree Fruit Physiology & Quality
3/4 - Smart Watering: Practices for Irrigation Management
4/4 - Water Wisdom Unplugged


2024 8-12 mm Thinning Meeting

2024 Capital Region & Western NY Petal Fall Thinning Meeting

2024 Statewide Pink Meeting

2024 Cornell Statewide Frost Protection Webinar

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

2nd Annual Lake Ontario Fruit Program's Winter Fruit Conference - 2024 pdfs

PACMAN Details and Resources, Meeting Recording Links below:
Developers Conference for Precision Crop Load Management of Apples Playlist - 2024
PACMAN Briefing - 2023








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.
NYS Tree Decline Survey


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
https://lof.cce.cornell.edu/submission.php?id=838&crumb=crops|crops|apples|crop*38



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.

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