Precision Crop Load Management Training for NY Fruit Industry

May 6, 2014


The CCE Lake Ontario Fruit Program and Dr. Robinson will be organizing the second Precision Thinning Workshop for NY growers and consultants in Geneva (A137 Barton Lab, Barton Hall, the only tall building at the Geneva Campus, park behind the library at Jordan Hall) between 2:45-4:45pm on Tuesday May 6. It will also be offered via Polycom at the CCE Orleans (Albion), CCE Clinton (Plattsburgh) County offices, and at the Hudson Valley Lab.

Last year more than 30 people attended the first precision thinning workshop and learned about a new precision thinning program to manage apple crop load. More than 20 cooperating growers, consultants and extension staff implemented the precision thinning program on Gala and Honeycrisp cultivars in NY. This new method allowed growers to first determine a target fruit number and the initial fruit number per tree and then apply sequential thinning sprays. The program utilized the Cornell Apple Carbohydrate Thinning model and the Fruit Growth Rate model to provide real time information to growers via the LOF Fruit Fax and LOF newsletter. The program gave growers confidence to thin when appropriate and was easily applied to more simple trees such as the Tall Spindle or Super Spindle where fruit counting of whole trees was easier than large trees.

The program was successful in guiding chemical thinning decisions in 2013. This year we again encourage you to consider the economic implications of optimum crop load and optimum fruit size for maximum profitability. The advantages of doing the right things at the right moment justify this more intensive management approach required by the Precision Thinning Program. Please consider attending the coming trainings in Geneva, Albion, Plattsburgh, and at the Hudson Valley Lab on May 6.