Integrated Pest Management (IPM) information for Fruit and Vegetable crops in Massachusetts. Learn more about how UMass Extension is working to help grow local agriculture.
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Get project updates, ask questions, and share ideas about supporting our local growers and food systems
Operating as usual
It may not be the white Holiday everyone was hoping for but thank goodness we are nearly entirely out of the water deficit we have been struggling with in MA for most of 2020! May your Holidays be healthy and happy and your 2021 be filled with all the (water and...) things you need.
The first of a series of online regional fruit production meetings will be held January 12, 2021 via Zoom. This meeting will present research on how to store Honeycrisp apples. Click the link below to see more details on this and our other winter offerings! https://ag.umass.edu/fruit/news-events/new-england-winter-fruit-seminar-series
Due to the current COVID 19 situation, we will not be able to hold face-to-face meetings for the foreseeable future. However, in an effort to provide fruit growers in the New England region (and beyond) the same quality educational opportunities we have in the past, fruit Extension Educators through...
The MyIPM app is a great way to help identify and manage pests on the fly! Check out this quick video to learn all about how to use MyIPM:
https://youtu.be/4pzSHRv-pss
Decision support systems (DSS) play an important role in helping guide IPM plans on farm. Tune into part 3 in the UMass IPM fruit Loop's DSS series to learn how to interpret apple scab risk output and how to use it to make a fungicide application decision: https://anchor.fm/umass-fruit-loop/episodes/Off-Season-Fruitloop--Forecast-Models-and-Decision-Support-Systems--Part-3-engbj2
Short and action packed. This episode of the UMass IPM Fruit Loop takes you through a super duper quick review of just what it is we are talking about (erm... it decision support systems, y'all) and then a fairly comprehensive description of how to interpret apple scab risk forecast output from both...
Nearly 90% of the state is still experiencing a water deficit. Let’s hope all these dreary days pay off and get us back up to where we need to be!
Good news everyone!
The UMass Extension Fruit Team's Mass Aggie Workshop series is back for 2021!
Use this link to see whats in store and register (not for nuthin' but you can gift these to your favorite agricultural enthusiast too!). https://ag.umass.edu/fruit/news-events/mass-aggie-seminars-2021
Ever wonder what makes a pest forecast model tick? You should! Tune into the UMass IPM Fruitloop to learn about how forecast models are developed. This second episode covers details on degree days, forecast model development and climatic data. Click the link and listen in! https://anchor.fm/umass-fruit-loop/episodes/Off-Season-Fruitloop--Forecast-Models-and-Decision-Support-Systems--Part-2-en5n42
'20-'21 Off Season Release Episode 1 In this episode, Hawkeye discusses degree days, forecast model development and implementation of climatic variable within those two structures. Just about everything you have ever wanted to know about decision support systems and forecast models, plus maybe a lit...
Ever wonder what makes a pest forecast model tick? You should! Tune into the UMass IPM Fruitloop to learn about how forecast models are developed. This first episode covers details on three key orchard pests in order to lay the biological groundwork on which models are built. Click the link and listen in!
https://anchor.fm/umass-fruit-loop/episodes/Off-Season-Fruitloop--Forecast-Models-and-Decision-Support-Systems--Part-1-emp4pd
'20-'21 Off Season Release Episode 1 In this episode, Hawkeye dives deep on key pathogen and insect pest life cycles to lay the groundwork for a larger discussion about what forecast models are, how they work and how models, and the decision support systems that implement them fit into an IPM progra...
The soils lab hours will be TEMPORARILY reduced due to COVID-19 related challenges. This will mean potentially longer wait times for test results. Please use this link to visit the soils lab page for specific hours, closures and tentative test result times: https://ag.umass.edu/services/soil-plant-nutrient-testing-laboratory/ordering-information-forms/turnaround-time-for-routine-soil-analysis
Turn-around Time Notice for November and December
New Flashback episodes of the UMass IPM Fruit Loop are up. Tune in and harken back to the simpler days of Spring 2020, before the drought and when there seemed there might stil be a chance COVID wouldn't get too bad. Click the link to listen in! https://anchor.fm/umass-fruit-loop
Welcome to The UMass IPM Fruit Loop! While Hawkeye and Lens do most of the talking, this is a co-creation of weekly contributions from Extension Educators Sonia Schloemann, Jon Clements and Elizabeth Garofalo. Extension and Stockbridge School of Agriculture's Dr. Jamie Piñero contributes weekly ins...
The U.S. Drought Monitor updates every Thursday. Here is the current state of drought in MA, as of last Thursday. Belchertown, MA is down 9.2" from the average annual precipitation and Greenfield, MA is down 9.06". These locations are both in the "moderate" drought regions. Bridgewater, which bridges the "extreme" and "severe" drought regions is down 9.14" average annual precipitation.
CONNECTICUT invasive insect update: Spotted Lanternfly populations have been established in CT.
Help stop the spread of this destructive pest in CT by emailing your sighting WITH PHOTO to this address: [email protected]
To report a sighting in MASSACHUSETTS (no known established populations in MA yet) use this link: https://massnrc.org/pests/slfreport.aspx
Ever wonder what that squishy rot spot on your 🍎 is? Many things can cause rot in apple. Only bitter rot develops this characteristic “bullseye”. When conditions are more wet, salmon colored spores decorate these concentric rings. To be extra sure, cut into the rot spot to see the other tell tale sign. This shows as a cone shaped rotten portion of the apple under the spot.
#nowyouknow #knowingishalfthebattle #rotsandspots #plantpathology #fungalbeauty #colletotrichum #apple #localapples #ipm
Hey now, it’s a podcast day! The UMass IPM Fruit Loop’s newest episode is up and ready for you to listen in! Apple maturity reports and a few othe juicy tidbits round this one out. Take a listen here: https://anchor.fm/umass-fruit-loop/episodes/ImMaturity--Droughts-and-Spots-eiom14
Lens has gone back to classes (virtually) and was not able to join me this week. SO, Lucky you! (hahaha) This is an all Hawkeye episode, new music, same goofy me. A new invasive insect pest breaks onto the scene, setting up shop in New Jersey and Staten Island NY. Jon's first official (official 'cau...
Yay, it's a video drop day! Head over to the Cider Chick YouTube channel to see the first of the 2020 pre-harvest apple surveys: https://bit.ly/34wrB4T
I set out on a mission (insert corny Blues Brothers joke here) to hunt down hard cider apple varieties being grown commercially in Massachusetts (and as far ...
Extension Educator Jon Clements will be hosting an open office hour on Tuesday's at noon. He will discuss apple maturity reports, PYO logistics and host an open discussion. You can find the Zoom link on our Extension Fruit home page under "What's New": https://ag.umass.edu/fruit/news/apple-harvest-maturity-report-open-office-hour
Printer-friendly versionAugust 18, 2020Join Extension Educator Jon Clements every Tuesday at noon for his apple maturity open office hour. Jon will discuss apple maturity updates, PYO logistics and hold an open discussion. The open office hour can be joined via Zoom: Apple Maturity Zoom https://umas...
Local paper Greenfield Recorder shares grower's insights on this year's fruit crops: https://www.recorder.com/Berry-season-35775007
In a year fraught with economic hardship, there’s another side of the coin: Local fruit farmers are reporting a bountiful harvest. “We’ve had an excellent season. It’s been an excellent crop of blueberries and we’ve had a lot of folks who’ve been very...
The entire state of Massachusetts is experiencing a water deficit. ~85% of the state is laboring under drought conditions. Of that 85%, ~25% of the state is experiencing severe drought conditions. Count yourself wise if you have irrigation in place.
For more drought stats, check out the National Drought Monitor:
https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/StateDroughtMonitor.aspx?MA
New episodes are up and ready for your weekend listening pleasure! Hawkeye and Lens provide a rundown of this week’s Healthy Fruit newsletter as well as another flashback episode. Take a listen!
https://anchor.fm/umass-fruit-loop/episodes/AFTER-THE-STORM--Healthy-Fruit-Vol-28-Issue-18-ehqsoq
It's a bit of a challenge to record a podcast without electricity, but lights are back on after Tropical Storm Isaias got done throwing it's fit in New England.... and Hawkeye and Lens got to it!! A bit punchy perhaps, they deliver insect, disease, and other fruitful news in between picking up tree....
Hawkeye and Lens back together for this flashback episode of the UMass IPM Fruit Loop. Ahhhhh, the days when it still seemed like 2020 might pull it together!! Tune in for a retrospective look back to March, and a few laughs as well. You know how we do 😉.
https://anchor.fm/umass-fruit-loop/episodes/A-FRUITFUL-FLASHBACK---Healthy-Fruit-Vol-28-Issue-1-ehc5gr
Hawkeye and Lens travel back in time. The destination?, The beginning of the growing season with a touch of March Madness!! Although the time has passed, this rewind is not in vain. Climb aboard the time machine, and recall what pests, diseases, and other important twists were thrown our way in Spri...
Lens flies solo for the latest edition of the UMass IPM Fruit Loop. Use this link to listen in! https://anchor.fm/umass-fruit-loop/episodes/SOLO-FLYING-LENS--UMass-IPM-Fruit-Loop-Vol-28-Issue-17-eh5aim
As Hawkeye prepared for the Annual Summer Meeting online, Lens flew solo on this one... if you don't count there roaring thunder and motorcycles driving by!
Don't forget to pre-register to join the UMass Extension Fruit Team and the Massachusetts Fruit Growers Association for their annual -virtual- summer meeting! This Thursday July 23 at 5:30pm, use this link to sign up: https://umass-amherst.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJckfu6orzIoE9Rh5avES0Fj2JXOs2ZW1hBZ
Details will be announced soon!
In the home stretch leading up to the UMass Extension Fruit Team and Massachusetts Fruit Growers Association Annual (virtual) Summer Meeting! Swing by our YouTube channel and check out the 2020 UMass Extension Fruit Team Virtual Summer Tour playlist to see new videos on apple and peach variety trials, apple maggot fly research, wine grapes and so much more!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr5-TRBPQxrHpipiH5WFeY-ap5BKQjX3v
Tune in to hear Hawkeye and Lens dish the latest!The pests seem to take center stage. So it's good to have those drugs for the "bugs" (more accurately, insects) on hand! Irrigation is still key while dosing those destroyers and there's more fun stuff on the horizon.
https://anchor.fm/umass-fruit-loop/episodes/DRUGS-FOR-BUGS--Healthy-Fruit-Vol--28--Issue-16-egg20a
Moving into mid-summer, Hawkeye and Lens talk shop. The pests seem to take center stage. So it's good to have those drugs for the "bugs" (more accurately, insects) on hand! Irrigation is still key while dosing those destroyers and there's more fun stuff on the horizon. Tune in to stay in the loop!!
Ever wonder what research projects the UMass Extension Fruit Team (and some of the great grad students that work with us too!)has going on at Cold Spring Orchard in Belchertown, MA?
Take a look at the Summer Orchard Tour playlist on our YouTube channel to fins out whats up!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr5-TRBPQxrHpipiH5WFeY-ap5BKQjX3v
Every year the UMass Extension Fruit Team and Massachusetts Fruit Growers Association puts on a summer meeting showcasing research in sustainable fruit production. In lieu of an in person orchard tour this year, we are releasing a series of short videos showcasing all the great work the team is doing! There will also be a Zoom presentation on July 23 at 5:30pm featuring the USDA's Dr. Tracy Leskey (more on that soon!). Check out the summer tour videos on the team's YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLr5-TRBPQxrHpipiH5WFeY-ap5BKQjX3v
Dr. Jaime Piñero joins Hawkeye and Lens in this weeks UMass IPM Fruit Loop to dish the latest on orchard insect pest management with a special mention of biological control of moth larvae. Take a listen!
https://anchor.fm/umass-fruit-loop/episodes/Enter-the-IrriGATE-eftio5/a-a2i75oq
On this week's episode, Entomologist Dr. Jaime Pinero joins Hawkeye & Lens. You get the "Entomology Psychology" from the expert himself! Of course, Hawkeye and Lens keep you in the loop with current degree days, upcoming meetings, lab re-openings, diseases, and small fruit! As dry conditions continu...
Great news, the plant diagnostic lab at UMass has reopened! One of the most important steps in implementing an IPM plan is knowing what pest you are dealing with. Good diagnostics is essential to Agriculture! Use this link for guidelines on submitting samples:
https://ag.umass.edu/services/plant-diagnostics-laboratory
The UMass Extension Plant Diagnostic Lab will reopen June 22 and has resumed accepting samples. We now offer two forms of payment – scroll down to Step 3 for payment options.
Did you miss last night's pick your own blueberry guidance webinar? No worries! Use this link to get caught up on the latest state guidance for PYO safety on the UMass Fruit Team's YouTube Channel:https://youtu.be/9UfmbgN8_FE
This webinar provides an overview of state guidance on good practices for PYO blueberry operations during the 2020 season given the Covid-19 Pandemic. It is ...
Looking for an informative listen while you go about your daily duties? Check in with Hawkeye and Lens while they dish out this week’s Healthy Fruit news in the UMass IPM Fruit Loop!
https://anchor.fm/umass-fruit-loop/episodes/PREDATORS--PREY--AND-IRRIGATION--Healthy-Fruit-Vol-28--Ep-13-efio70
It's just Hawkeye and Lens on this one! As much of the region remains "abnormally dry," irrigation is the conversation. Join us to get a gauge of how deep you need to take it, learn to discern between good mites and bad mites, and stay in the Healthy Fruit Loop.
Healthy plants are less susceptible to pest attack! IPM starts with strong crops. ~35% of Massachusetts is “abnormally dry”. This makes irrigating crops critical to prevent opportunistic pests from setting up shop in your orchards and fields!
Go to the UMass Extension website to find guidance on crop specific water management: https://ag.umass.edu
For those of you who couldn't make it, or just want to relive all the thrilling details, the UMass Extension Fruit Team Twilight videos from last night are up on our YouTube channel! Click the link to catch up on all four 2020 Fruit Team Twilight meetings! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKCU0_6fvuSPLtWvsmDhfwg/featured
UMass Extension recorded twilight meetings and other educational opportunities will be shared here.
The Fruit Team’s newest episode of the UMass IPM Fruit Loop is up and ready to hear! Tune in to listen to Hawkeye and Lens talk about this week’s fruit news. Jon Clements joins us this week to tell us how he sees it in his own words!! Click the link to listen!
https://anchor.fm/umass-fruit-loop/episodes/UMASS-IPM-FRUIT-LOOP--EPISODE-11-eevb0e
Water, and the circus seem to be this week's theme! A special Thanks to Tree Fruit Expert, Jon Clements for joining Lens to chat about apple measuring, thinning, and irrigation. (Clarification: When Lens refers to backyard pools, she is specifically referring to above-ground pools.) Tune in to see t...
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