MICHELLE CORTENS, M.Sc., PAg

Tree Fruit Specialist

Michelle supports the growth and development of the tree fruit industry in Nova Scotia. She is a resource to producers in all aspects of conventional and organic horticulture systems for tree fruit crops, including apple, pear, peach, plum, cherry and tree nut.

Michelle has a B.Sc. Agriculture (2014) and M.Sc. (2016) from the University of Guelph with a focus on plant agriculture and fruit crops. For her M.Sc., Michelle researched chemical thinning of apple trees, including the use of new thinners to anticipate regulatory changes, and options for late thinning.

Throughout her career, she has written a comprehensive course for the Ontario branch of Agriculture in the Classroom Canada, assisted with extension in weed management for OMAFRA, and has experience for several seasons as a research student at the University of Guelph. Michelle has won numerous awards, including the Diamond Jubilee Medal from the Government of Canada, in 2012, for her achievements in community involvement and leadership.

Her extension activities include responding to farm inquiries, conducting applied research, hosting production workshops and tours, publishing factsheets and podcasts and writing the Orchard Outlook newsletter. Michelle serves on local production, research, and education-related committees and on the International Fruit Tree Association Research Committee. Whether or not you believe in fate, she was born on the International Day of Apples.

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