The tour will begin in the barn with snacks and beverages, followed by an orchard tour, and ending with a catered dinner. We hope to offer pesticide applicator recertification credits, pending Board of Pesticides approval.
Registration
Registration is available online.
- Cost for both the Summer Tour and Dinner: $35
- Summer Tour only (cost to cover other costs): $10
- The Pomological Society will cover costs for members of the Society for up to two members from each farm. If you are not a member and wish to join, contact Margie Hansel at mhansel@maine.rr.com or Renae Moran at rmoran@maine.edu.
Questions about registration? Contact Chris Howard at christina.howard@maine.edu or call 207.933.2100.
Agenda
1:30 p.m. — Welcome and Registration
2 p.m. — Announcements and Introductions
2:30–4 p.m. — Tree Fruit Tour with Renae Moran, Tree Fruit Specialist, and Glen Koehler, Associate Scientist IPM
Peaches: We will discuss ideas about training and pruning peaches to maximize yield, the new varieties that will bear their second crop this year, the importance of understanding cold hardiness and site selection on potential yield, and managing diseases such as brown rot and bacterial leaf spot.
Sweet Cherries: In our small orchard, we will have flash tape for bird control on display and maybe a few late-ripening cherries for sampling.
Apples: In the tall spindle Honeycrisp orchard, we will talk about biennial bearing and the pruning techniques that prevent it, chemical thinning Honeycrisp and how it worked well this year, possible reasons why fruit set is low, and the new scab-resistant varieties we will be testing. We will also discuss the basics of scouting for pests and diseases.
T.B.D. — Grower Q & A Panel
4–5 p.m. — After Tour Program
Maine State Pomological Society Meeting and Committee Reports: Marketing, Labor, and Legislation
Alexander Redfield, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF), discusses grant programs for agriculture and farming
5–6 p.m. — Dinner
Menu:
- BBQ chicken
- Pork ribs
- Pulled pork
- Coleslaw
- Hummus wraps
- BBQ beans (vegetarian)
- Strawberry Shortcake
- Brownies
6–7:30 p.m. — Twilight Meeting with:
- Mark Hutton, Vegetable Specialist and Assistant Professor of Vegetable Crops
- Dave Handley, Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist
- Peyton Ginakes, Research Associate in Vegetable Production
Vegetable and berry research and demos at Highmoor Farm.
If you need a reasonable accommodation, please contact Renae Moran at 207.713.7083 or 207.933.2100 or by email: rmoran@maine.edu by July 20, 2022 (one week before the event]. If requests are received after this date, we may not have sufficient time to make necessary arrangements.