MN Fruit & Vegetable IPM News - Vol. 2, No. 2

The Minnesota Fruit & Vegetable Growers Association (MFVGA) is sponsoring a summer field tour on Friday, June 3 at Ron Branch’s Berry Ridge Farm in Alexandria, MN. Registration begins at 10. The tour begins at 10:30. Registration is $10 and lunch reservations must be made by May 27. Ron grows strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, tomatoes, green beans, and an assortment of other vegetables. Topics to be covered include a talk on an annual bed strawberry production study by the University of MN and a talk on high tunnel production of tomatoes, green beans, and strawberries. For more information about the field day, call MFVGA at 763-434-0400.

Learn About Low-Input Apple Growing

The Upper Midwest Organic Tree Fruit Growers Network announces a field day on low-input apple production. On Tuesday, June 21, Harry Hoch of Hoch Orchard and Gardens near La Crescent, MN will discuss aspects unique to his orchard of over 6000 dwarf and semi-dwarf trees planted in the last seven years. He will explain how he divided his orchard into zones for pest monitoring purposes as well as his pest monitoring and control strategies. Harry uses moisture and temperature recorders in his orchard linked to computer software to predict disease stress periods. Harry is a co-author of the Integrated Pest Management Manual for Minnesota Apple Orchards and accompanying Field ID Guide, which will be made available by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) at the field day. In addition, the MDA is helping the Network sponsor the visit of Professor Mark Whalon of Michigan State University, who will look at mites as an indicator of the orchard’s ecological balance.

The field day will be from 10 AM to 3 PM, rain or shine, and requires advanced registration of $15. Registrants receive educational materials and lunch. To register or to learn more about the Upper Midwest Organic Tree Fruit Growers Network go to www.mosesorganic.org/treefruit/intro.htm, or contact Deirdre Birmingham at 608-967-2362 or deirdreb@mindspring.com.

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Co-Editors: Bill Hutchison ( hutch002@umn.edu), Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, Jeanne Ciborowski, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Ag. Resources Management and Development Division, and Suzanne Wold-Burkness ( woldx018@umn.edu), Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota

The Newsletter is published weekly from May through August, cooperatively, by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the University of Minnesota (U of MN). Reports are posted on the U of MN and MDA web sites on Fridays. If you have suggestions and/or comments, please send your contributions by 4 p.m., Wednesday to Jeanne Ciborowski, 651-297-3217, jeanne.ciborowski@state.mn.us , MDA, 90 W. Plato Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55107-2094. You can access the Newsletter at the U of MN web site in htm format at: www.vegedge.umn.edu/MNFruit&VegNews/mnindex.htm and at the MDA web site in pdf format at: www.mda.state.mn.us/biocon/fruitreports/

Partial funding for this publication is provided through partnership agreements with the Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association (MFVGA) and the United States Department of Agriculture – Risk Management Agency (RMA). These institutions are equal opportunity providers.

DISCLAIMER

Reference to products in this publication is not intended to be an endorsement to the exclusion of others which may have similar uses. Any person using products listed in this publication assumes full responsibility for their use in accordance with current manufacturer directions.

The University, including the Minnesota Extension Service, is an equal opportunity educator and employer. ©1999-2005 Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. Contact copyright@extension.umn.edu for information on reproduction or use of this material.