March 2008 Regional Fruit Grower Newsletter

FEDERAL MARKETING ORDER DISCUSSIONS
Dr. Nikki Rothwell, District Horticulturist

All northwest Michigan tart cherry growers and processors are invited to attend round-table discussions on the Federal Marketing Order (FMO) and the upcoming referendum.

As there has been some unease regarding the current FMO, the intention of these meetings is to bring together growers, processors, and CIAB board members to have meaningful and honest discussions about the issues that surround this important referendum. The meetings will be facilitated by the local horticulture societies/fruit councils to help put tough matters on the table. We invite everyone to attend these sessions and bring their ideas, thoughts, questions, and most importantly their concerns about the FMO, the CIAB, and the approaching referendum. These discussions are an opportunity to help guide the future of the tart cherry industry!

• Leelanau County: Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station, March 11 @ 7pm
• Antrim County: Milton Township Hall, March 12 @ 9
• Grand Traverse County: Cottage Café, March 12 @ 1pm

A one-time only Wine grape Scout Training Day will be held at the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station on March 17, 2008. This day is intended to introduce or solidify the concepts of IPM in wine grape systems. We invite all vineyard managers, homeowners, and agri-business representatives to attend this workshop. Please call the NWMHRS at 231-946-1510 to register. There will be a $15 registration charge that will include lunch.

9:00-9:30            Introduction to Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
                         Dr. Nikki Rothwell, District Horticulturist

9:30-10:00          Environmental and Biological Monitoring
                         Dr. Duke Elsner, Regional Wine & Grape Agent-Grand Traverse

10:00-10:30        Bug Basics
                         Dr. Duke Elsner, Regional Wine & Grape Agent -Grand Traverse

10:30-10:45       BREAK

10:45-11:30       Grape Insect Monitoring and Management
                        Paul Jenkins, Small Fruit Education Coordinator

11:30-11:50        Natural Enemies in the Vineyard
                         Paul Jenkins, Small Fruit Education Coordinator

11:50-12:30        LUNCH

12:30-1:00          Introduction to Grape Plant Diseases
                         Erin Lizotte, District IFP/IPM Educator

1:00-1:45            Grape Disease Monitoring and Management
                         Erin Lizotte, District IFP/IPM Educator

1:45-2:15            Weed Management in Vineyard Systems
                                 Dr. Nikki Rothwell, District Horticulturist

2:15-2:45            Pesticide Safety
                         Dr. Nikki Rothwell, District Horticulturist

2:45-3:00            Questions and Wrap-Up

This year’s Think Tank will showcase the use of cover crops in different cropping systems. As this concept is new on some levels, many growers have been experimenting with these crops and the benefits they provide to trees/vines/crops. We are hosting Rebecca Sweet, who received her M.S. from Oregon State University where she researched cover crops in vineyard systems. We are excited to hear about her research and how these ideas can be applied to other cropping systems. We also will have our two new researchers from MSU on hand: Dr. Stuart Grandy and Dr. Matthew Greishop will review basic soil biology and will provide an overview of successes using cover crops. We will wrap up the day with five growers that have had experiences with using cover crops—all come from a different perspective and they will have much knowledge to share!

We invite all vineyard managers, tree fruit growers, vegetable growers, consultants, and agri-business reps to attend. The meeting will be held on March 18 at the NWMHRS from 9- 4:15 p.m. There will be a $20 registration fee, and this cost will include a catered lunch. Please call the NWMHRS at 231-946-1510 to register.

9:00-9:30      The Basics of Soil Biology
                    Dr. Stuart Grandy, Dept. of Crop and Soil Science, MSU

9:30-10:00     An Overview of Cover Crops in Orchard Systems
                    Dr. Matthew Grieshop, Dept. of Entomology, MSU

10:00-10:15   BREAK

10:15-10:45   Minerals and Biology Associated with Cover Crops
                    Joe Scrimger, Crop Consultant, Bio-Systems

10:45-11:30   The Impacts of Cover Crops and Reduced Fertilizer/Herbicide Input
                    on Cherry Yields, Dr. Robert Sirrine, Leelanau County CED, MSU

11:30-12:00   A Reminder of Cherry Nutritional Needs
                          Dr. Eric Hansen, Dept. of Horticulture, MSU

12:00-1:00     LUNCH

1:00-1:30      Results of Using the Swiss Sandwich Technique in Apple Systems
                          Dr. Mira Danilovich, District Educator, MSU

1:30-2:15      Cover Crop Selection and Soil Enhancement
                    Dr. George Bird, Dept. of Entomology, MSU

2:15-2:30      BREAK

2:30-3:10      Cover Crop Success in Oregon Vineyards and other 
                    Cropping Systems 
                     Rebecca Sweet, Oregon State University

3:10-4:10       Cover Crop Experiences from Local Growers
                     Gene Garthe, Tree Fruit Grower, Northport
                     Gary Bardenhagen, Tree Fruit Grower, East Leland
                     Joe Scrimger, Crop Consultant, Bio-Systems
                     Jane Leatherman-Walker, Eco-Learning Center, Bingham
                     Nichole Birdsall, Winemaker, Leelanau Cellars

4:10-4:15       Questions/Wrap-Up

TREE FRUIT KICKOFF ANNOUNCEMENT
Erin Lizotte, IFP/IPM Educator

It’s that time of the year again. Time for the Tree Fruit IPM Kickoff! The 4^th annual meeting will be held at the NW Michigan Horticultural Research Station on Wednesday, April 9^th from 7-9 pm. Topics will include updated spray recommendations and label 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 9^th.

The fourth annual spring meeting on wine grape management will be held at the NWMHRS on Friday, April 11 from 9:00-4:15. We are pleased to be bringing in Dr. Andrew Reynolds from Brock University, Ontario. He will be speaking on pruning and training systems and another topic of great interest in the northwest wine grape industry - ‘farming for flavor’. Please call the NWMHRS to register at 231-946-1510. The workshop has a $15 registration fee, which will cover lunch.

9:00-10:00     Brainstorming Session for Birds in Vineyards
                     Pete Butchko, USDA Wildlife Services

10:00-10:30   Insect IPM for NW Michigan Vineyards
                          Dr. Rufus Isaacs, Dept. of Entomology, MSU

10:30-10:45   BREAK

10:45-11:30   Pruning and Training Systems for Success in the Vineyard
                    Dr. Andrew Reynolds, Brock University, Ontario

11:30-12:00   Fungicide Update for 2008
                          Dr. Annemiek Schilder, Dept. of Pathology, MSU

12:00-1:00     LUNCH

1:00-1:40      Fungal Inoculum - How Can we Manage it?
                          Dr. Annemiek Schilder, Dept. of Pathology, MSU

1:40-2:00      Strategies for Weed Control in a New Vineyard Plantings
                    Dr. Tom Zabadal, Dept. of Horticulture and SWMREC

2:00-2:45      Farming for Flavor: Managing the Canopy for Good Tasting Wines
                    Dr. Andrew Reynolds, Brock University, Ontario

2:45-3:00      BREAK

3:00-3:30      Observations of Pinot Noir Clones at Bel Lago Vineyards
                          Dr. Charlie Edson, Bel Lago Vineyards, Lake Leelanau

3:30-4:30      Educational Wine Tasting: Investigating the Flavors of Pinot Noir
                    Dr. Charlie Edson, Bel Lago Vineyards, Lake Leelanau
                    Lee Lutes, Black Star Farms, Suttons Bay
                    Adam Satchwell, Shady Lane Vineyards, Suttons Bay
                    Dr. Andrew Reynolds, Brock University, Ontario

MSU Extension will host an organic vegetable farming and gardening event on Friday, April 18 at the NW Michigan Horticultural Research Station. This session will be of use to organic producers, backyard vegetable growers, those considering organic certification, and anyone else interested in growing vegetables. The program will cover soil management, how organic soils work, cover crops for vegetable production, composting, organic pest management, emerging crops for organic production, the pros and cons of organic certification, the use of hoop houses for season extension. There will also be an experienced farmer panel representing four farms across Michigan to explain their operations and answer first-hand any questions participants may have. A catered lunch will be provided. The cost to attend is $25 per person. Click here for program details.

PLEASE RSVP BY MONDAY April 10^th.
Contact the Leelanau MSU Extension office for more information at 231-256-9888.

Last Revised: 3-5-08