2019 Fire Blight Survey
Mike Basedow, Tree Fruit Specialist
Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture
Kerik Cox's lab will be conducting a fire blight survey again this year, investigating streptomycin resistance and strain distribution across NY State and New England.
In the event fire blight does show up in your orchard, please send a sample to our lab!
You may take a sample yourself as outlined in the sample form on page 11, or you may wish to contact Dan Donahue or Mike Basedow to come and help you collect the sample.
It is imperative that we receive living (green) cambium tissue from the canker margin (i.e. where the necrotic and healthy tissue meet). Otherwise, the pathogen cannot be isolated. Samples should be sent as soon as possible after being removed from the tree, and kept cool if possible.
Samples submitted without the form will not be processed!
Instructions for sampling: It is only possible to isolate the bacteria (Erwinia amylovora) from fresh, active lesions, where healthy tissue meets the diseased tissue, i.e. the lesion margin. It is impossible to isolate fire blight bacteria from dead, dried out tissue.
The Lesion Margin: Collect samples that include about 3 inches of healthy tissue beyond the infected tissue, and include about 3 inches of infected tissue. Do not submit all the dead branch of the strike, this is often too long and can be cut back, as described, to 3 inches of infected tissue above 3 inches of healthy tissue. If possible, refrigerate infected trees and strikes. Protect samples from drying out prior to submitting them. Do not collect entire branches or trees unless symptoms are unusual.
2019 Fire Blight Survey Submission Form (pdf; 800KB)
- Submit fire blight infected trees and strikes for testing
Upcoming Events
Interested in taking the NYSDEC Pesticide Applicator's exam?
March 27, 2024
March 29, 2024
: Interested in taking the NYSDEC Pesticide Applicator's exam?
2024 Agritourism Webinar Series
January 9, 2024 : Agritourism For Maple Syrup Operations
The first agritourism webinar for 2024 will focus on Maple Syrup Operations.
February 13, 2024 : Grants for Agritourism Operations
Are there grants that can help you support or grow your agritourism business? Where do you look for funding?
March 12, 2024 : Staffing your Agritourism Business
Agritourism operations need employees who are good with the public. Where can you find a labor force for your agritourism enterprise? What different laws and regulations might you encounter as an employer for an agritourism workforce? How do you get your employees hired and trained effectively?
April 9, 2024 : Working with your local tourism office
Your local tourism office is an important resource for you to help advertise and promote your agritourism business. Find out what they can do for you!
Virtual Orchard IPM Scout Training
April 15, 2024 : Virtual Orchard IPM Scout Training
Virtual Orchard IPM Scout Training
Monday April 15, 2-4PM
Join us for a live, virtual training on scouting of major insect pests of apple orchards. Anna Wallis (NYSIPM Program), Mike Basedow (CCE ENYCHP), and Janet van Zoeren (CCE LOFT), will broadcast from orchards in their region to discuss best practices for monitoring. We will review monitoring/scouting procedures for major economically significant pests. We will also share resources available for helping with identification of pests and forecasting pest activity.
This event is held on Zoom