Building Strong Trellises for Your New Plantings
Mike Basedow, Tree Fruit Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
Over the last month, I have seen and heard reports of trellis failures throughout the Champlain Valley. Unfortunately, our heavy crop loads and wet soils have created a perfect storm situation for trellis failure.
If you would like to beef up your support systems for your future plantings, but aren't quite sure where to make improvements, I recommend reviewing the Trellis Panel Discussion we held at our 2021 Winter Fruit Meeting. This panel includes Kelly Snide (Chazy Orchards), Rusty Lamb (Yonder Fruit Farms), Ted Furber (Cherry Lawn Fruit Farms), and Robert Brown III (Orchard Dale Fruit Co.).
The economic info during the discussion contains 2021 prices, so these are no doubt out of date. However, the construction principles remain sound advice.
You can find the recording on the ENYCHP YouTube page here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OrfrffJm5Q&t=6s

Upcoming Events
Rulfs Orchard Vegetable and Berry Field Meeting
August 4, 2026
Peru, NY
Join CCE vegetable specialists Elisabeth Hodgdon and Chuck Bornt for a vegetable and berry field meeting at Rulfs Orchard, in Peru, NY. We'll tour the farm's fields and talk about integrated pest management of sweet corn and cucurbit crops. Then, we'll view a drone demonstration and discuss new technologies for pesticide application and spotted wing drosophila management in berries. Light refreshments will be provided. A rain date will be announced if adverse weather is predicted.
Field Day at Philia Farm
August 6, 2026
Johnstown, NY
Visit organic seed production trials and tour the farm to see small-scale production systems at work, including tarping, cover cropping, and the use of assorted mulches and covers to modify the growing environment.
Capital Region Orchard Twilight Meeting
August 11, 2026
Rexford, NY
Join the ENYCHP and Cornell scientists on August 11 for the Capital Region Orchard Twilight meeting in Saratoga! We will be touring Bowman Orchards and reviewing seasonal recommendations for pests and diseases for apples, plums, and berries, as well discussing crop insurance.
NYSDEC Pesticide Applicator Recertification Credits: 1.25 in categories 22, 1A, & 10. Refreshments will be provided.
Free to attend, however we do ask that you register ahead so we know how many people to expect.
