2024 WNY Tree Fruit Conference Program
Thursday, early AM, Session 1 – “Current Status of US Production & Grower Challenges”, Chaired by Craig Kahlke
7:30-8:30 AM Registration
8:30 Welcome & Housekeeping, Craig (5min)
8:35 Sponsor Spots (10mins)
8:45 Chris Gerlach, US Apple Association (45 minutes) – talk on production trends, holdings, etc.
9:30 Grower Challenges Panel (40 minutes)
Jim Bittner, Bittner-Singer Orchards & NYS Hort Society
John Teeple, Executive Director, Premier Apple Co-op
Mike Zingler, Zingler Farms
10:10-10:30 Break (20 minutes), DEC Credit Sign-in
Thursday, late AM, Session 2 – “IPM”, Chaired by Janet van Zoeren
10:30 Welcome, DEC reminder, Sponsor Spots (10 minutes)
10:40 Adjuvants in agriculture. A black box of chemicals that we need to use more effectively – Christophe Duplais (25 minutes)
11:05 Fire blight and other updates – Kerik Cox (25 minutes)
11:30 Refining IPM Programs for woolly apple aphid management – Monique Rivera (25 minutes)
11:55 Tree Fruit IPM Monitoring and Scouting: Upcoming Opportunities – Anna Wallis (10 minutes)
12:05-1:15 PM Lunch & Visit Sponsors, DEC Credit Sign-in (70 minutes)
Thursday, early PM, Session 3 – “IPM/Horticulture”, Chaired by Mario Miranda Sazo
1:15 Welcome, Sponsor Spots (10 minutes)
1:25 The EPA’s Draft Herbicide Strategy: What it Means for You – Lynn Sosnoskie (20 minutes)
1:45pm Hort talks (60 minutes)
Trends for Orchard Mechanization & Adoption of Precision Ag Technologies
Research Updates- Dr. Terence Robinson, Cornell
Mark Hermenet, Hermenet Farms
Kristen DeMarree, Donald DeMarree Fruit Farm
2:45-3:15 Break (30 minutes)
Thursday, late PM, Session 4 – “Labor & PGRs”, Chaired by Craig Kahlke
3:15 Welcome, Sponsor Spots (10 minutes)
3:25 Labor Update – Bonnie Nelsen (15 minutes)
3:40 TracCrops upgrade of TracApple Software – Julie Carroll (20 minutes)
4:00 Plant Growth Regulator Panel
Options for Use of ReTain and Harvista with an eye to improved post-storage results-Terence Robinson (15 minutes)
Panel of growers & consultants (40 minutes)
Kevin Bittner, Bittner-Singer Orchards
Bobby Brown, Orchard Dale Fruit Farm
Jim Eve, Jim Eve Consulting
Brett Kast, Kast Farms
John King, Niagara Fresh Fruit Company
4:55 PM ADJOURN, Hotel Check-in, Informal Cocktail Hour, Dinner Own Your Own
Friday, early AM, Session 5 – “Marketing & Fruit Quality”, Chaired by Bonnie Nelsen
8:30 Welcome (5 minutes)
8:35 NY Apple Association Update – Cynthia Haskins (20 minutes)
8:55 Harvest Maturity of High-Value Varieties for CA storage, Craig Kahlke (35 minutes)
9:30 Packer Panel – Bonnie moderating (45 minutes)
Brett Baker – HH Dobbins & United Apple Sales
Scott Henning – Lake Ontario Fruit Inc. & New York Apple Sales
Tim Mansfield – Sun Orchard Fruit Company
Doug Ricketts – Northeastern Juice Cooperative, Inc.
10:15-10:35 Break (20 minutes)
Friday, late AM, Session 6 – “Putting it All Together”, Chaired by the Lake Ontario Fruit Team
10:35-11:15 Panel of experts, summarizing what we’ve learned next steps, and suggestions and Q & A from the audience
11:40 AM – Lunch & Adjourn
