August 2009 Regional Fruit Grower Newsletter
| 8/14 | Sign-up Deadline for DCP and ACRE Programs |
| 8/20 | |
| 8/31 | Ag-Based Zoning Right-to Farm Act Workshop |
| 9/12 | |
| 9/22 | Trevor Nichols Field Day |
| 10/2 | Sustainable Hops Production Workshop & Tour |
| 12/8 - 10 | The Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo |
NORTHWEST STATION 30TH ANNUAL OPEN HOUSE
The Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Station Open House will be held Thursday, August 20th. The equipment show and grounds open at 1:00 p.m. Educational sessions will begin at 3:00 p.m. and will conclude with a wine tasting event at 5:15 p.m. and dinner at 6:00 p.m.
We will kick off the educational session with a look at the new irrigation system installed at the NWMHRS. Curtis Talley, our new farm management Educator, will be in attendance and provide information about how he can help growers in our region. In addition, featured speakers during the event will be Dr. George Sundin,Dept of Pathology, MSU, presenting information about tree fruit diseases; Dr. Mark Whalon, Dept of Entomology, MSU, Dr. Nikki Rothwell, and Erin Lizotte will discuss the latest results from the tart cherry RAMP project. Dr. Greg Lang, Dept of Horticulture, MSU, will talk about his research on high tunnels. Dr. Jim Flore, Dept of Horticulture and Nikki Rothwell, will introduce the new sweet cherry stem-on project. Beth Bishop, the new coordinator of Enviroweather, will be on hand to talk about the newest happenings on the MSU weather system.
In a concurrent grape session, we are fortunate to have two visiting scientists from Russia. Drs. Krasokhina and Khisamutdinov will present their work on grape breeding, vineyard establishment, refurbishing old vineyards, and grafting. These speakers offer a tremendous opportunity for our winegrape growers and vineyard managers.
This year, the Leelanau Horticultural Society is hosting an equipment show. Many local and regional equipment and supply vendors will be set up at the NWMHRS and will be available throughout the event. The equipment show opens at 1:00 p.m.
The Northwest Station Open House is hosted by the Michigan Agricultural Experiment Station, Michigan State University Extension, the Leelanau Horticultural Society, the Northwest Michigan Horticultural Research Foundation, and Parallel 45. The education sessions are free and open to all who would like to attend. Dinner, to be catered by Epicure Catering of Omena, will feature local produce and is available for $12 per person for those making reservations by August 18 or purchased at the door for $15. To reserve tickets for the wine tasting and dinner, call the Leelanau County Extension office at 231-256-9888 or email to msue45@msu.edu.
Following is the day’s tentative schedule
1:00-3:00 p.m. Equipment Show
3:00 All groups meet in NWMHRS conference room
3:00-3:20 Introduction to new irrigation system at NWMHRS, Dr. Nikki Rothwell, NWMHRS
3:20-3:30 Meet the new NW Farm Management Educator, Curtis Talley, MSU-E
Tree Fruit Session
3:30 Board wagons for sweet cherry pathology trials
3:35-4:05 Latest updates for tree fruit diseases, Dr. George Sundin, Dept. of Plant Pathology
4:05-4:15 Sweet cherry tunnel research update, Dr. Greg Lang, Dept. of Horticulture
4:15-4:30 Introduction to stem-on project, Drs. Jim Flore, Dept of Horticulture and Nikki Rothwell
4:30-4:35 Board wagon for entomology block
4:35-4:50 What’s new on Enviroweather for fruit growers?, Beth Bishop, Enviroweather Coordinator
4:50-5:15 Tart cherry RAMP update, Dr. Mark Whalon, Dept. of Entomology, Dr. Nikki Rothwell and
Erin Lizotte, NWMHRS
Winegrape Session
3:30-5:00 Winegrape breeding, vineyard establishment, refurbishing old vineyards, and grafting, Dr.
Krasokhina and Dr. Khisamutdinov, Russian Academy of Agricultural Sciences
5:15-6:00 Social hour with wine tasting
6:00- Dinner and Leelanau Horticultural Society annual meeting
UPDATE ON THE NEW FARM (Farmer Assistance and Resource Management) Program
Rob Sirrine, CED, Leelanau County
We have officially extended the application deadline for the New FARM Program until September 15, 2009. We hope you will have time to apply to participate in the young farmer leadership program--now known as the New FARM (Farmer Assistance and Resource Management) Program. We have received several applications and still have room for plenty more. We intend to kick-off the Program series in late October. Unfortunately, we did not receive USDA funding for the program, but we do have other funding pending.
The $500 tuition fee has been changed to $250/year to ease the financial burden for emerging farmers. We do not want the cost of the program to prevent anyone from applying, so please contact Nikki, Erin, or I with questions or concerns.
The New FARM Program is an extensive commitment but well worth it! Please visit our website at www.maes.msu.edu/nwmihort and click the “New FARM Program Application” link. The final program agenda will be presented at the October Kick-off Meeting at the Kettunen Center and will include four overnight trips and nine monthly evening educational sessions over a two-year period. Below is a preliminary schedule.
Click here for the Program Schedule
FARM WELLS and WATER USE
Christina Curell
Central Region/Mecosta-Montcalm Groundwater Educator
Last week growers that requested a site specific review of their proposed large quantity water site prior to the law coming into affect, July 9 2009, may have received a letter from MDEQ. This letter asks that the farmer send in a copy of their well log verifying that the well was installed. These are growers who disagreed with the on-line programs assessment that their new or expanding water use would have a negative impact on the surrounding watershed, they where in the "Red D Zone". According to legislation MDEQ has 14 business days to respond to the requests and give an answer in writing whether or not the farmer can proceed. In the cases where I know that a site review was requested there was no contact made by MDEQ and no site review was made. The farms did put their systems in eventually.
Farms need to send, fax, or e-mail a copy of their well logs into MDEQ to verify that their well went in and to make sure that their water is taken out of the "pool". If a farm is using surface water they need to contact MDEQ and let them know that it is a surface water withdrawal and it is in operation. Please remind growers that we are now under a no impact law and they have to use the on-line large water withdrawal assessment, www.miwwat.org, prior to installation and they need to register to MDA prior to use.
If you have any questions, please contact me. If I am not in any office my cell number is 231-287-8617.
Please send any comments or suggestions regarding this site
to:
Bill Klein, kleinw@msu.edu
Last Revised:9-2-09
