Cornell Winter Fruit Webinar Series 2025
These webinars will provide updates on fruit-related topics and research happening at Cornell University.
Webinars hosted by NYSIPM, CCE Harvest NY, CCE LOFP, and CCE ENYCHP.
If you missed a webinar or just want to review one you've all ready seen the recordings can be found at the 2024 Winter Fruit Webinars playlist on the NYS IPM Program YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/playli...
NYSDEC Pesticide Recertification credits will be offered for indicated sessions. If you would like DEC Credits, please send a copy of your photo ID to Anna Wallis aew232@cornell.edu To receive credits you will need to attend the entire webinar on your own computer/device, and complete the required Google Form survey at the beginning and again at the end of the webinar.
Event Details

Date
January 17, 2025
January 31, 2025
February 14, 2025
February 28, 2025
March 14, 2025
Time
11:00am to 12:30pm
Location
Zoom - different links for each webinar
Host
Cornell Cooperative Extension, NYSIPM and Cornell University
Anna Wallis
email Anna Wallis
Cornell Winter Fruit Webinar Series 2025
Week 1: Digging Into Pruning and Soil Health
Friday January 17, 2025 11:00AM-12:30PM
Speakers: Mario Miranda Sazo (CCE LOFP), Dr. Debbie Aller (NYS Soil Health)
Webinar description pending
Register: https://bit.ly/digging-into-soil-health-pruning-2025
Week 2: Cider Apples - Mechanized Harvesting and Patulin Food Safety
Friday January 31, 2025 11:00AM-12:30PM
Speakers: Dr. Greg Peck (Cornell CALS), and Dr. Randy Warobo (Cornell CALS)
Description: Dr. Greg Peck will discuss his lab's experiments with chemical and physical practices for removing fruit from the trees, as well as trials using different scales of harvesting machines. Dr. Randy Warobo will cover factors to consider to meet the patulin regulatory requirements and the Juice HACCP regulation related to patulin.
Register: https://bit.ly/cider-apples-mechanized-harvest-2025
Week 3: The Value of "Eco-Friendly" Marketing - OMRI, Red Tomato, EcoApple, NYS Grown and Certified
Friday February 12, 2025 11:00AM-12:30PM
Speaker: Liz Higgins (CCE ENYCHP) | Panelists: Josh Morgenthau (Fish Kill Farms), Kevin Clark (Rose Hill Farm), and Jim Bittner (Bittner-Singer Orchard)
Description: Liz Higgins will discuss the economic benefits of participating in ecological certification/labeling programs and provide some strategies for evaluating if a specific certification program makes sense for you. The grower panel will discuss their experiences with different labels and the effects they saw on their markets.
0.5 NYSDEC Pesticide Credits are available for categories 10, 1a, and 22
Register: https://bit.ly/eco-friendly-marketing-2025
Week 4: Biopesticides and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) for Berries
Friday February 28, 2025 11:00AM-12:30PM
Speakers: Dr. Samantha Willden (Cornell AgriTech), McKenzie Schessl (Cornell AgriTech), Aleah Butler-Jones (Cornell CALS)
Description: Dr. Samantha Willden will review Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) for berries, and McKenzie Schessl will provide updates on biopesticides in strawberries. Aleah Butler-Jones will discuss common problem weeds in berries and provide management recommendations
1.5 NYSDEC Pesticide Credits are available for categories 10, 1a, and 22
Register: https://bit.ly/berries-Feb28-2025
Week 5: St. Peachtrick's Day - Stone Fruit Insect and Disease Management
Friday March 14, 2025 11:00AM-12:30PM
Speakers: Dr. George Sundin (Michigan State University) and Dr. Brett Blaauw (University of Georgia, Clemson University)
Description: Dr. George Sundin will discuss two diseases - cherry leaf spot and bitter rot. Dr. Brett Blaauw will give an overview of the biology of scale insects and offer tips to identify different species, as well as reviewing current best management practices for these insects in tree fruit.
1.5 NYSDEC Pesticide Credits are available for categories 10, 1a, and 22
Register: https://bit.ly/st-peachtricks-2025


Upcoming Events
Cornell Winter Fruit Webinar Series 2025

January 17, 2025
January 31, 2025
February 14, 2025
February 28, 2025
March 14, 2025
: Cornell Winter Fruit Webinar Series 2025
Week 1: Digging Into Pruning and Soil Health
Week 2: Cider Apples - Mechanized Harvesting and Patulin Food Safety
Week 3: The Value of "Eco-Friendly" Marketing - OMRI, Red Tomato, EcoApple, NYS Grown and Certified
Week 4: Biopesticides and Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) for Berries
Week 5: St. Peachtrick's Day - Stone Fruit Insect and Disease Management
Remote Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course
February 17 - February 18, 2025
REMOTE Produce Safety Alliance Grower Training Course
Monday, Feb. 17 and Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025
8 am - 12:30 PM
Held remotely via Zoom (online)
Registration: $10 per person, open to NY state participants only
Includes printed course manual ($60 value), certificate of course completion ($35 value) and online food safety resources.
All produce growers are encouraged to attend this course to learn more about food safety practices recommended for all farms. This course contains NEW information contained in the finalized Subpart E rule on agricultural water. The PSA Grower Training Course is one way to satisfy the FSMA Produce Safety Rule requirement outlined in § 112.22(c) that requires 'At least one supervisor or responsible party for your farm must have successfully completed food safety training at least equivalent to that received under standardized curriculum recognized as adequate by the Food and Drug Administration.' If you've already earned your PSA certificate, retaking this course is a great way to refresh your memory and learn about the new water requirements!
After attending the entire course, participants will be eligible to receive a certificate from the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO) that verifies they have completed the training course.
From Seed to Success: Turn Your Idea into an Actionable Plan
January 7, 2025
January 14, 2025
January 21, 2025
January 28, 2025
February 4, 2025
February 11, 2025
February 18, 2025
February 25, 2025
March 4, 2025
: From Seed to Success: Turn Your Idea into an Actionable Plan
Do you need a business plan for your farm? Do you have an idea for a new venture, but aren't sure if it will work? This program is for you!
This course is designed for existing farm businesses or those planning to undertake a new farm business venture. Students will work with their farm's data, and the goal of the class is for participants to have a draft of a written business plan for a specific business venture.
During the course, you will learn to:
- Assess whether or not a business idea is a good fit for you.
- Develop a marketing strategy to make a profit
- Use financial tools to evaluate if your business has the potential to be profitable
This online course meets from January 7-March 4, 2025. All course content is available online so you can work on it at your own pace. There will be weekly webinars where you can meet other students and interact directly with the instructor on the content. These webinars will be recorded.