2020 Orchard Fruit Schools

Hello, everyone,
Last week we held our annual series of orchard fruit schools - Monday in Fancy Gap (Patrick-Carroll), Tuesday in Roanoke (Roanoke-Botetourt), Wednesday in Lovingston (Nelson-Albemarle, or Central Virginia), Thursday in Syria (Madison-Rappahannock), and ending on Friday in Winchester.  This is always a great opportunity to meet with most of the orchardists in the state.  Talks were provided by our fruit specialists, with other speakers added).  I spoke on spider mites and their predators, an update on spotted lanternfly and periodical cicada, and the background behind the regulatory problems with chlorpyrifos.  Here are some photos from this year's fruit schools.
More later,
Doug

Spotted lanternfly update at Virginia Vineyards Assocation winter meeting

Hello, everyone,
Today I presented an update on spotted lanternfly at the Virginia Vineyards Association Winter Technical Meeting in Charlottesville.  A great crowd, lots of interest!  I reviewed the current status of the Virginia infestation, the eradication program, the quarantine program established by VDACS last May, extension resources and control measures.  The control measures are merely the best we have at this time - clearly more research is needed!  I am including here, links to SLF information (in English and Spanish).  Please let me know if you have questions (and especially if you have SLF sightings!) (SLF reporting portal: https://ask.extension.org/groups/1981/ask)

SLF in vineyards
English:  https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/ENTO/ento-323/ENTO-323.pdf
Spanish:  https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/ENTO/ento-323s/ENTO-323S.pdf

SLF in residential areas
English:  https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/ENTO/ento-322/ENTO-322.pdf
Spanish:  https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/ENTO/ento-322s/ENTO-322.pdf

More later,
Doug

2020 Pest Management Recommendations now available

Each year we revise our recommendations for fruit pest management (as well as other crops.  The 2020 guides are now posted.  Commercial orchard recommendations are included in the Spray Bulletin for Commercial Tree Fruit Growers.  This is a multi-state guide, including in addition specialists from Virginia Tech, faculty from West Virginia University and University of Maryland.

Other fruit crops are included in the Pest Management Guide series.  Commercial vineyards and commercial small fruit are included in the volume on Horticultural and Forest Crops.  Direct links to the relevant chapters in PDF are here:
Commercial Small Fruit
Commercial Vineyards
Commercial Hops

Home hruit recommendations are in the Home Grounds and Animals volume.  Click here for the chapter on Home Fruit.

Information on purchasing hard copies will be provided when it is determined.

More later,
Doug

Agendas for the 2020 Orchard Fruit Schools posted

Hello,

Next week (Feb 10-14) is our annual week of orchard fruit schools.  The agendas are locations are posted in the Virginia Fruit web site.  Here are the direct links:

• Mon, Feb 10, 8:45 AM - Patrick-Carroll school, Sky View Baptist Church, Fancy Gap VA.
• Tues, Feb 11, 8:30 AM - The Botetourt-Roanoke school, Brambleton Center, Roanoke.
  
• Wed, Feb 12, 9:00 AM - The Nelson-Albemarle (Central Virginia) school, Nelson Center, Lovingston.
• Thur, Feb 13, 8:15 AM - The Madison-Rappahannock school, Graves Mt Lodge, Syria.
•  Fri, Feb 14, 8:00 AM -  The Winchester School, Fox Meadow Barn, 350 Old Firehouse Lane, Winchester

We hope to have the 2020 Spray Bulletins for Commercial Tree Fruit Growers available for purchase.

See you at one of the schools!

Doug