Degree Days and Upcoming Events - Aug 8

Hi everyone, this update is delayed because I was preparing for yesterday's NSFGA orchard tour. The tour is always a highlight of my year and I appreciate everyone who shared their experiences - especially the growers who welcomed us onto their farms. The day was filled with discussion of research trials, pest management, rootstocks, soil health, orchard design fruitlet thinning varieties, new plantings, and so much more! If you were able to join the tour I appreciated seeing you there and am glad you took the time for a well-deserved day of learning and catching up with friends. If you missed the tour, feel free to join us for more upcoming events!

Now I am sharing the weekly degree day accumulation update. I hope to write a more detailed update next week!

2024 Degree Day Accumulations

Degree day accumulations continue to track warmer than average. Harvest dates may not directly relate to degree day accumulations but it is very likely that harvest will be early this year and should be monitored closely. Use harvest dates from the years 2021, 2012 and 2010 for estimates. Also, leave a comfortable buffer for preharvest intervals with fungicides and insecticides. 

More predictions will be given beginning in September when Perennia begins maturity assessments for Honeycrisp.

Figure 1: Heating degree day accumulations for plant (above 5°C) and insect (above 10°C) development from March 1 to August 5 for the past 17 seasons. Provided by Jeff Franklin (AAFC).

• Approximately 9% more plant development heat units compared to the 5-year average, and 9% more compared to the 10-year average.
• Approximately 9% more plant development heat units compared to 2023, and 3% more compared with 2022.
• Approximately 12% more insect development heat units compared to the 5-year average, and 13% more compared to the 10-year average.

Events and Notices

NSFGA Grower Meet Up

Sure, texting from the tractor is great, but ever feel like some face-to-face interaction??

Nova Scotia Fruit Growers' Association has organized an informal meet up, designed to bring growers together to chat, socialize, and get off the farm! Talk spray programs, summer plans, your favourite Olympic gold medalist, whatever you like! 

Executive Director Emily Lutz will be there and Michelle Cortens said she might bring cookies-- who's with us?

Where: Spurr Brothers Market, 14145 Evangeline Trail, Wilmot, NS B0P 1W0
When: Tuesday, August 20th, 2024
Time: 6:00pm

 

  

NSFGA/Perennia Growing Good Growers Tailgate

We hope that you can join us for the next Growing Good Growers tailgate session hosted by NSFGA and Perennia. These pop-up sessions are meant to offer the space to discuss questions during the season and will offer learning opportunities from one another.

The Growing Good Growers tailgate session will be held at Stirlings Mountainside Farms 2017 on Thursday, August 22 @ 11am. The topic is preharvest management strategies such as ReTain and Harvista. Have you tried using ReTain or Harvista to delay or synchronize maturity or are you interested in trying it? What other advantages might there be for storage quality? Do you wonder if colour delay is a risk? What has been local experience with timings and products? Please bring your thoughts, experiences, and questions on preharvest management and join us for this discussion. Let’s continue the conversation from last year!

Please meet us in the orchard on the west side of Bains Road in Centreville (near civic address 100).

There is no need to RVSP, and we encourage you to bring your own coffee and snacks. Everyone is welcome to attend! It’s a good chance to catch up with friends.

NSDA Programs Update

Programs staff would like to inform clients that applications are being accepted at this time for the following 2024-2025 programs. Programs for the 2024-2025 year, along with their applications and guidelines can be found by clicking the following links:

Plant your Roots - *Newly Opened*
Organic Certification Rebate Program - *Newly Opened*
Young Farmer Mentorship Program - *Newly Opened*
On-farm Technology Adoption Program – Deadline August 15th
On-farm Automation and Innovation Program – Deadline August 15th
Apiculture Sustainable Growth and Health Program – Deadline August 15th
Agriculture Skills Student Bursary Program
Limestone Trucking Assistance Program
Get Growing Program
Wildlife Damage Mitigation Program
Planning New Opportunities Program
Speaker Series Assistance Program

For more information on these programs please contact your Ag Rep.