Re: [apple-crop] Tall spindle trellis
Arthur, My experience from the October snow storm a couple years ago. Our losses were from line posts, not ends. Driven posts did not break or go over, where augured did. Line post spacing under 30' were fine, all failures were with spacings at or over 30'. Hillsides more vulnerable than flat land. Wire breaking or staple pulling appeared to be involved in most failures, Sent from my iPhone On Feb 20, 2014, at 8:23 AM, Arthur Kelly kellyorcha...@gmail.com wrote: What is the longest length of trellis for tall spindle apple planting that growers have experience with? -- Art Kelly Kelly Orchards Acton, ME ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop ___ apple-crop mailing list apple-crop@virtualorchard.net http://virtualorchard.net/mailman/listinfo/apple-crop
Re: Apple-Crop: AI nozzles for airblast sprayers
We are using a sprayer controller, and so the pressure varies block to block depending upon row spacing, speed, tree height, etc. That is of course where the challenge lies, finding nozzles that will deliver over a range of pressures to meet the mix of training systems we have. So the range is 75 psi to 200 psi. To my dismay, we spray at 50 or 100 gpa, depending on what material we are spraying. We'd like to be doing a better job of using TRV, but when we add the complications of guessing the intents of some of the label rates, together with our mishmash of plantings, we're settling in at rate per acre, regardless of the acre. Someday we will have the technology to read the tree's canopy in terms of density, and we'll do a better job. Mo Tougas On Apr 3, 2010, at 10:43 AM, Jill Kelly wrote: I have about 1/3 24' rows. 1/3 18' rows and the last 1/3 are 15' rows. What pressure and GPA do you operate at Mo? Thanks, Art - Original Message - From: Mo Tougas m...@tougasfarm.com To: Apple-Crop apple-crop@virtualorchard.net Sent: Saturday, April 03, 2010 6:37 AM Subject: Re: Apple-Crop: AI nozzles for airblast sprayers Hi Art We've been using the Albuz and spraying systems AI nozzles for several seasons now. We'd been using them for herbicides and for spraying strawberries for years and were quite satisfied. Two years ago we started using them in airblast sprayers. We've found that they are a bit limited there. The droplets are heavy, and we feel that 16' row spacing is about as far as we can go and get uniform overage. Past that, and pattern has not been satisfactory. I'd suggest caution. Use a couple in the top positions on your sprayer, and be sure to use water sensitive paper in your trees to be sure you are happy. Mo Tougas Tougas Family Farm,LLC Northborough, MA On Apr 2, 2010, at 8:14 PM, Arthur Kelly wrote: Hi all, I am considering switching over to air induction nozzles for my orchard sprayer. What is the experience so far in terms of pressure, gallons per acre, the effect of row spacing and tree size etc? Does anyone have any suggestions? Art Kelly Kelly Orchards Acton, Me -- The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard http://www.virtualorchard.net and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements webmas...@virtualorchard.net. Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent official opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the content. -- The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard http://www.virtualorchard.net and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements webmas...@virtualorchard.net. Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent official opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the content. -- The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard http://www.virtualorchard.net and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements webmas...@virtualorchard.net. Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent official opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the content.
Apple-Crop: Mafcot equilifruit
Does anyone know of a source for purchase of a Mafcot equilifruit guage? Thanks, Mo Tougas Tougas Family Farm Northborough, MA 01532 -- The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard http://www.virtualorchard.net and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements webmas...@virtualorchard.net. Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent official opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the content.
Apple-Crop: IFTA Conferance
Just a reminder to all of you that online registration for the Annual Meeting of the International Fruit Tree Association ends on the 20th. http://ifruittree.site-ym.com/resource/resmgr/docs/iftaconfbrochure.pdf For a direct link to registration; http://ifruittree.site-ym.com/events/event_details.asp?id=91879 Hope to see you there. Mo Tougas Tougas Family Farm Northborough, MA 01532 508 450 0844 -- The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard http://www.virtualorchard.net and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements webmas...@virtualorchard.net. Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent official opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the content.
Apple-Crop: Worcester Telegram Editorial
Growers, et al Take a look at this editorial that appeared in Saturday's Worcester Telegram. At this time of the season any added lift is helpful to our spirits. http://www.telegram.com/article/20090919/NEWS/909190321/1020/OPINION Mo Tougas Tougas family Farm Northborough, MA 01532 -- The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard http://www.virtualorchard.net and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements webmas...@virtualorchard.net. Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent official opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the content.
Re: Apple-Crop: LA Times Re: organic
Axel We too use lime sulfur and I agree that the benefits are numerous. Twenty years ago we bought sulfur by the ton as our non synthetic fungicide of choice for the production of peaches here in the humid northeast. That ceased when a friend was hospitalized due to a severe allergic reaction to my peaches. I was told it was an allergy to sulfur. I decided not to argue with the emergency room personnel. That said, my point was not to discuss the toxicity of either, but rather the dishonesty that has been perpetuated on the consumer. There is distrust of our food system now, what happens when the public sees the National List of Allowed Substances. I know it never will as publicity of its existence is contrary to the agenda of the powers that be, including the gardener at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Mo Tougas Tougas Family Farm Northborough, MA On Jul 21, 2009, at 10:13 PM, Vincent Philion wrote: Effect of sulfur, lime sulfur on predators Childers, C. C., Villanueva, R., Aguilar, H., Chewning, R., and Michaud, J. P. 2001. Comparative residual toxicities of pesticides to the predator Agistemus industani (Acari: Stigmaeidae) on citrus in Florida. Experimental and Applied Acarology. 25:461-474 Holb IJ, DeJong PF and Heijne B (200a) Efficacy and phytotoxicity of lime sulfur in organic apple production. Annals of Applied Biology 142: 225–233. Prischmann, D. A., James, D. G., Wright, L. C., Teneyck, R. D., and Snyder, W. E. 2005. Effects of chlorpyrifos and sulfur on spider mites (Acari: Tetranychidae) and their natural enemies. Biological Control. 33:324-334 Teodoro, A. V., Fadini, M. A. M., Lemos, W., Guedes, R. N. C., and Pallini, A. 2005. Lethal and sub-lethal selectivity of fenbutatin oxide and sulfur to the predator Iphiseiodes zuluagai (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and its prey, Oligonychus ilicis (Acari: Tetranychidae), in Brazilian coffee plantations. Experimental and Applied Acarology. 36:61-70 and effect of copper on environment... Avery, A. 2006. The Truth About Organic Foods. 1er ed. Henderson Communications, L.L.C. Avery, D. T., and Institute, C. F. G. F. I. (. 2001. Nature's Toxic Tools: The Organic Myth of Pesticide-free Farming. Hudson Institute. Eijsackers, H., Beneke, P., Maboeta, M., Louw, J. P. E., and Reinecke, A. J. 2005. The implications of copper fungicide usage in vineyards for earthworm activity and resulting sustainable soil quality. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf. 62:99-111 Available at: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15978295 [Accessed December 2, 2008]. Filser, J., Fromm, H., Nagel, R., and Winter, K. 1995. Effects of previous intensive agricultural management on microorganisms and the biodiversity of soil fauna. Plant and Soil. 170:123-129 Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02183060 [Accessed December 3, 2008]. Flores-Velez, L. M., Ducaroir, J., Jaunet, A. M., and Robert, M. 1996. Study of the distribution of copper in an acid sandy vineyard soil by three different methods. European Journal of Soil Science. 47:523-532 Friis, K., Damgaard, C., and Holmstrup, M. 2004. Sublethal soil copper concentrations increase mortality in the earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa during drought. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. 57:65-73 Jamar, L., Aubinet, M., Fievez, T., Magein, H., and Lateur, M. Soil microbial activity and earthworm abundance in orchards under conventional and organic growth management systems. Ma, W. C. 1984. Sublethal toxic effects of copper on growth, reproduction and litter breakdown activity in the earthworm Lumbricus rubellus, with observations on the influence of temperature and soil pH. ENVIRON. POLLUT.(A ECOL. BIOL.). 33:207-219 Merrington, G., Rogers, S. L., and Van Zwieten, L. 2002. The potential impact of long-term copper fungicide usage on soil microbial biomass and microbial activity in an avocado orchard. Australian Journal of Soil Research. 40:749-759 Neuhauser, E. F., Loehr, R. C., Milligan, D. L., and Malecki, M. R. 1985. Toxicity of metals to the earthworm Eisenia fetida. Biology and Fertility of Soils. 1:149-152 Available at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00301782 [Accessed December 3, 2008]. Paoletti, M. G., Sommaggio, D., Favretto, M. R., Petruzzelli, G., Pezzarossa, B., and Barbafieri, M. 1998. Earthworms as useful bioindicators of agroecosystem sustainability in orchards and vineyards with different inputs. Applied Soil Ecology. 10:137-150 Tamm, L., Häseli, A., Fuchs, J. G., Weibel, F. P., and Wyss, E. 2002. Organic fruit production in humid climates of Europe: bottlenecks and new approaches in disease and pest control. In XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Sustainability of Horticultural Systems in the 21st Century 638, ISHS, p. 333-339. Van Rhee, J. A. 1977. Effects of soil pollution on earthworms. Pedobiologia. 17:201–208 On 21-Jul-2009, at 7:31 PM, Axel Kratel wrote: Nonsense! Copper concerns me, but what
Re: Apple-Crop: LA Times Re: organic
Dare I add this. What the article lacks is what the organic movement hopes the public never learns, and that is the fact that the movement has deliberately mislead, often times outright lied to the public to forward its financial goals. The public overwhelmingly believes that organic means either not sprayed, not sprayed with pesticides , not sprayed with toxic pesticides or not sprayed with anything toxic. Or that because it is natural, it is benign. The organic industry has done nothing to right this misconception. I can't say that I blame them. Certainly if the truth were known, the advantage would be lost. Imagine if the average Joe or Mary spent a day pruning, or thinning in an orchard sprayed 2 days ago with sulfur or better yet, lime sulfur. Perhaps a reporter or two should be encouraged to do so. Pot stirred. Mo Tougas Tougas Family Farm Northborough, MA On Jul 21, 2009, at 5:06 PM, Dave Rosenberger wrote: Sorry, Alex, but all conventional pesticides produced in the past three decades have a MUCH shorter half-life than copper which is approved for organic. Also, I agree that organic farming is much easier in desert climates. However, it appears to me that western organic growers (and conventional farmers as well) have been and continue to be largely dependent on federally subsidized and/or state-funded water systems. The water management systems in western irrigated agriculture may have had less environmental impact that the wide- spread use of DDT from the 1940's through the 1960's, but it would be interesting to know the comparative environmental costs of the two systems. Pesticides that were developed in the past two decades have relatively short residual life-spans or half-lives. The water management systems used to produce the vast amounts of food that come from western irrigated farmland continue to drain water flows that formerly maintained wild salmon populations and other aspects of healthy stream ecology. So which system is ultimately more damaging if the ideal is to maintain healthy natural systems? Flavor comparisons are very difficult because everyone's preferences are different. I certainly agree that produce in chain-store retail outlets often lacks flavor, but in my opinion, that fact has little to do with organic vs. non-organic. It has a lot more to do with which cultivars and selections will hold up to our long-distance and impersonal food handling systems. Finally, I'll repeat my two main arguments against organic: First, lists of what is acceptable and what is not acceptable for organic production have evolved from a mish-mash of nonscientific tradition and folklore with little or no scientific basis for those decisions. Second, organic foods generally are not available to those in the lower socio-economic quadrant of our society because it costs too much. The constraints on organic agriculture (perhaps with the exception of corporate farms in desert climates) almost guarantee that organic food will be more expensive because production costs are higher and/or productivity per acre is lower. (I know that higher cost and/or lower productivity is not always the case for organic ag, but it is still largely true. Therefore, don't bother replying with the examples of the exceptions!) Everyone has a right to pay more for the food of their choice if they can afford it, just as everyone has a right to drive a gas- guzzling Hummer if they can afford that. However, I detect similar levels of socio-economic arrogance and an attitude of I don't want to know the truth about real environmental costs among those who swear by organic foods and those who drive Hummers. I'll support everyone's right to choose, but I object when proponents of organic foods and/or Hummers suggest that the whole world would be better if we all subscribed to those activities. I have a mixed reaction to this article. This article almost reads as if it says the world isn't black and white, so forget organics. That seems rather short sighted. The truth is that organic fruits and veggies are not only better for your health, but they're also better for the environment. The organic pesticides have a much shorter half-life. The truth is also that generally, organic fruits and vegetables have better flavor. Walk into a safeway and try it out on the apples, it never fails. But things aren't so easy at farmers markets and roadside fruit stands. It's also true that there are small scale non-organic farmers that really grow outstanding fruits, and me, personally, even though I am a die-hard organic fruit buyer, I do lower my standards to accommodate them. I will not walk away from delicious moorpark apricots if they're not certified organic, We have many local growers that are not certified, but make an extra effort to use as little pesticide as possible
Re: Apple-Crop: deer
On the other hand, if the soap and dryer sheets don't do the trick, and the Lepricons don't show, the Stout will be there to help ease the pain the deer have caused. Mo On Jul 8, 2009, at 10:57 AM, Bill Shoemaker wrote: Looks like the stout may not be a good IPM strategy Mo. Bill I'll be looking for the stout on the 15th Mo. Art Kelly Kelly Orchards Acton, ME - Original Message - From: Mo Tougas To: Apple-Crop Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 5:23 PM Subject: Re: Apple-Crop: deer We have found that Irish Spring works best in combination with dryer sheets, and Guinness Stout. You need to hang both the sheets and the soap on the perimeter of the orchard, and place bottles of stout about every fifty feet or so. Lebricons will smell the Irish Spring and see the white dryer sheets, and think they are at a football (soccer) game. They will naturally drink the stout, while hanging around in the trees around the perimeter of the orchard. While they enjoy the stout they will make such a scene that no self respecting deer will be found near the orchard. Mo Tougas Tougas Family Farm Northborough,MA 01532 On Jul 7, 2009, at 2:49 PM, jerry sietsema wrote: Howard, how do you make that solution? What rates??? Thanks!!! - Original Message - From: Howard Claussen To: 'Apple-Crop' Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2009 7:35 AM Subject: RE: Apple-Crop: deer I have a small (150 tree) family orchard. I spray my trees with a solution of Irish Spring soap. Have not lost a tree in 15 years to deer or rabbits. I also hang each year A 1/4 bar of soap from each tree so William H Shoemaker, UI-NRES Sr Research Specialist, Food Crops St Charles Horticulture Research Center 535 Randall Road St Charles, IL 60174 630-584-7254; FAX-584-4610 -- The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard http://www.virtualorchard.net and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements webmas...@virtualorchard.net. Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent official opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the content. -- The 'Apple-Crop' LISTSERV is sponsored by the Virtual Orchard http://www.virtualorchard.net and managed by Win Cowgill and Jon Clements webmas...@virtualorchard.net. Apple-Crop is not moderated. Therefore, the statements do not represent official opinions and the Virtual Orchard takes no responsibility for the content.
Apple-Crop: IFTA Seeking Management
Apple croppers, The International Fruit Tree Association is in the process of conducting a search for an individual or firm to manage the activities of the organization. If you enjoy working with a great group of orchard industry people, love to travel to exotic lands and have the patience of Job and wisdom of Solomon, please consider this opportunity. Mo Tougas Tougas Family Farm (and IFTA part time) Northborough,MA 01532 www.ifruittree.org Call for Proposals to Manage IFTA “IFTA was established in 1958 to promote an understanding of the nature and use of dwarf fruit trees through research, education and dissemination of information. In furtherance of its mission, to be the leading international organization advancing intensive orchard systems, IFTA: conducts an educational conference annually, publishes the Compact Fruit Tree journal, conducts an annual orchard/short tour, sponsors tree fruit study tours, and provides funding to support for research projects.” The International Fruit Tree Association is now accepting proposals for the management of the organization. Reporting to the IFTA Board of Directors, this entity/individual would be responsible for all business and educational functions of the IFTA. This would include: Association management including book keeping Financial Management including budgeting and financial reporting Membership Database and Tracking Meeting and Board Facilitation Membership Communications and Public Relations Planning and Management of Annual Conference and Tours Develop educational program for Annual Conference Work in conjunction with researchers and academic institutions Planning and Management of International Study Tours and other special events Planning and Management of Intensive Workshops (held in conjunction with Annual Conference) Publish the Compact Fruit Tree and any other association publications Coordinate website development and management IFTA Board Committee Support Facilitate Strategic Planning activities with the board Facilitate collection and distribution of research funds Providing an office for the Association Other duties as required to manage the affairs of the association We are seeking a group or individual with strong organizational skills capable of managing the day-to-day affairs of the association with minimal supervision. They must be comfortable working with growers, research and extension personnel, and university staff. Willingness to travel to set up conferences and organize international tours is a must. Strong computer, book keeping and time management skills are required. A strong background in the tree fruit industry is required. IFTA is proposing that management would be via a contract (length to be negotiated but not more than 3 years initially) with the successful entity/individual. Proposals may be forwarded to: International Fruit Tree Association Attn: Search Committee P.O Box 5006 Wenatchee, WA 98807-5006 USA
