An Important Pruning Reminder
Mario Miranda Sazo, Cultural Practices
Lake Ontario Fruit Program
Cold hardiness is the ability of a plant to withstand low temperatures. Low temperature injury after a pruning cut can vary depending on when the low temperatures occurs (early vs. mid- or late-winter), how fast the temperature drops after the pruning cut, what the temperatures are the few days before and within 10-14 days after the pruning event, and how long the low temperatures are sustained in the orchard. Young trees are more sensitive to cold snaps after pruning than older trees. For those of you who produce fresh fruit we recommend you start pruning your older trees and the most resistant cultivars to winter damage first. The most resistant cultivars like McIntosh should be pruned now leaving the more sensitive cultivars until after January 1. Do not start your pruning of Empire, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Jonagold, and Mutsu at this time of the year just because you have the time and/or available labor force. Cutting done at this time (particularly making large chainsaw cuts) can predispose trees to winter injury if temperatures drop rapidly in the next couple of weeks. Hold off all pruning of most sensitive cultivars until trees have time to harden off under more cold weather. The more sensitive apple cultivars to winter damage after a pruning cut are: Golden Delicious, Red Delicious (more sensitive), Empire (more sensitive), Jonagold, and Mutsu. The apple cultivars with an intermediate susceptibility to winter damage after a pruning cut are: Paula Red, Cortland, Gala, Idared, and Greenings. The apple cultivars with less sensitive to winter damage after a pruning cut are: Honeycrisp and McIntosh (all strains).
Managing Crop Load of Apple Orchards by Pruning (pdf; 265KB)
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Wayne County - DEC Certified Pesticide Applicator License Pre-Exam Training via Zoom
March 22, 2021 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 1
This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.
March 24, 2021 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 2
Workshop without manuals can register by Mar 5,
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March 29, 2021 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 3
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March 31, 2021 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 4
This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.
Orleans County - DEC Certified Pesticide Applicator License Pre-Exam Training via Zoom
March 22, 2021 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 1
This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.
March 24, 2021 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 2
Workshop without manuals can register by Mar 5,
This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.
March 29, 2021 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 3
This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.
March 31, 2021 : DEC Certified Applicator Pre-Exam Training Day 4
This training is only for those with experience and does not qualify for the 30-hour official DEC training - you are exempt from the 30 hour training (and eligible for this coaching session) if you have pesticide application experience, either through working on your own farm or through employment on another farm.
Wayne County - DEC Certified Pesticide Applicator License Exam
April 1, 2021
Newark, NY
A Certification Exam will be administered on April 1st at Noon by the DEC to Qualified Applicants. The fee for the exam is $100: bring a check payable to NYSDEC the day of the exam. You must register with DEC to take the exam. To register for the exam or if you have questions regarding the Certification Process, please contact Chris Wainwright at the Bath DEC office (607) 622-8264.