Central Indiana Orchard School to offer tips on production, pest management

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Commercial fruit growers will have an opportunity to learn more about new production practices and pest management March 7 at the 2017 Central Indiana Orchard School in Martinsville.

The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m. at the Purdue Extension-Morgan County office, 180 S. Main St.

Purdue Extension specialists and industry experts will discuss the latest trends and developments in fruit production, helping growers prepare for the challenges of the upcoming season, said Purdue Extension-Hancock County educator Roy Ballard, one of the event organizers.

“Commercial fruit growers realize the uncertainties they face in producing a quality fruit crop each year,” Ballard said. “They face uncertain weather conditions along with challenges from weeds, insects and crop disease. The quality and quantity of the crop can be affected by the unknowns.”

Topics and presenters are:

“Managing the Fruit Tree Canopy for Productivity, Fruit Quality and Ease of Orchard Operation” - Mokhles Elsysy, Purdue graduate student in horticulture and landscape architecture.

“Sprayer Recalibration and Insight into Research Activities at Meigs” - Tristand Tucker, Purdue specialty crops system specialist.

“Fruit Insect Management Update” - Rick Foster, professor of entomology and Purdue Extension pest management specialist.

“What’s New in Crop Protection” - John Phillips, Crops Production Services Inc.

“Worker Protection Update” - Ballard.

There is no cost to attend the meeting, which is sponsored by the Purdue Extension Hancock County and Morgan County offices. A box lunch will be provided by Crop Production Services.

This program has been approved for PARP recertification credit for private pesticide applicators who wish to keep their certification current. Those wishing to recertify should bring their PARP card to the meeting.

To register, contact Ballard at 317-462-1113 or rballard@purdue.edu, or Amanda Dickson at 765-342-1010 or dicksona@purdue.edu. 

Writer: Mikaela Wieland, mwieland@purdue.edu 

Source: Roy Ballard, rballard@purdue.edu

Agricultural Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Darrin Pack, dpack@purdue.edu 
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