Program

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  

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