Exclusion Netting Open House at The Berry Patch, 3-5 PM in Stephentown, NY. This open house will focus on the recent installation of a new spotted wing drosophila (SWD) exclusion netting system over the 1/2 acre blueberry planting at The Berry Batch. This system supports 85 gram netting with rip-stop type design as a demonstration of two types of post and wire structures – wooden post and steel post. This structure was installed as part of a USDA NESARE funded project to explore advanced systems for supporting SWD netting. The project has been done as a partnership between The Berry Patch, GinTec Shade Structures, Tek-Knit Industries, Cornell AgriTech, Cornell Cooperative Extension ENYCHP, and UVM Extension Agricultural Engineering.

3:00-3:30 PM – Arrival, informal self-tour

3:30-4:00 PM – Overview of SWD Netting System and Lessons Learned at The Berry Patch

4:00-4:30 PM – Q&A and Discussion

4:30-5:00 PM – Wrap up and additional time to self-tour

This open house will observe current guidelines for social gatherings during COVID-19. If you are feeling ill, show any symptoms of COVID-19, or believe you may have recently been exposed to COVID-19, please do not attend. Attendees will practice physical distancing to maintain at least 6 feet between us, wear facial coverings, and practice good hand hygiene. Food and beverages will not be provided. Registration is required: https://forms.gle/J5F53vr7RTYeiqUX8.