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The economic info during the discussion contains 2021 prices, so these are no doubt out of date.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
Leading the Farm Team: Supervisory Skills for New Managers
April 14, 2026 : Session 1: Becoming a Supervisor
The transition from working alongside employees to supervising them can be challenging. This session explores the shift from individual contributor to supervisor and the mindset and skills needed to lead a team effectively. Participants will learn about the role of a supervisor, key leadership behaviors, and how to build trust and credibility with employees.
April 21, 2026 : Session 2: Improving Performance
This session will introduce the performance triad—clear expectations, training, and feedback—to support employee success. We will discuss practical communication strategies, how to give constructive feedback, and how supervisors can help employees improve their performance over time.
April 28, 2026 : Session 3: Managing Conflict
Supervisors are responsible for maintaining a professional and respectful workplace. This session covers some of the legal and ethical responsibilities of supervisors and the responsibilities managers have in addressing workplace concerns.
Participants will also explore common sources of workplace conflict, learn to recognize potential biases that can influence management decisions, and discuss practical approaches for addressing difficult situations and resolving conflicts at work.
