With apples over an inch in size, we traditionally consider that the window for hand thinning has closed. At this point, it’s unlikely we’ll see a thinning response either in terms of fruit size or in flower initiation for next year. But there’s still a good reason to consider some hand thinning. Many in the[Read More…]
Apples
Crop loss in 2020 and 2021 led many growers to greatly reducing their fungicide applications, or use just captan or mancozeb, which, although effective against scab, are not effective against powdery mildew. Coupled with our unusually dry weather, this has led to a build-up of powdery mildew (PM) inoculum, and continued management issues surrounding this[Read More…]
I hope the growing season is going well for all fruit producers! My team and several grower collaborators (thank you!) have been monitoring fruit insect pests this season in apple and blueberry, including codling moth, spotted-wing drosophila, and brown marmorated stink bugs. So, for this issue of Facts for Fancy Fruit I thought I would[Read More…]
Why Should I Buy Crop Insurance? It’s still the number one question farmers ask me. And I know what they’re really asking is, does crop insurance actually pay? Is it worth it? In the end, that’s up to you to decide, but it’s important to understand the role crop insurance plays in the long-term success[Read More…]