Crop Load Management
Mario Miranda Sazo, Cultural Practices
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
Crop load management is the single most important yet difficult management strategy that determines the annual profitability of apple orchards. The number of fruit that remain on a tree directly affects yield, fruit size and the quality of fruit that are harvested, which largely determine crop value. If thinning is inadequate and too many fruits remain on the tree, fruit size will be small, fruit quality will be poor and flower bud initiation for the following yearââ¬â¢s crop may be either reduced or eliminated. Consequently, poor or inadequate thinning will reduce profitability in the current year and result in inadequate return bloom in the following year. Over thinning also carries economic perils since yield and crop value the year of application will be reduced and fruit size will be excessively large with reduced fruit quality due to reduced flesh firmness, reduced color and a much-reduced postharvest life. Thus, management of crop load is a balancing act between reducing crop load (yield) sufficiently to achieve optimum fruit size and adequate return bloom without reducing yield excessively.
Apples
Apricots
Asian Pears
Blueberries
Cherries
Currants
Gooseberries
Nectarines
Peaches
Pears
Plums
Raspberries / Blackberries
Strawberries
Unusual Fruit
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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.