February 2008 Regional Fruit Grower Newsletter
| 2/19 | North American Tart cherry Industry Conference Amway Grand Plaza |
| 2/27 - 29 | Michigan Wine Industry Annual Meeting Crystal Mtn Resort, Thompsonville, MI |
| 2/29 | Balancing Animal Agriculture and Communities |
| 2/29 - 3/1 | Michigan Organic Conference MSU Kellogg Center |
| 2/29 - 3/8 | Ag & Natural Resource Week MSU |
| 3/11 | Emergency Preparedness and Labor Issues Workshop Blaine Christian Church, Joyfield Road, Frankfort |
| 3/12 | Peach Program SW Michigan |
| 3/12 | Farm to School: Healthy Kids, Thriving Farms Hagerty Center, NMC |
| 3/12 - 13 | Vineyard Establishment Workshop Berrien & TBA ISD County Centers |
| 3/13 | Farm Safety and Ag Labor Workshop NWMHRS |
| 3/17 | Wine Grape Scouting Day NWMHRS |
| 3/18 | IPM Think Tank NWMHRS |
| 4/1 | Water Use Reports Due |
| 4/8 - 5/3 | Youth Tractor Safety Training NWMHRS |
| 4/9 | Tree Fruit IPM Kick-off NWMHRS |
| 4/11 | Annual Wine Grape Spring Kick-off NWMHRS |
| 4/18 | Organic Vegetable Farming and Gardening Program NWMHRS |
| 6/5 | Deadline for Disaster Loans |
2008 ORCHARD & VINEYARD SHOW PRESENTATION INFORMATION AVAILABLE
Speaker presentations are available for this year’s Orchard and Vineyard Show! They are accessible in pdf format by request. If there is something you missed or just can’t remember the fine details, please call (231-946-1510) or email Karen (zingerk@msu.edu) at the NWMHRS, and we will send them right out. The following is a list of presenter names whose talks are available: Long, VanTimmerman, White, Dow, Sundin, Sabbatini, Sirrine, Alston, Epstein, Whalon, Wise, Thornsbury, Lizotte, and Rothwell.
CCA CREDITS AVAILABLE FOR THE 2008 ORCHARD AND VINEYARD SHOW
Attention all crop consultants! Credits are available for the 2008 show. The following credits were given for the following days: 1) 15 January—nutrient management 0.5; pest management 2.0; crop management 0.5, 2) 16 January—pest management 1.0; crop management 0.1, and 3) 17 January—pest management 3.0, crop management 1.5. Please give Karen a call at the NWMHRS to sign up for these credits (231-946-1510).
NORTH AMERICAN TART CHERRY INDUSTRY CONFERENCE
Dr. Nikki Rothwell, District Horticulturist
The third annual Tart Cherry Industry Conference will be held on February 19 at the Amway Grand Plaza in Grand Rapids. The one-day event is underwritten by CherrCo, Inc. and is open to all members of the tart cherry industry. This year, there are buses to pick growers up in the morning and deliver them back home again in the evening at no cost. The pick up sites for the northwest are as follows: 1) Bus #1—NW Michigan Horticultural Research Station (Leelanau) at 6:30am, 2) Bus #2—Cherry Country Fruitworks (Acme) at 6:30am; this bus will make a second pick-up at Menard’s (Chum’s Corners) at 7am.
The agenda begins with an industry veterans’ panel and ends with a panel of the next generation. Jeff Manning and Weber-Shandwick will be on hand to talk about the progress of the promotion program. Dr. White will lay out his findings on the Federal Marketing Order (FMO), and there will be a discussion on how our FMO compares with other orders as well as what is and is not working with the cherry industry’s current FMO. Lunch will be provided at this event. The bus will depart Grand Rapids when the program has concluded. Please contact CherrCo if you are interested in attending this event: (231) 845-8554.
MICHIGAN WINE INDUSTRY ANNUAL MEETING
February 27-29, Crystal Mountain Resort, Thompsonville, MI
The primary focus of this meeting is the nuts and bolts of winery and tasting room management, especially from the business side of the picture. Topics and sessions include:
Techniques of Alcohol Management
Select Michigan Marketplace
Wine Filtration
Wine Clubs
WineMichigan Report
Julian Stille Innovation Grants
Using Local Fruit
Michigan Liquor Control Commission Compliance Seminar
Winery Owners Meeting
April Wine Month Activities
Salesmanship and Customer – Service in the Tasting Room
Winemakers’ Tasting Session
In other words, everything you need to know about the winery business, but were afraid to ask.
For more information, contact Linda Jones of the Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council at jonesL9@michigan.gov or her staff at (517) 241-4468. (Deadline for Early Payment Discount is Feb. 15)
AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES (ANR) WEEK, MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
February 29 – March 8, 2008
Karen Powers, Research Technician
ANR Week 2008 provides a wide-variety of topics in areas such as
agriculture, horticulture, and natural resources, i.e. Quiet Water
Symposium, Michigan Wildflower Conference, Growing of Michigan’s
Organic Future, MSRBA Rabbit Show, Michigan Audubon Society and the
80th state convention of the Michigan FFA. A listing of the programs
and annual association meetings can be found at http://www.canr.msu.edu/anrweek/.
LIVESTOCK, CROP DISASTER PROGRAM 2007 ELIGIBILITY DATE EXTENDED (Change includes livestock losses prior to Dec. 31, losses on crops planted for entire 2007 crop year)
Michigan State Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency, Nancy Dietz, today announced the eligibility deadline for 2007 livestock and crop year losses has been extended, for farmers who suffered recent livestock and/or crop losses caused by natural disasters.
This date change does not make 2008 crops planted in 2007 eligible for CDP, however it does benefit farmers in that it extends the eligibility date for crops planted in 2007 that were meant for the same crop year, and it adds 10 months to the amount of eligible time livestock losses can be considered for the new program.
Producers should visit their local USDA Farm Service Agency office to apply for benefits under these new disaster assistance programs. Sign-up for the Livestock Compensation Program (LCP) and Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP) began Sept. 10, 2007. Sign-up for the Crop Disaster Program (CDP) began Oct. 15, 2007, and applies to farmers who suffered quantity losses to their crops. Ending dates for the sign-up period will be announced at a future date.
LCP now compensates livestock producers for feed losses occurring between Jan. 1, 2005, and Dec. 31, 2007, due to a natural disaster. This can include producers who suffered losses resulting from blizzards that began in 2006 and continued into December 2007. Livestock producers may elect to receive compensation for calendar year 2007 grazing season losses caused by a wildfire natural disaster occurring during the applicable period as determined by the Secretary of Agriculture. Producers in primary counties declared secretarial disaster areas or certain counties declared presidential disaster areas between Jan. 1, 2005, and Dec. 31, 2007, are eligible as are producers located in counties contiguous to those counties.
More information about LCP, LIP and CDP is available at local Farm Service Agency offices throughout the state and online at http://www.fsa.usda.gov; under Disaster Assistance Programs.Date: Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Location: Blaine Christian Church, Joyfield Road, Frankfort
Agenda:
8:00-8:30 am Coffee, Rolls, and Registration
8:30-8:45 Welcome and Overview
Dave Smeltzer, President, Benzie-Manistee Horticultural Society
8:45-10:00 Farm Emergency Preparedness (Part 1)
Craig Anderson, Michigan Farm Bureau
10:00-10:20 Break
10:20 -Noon Farm Emergency Preparedness (Part 2)
Craig Anderson, Michigan Farm Bureau
Noon Lunch Provided on site
1:00-2:30 pm Labor and Farm Labor Issues (Part 1)
A panel of experts will be on hand to share the latest information related to Labor
Facilitator: Rose Rangel
2:30-2:45 Break
2:45-4:00 Labor Issues (Part 2)
4:00-4:30 Questions and Answers
5:30-8:00 Benzie-Manistee Horticultural Society Annual Dinner
Note: Coffee is being donated by Blarney Castle, Bear Lake. Food for the breaks,
luncheon, and Annual Dinner is being prepared by Blaine Christian Church members.
REGISTRATION FORM for Emergency Preparedness and Labor Issues Workshop
(Registration Deadline: Friday, March 7, 2008)
ADDRESS: _____________________________________________________________
CITY, STATE: ZIP:________________________________________________________
PHONE NUMBER: ________________________________________________________
_____number of additional family members X $12 = _________
Annual
Dinner:
_____
number attending X $25 = _________
TOTAL DUE =
_________
Mail To: MSU Extension-Benzie County
P.O. Box 349
Beulah, MI 49617-0809
VINEYARD ESTABLISHMENT WORKSHOP
Tom Zabadal, SWMREC, MSUE
Duke Elsner, Grand Traverse MSUE
The Michigan wine industry has been steadily growing for over 25 years. That growth has been based on the production of quality wine grapes. The continued growth of this industry is dependant upon the expansion of varieties with local conditions and winery needs.
A Vineyard Establishment Workshop will be offered in Traverse City on March 12 & 13. Participants will receive current information on many topics pertinent to vineyard establishment, all the way from determining market potential and winery relationships, through site selection and preparation, planting vines, and managing young vineyards. Costs of establishment and variety selection will also be covered in the two-day program.
The program includes a Michigan Wine Hospitality and multi-course dinner with selected wine pairings on March 12. Lunch each day and breakfast on March 13 are also provided with the cost of registration.
The workshop location in Traverse City is at the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District’s Career Tech Center, 880 Parsons Road. The same program is being held concurrently in southwest Michigan at Berrien Springs. Live, two-way interactive video technology will be used to conduct the workshop in both locations at once. Half of the presentations will be live and in person at each location.
The registration fee for this program is $250 per person. Attendance is limited to 30 people at the Traverse City site. The registration fee is non-refundable after February 15.
For more information or to register, contact Duke Elsner at (231) 922-4822 or Tom Zabadal at (269) 944-1477 x 206.
FARM TO SCHOOL: Healthy Kids, Thriving Farms Farm to School: Healthy Kids, Thriving Farms
Organized by the Michigan Land Use Institute
A new regional conference in Traverse City will connect schools and camps with local farms for educational opportunities, fundraisers, and healthy, fresh food in cafeteria meals.
Farm to School: Healthy Kids, Thriving Farms, will be held March 12 at the Hagerty Center, In Traverse City. It builds on the experiences of more than 30 schools in the five-county Grand Traverse region that are serving about a dozen local farm products, from apples to winter squash. Schools, camps, and farms will have opportunities to learn from each other, hear about real life experiences, and take home practical tools.
Workshop topics include buying and selling tips for food service directors and farms; fundraising opportunities with local farm products instead of the traditional "candy sale;" curriculum ideas; school gardens; and fresh food preparation skills for school and camp cooks.
Registration is $25 per person, which include a local foods lunch. Discounts are available for schools and camps that send teams to the conference. Those teams could include food service staff, school board and PTO members, school nurses, teachers, administrators, and students.
A limited number of special exhibit spaces also are available for farms and food companies to showcase their products for cafeteria and fundraiser sales, and for educational opportunities such as field trips.
For more information, contact the Michigan Land Use Institute at 231-941-6584 or visit http://localdifference.org/farmtoschool/conference.asp.
FARM SAFETY & SEASONAL LABOR PROGRAM
Robert Sirrine, Leelanau County Extension Director
Leelanau MSU Extension will host a Farm Safety & Seasonal Labor program on Thursday, March 13 at the NW Michigan Horticultural Research Station. The Farm Safety Program will run from 8:30 am – Noon. The program will cover emergency preparedness on the farm, hazard identification, food security and transportation issues.
The Seasonal Labor Program will run from 1-4:30 pm. The program will cover an update on migrant labor recruitment, migrant housing, I-9 compliance and drivers’ licenses and no-permanent residence. A catered lunch will be provided. The cost to attend is $25 per person. PLEASE RSVP BY MONDAY, MARCH 10th by calling the Leelanau MSU Extension office at 231-256-9888.
ONE TIME ONLY! WINE GRAPE SCOUTING DAY
Dr. Nikki Rothwell, District Horticulturist
Dr. Duke Elsner, Wine and Grape Agent
Erin Lizotte, IFP/IPM Educator
The Northwest Michigan Horticultural Station will hold a basic training session on wine grape IPM on March 17 from 9-3
at the NWMHRS. This workshop will introduce the concept of integrated
pest management (IPM) and scouting/monitoring. We will move into how
to scout for insect pests: identification, location in the grape vine,
damage, and basic control tactics. Disease information will be
presented for the common diseases found here in the northwest. We will
also cover basic weed identification and proper timings for herbicide
applications. The day is open to all growers, vineyard managers,
consultants, and agribusiness representatives. The $15 fee will cover
lunch and handout information. Please contact the NWMHRS to attend
this special event: 231-946-1510
IPM THINK TANK
Dr. Nikki Rothwell, District Horticulturist
Erin Lizotte, IFP/IPM Educator
The IPM Think Tank is back for 2008! This event will be held at the NWMHRS on March 18 from 9-4. This year’s topics will discuss the importance of cover crops and fertility. We have lined up some great speakers that will address how cover crops benefit soil biology and minerals as well as their impacts on yields, and the use of herbicides and fertilizers. We will end the day with a panel of growers that will talk about his/her experiences with using cover crops.
This year’s program will give growers a chance to see the benefits of cover cropping and provide specific ways to put these plants to work on our northwest Michigan farms. Plus, come and meet two new MSU faculty members: Dr. Stuart Grandy, soil ecologist and Dr. Matt Greishop, organic pest management! There will be CCA credits. Please call the NWMHRS if you plan to attend: 231-946-1510. There is a registration fee, which will include lunchTREE FRUIT IPM KICKOFF!
Erin Lizotte, IFP/IPM Educator
Dr. Nikki Rothwell, District Horticulturist
It’s that time of the year again. Time for the Tree Fruit IPM Kickoff! This 4th annual meeting will be held at the NW Michigan Horticultural Research Station on Wednesday, April 9th from 7-9 pm. Topics will include updated spray recommendations and labeling changes for tree fruit crops. It’s free, and no registration is necessary. Pesticide recertification credits will be available, so be sure to mark your calendar! See you on April 9th.
ANNUAL WINE GRAPE SPRING KICK-OFF
Dr. Nikki Rothwell, District Horticulturist
Dr. Duke Elsner, Wine and Grape Agent
Erin Lizotte, IFP/IPM Educator
The annual wine grape spring kick-off meeting at the NWMHRS will be held on Friday, April 11. This meeting will begin our ‘first Friday’ meetings for the northwest wine grape industry. This year, we will be bringing in Dr. Andrew Reynolds from Brock University, Ontario, Canada. He is a premiere viticulturist with a great wealth of knowledge in growing wine grapes in cool climate conditions. He will be speaking on pruning and training systems and will provide insight on the many clones of Pinot Noir. Don’t miss this great opportunity to learn from and interact with Dr. Reynolds!
Dr. Charlie Edson will also attend this meeting to discuss his experiences with the many Pinot Noir clones at his Bel Lago vineyard. He has grown many different clones and has been observing these vines for almost 20 years. Drs. Annemiek Schilder and Rufus Isaacs will be on hand to provide growers with the new label changes and data updates in pathology and entomology. Pete Butchko from USDA Wildlife Services will hold a brainstorming session on birds in the vineyard as a follow-up to his presentation at the 2008 NW Orchard and Vineyard Show. To end the day, there will be a wine tasting event that will feature different Pinot Noirs—we encourage all growers/winemakers to bring along their different vintages.
We would appreciate if you would register for this meeting by calling the NWMHRS (231-946-1510). The registration fee is $15 and will include lunch. We also want to take this opportunity to thank Parallel 45 for their financial support in helping bring Dr. Reynolds to northwest Michigan.
ORGANIC VEGETABLE FARMING AND GARDENING PROGRAM
Robert Sirrine, Leelanau County Extension Director
MSUE SERVICES & PROGRAMMING USER SURVEY Your County______________
How do you want to receive your fruit grower newsletter information:
Mail ____
E-Mail ____ (please provide e-mail address) ___________________________
Fax ____
Do you or someone in your farm operation use:
Fruit code-a-phone messages yes no not aware of them
FruitNet releases yes no not aware of them
Fruit Crop Advisory Team Alerts yes no not aware of them
If you use code-a-phone messages, please answer the following:
When do you use them most? May June July August September
How often do you use them at the above time? _________ times per week
What limits the usefulness of the code-a-phone system? ________________________
The code-a-phone message system costs $615 per year to operate, and it is supported
by funding from local horticultural organizations. Is this a good use of your funding?
Yes no
If you use the FruitNet information, please answer the following:
How do you receive or access the FruitNet releases?
(circle all that apply) Email Fax web site ag-chem dealers
The Fruit Net program costs $100 per year to operate, and it is supported by
funding from local horticultural organizations. Is this a good use of your funding?
Yes no
Where do get your orchard management information – please circle
the importance of the following sources to your operation:
Code-a-phone messages very important useful little value
FruitNet releases very important useful little value
Crop Advisory Team Alerts very important useful little value
Agri-chemical dealer representatives very important useful little value
Independent scouts and consultants very important useful little value
2008 Orchard & Vineyard Show evaluation - Please indicate your opinion of:
The 3-day format good bad
Separate sessions vs. concurrent sessions good bad
The amount of horticultural/production information too much good too little
The amount of pest management/pesticide information too much good too little
The amount of marketing information too much good too little
The amount of break time to visit vendors too much good too little
Feel free to use the back of the page for further comments. Thank You!
Please return this survey to the NWMHRS, 6686 S. Center Highway, Traverse City, MI 49684Please send any comments or suggestions regarding this site to:
Bill Klein, kleinw@msu.edu
Last Revised: 3-3-08
Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station
6686 S. Center Hwy • Traverse City, Michigan 49684
Tel: 231/946-1510 Fax: 231/946-1404