(Sponsored) Agro-100 develops and markets exclusive nutrients and biostimulants which are easy to use and with proven efficacy surpassing the legitimate expectations of leading fruit, vegetable, potato, and field crop-based agricultural operations of North America. Their state-of-the-art manufacturing facility is designed to meet the demands of growers and provide them with high-performance and profitable agronomic solutions for their agricultural operations.

Póma, Agro-100’s calcium acetate-based liquid foliar nutrient, is specifically designed to prevent and correct nutritional and physiological imbalances caused by deficient or poor calcium assimilation, according to Agro-100. Calcium is chelated with acetic acid which is found naturally in all living organisms; thus it is not toxic and it is involved in many metabolic processes of the plant.

Póma is a chlorine and nitrogen-free solution containing a multifunctional adjuvant (adhesive, penetrating, damping, anti-foaming and tensioactive agents). This adjuvant technology allows calcium to remain in solution longer on the leaf without being washed out and helps to penetrate the leaf more easily.

Located in Monmouth, Maine, Chris Cooper of Cooper Farms is one of the region’s largest and most respected apple growers. Agro-100 products have been used at Cooper Farms for many years.

“HoneyCrisp’s bitter pit has been minimal with the use of Póma Calcium and other Agro-100 foliar products,” Cooper said. Any apple grower knows that bitter pit is synonymous with revenue loss.

According to Agro-100, Póma can be applied throughout a crop’s entire growth cycle – sustaining the plant’s overall development. Agro-100 also recommends that Póma is applied during the hotter months of the Summer when transpiration decreases and during the phases of fructification and fruit bulking.

Agronomic benefits of using Póma:

• Calcium complexed with organic acids and its formulation is chlorine- and nitrate-free
• Tensioactive agent (droplet distribution)
• Damping agent (evaporation restriction)
• Adhesive agent (anti-washout)
• Penetrating agent (passage of mineral elements through the leaf wall)

Póma also contains a proprietary biostimulant technology that allows for quick absorption and translocation of nutrients and reinforces the plant’s natural defenses against abiotic stresses.

Regular foliar applications of Póma provides the required level of calcium that is considered essential for firmness, preservation capacity, good caliber development and resistance to stress and disease. Póma also helps fight against physiological disorders linked to calcium deficiency in fruit and vegetable crops. Because Póma is nitrogen-free, the product can be applied late in the orchard without posing a risk to premature ripening, coloration, and fruit preservation.

Converting agronomic knowledge into high-performance products is the engine that keeps Agro-100 at the forefront of the fertilizer industry. Being able to react quickly and efficiently to assist growers through their daily challenges makes Agro-100 the ideal partner for dynamic agricultural producers. Agro-100 strives to improve agricultural profitability through optimal crop performance.

Learn more at www.agro-100.com or call 514-220-3444.

ADVERTISEMENT © 2023 Agro-100

The post Better Bitter Pit Protection appeared first on Fruit Growers News.

The late entomologist Larry Gut, best known for his work in mating disruption and other methods of integrated pest management, received the Distinguished Service Award from the Michigan State Horticultural Society.

Also honored was Ed Oxley, who grows winegrapes and tart cherries in Lawton, Michigan. Oxley has in the past served in a number of leadership positions, including as President of the Michigan Grape Society.

The 21st Annual Expo Banquet was held in Grand Rapids, Michigan, at the Amway Grand Hotel during the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo.

– Stephen Kloosterman, associate editor

Below are some official biographies and video tributes of Gut and Oxley submitted to Fruit Growers News. 

Larry Gut

Larry Gut was born in southern California and spent his childhood and his undergraduate college years in the state. His first experience in agriculture was working in a California almond orchard to help pay for college. As a biology student at Chico State, Larry was inspired to join the field of integrated pest management (IPM) after reading Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring.” He decided to dedicate his life to helping growers find sustainable solutions to managing pests. Larry received his PhD in Entomology from Oregon State University in 1985. He had the good fortune of being mentored by Dr. Peter Westigard who taught him that working closely with growers through on-farm research projects was the best way to inspire change. In addition, he quickly found tree fruit growers were great collaborators and friends.

Larry met and married Kathleen, in 1991, and they have four children. None of them followed in in his path working with bugs, but all have successful careers. Two daughters live in Washington, Amy is an emergency medicine doctor and Allison is a lawyer. A third daughter, Clarrissa, is a teacher working and living in Malaysia. The youngest, their son Tommy, works in supply change management for a company that is headquartered in New Jersey.

Since arriving in Michigan in 1997 to be a Professor and Specialist in Tree Fruit Entomology at Michigan State University, Gut’s program has contributed to a foundation that has allowed the tree fruit industries in the state, as well as nationally and internationally, to respond to changes in the availability and efficacy of insecticides in a proactive manner. His team of students and collaborators have developed novel insights into how moths communicate using sex pheromones, then used this knowledge to design more effective, economical and environmentally friendly strategies to protect Michigan’s tree fruit industries.

Scientists and growers around the world have been keen to learn more about his research and implementation programs, inviting Gut to share his expertise in many international venues. New invasive pests have recently threatened Michigan orchard crops, and Larry has been at the forefront of monitoring the response to invasion by these pests and developing novel strategies to management them while maintaining IPM programs.

Throughout his career, Larry has been deeply committed to his Extension mission, communicating his research findings through numerous publications and presentations. He also has focused considerable attention on training the next generation of tree fruit entomologists, mentoring seven postdocs, eight doctoral candidates and 10 master’s students. For his commitment to delivering on all components of the land-grant mission, in 2021 Dr. Larry Gut was awarded Michigan State University’s prestigious William J. Beal Outstanding Faculty Award.

Larry passed away on September 6, 2021.  He will be missed by all who knew him and worked with him.

The Michigan State Horticultural Society is pleased to present the 2021 Distinguished Service Award to Larry Gut.

Ed Oxley

Ed Oxley came from a farming background in Lawton, Michigan.  He married his wife Phyllis 58 years ago and they raised three sons. The two older, Chris and Rick, have joined him as partners on the farm, while the youngest, Keith, graduated from Western Michigan University with a teaching degree.  The oldest granddaughter has also joined the farm with an Associates Degree of Applied Science from Lake Michigan College. Ed also works closely with his daughter-in-law, Nancie Oxley, the head winemaker and Vice President of St. Julian Wine Company.

Ed and Phyllis bought their first farm of 50 acres in the village of Lawton in 1967 and picked their first grape crop that fall.  Since then, they have continued adding properties, some of which are among the first vineyards planted in Lawton in the year 1868!  They presently farm 1400 acres, of which they have 673 acres of grapes consisting of 24 different varieties and 200 acres of tart cherries.  The remaining acres are row crops, open ground, and woods.  They planted their first wine grapes in 1970 and that first block has continued to be maintained by Ed for the last 25 years for research by the MSU Department of Plant, Soil and Microbial Sciences.  Ed also works with the Department of Entomology providing blocks of grapes for IPM work and doing the spray programs for them.  He worked extensively with Dr. Ron Perry of MSU as one of the first adaptors in high density tart cherries.  Ed has innovated by building his own equipment, including sprayers, harvesters, and gondolas.

Ed’s past positions include being President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Michigan Grape Society, at 35-year elected official of the National Grape Cooperative, National Grape Cooperative Board of Directors, Welch Foods, Inc. Board of Directors, FHA Board of Directors, SW MI Research and Extension Service Site Selection and Development Committee, Michigan Grape and Wine Industry Council and past President of Fruit Hill Growers.

Presently, Ed is a 50-year member of the National Grape Cooperative, member of the Van Buren County Farm Bureau, member of Fruit Hill Growers and on the Board of Directors of St. Julian Wine Company, the oldest and largest winery in the state.

Ed enjoys traveling, especially to Australia and New Zealand visiting the different wine growing areas, as well as spending time at the family hunting camp in the U.P.

The Michigan State Horticultural Society is pleased to present the 2021 Distinguished Service Award to Ed Oxley.

The post Michigan fruit growers honor Larry Gut, Ed Oxley appeared first on Fruit Growers News.

The 2017 crush totaled 4,239,836 tons, up 0.5 percent from the 2016 crush of 4,217,154 tons. Red wine varieties accounted for the largest share of all grapes crushed, at 2,248,260 tons, down 1.4 percent from 2016. The 2017 white wine variety crush totaled 1,765,424 tons, up 0.8 percent from 2016. Tons crushed of raisin type varieties totaled 94,268, up 4.6 percent from 2016, and tons crushed of table type varieties totaled 131,884, up 38.2 percent from 2016.

The 2017 average price of all varieties was $777.90, up 1.9 percent from 2016. Average prices for the 2017 crop by type were as follows: red wine grapes, $965.54, up 5.1 percent from 2016; white wine grapes, $587.73, down 1.8 percent from 2016; raisin grapes, $252.86, up 18.4 percent; and table grapes, $178.37, up 16.5 percent.

In 2017, Chardonnay continued to account for the largest percentage of the total crush volume with 14.5 percent. Cabernet Sauvignon accounted for the second leading percentage of crush with 14.2 percent. Thompson Seedless, the leading raisin grape variety crushed for 2017, was only 1.8 percent of the total crush.

District 13, (Madera, Fresno, Alpine, Mono, Inyo Counties; and Kings and Tulare Counties north of Nevada Avenue (Avenue 192)), had the largest share of the State’s crush, at 1,403,145 tons.  The average price per ton in District 13 was $304.47.

Grapes produced in District 4 (Napa County) received the highest average price of $5,225.04 per ton, up 11.4 percent from 2016. District 3 (Sonoma and Marin counties) received the second highest return of $2,806.07, up 8.3 percent from 2016. The 2017 Chardonnay price of $923.67 was up 4.2 percent from 2016, and the Cabernet Sauvignon price of $1,552.83 was up 5.6 percent from 2016. The 2017 average price for Zinfandel was $591.05, down 2.2 percent from 2016, while the French Colombard average price was up 2.5 percent from 2016 at $267.39 per ton.

The entire Grape Crush Report is available online at www.nass.usda.gov/ca. The 2017 Census of Agriculture, going on now, will provide more data on producers and grapes at the county level when published in 2019.

The post Final California grape crush numbers released appeared first on Fruit Growers News.

Whitaker, an associate professor of horticultural sciences at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, leads the UF/IFAS strawberry breeding program. Seonghee Lee, a UF/IFAS assistant professor, is a molecular geneticist who collaborates with Whitaker.

Strawberries are still in season, and Florida produces the majority of the nation’s domestic winter strawberry crop, according to the Florida Strawberry Growers Association. As National Strawberry Day approaches, Whitaker wants those who savor the fruit to know the unique characteristics of recent UF/IFAS strawberry varieties:

Florida Radiance, which went commercial in 2009, has an attractive, even, red color and a texture that is not too firm or too soft, Whitaker said. Florida Radiance accounts for about 60 percent of Florida’s strawberry industry, he said.

Sweet Sensation ‘Florida127’ went commercial in 2013.

“This berry is a combination of big, sweet, tropically aromatic and lighter red,” said Whitaker, a faculty member at the UF/IFAS Gulf Coast Research and Education Center. “While many people assume that the smallest, reddest berries are the best tasting, this is not necessarily the case. Sweet Sensation explodes that paradigm. Though they may not be as dark red as the other varieties, they really are ripe and taste great.”

Sweet Sensation accounts for about 25 percent of the strawberry acreage in Florida.

The most recent UF/IFAS variety is ‘Florida Beauty,’ which went commercial in 2017.

“Second only to Sweet Sensation ‘Florida127’ in taste, this variety has great flavor,” Whitaker said. “It features a great balance with a little more acid kick and also more of a floral than a tropical aroma, but also plenty of sweetness.”

Because it’s so new, ‘Florida Beauty’ occupies only about 5 percent of the state’s strawberry acreage.

The leading strawberry among Florida growers for several years has been ‘Florida Radiance,’ said Alicia Whidden, a commercial horticulture agent for UF/IFAS Extension Hillsborough County. Whidden cites high yields as at least one reason for the popularity of Radiance among growers.

“I have been hearing good things about the new one, Beauty,” Whidden said. “Growers are excited about the fruit that is coming on this variety right now. They say it is bright red and beautiful.”

Whidden credits Whitaker for his latest cultivars and the ones that he will breed in the years ahead.

“Even sweeter things are to come,” she said.

— Brad Buck, UF/IFAS

The post Florida Radiance, other UF varieties celebrated on National Strawberry Day appeared first on Fruit Growers News.

California farmers were in the path of the fire, as well, and I was privileged yet saddened to meet with some of them last week on a trip through the burn area. There was a profound feeling of devastation when standing on homesites that were completely leveled by fire.

Avocado growers suffered damage across nearly five-thousand acres of groves, and citrus growers also experienced losses. One of the things I learned is that avocado orchards were more susceptible than citrus because the plantings are generally at higher elevations, where the Thomas Fire cut much of its destructive path. There were also significant losses to rangelands.

However, I must point out that as I visited with growers I was struck right away by their resiliency and their optimism. They shifted into recovery mode almost immediately, going into their orchards as soon as it was safe to replace irrigation drip tape that melted in the fire, in order to protect their trees and soils from further damage.

Incidentally, those irrigation systems demonstrated the value of working Ag lands by generating enough moisture to help keep the fire from doing even more damage to homes.

I wish to thank the California Avocado Commission for hosting my visit. The farmers I met last week are already looking to the long-term, talking about opportunities to rebuild rather than focusing on what was lost. Their sense of cooperation and commitment to community is truly inspiring.

— Karen Ross, Secretary, California Department of Food and Agriculture

Source: the CDFA’s  Planting Seeds blog

The post California ag secretary visits fire-damaged orchards appeared first on Fruit Growers News.

The conference, which will run Jan. 11- 14, is marketed as the “largest educational conference and trade show in the southeastern United States that unites growers, vendors and suppliers.” It will be held at the Savannah International Trade and Convention Center.

The conference will feature more than 80 hours of educational sessions, addressing food safety commodity issues on production practices and increased yields, and marketing strategies. A trade show will feature 85,000 square feet of space filled with key suppliers and growers.

In addition to the educational sessions and trade show, other events will be held at the Conference Center. A Drone Precision Age Conference, a Produce Safety Alliance Training Course, and a Tomato Pest Management Meeting will be held Thursday Morning. An awards breakfast will be held Saturday, January 13. A worship service and industry roundtable discussion will be held Sunday morning.

The conference is a production of the Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association, and the Georgia Peach Council.

Fruit Growers News Assistant Editor Stephen Kloosterman will attend and cover the conference.

The post Southeast Regional conference set for Jan. 11-14 appeared first on Fruit Growers News.

Allan Overhiser, a fifth-generation tree fruit grower from Allegan County’s Casco Township, and Rufus Isaacs, a Michigan State University (MSU) entomologist, received distinguished service awards from the Michigan State Horticultural Society.

Overhiser and his family grow sweet cherries, tart cherries, peaches and apricots, pears, plums, apples and pumpkins. Overhiser Orchards includes a u-pick operation, fishing pond and farm market. Allan Overhiser graduated in from Western Michigan University in 1982 with a major in agribusiness and a minor in business administration. He and his wife Kim, have been married 35 years and have five children – four of them quadruplets. Two of the sons, Alan and Adam, may continue in the farming after graduation from college. In addition to farming, Allan is also active in local government, and has held positions in the American Farm Bureau, Michigan Farm Bureau, Michigan Agricultural Commodity Marketing Association, Michigan State Horticultural Society, Michigan Plum Advisory Committee and Al-Van Soil and Conservation District.

In accepting his award, Isaacs gave a “confession:” he wasn’t the son of a grower. He said that he was, however, interested in plants and insects from an early age. He studied applied biology, and later a Ph.D. in Entomology, at the University of London, finishing that degree in 1994. He initially came to the University of Arizona to work on integrated pest management (IPM) for cotton growers. He later was employed by MSU to work as a study mating disruption of apple pests, and in 1999 was hired to be MSU’s Small Fruit Extension entomologist. He and his wife Cassandra, who he met in Arizona, have an 11-year-old daughter, Ruby. His research program at MSU has received more than $10 million in competitive funding, and his research has been published in more than 150 research publications. In 2013, he was awarded the 2013 Outstanding Extension Specialist award from the Michigan Association of Extension Agents and the 2017 Excellence in IPM award by the regional branch of the Entomological Society of America.

The Michigan Vegetable Council awarded a master farmer award to Vogel Produce of Holton, Michigan, which is owned by Glenn Vogel and his son Scott. The farm originally grew a large carrot crop, but in recent years has diversified its crops in recent years, now growing just 80 acres of carrots for the fresh market. They now grow more than 200 acres of onions, 1,200 acres of vegetables for processing including pickles, green beans, peas and butternut squash — and 1,00 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat as rotation crops. The company has a long history of cooperation with MSU for on-farm research plots and onion variety trials.

The Michigan Vegetable Council awarded a master farmer associate award to MSU Entomology Professor Emeritus George Bird. Bird, who grew up on a poultry and dairy farm in Vermont, received a doctorate degree from Cornell University, and has served on the MSU faculty since 1973. He teaches and researches nematode diseases of vegetable, fruit and agronomic crops, and participates in grower extension events. He also served in Washington D.C. for two years as the first Director of the U.S. Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program. He and his wife, Anne, live in Holt, when they grow vegetables and fruit.

The Michigan State Horticultural Society gave a dedicated service award to Allyn Anthony, a fourth-generation grower of fruits and vegetables near Hartford. Anthony graduated from MSU in 1966 – he sold 120 acres of this farm in 2002, but he continues to farm 20 acres with 10 acres planted to high-density apples. He has led the Michigan State Horticultural Society for the pasted 15 hears hand has managed the funding of more than $1 million to research projects directly benefitting the Michigan fruit industry. He also has coordinated the awarding of more than $100,000 in scholarships to students working toward a career in a fruit-related field.

The Michigan State Horticultural Society gave a dedicated service award to Eric Hanson, an MSU professor and extension agent. Hanson grew up in Connecticut and earned a doctorate degree from MSU involving plum nutrition before being hired at MSU in 1984 as an assistant professor. Hanson’s extension work has primarily been with blueberries and other small fruit. His research interest cross many topics and crops., from fertilizer use and weed management to challenges for organic production of blueberries and raspberries.

Photo, top: Overhiser Orchards grows peaches in addition to supplying apples. Owner Allan Overhiser, center, is shown with his sons Alex, left, and Adam. Photos by Stephen Kloosterman

The post Growers, researchers honored at Great Lakes EXPO banquet appeared first on Fruit Growers News.

John Deere is offering a new special edition Gator utility vehicle geared towards crop and livestock producers who work long days and nights, and require additional storage to keep their tools organized and easily accessible. The XUV 825i Special Edition Gator features two integrated cargo tool boxes ideal for carrying tools or supplies, plus LED roof lights for added visibility.

“The Special Edition Gator was designed for those customers who require additional storage to complete the task at hand, day or night,” said Mark Davey, John Deere marketing manager, Gator utility vehicles. “This model will continue to provide customers the durability and productivity they come to expect from a Gator with added amenities like integrated tool boxes and LED lights. The added storage capability makes this a distinct offering in the market, and a first for John Deere.”

The two cargo boxes are situated on the driver and passenger side of the 50 hp., 812 cc XUV 825i Special Edition vehicle. The driver’s side box opens from the top and has two divided compartments with a removable tray. The passenger side box opens from the side and features one open compartment. Both tool boxes boast 75 lb. capacity.

The special edition Gator also features two integrated LED roof lights designed for producers who are out early in the morning or late at night. The new LED lights produce 74 percent more lumens than equivalent halogen work lights and last 250 times longer.

In addition to the special edition package, the heavy-duty model is outfitted with power steering, a deluxe cargo box with polyurea liner, integrated brake and tail lights, and an Operator Protective Structure (OPS) with nets. The vehicle is also equipped with yellow alloy rims and Maxxis® Bighorn tires. A power and front protection package includes power lift, a heavy-duty front brush guard and fender guard, along with floor mats. Inside the cab the XUV 825i is outfitted with a yellow bench seat.

The 2016 XUV 825i Special Edition Gator is now available for purchase with a $16,799 USD list price. Product quantities are limited, so visit your local John Deere dealer or www.JohnDeere.com/Gator to learn more.

The post John Deere unveils 2016 Gator XUV 825i Special Edition appeared first on Fruit Growers News.