2026 Cornell Winter Fruit Webinar Series
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.
These webinars will be held on Thursdays from 11am-12:30pm (The week 3 webinar will run from 11am-1pm).
If you missed a webinar or just want to review one you've all ready seen the recordings can be found at the yearly Winter Fruit Webinars playlist on the Cornell IPM Program YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@CornellIPM/playlists
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 22, 2026
Time
11:00am to 12:30pm
Location
Online via Zoom
Host
Cornell IPM Program, CCE Harvest NY, CCE LOFT, and CCE ENYCHP
Anna Wallis
email Anna Wallis
Blueberry Pruning and Soil Health to Minimize Pests and Maximize Yield
Week 1: Blueberry Pruning and Soil Health to Minimize Pests and Maximize Yield
Thursday January 22, 2026 11:00AM-12:30PM
Join Dr. Marvin Pritts (Cornell CALS) and Cheyenne Sloan (MSU Extension) to discuss pruning blueberries for best yield through the years, the IPM benefits of pruning, and discover how soil health impacts production, insects, and diseases in blueberries.
Register: http://tiny.cc/2026-wfw-week-1
Event Details
Date
January 29, 2026
Time
11:00AM - 12:30PM
Location
Online via Zoom
Host
Cornell IPM Program, CCE Harvest NY, CCE LOFT, and CCE ENYCHP
Anna Wallis
email Anna Wallis
Cost of Production for Fruit Crops
Week 2: Cost of Production for Fruit Crops - A new tool for tree fruit, updates on berry production in NY, and strategies for tracking and using expense data
Thursday January 29, 2026 11:00AM-12:30PM
Join Chris Bardenhagen (Michigan State University Extension), Allan Pinto (Cornell IPM), and Elizabeth Higgins (CCE ENYCHP) for a discussion on a variety of production economics topics focused on fruit crops.
Register: http://tiny.cc/2026-wfw-week-2
Event Details
Date
February 12, 2026
Time
11:00AM - 1:00PM
Location
Online via Zoom
Host
Cornell IPM Program, CCE Harvest NY, CCE LOFT, and CCE ENYCHP
Anna Wallis
email Anna Wallis
Fire Blight Management Updates
Week 3: Fire Blight Management Updates - Pathogen Biology, Defense Inducers, Biopesticides, and Pruning Therapies
Thursday February 12, 2026 11:00AM-1:00PM
Join Tianna DuPont (WSU Extension), Dr. Kerik Cox (Cornell AgriTech), and Dr. George Sundin (Michigan State University) for information on fire blight infection entry points and biofilms. Then speakers will discuss optimal rates and use patterns of Actigard and Kudos/Apogee, and review various field trials in Washington, Oregon, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Michigan.
2.0 NYSDEC Pesticide Recertification Credits available in categories 1A, 10, and 22. 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.
Register: http://tiny.cc/2026-wfw-week-3
Event Details
Date
February 19, 2026
Time
11:00AM - 12:30PM
Location
Online via Zoom
Host
Cornell IPM Program, CCE Harvest NY, CCE LOFT, and CCE ENYCHP
Anna Wallis
email Anna Wallis
Pink and Petal Fall Insecticides- Can We Strike the Right Balance?
Week 4: Pink and Petal Fall Insecticides - Can We Strike the Right Balance?
Thursday February 19, 2026 11:00AM-12:30PM
Join Dr. Julianna Wilson (Michigan State University), Amy Irish-Brown (Valent USA), and Vaughn Gingerich (Lake Ontario Ag Consulting) to discuss management options for early-season apple pests, including plum curculio, European apple sawfly, and tarnished plant bug, and dig deeper on impacts and unintended consequences of insecticide sprays at pink.
1.5 NYSDEC Pesticide Recertification Credits available in categories 1A, 10, and 22. 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.
Register: http://tiny.cc/2026-wfw-week-4
Event Details
Date
March 12, 2026
Time
11:00AM - 12:30PM
Location
Online via Zoom
Host
Cornell IPM Program, CCE Harvest NY, CCE LOFT, and CCE ENYCHP
Anna Wallis
email Anna Wallis
Inoculating Orchards with Mycorrhizal Fungi
Week 5: Inoculating Orchards with Mycorrhizal Fungi
Thursday March 12, 2026 11:00AM-12:30PM
In this webinar, Mike Basedow (CCE ENYCHP) will discuss the results of three years of SARE funded field trials with four commercial fungi blends in three orchard sites across the northeast. He will also discuss other strategies for getting a planting off on the right foot during the establishment phase. The second half of this meeting will be repeated in Spanish by Mario Miranda Sazo (CCE LOFP).
Register: http://tiny.cc/2026-wfw-week-5
Event Details
Date
March 19, 2026
Time
11:00AM - 12:30PM
Location
Online via Zoom
Host
Cornell IPM Program, CCE Harvest NY, CCE LOFT, and CCE ENYCHP
Anna Wallis
email Anna Wallis
St. Peachtrick's Day - Cherry Pruning Strategies and Plum Varieties for the Northeast
Week 6: St. Peachtrick's Day - Cherry Pruning Strategies and Plum Varieties for the Northeast
Thursday March 19, 2026 11:00AM-12:30PM
In this stone fruit focused webinar, Dr. James Larsen (Utah State) will discuss best management practices for pruning sweet and tart cherry orchards. We will then hear from Jay Freer, a stone fruit and pear technician at Cornell AgriTech, who will share his top plum variety recommendations for northeast growing conditions.
Register: http://tiny.cc/2026-wfw-week-6
Apples
Apricots
Asparagus
Beets
Blueberries
Broccoli
Brussels Sprouts
Cabbage
Carrots
Cauliflower
Cherries
Cucumbers
Dry Beans
Eggplant
Ethnic Vegetables
Garlic
Grapes
Horseradish
Kohlrabi
Leeks
Lettuce / Leafy Greens
Melons
Nectarines
Onions
Parsnips
Peaches
Pears
Peas
Peppers
Plums
Potatoes
Pumpkins / Gourds
Radishes
Raspberries / Blackberries
Rhubarb
Rutabaga
Snap Beans
Squash - Summer
Squash- Winter
Strawberries
Sweet Corn
Sweet Potatoes
Tomatoes
Turnips
Upcoming Events
I thought I was covered for that! Farm Insurance Webinar Series, Jan-Feb 2026
January 13, 2026 : Session 1: Insurance and Risk Management 101
Insurance and Risk Management 101. This first webinar will cover many of the general provisions found in insurance policies and describe some of the terms to be aware of when you are considering your options. Steve Hadcock, Capital District Hort Team and Greg Murk, FarmNet.
January 20, 2026 : Session 2: Liability Insurance
Coverage for the risk that your business will cause harm to someone. Are you having people on your farm or selling a food product? You might need liability insurance. Robert Hadad, Cornell Vegetable Program, Elizabeth Higgins, Eastern NY Commercial Hort Program.
January 27, 2026 : Session 3:Protecting Yourself from Disasters (Crop Insurance, USDA FSA programs and Flood Insurance)
Are you protected from a weather event on your farm? Learn about your options for Disaster Coverage (crop insurance, FSA programs, flood insurance). Elizabeth Higgins, Eastern NY Commercial Hort Program.
February 3, 2026 : Session 4: Insuring People (health, life and disability insurance)
Options for health insurance, life insurance and disability insurance, and how they can help farmers and their employees. Maire Ullrich, CCE Orange County and Lucas Smith, Cornell Ag Workforce Development
February 10, 2026 : Session 5: Property Insurance
Insuring your infrastructure, equipment, and livestock from loss. Learn about the types of coverage, and the risks they reduce. Colin Hostetter, Tri-County Ag Team, Desiree Keever, CCE Delaware County and Steve Glick, Kevin Daniels Agency.
How to Diversify or Scale Up with Confidence for Profitability - Inspired by Annie's Project
February 4, 2026
February 11, 2026
February 25, 2026
Do you have an idea for a new enterprise to add value to your farm? Maybe you're considering scaling up for a potential market opportunity but just aren't sure if it's a good fit for your business. Join Cornell Cooperative Extensions of Allegany County, Broome County, Madison County, Onondaga County, Niagara County, Tioga County, the Niagara Small Business Development Center, and the Eastern NY Commercial Horticulture Team for a hybrid series on Wednesdays in February, starting on February 4th that will answer these questions and more. Annie's Project seeks to empower farm women through education, networks and resources. We welcome, and encourage, learning and sharing amongst farm women as we help you grow as decision-makers and leaders on your farm.
2026 Northeast Extension Fruit Consortium Winter Webinar Series
February 4, 2026 : Management of Up and Coming Strawberry Diseases in the Northeastern United States
Session 1: Management of Up and Coming Strawberry Diseases in the Northeastern United States
February 11, 2026 : Kiwiberry Production in the Northeast
Session 2: Kiwiberry Production in the Northeast
February 18, 2026 : Heat Mitigation- Sunburn and Fruit Coloring
Session 3: Heat Mitigation- Sunburn and Fruit Coloring
February 18, 2026 : The Dating Game- Updates in Lepidopteran Mating Disruption
Session 4: The Dating Game- Updates in Lepidopteran Mating Disruption
March 4, 2026 : USEPA Endangered Species Act Strategies and Pesticide Use
Session 5: USEPA Endangered Species Act Strategies and Pesticide Use
March 11, 2026 : Practical Drought Management for Fruit Growers
Session 6: Practical Drought Management for Fruit Growers