University of Southern Maine, Lewiston Auburn College, Room 170, 51 Westminster Street, Lewiston Maine (Venue Map Below)
Cost: Approximately $30 and will include lunch
Preregistration is NOT required. The $30 registration fee is due at the door, but is waived for two people per member farm of the Maine State Pomological Society if dues are paid prior to the meeting.
Membership dues will be accepted at the meeting but will not qualify for the registration fee waiver.
In case of bad weather, we will follow the University of Southern Maine weather hotline announcement at 207.780.4800.
There will be three (3) pesticide applicator recertification credits available for attending this event.
Meeting Agenda
8:00 a.m. – Registration, Meet and Greet
8:30 a.m. – Maine tree fruit IPM update
Glen Koehler, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
9:00 a.m. – New insights on the biology of fire blight bacteria
Dr. Quan Zeng, Connecticut Agricultural Research Station
9:30 a.m. – Application considerations for harvest extension with Harvista and ReTain
Dr. Andy Vega, New England Fruit Consultants
10:00 a.m. – Virus Diseases in tree fruit: impacts, diagnosis, prevention
Dr. Alicyn Smart, University of Maine Extension Plant Disease Laboratory
10:30 a.m. – Break
10:45 a.m. – Fire blight prevention and suppression strategies
Dr. Quan Zeng, Connecticut Agricultural Research Station.
11:15 a.m. – Opportunities and Constraints for Northeast Tree Fruit Growers
Dr. Andy Vega, New England Fruit Consultants
11:45 a.m. – Maine State Pomological Society update
Sam Ricker, President
12:00 p.m. – Lunch: Pizza and salad from Sam’s Italian Foods, beverages.
12:45 p.m. – Food Safety Update
Lindsay Werner, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry.
1:00 p.m. – Apple Cultivar DNA identification update
John Bunker, Super Chilly Farm, Out on a Limb CSA, MOFGA, FedCo.
1:15 p.m. – 10-year Rootstock Trial Summary, Pruning Tips
Dr. Renae Moran, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
1:45 p.m. – New Tools for Orchard Management
Trevor Hardy, Brookdale Fruit Farm and Brookdale Farm; Anthony Tasselli, Toro
2:30 p.m. – Break
2:45 p.m. – Increasing Maine farm resilience against extreme weather and Q&A
Dr. Rachel Schattman, UMaine School of Food and Agriculture
3:30 p.m. – Board of Pesticides Control Update
John Pietroski; Board of Pesticides Control, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry.
4:00 p.m. – Adjourn
For more information or a reasonable accommodation, please contact Glen Koehler, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Pest Management Unit at glen.koehler@maine.edu or 207.581.3882.
In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University of Maine System does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, transgender status, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship status, familial status, ancestry, age, disability physical or mental, genetic information, or veterans or military status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director of Equal Opportunity, 5713 Chadbourne Hall, Room 412, University of Maine, Orono, ME 04469-5713, 207.581.1226, TTY 711 (Maine Relay System).