Orchard Outlook: Drought FAQ Part 2 - Single Tree Replacements and Unharvested Fruit

I am posting a collection of frequently asked questions to help as you consider management decisions going into next season. There are many questions, and to keep the information digestible I’m breaking it into several parts. This article is Part 2 with answers to three questions. For Part 1, visit Part 1 Fall Weed Control and Fall Pruning.

Quicklinks:

Q1 I’m planning for tree replacement, so how do I know when a drought-affected tree is likely to die?

Q2 Does it always make sense to replant individual trees?

Q3 Is there any effect on tree health by leaving unharvested fruit on trees to overwinter?

I'm planning for tree replacement, so how do I know when a drought-affected tree is likely to die?

My theory is trees defoliated early in August/September from drought stress are at high risk of dieback next year. The defoliated trees were the most affected by the lack of water such that they shed their leaves to conserve what water was left. If some of these trees reached a critical water status, air bubbles could have broken the continuous chain of water molecules known as the water column. Water can no longer flow from the root to beyond the broken water column, and plant tissue above the breakpoint is expected to die. The outcome may vary from branch failure and treetop failure to tree collapse.

We can speculate, but we will only know for sure which trees are dead by next year at bud break to bloom. Trees can often survive on their final reserves until they kick into production to supply new shoot growth. For now, document your worst affected areas on a map to help with future interpretation. Good work mapping and being proactive about estimating replacement trees.

If you’re planning for tree replacement in a new planting or young block, consider that even if severely affected trees survive, they are weakened and could have long term health issues. If you have the opportunity and finances to replace the questionable trees early in the orchard life, then it will be best in the long run for achieving early, max yields. Replacing trees later in the orchard life has less impact, as I discuss in the next answer.

References:
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00271-025-01017-w

Does it always make sense to replant individual trees?

No, it does not always make sense to replant individual trees. I know it looks better to fill in the gaps, but it might not always be fruitful. Single tree replacements have the best chance of success the earlier in the orchard lifetime they are replaced. As the orchard ages and the canopy fills in - causing shade - the single tree replacements can struggle to succeed.

Have you ever replaced a tree in an orchard only to find that it didn’t reach full production size? I think everyone has. That’s because in highly shaded situations, it doesn’t matter how much you care for a tree, it is horticulturally impossible to grow that tree. High density systems have a lot of internal shading from within and between tree rows.

Consider the age of the orchard. A young orchard has gaps of sunlight exposure throughout the day and replanting might be a good option. An older orchard with tree canopy coverage that shades the orchard floor more than 75% at midday creates a low chance of success for single tree replacements. Another source suggests a low chance of success at even 60% shading. In an older orchard that has reached its maximum height, tree rows cast a shadow at the base of the neighbouring row for a portion of the day. A single tree replacement is short and would struggle to grow in the shadow being cast.

Then consider if it’s practical from a management perspective. For single tree replacements to succeed, the soil needs to be prepared, trees need to be hand fertilized, trained, and pruned, and fruit or flowers removed. If a residual herbicide like Alion, Chateau, or Authority was applied in recent years, then the soil should be replaced for the replanted tree. The investment in the single tree might be greater than the potential return on investment, depending on the situation.

More commonly known, the orchard lifespan also limits the feasibility of replants. General orchard decline means that old age or unproductive blocks have a limited lifespan. Single tree replacements wouldn’t become productive by the time the orchard is replaced anyway.

The best approach for shaded and older high-density orchard is to let existing trees grow to fill in single tree gaps. Modify pruning practices to let neighbouring trees take over the gap.

If you replant in a young non-bearing orchard, you should have a good opportunity for success. However, consider the following:

• It is critical to watch the bloom time of newly planted trees in relation to fire blight risk.
• Remove roots when removing the dead tree and excavate the area to loosen the soil.
• Rebuild the soil berm so the tree is not planted in a sunken area where water pools.

It may be common to fill in the gaps, but let’s pause and consider whether it’s worth the expense of time and money. How much sunlight is available to the new tree? If we look at the shadow cast by the canopy, it should be no more than 60-75% ground coverage at midday. Young orchard is the most promising candidate for single tree replacements. Don’t over-invest time and resources where returns are not expected.

References:
https://www.sacvalleyorchards.com/walnuts/orchard-development/replanting-individual-trees/
https://www.sacvalleyorchards.com/walnuts/cost-and-expense-considerations/replanting/

Is there any effect on tree health by leaving unharvested fruit on trees to overwinter?

I’m coming up short on answers to this question. I’ve reached out to contacts from other regions and so far there is no strong experience with this question. Some of the leftover fruit will fall off in the wind or rot and fall off. However, varieties like Gala have a tough stem and will not fall off easily. Locally some growers have made it a priority to remove fruit and others have not had the resources to do so.

There have been local reports that unharvested fruit can discourage return bloom the following year. However, I wonder if past experiences were related to heavy crop loads that didn’t meet market grade and went unharvested. The reported effect on return bloom might have been a direct result of a heavy crop load that contributed to biennial bearing, rather than an influence of unharvested fruit. I can’t confirm one way or the other.

One research study from New Zealand concluded that removing fruit during harvest induced changes in the tree by transporting more resources into storage organs including carbon, nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. The study also found that photosynthesis declined slowly after harvest and then more rapidly after the first frost. Fruit harvest might encourage trees to store resources and prepare for winter but ultimately dormancy is triggered by frost and decreasing light and temperature. I would hazard a guess that if fruit are unharvested by the first hard frost, then trees would proceed with dormancy regardless.

Given that we don’t know the influence of unharvested fruit, this year presents the opportunity to answer our questions by doing on-farm comparisons. You could do a few side-by-side comparisons by marking trees that you defruit now versus trees you do not defruit. Choose trees at a similar state of health in the same planting. Return to check the marked trees at bloom time if you question the return bloom of the block.

If leftover fruit are not removed by spring, then eventually the fruit could be a disease risk. The dead fruit tissue mummifies and is a site for the black rot fungus to live. When possible, workers could knock off this fruit during winter pruning. If you find an efficient method (Darwin string thinner? Hedger? Cider poles?), please let me know and we could spread the word. I would discourage shaking the trees too much as it could damage fragile root systems.

References:
https://www.ishs.org/ishs-article/557_62

Orchard Outlook: Drought FAQ Part 1 - Fall Weed Control and Fall Pruning

I will post a series of frequently asked questions to help as you consider management decisions going into next season. There are many questions, and to keep the information digestible I’ll break it into several parts. This article is Part 1 with answers to three questions.

Quicklinks:

Q1 Are fall applied herbicides safe for tree health after season-long drought?

Q2 What is the influence of the drought on residual herbicide decisions?

Q3 Fall pruning is risky, but is it riskier than normal this year due to the drought?

Are fall applied herbicides safe for tree health after season-long drought?

Yes, because when trees go fully dormant in late fall the risk of herbicide damage is low. Fall cleanup is a good strategy to start weed control for early next season.

The drought conditions affected the proportion of weed species in orchards this season. Typically, during drought there is less emergence of small-seeded weeds that germinate close to the soil surface. On the other hand, you might have noticed that deep rooted perennials were less affected. Now that autumn rains have arrived, there will be a late-season flush of germination of winter annual weeds and resumed growth of perennials.

Some herbicide labels warn, “crops that are stressed may be more sensitive to herbicide application”, and labels list drought as an example of a stressor. Stressed crops may be unable to cope with the impacts of herbicides if the chemistries are taken up by actively growing trees or while storing reserves for winter dormancy. Our trees are in a drought-influenced state so we should heed these warnings.

Allow trees to go fully dormant by late November to early December and then practice fall cleanup. By this time, leaves have fallen and will scatter or may be mowed so they generally don’t interfere with herbicide coverage. The dormant state of the trees is a real advantage because there is little risk of uptake and tree injury. Just keep in mind that weeds should be treated with post-emergent (burndown) herbicides while they are green and growing, prior to a hard frost. Post-emergent and residual herbicides may be used in a fall program.

Come spring, trees may experience lingering stress from the drought when they restart growth and we want to give them the best chance at success. Efforts to reduce tree stress could be helpful. A late fall weed control program can reduce stress by: 

• Minimizing early season weed pressure that competes with trees for resources.
• Reducing the need for post-emergent herbicides applied in spring when trees are actively growing and are therefore more susceptible to injury.

What is the influence of the drought on residual herbicide decisions?

In general, using herbicides in the fall is safe as explained above. But there is one additional consideration to keep in mind for the use of residual herbicides and that’s their persistence or carryover in extreme circumstances like drought.

Many herbicides are degraded by environmental factors like sunlight, and microbial processes, but some herbicides degrade largely by microbial processes. Drought conditions slow microbial processes so some residual herbicides might carryover longer than expected and may in some cases lead to crop injury if:

•  Reapplying the same product (increasing total residues)
• Replanting new orchard (exposing young trees to higher-than-expected residues)

The residual herbicides of greatest concern after a drought are those mainly broken down by microbes and known for long soil persistence. 

• Herbicides with a moderate risk of soil persistence are Sencor and Prowl. I’m not aware of specific warnings in tree fruit.
• Herbicides with a high risk of soil persistence are Authority and Chateau. Label warnings suggest taking care.

Product labels have a safety buffer built into them but given the drought conditions we should observe the additional safety recommendations described below.

Authority:

•  Instead of waiting the usual 2 years for reapplication, you should wait 3 years since your previous application. The label states, “Sulfentrazone is persistent and will last in the soils (carryover) for one to two years. DO NOT APPLY AUTHORITY 480 HERBICIDE TO FIELDS PREVIOUSLY TREATED WITH ANY SULFENTRAZONE-CONTAINING PRODUCT IN CONSECUTIVE YEARS (24 MONTHS). In case of drought in any of those years, a subsequent application of AUTHORITY® 480 Herbicide should be further delayed by the equivalent number of years in which drought occurred.”
• The label advises a 3-year replant interval under normal circumstances and extended an additional year to a 4-year replant interval after drought.

Chateau:

•  The rotational or replanting restrictions on the Chateau label do not state apple specifically so apples are categorized under “all other crops not listed.” The rotational interval is 1 year. However, the label also says, “After periods of extended drought longer rotational intervals may be needed.”

Alion:

• You are also familiar with the long persistence of Alion herbicide. The label advises to, “Allow at least 12 months between the last application of ALION Herbicide and replanting an orchard or vineyard with labeled tree or vine crops.” There is no specific mention of drought on the Alion label in terms of replanting, but waiting longer might be advised. 

The unexpected drought shows the benefit of avoiding residual herbicides when you plan on taking out orchard within the next 2-3 years for replanting.

There may be some carryover of these persistent residual herbicides but it is difficult to predict and can vary by circumstance. You could extend the length of time from your last application and replanting interval. Or if you are concerned, there is an option to perform your own bioassay.

A bioassay involves sampling soil and growing some test crops that are sensitive to herbicide residues. To learn how to do a bioassay, check out an article by OMAFRA that describes the process. Late October to mid-November is a good time to sample soil for the bioassay because soil temperatures are now low and have slowed microbial processes. Herbicide breakdown between now and planting time next spring is minimal and therefore soils now are representative of herbicide residues come spring.

I’m attending an intensive Weed Science Course on herbicide physiology and biochemistry this coming winter on Dec 8-12 in New Brunswick. Let me know if you have any specific questions that I should bring to the discussion.

Weed management references:
https://www.pioneer.com/us/agronomy/Why-Dry-Conditions-Increase-Risk-of-Herbicide-Carryover.html
https://ucanr.edu/blog/uc-weed-science-weed-control-management-ecology-and-minutia/article/effects-drought-conditions
https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-hub/ag-topics/crop-production/diseases-pests-and-weeds/weeds/herbicide-concerns-after-drought
https://www.canr.msu.edu/news/fall_weed_control_in_established_fruit_crops

Fall pruning is risky, but is it riskier than normal this year due to the drought?

Yes, fall pruning is riskier than normal this year and it should be avoided as much as possible.

Drought stressed trees are less likely to achieve their normal level of winter cold hardiness. To respond to cold temperatures, plants use resources like carbohydrates as protection. This summer’s less productive photosynthesis suggests fewer root starch concentrations were accumulated as reserves going into winter. Water balance as affected by the drought might also challenge winter hardiness.

Pruning trees in the fall or early winter would compound the problem by reducing tree hardiness even further. Pruning in relation to winter injury is a challenging topic to research because the weather is unpredictable for setting up a controlled field trial and the circumstances of each cold event are variable. But observational reports after extreme cold events suggest that all pruning practices reduce tree hardiness. The pruning practices stimulate growth hormones and interrupt the dormancy process.

Apples are typically hardy to midwinter temperatures as cold as -31°C to -35°C. Depending on the winter, losing a couple of degrees of hardiness through pruning is usually not a concern - although it is risky. But consider that the combination of drought stress and pruning would reduce hardiness even further to the point of damaging temperatures being possible. If cold temperatures were to threaten, then the decision to prune in the fall could be the difference between a live and dead tree.

In recent years we’ve seen the riskiest times for cold temperatures are in late January and early February. Pruning should be delayed until after the highest risk period has passed to keep trees as cold hardy as possible.

If some pruning must be done earlier in the winter for labour reasons, keep the following in mind:

• Only prune trees in old plantings that are soon due for replacement and that you can afford to lose. 
• Pruning in November and December is riskier than waiting until at least January.
• Prune lightly by making limited cuts and remove less wood than usual. (There is no guidance on the merits of few big cuts versus many small cuts. Big cuts would remove many resources whereas many small cuts may cause a widespread stimulation of growth hormones.)
• Delay pruning trees that showed premature defoliation due to drought.
• If you are pruning and then a cold snap is predicted, stop pruning immediately.
• Prune the young trees as late as possible, before bloom.

Then come questions about how to deal with trees that need pruning come spring. Keep the following in mind to make a plan:

• Less girth and extension shoot growth occurred during the 2025 season so there may be less that is critical to prune off.
• During the ideal pruning time in spring, prioritize high value trees and then return to low value areas. 
• Prior to bud break and bloom, ensure youngest blocks are pruned first so growth is directed into desirable leader and terminal extension. 
• If you’re pruning near bloom time and a frost is predicted, stop pruning and wait for the cold weather to pass to conserve fruit bud health.
• On severely drought stressed trees, make only detailed pruning cuts for tree training and to expose fruiting wood. Wood contains usable carbohydrates and nitrogen so discarding the resources reduces growth potential. (Limiting pruning might be controversial and has pros and cons. Ultimately, if slight changes to pruning decisions is enough to impact tree health, then trees are not likely in a healthy state anyway).
• It might not be possible to prune all blocks. After bloom, making large pruning cuts can weaken trees. If the orchard is near the end of its life, then there is not as much concern about weakening trees.
• In unpruned situations, use growth suppression strategies like prohexadione calcium (Apogee and Kudos), root pruning, and summer pruning if needed.
• Neglected trees can be renovated over 2-3 years. Begin with large corrective cuts and limit detailed pruning. Reestablish the height and shape of the tree. Do not remove more than one third of the tree area in one year.
• I’m sure the pruning discussion will continue this winter and I'm open to hearing all thoughts.

A tree without maintenance pruning can be renovated but a dead tree can’t be revived. Therefore, let’s be proactive by avoiding early pruning and allow trees as much cold temperature hardiness as possible. Thankfully we have a good buffer between cold temperatures apple trees can withstand and cold temperatures we normally observe.


Pruning and winter hardiness references:
https://extension.psu.edu/tree-fruit-cold-hardiness-pruning-effects
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/orchard-outlook/episodes/E2-S3--The-Coolest-Chat-about-Early-Dormant-Pruning-Guest-Dr--Richard-Marini-e1bmv55
https://open.library.ubc.ca/soa/cIRcle/collections/ubctheses/831/items/1.0106295
https://annforsci.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1007/s13595-021-01052-5
https://www.ishs.org/ishs-article/903_166

Orchard Outlook: Ambrosia Fruit Maturity Report - Oct 14, 2025

Today's newsletter is the fourth maturity update for Ambrosia and it will be the final maturity report for the season. These results continue to suggest early Ambrosia maturity relative to average, and now even slightly advanced maturity compared with the 2024 harvest season. The Ambrosia blocks being monitored are ready for harvest. Harvest beyond optimal maturity is at greater risk of senescent breakdown, coreflush, and greasiness.

Once again, I would like to say a huge THANK YOU to the farms that have agreed to be the long-term monitoring sites for industry-wide updates on maturity. 

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Please note that the DA meter is misaligned with maturity indices this year and is giving variable results, therefore our preference is for relying on starch and flavour as maturity indicators. The DA meter was developed as a tool based on the relationship between chlorophyll degradation and the rate of change of maturity indices and in some years the relationship may not align.

• Even if DA values do not make sense for comparing years, the values should still be useful for comparing blocks to decide which to harvest first.

Important Note - The following information is for general industry purposes only. Growers are encouraged to use their own discretion to harvest trees that are exhibiting delayed colour development or exhibiting maturity indices that disagree with what is being reported here. Values were measured on an average of fruit that were representative of the block's crop load and tree vigour. Fruit for Ambrosia samples were taken from throughout entire trees to target a one-pick harvest to strip the trees.

Table 1: Maturity indices for Ambrosia fruit sampled in the current year on Tuesday, October 14. Values are compared with the samples taken last week on Oct 7 to estimate a weekly rate of change.

Table 1 Ambrosia Discussion:

• The maturity varies greatly by block and region. However, the samples suggest that more Ambrosia blocks are reaching maturity.
• Local research by John Delong et al. 2013 showed that optimal values of the starch index for long-term storage of Ambrosia are between 2.8 and 4.5.
• A starch index beyond 4.5 is at increasingly greater risk of senescent breakdown, coreflush, and greasiness. The incidence of the disorders has been shown to roughly double for every 1.0 unit above the ideal starch index of 4.5 units.
• The starch index on the ReTain treated fruit in Lakeville is 3.9 and North Medford is 3.4 placing both blocks within the optimal harvest window for long term storage. The starch flavour is no longer present.
• The Ambrosia starch index values at the monitoring regions are now at an advanced state of maturity compared with what was recorded last year at this same time. They are more mature by about +1.0 starch index units.
• Soluble solids values in our region for Ambrosia tend to be 12% at around optimum harvest maturity and this year the values are already higher than usual, especially on young trees.
• Yellow coloured background is present where harvest maturity is reached.

About each maturity measurement:

Starch Index - Starch is converted to sugars as ripening progresses. The starch-iodine test is used because iodine binds to starch molecules turning them blue/black, whereas sugars are not stained and remain clear. The Cornell chart on a scale of 1 to 8 was used above and values are an average of ten representative samples from each block.

Soluble Solids - Approximates the percentage of sugar content of the fruit. Measured using a digital refractometer. Values are an average of ten representative samples from each block taken on the blush side of each fruit.

DA Meter - The delta absorbance (DA) value is related to the chlorophyll content of the peel. AAFC researchers in Kentville developed a protocol for Honeycrisp and Ambrosia. Values shown above are the average of twenty fruit taken throughout a block, with readings taken on the transition area between the sun and shade exposed sides. DA values will be noticeably different between the most mature and least mature fruit on a tree. 

Notices

  

Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture - 2025 Drought Impact Assessment Survey

The NSFA are gathering feedback from farmers on the impacts of the 2025 drought. The results will be shared with the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture to help inform future programs and supports.

This short survey (10–15 minutes) will give you the opportunity to share:

How your farm operations were affected.
The challenges you faced.
What supports are most needed going forward.

All responses are confidential and will only be reported in aggregate.

By sharing your experience, you are helping shape future programs, advocacy, and supports that can strengthen farm resilience in the face of extreme weather. Share Your Impact with NSFA. (NSFGA from a few weeks ago was a separate survey).

Nova Scotia Crop & Livestock Insurance Commission

The Nova Scotia Crop & Livestock Insurance Commission has advised that for any insured perennial crops showing plant damage that may result in yield loss next year, they encourage producers to submit a Notice of Damage now.

AgriStability 2025 – Late Participation Now Open for Nova Scotia Producers

Although the enrolment deadline for 2025 has passed you can still participate in AgriStability as a late participant. Nova Scotia farmers now have until September 30, 2026, to join the AgriStability program as late participants, thanks to a special provision granted in response to ongoing challenges in the agricultural sector.

AgriStability provides financial support when your farm's 2025 production margin falls by more than 30% below your reference margin, helping producers manage risks from weather events, rising costs, and market disruptions. Late participation ensures that more producers can access vital support—even if they missed the original enrolment deadline.

Please reach out to the Business Risk Management Advisory for more details- Erin Sears (902) 324-8784, Erin.Sears@novascotia.ca

Perennia Food and Agriculture Corp.
Edited by Michelle Cortens, Tree Fruit Specialist

Orchard Outlook: Ambrosia Fruit Maturity Report - Oct 7, 2025

Today's newsletter includes the third maturity update for Ambrosia. These results point to an early maturity and harvest similar to the 2024 season. The Ambrosia blocks being monitored are within the harvest window or are nearly ready. Also note that the Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture is hosting a regional town hall about the drought and wildfire impacts tomorrow on Wednesday, October 8.

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Please note that the DA meter is misaligned with maturity indices this year and is giving variable results, therefore our preference is for relying on starch and flavour as maturity indicators. The DA meter was developed as a tool based on the relationship between chlorophyll degradation and the rate of change of maturity indices and in some years the relationship may not align.

• Even if DA values do not make sense for comparing years, the values should still be useful for comparing blocks to decide which to harvest first.

Important Note - The following information is for general industry purposes only. Growers are encouraged to use their own discretion to harvest trees that are exhibiting delayed colour development or exhibiting maturity indices that disagree with what is being reported here. Values were measured on an average of fruit that were representative of the block's crop load and tree vigour. Fruit for Ambrosia samples were taken from throughout entire trees to target a one-pick harvest to strip the trees.

Table 1: Maturity indices for Ambrosia fruit sampled in the current year on Tuesday, October 7.

Table 1 Ambrosia Discussion:

• Similar to Honeycrisp, the maturity varies greatly by block and region. 
• Local research by John Delong et al. 2013 showed that optimal values of the starch index for long-term storage of Ambrosia are between 2.8 and 4.5.
• The Rockland starch index of 3.5 suggests the block is currently within the harvest window for long-term storage. As an estimate, the block will likely remain within the window for one week.
• The starch index on the ReTain treated fruit in Lakeville is 2.7 at the start of the harvest window and taste is agreeable. North Medford is currently at 2.3 with some mild starchy flavour and is expected to be ready within about 3-4 days.
• Consider Harvista if labour issues are anticipated. 
• The Ambrosia starch index values are almost identical to what was recorded last year at this same time. Last year's harvest dates may be used as guidance.
• Soluble solids values in our region for Ambrosia tend to be 12% at around optimum harvest maturity and this year the values are already higher than usual, especially on young trees.
• Yellow coloured background is present on the Rockland sample, in agreement with harvest maturity. At Lakeville and North Medford the background colour is developing more yellowish tones (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Progression of ground colour change over time in 2025. Samples from each region are included from top to bottom over three sample dates. Yellow tones indicate approaching maturity.

About each maturity measurement:

Starch Index - Starch is converted to sugars as ripening progresses. The starch-iodine test is used because iodine binds to starch molecules turning them blue/black, whereas sugars are not stained and remain clear. The Cornell chart on a scale of 1 to 8 was used above and values are an average of ten representative samples from each block.

Soluble Solids - Approximates the percentage of sugar content of the fruit. Measured using a digital refractometer. Values are an average of ten representative samples from each block taken on the blush side of each fruit.

DA Meter - The delta absorbance (DA) value is related to the chlorophyll content of the peel. AAFC researchers in Kentville developed a protocol for Honeycrisp and Ambrosia. Values shown above are the average of twenty fruit taken throughout a block, with readings taken on the transition area between the sun and shade exposed sides. DA values will be noticeably different between the most mature and least mature fruit on a tree. 

Tree Nutrition

There has been some preliminary discussion around how to boost bud and overall tree health for the 2026 season. If there is time this season and while leaves are still on trees, there may be an opportunity to apply foliar nutrition that could be mobilized to the root system. Thank you to Kendra in New Brunswick for sharing information from Dr. Lailiang Cheng that reads:

"When there is drought stress in the fall, root uptake of nutrients is negatively affected, leading to lower reserve nutrient status in the tree particularly nitrogen and boron. If the trees are defoliated early due to drought, this would make the situation worse. We have been recommending putting on two sprays of foliar urea after fruit harvest at 10 days apart (from late Sept to late October) at 3% (25 lbs of urea per 100 gals of water). In the spray you can also add 1 lb of Solubor. These sprays are particularly important for trees with marginal N and B levels (leaf N < 2%; leaf B <25 ppm).

Notices

TOMORROW: NSFA Regional Town Hall in Berwick - Impacts of Drought and Wildfire

The Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture is hosting regional town halls. The Valley session is on Wednesday, October 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM at the Christ Anglican Church (238 Commercial Street, Berwick). Registration is required. Here is the agenda:

(6:40pm) Context Setting – Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture & Department of Agriculture
Sharing key themes heard across commodities and regions, and highlight current government considerations alongside NSFA’s advocacy efforts.

(6:55pm) Farmer Input & Discussion – Facilitated
Share your experiences with us — the impacts you’re facing, extraordinary costs on your plate, and ideas for support that could make a difference, both in this moment and for future farm resilience.

(7:30pm) Resource Spotlight & Connection Time
Learn about supports available through NSFA (EFP, Farmer Wellness, Emergency Management), NSDA (Farm Loan Board, Crop & Livestock Insurance, Ag Reps), as well as Perennia and FCC – with the opportunity to connect one-on-one.

 

Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture - 2025 Drought Impact Assessment Survey

The NSFA are gathering feedback from farmers on the impacts of the 2025 drought. The results will be shared with the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture to help inform future programs and supports.

This short survey (10–15 minutes) will give you the opportunity to share:

How your farm operations were affected.
The challenges you faced.
What supports are most needed going forward.

All responses are confidential and will only be reported in aggregate.

By sharing your experience, you are helping shape future programs, advocacy, and supports that can strengthen farm resilience in the face of extreme weather. Share Your Impact with NSFA. (NSFGA from a few weeks ago was a separate survey).

Nova Scotia Crop & Livestock Insurance Commission

The Nova Scotia Crop & Livestock Insurance Commission has advised that for any insured perennial crops showing plant damage that may result in yield loss next year, they encourage producers to submit a Notice of Damage now.

AgriStability 2025 – Late Participation Now Open for Nova Scotia Producers

Although the enrolment deadline for 2025 has passed you can still participate in AgriStability as a late participant. Nova Scotia farmers now have until September 30, 2026, to join the AgriStability program as late participants, thanks to a special provision granted in response to ongoing challenges in the agricultural sector.

AgriStability provides financial support when your farm's 2025 production margin falls by more than 30% below your reference margin, helping producers manage risks from weather events, rising costs, and market disruptions. Late participation ensures that more producers can access vital support—even if they missed the original enrolment deadline.

Please reach out to the Business Risk Management Advisory for more details- Erin Sears (902) 324-8784, Erin.Sears@novascotia.ca

Perennia Food and Agriculture Corp.
Edited by Michelle Cortens, Tree Fruit Specialist

Orchard Outlook: Honeycrisp and Ambrosia Fruit Maturity Report - Oct 1, 2025

Today's newsletter includes the final industry update for Honeycrisp. The second maturity update for Ambrosia is provided using the example regions. Just like with Honeycrisp, the Ambrosia maturity will be quite variable between blocks and is aligned with the early harvest season.

I want to again acknowledge the difficulty of this season. Harvest has been slow-going and frustrating across farms. Every day you're one step closer to finishing and you're making progress. I continue to hope for the best possible outcomes for each and every one of you. I'm here if you want to talk or vent frustrations.

Weather

Degree Day Accumulations

Total degree day accumulations are similar to the 5-year average and slightly warmer than the 10-year average (Figure 1). Even though temperatures have been average overall, Jeff Franklin emphasizes a lot of variability from the cycling of above- and below-average temperatures (Figure 2).

Figure 1: Heating degree day accumulations for plant (above 5°C) and insect (above 10°C) development from March 1 to September 29 for the past 17 seasons. Provided by Jeff Franklin (AAFC).

• Approximately 1% more plant development heat units compared to the 5-year average, and 4% more compared to the 10-year average.
• Approximately 2% less plant development heat units compared to 2024, and 3% more compared with 2023.
• Approximately 1% less insect development heat units compared to the 5-year average, and 3% more compared to the 10-year average.

Figure 2: Temperature and precipitation plot from July to September relative to 25-year averages based on Kentville weather data. Provided by Jeff Franklin (AAFC).

Fruit Maturity Reports

Please note that the DA meter is misaligned with maturity indices this year and is giving variable results, therefore our preference is for relying on starch and flavour as maturity indicators. The DA meter was developed as a tool based on the relationship between chlorophyll degradation and the rate of change of maturity indices and in some years the relationship may not align.

• Even if DA values do not make sense for comparing years, the values should still be useful for comparing blocks to decide which to harvest first.

Important Note - The following information is for general industry purposes only. Growers are encouraged to use their own discretion to harvest trees that are exhibiting delayed colour development or exhibiting maturity indices that disagree with what is being reported here. Values were measured on an average of fruit that were representative of the block's crop load and tree vigour.

Honeycrisp

Fruit representative of size and colour were taken from all sides but not from the interior of the canopy where maturity is expected to be delayed and is most likely targeted for a second pick timing.

Most of the Honeycrisp monitoring sites have had a first pick, meaning the information is no longer comparable or widely applicable. The only remaining monitoring site to represent fruit prior to the first harvest is the North Medford site shown in Table 1. 

Table 1: Maturity indices for regular Honeycrisp fruit sampled in the current year on Monday, Sept 29, 2025. Values are compared with the samples taken one week prior on Monday, Sept 12, 2025.

Table 1 Honeycrisp Discussion:

• Honeycrisp harvest is underway. Maturity should be monitored closely and first pick harvest is encouraged where colour is acceptable.
• Last week the monitoring sites in Rockland and Lakeville reached the start of the harvest window for first pick fruit. 
• North Medford has now reached maturity on the blocks being monitored.
• Maturity has been quite variable between blocks and between regions.
• Local research by John Delong et al. 2013 showed that optimal values of the starch index for long-term storage for Honeycrisp are between 5.0 and 7.5. Early harvest of Honeycrisp before starch 5.0 can lead to more bitter pit in storage whereas late harvest beyond starch 7.5 results in more soft scald.
• ReTain applied in Lakeville at 3 weeks before harvest did not appear to have much influence on the maturity of the first pick, so monitor similar situations.

Ambrosia

Fruit for samples were taken from throughout entire trees to target a one-pick harvest to strip the trees.

Table 2: Maturity indices for Ambrosia fruit sampled in the current year on Monday, Sept 29.

Table 2 Ambrosia Discussion:

• Similar to Honeycrisp, the maturity progression varies greatly by block and region. 
• Local research by John Delong et al. 2013 showed that optimal values of the starch index for long-term storage of Ambrosia are between 2.8 and 4.5.
• Starch conversion to sugar is progressing toward the harvest window in the Rockland example. It should be noted that low crop load in the Rockland example block could be contributing, in part, to early maturity. Some fruit taste starchy and some taste ready.
• Starch conversion has begun in Lakeville and North Medford but there is still some time before it reaches the level of harvest maturity. All fruit taste starchy.
• Consider Harvista if labour issues are anticipated. 
• The Ambrosia starch index values are similar to or slightly behind what was recorded last year during the early harvest season in 2024. Last year's harvest dates may be used as guidance.
• Soluble solids values in our region for Ambrosia tend to be 12% at around optimum harvest maturity and this year the values are already higher than usual, especially on young trees.
• The mass and diameter depend on crop load but they show a significant impact of the drought on marketable fruit across many regions. Older trees with deeper root systems appear less affected. 

Comments on colour progression:

• Red blush colour progressed well over the past week with more coverage and deeper red intensity (Figure 3). 
• The colour progression corresponds with cool (<10°C) nighttime temperatures and warm and sunny daytime conditions.
• The forecast for later this week looks conducive to continued colour development.
• Red colour varies greatly and there is less colour under drought stress or heavy crop load. 
• Yellow coloured background is visible on the Rockland sample, associated with approaching harvest maturity and in agreement with the starch conversion. At Lakeville and North Medford the background colour is still mostly green (Figure 4).

Figure 3: Progression of red blush colour change over time in 2025. Samples from each region are included from top to bottom over two sample dates. The last week has contributed a notable amount of red blush.

Figure 4: Progression of ground colour change over time in 2025. Samples from each region are included from top to bottom over four sample dates. The last week has revealed some fruit with a yellow tone indicative of approaching maturity.

About each maturity measurement:

Starch Index - Starch is converted to sugars as ripening progresses. The starch-iodine test is used because iodine binds to starch molecules turning them blue/black, whereas sugars are not stained and remain clear. The Cornell chart on a scale of 1 to 8 was used above and values are an average of ten representative samples from each block.

Soluble Solids - Approximates the percentage of sugar content of the fruit. Measured using a digital refractometer. Values are an average of ten representative samples from each block taken on the blush side of each fruit.

DA Meter - The delta absorbance (DA) value is related to the chlorophyll content of the peel. AAFC researchers in Kentville developed a protocol for Honeycrisp and Ambrosia. Values shown above are the average of twenty fruit taken throughout a block, with readings taken on the transition area between the sun and shade exposed sides. DA values will be noticeably different between the most mature and least mature fruit on a tree. 

Tree Nutrition

There has been some preliminary discussion around how to boost bud and overall tree health for the 2026 season. If there is time this season and while leaves are still on trees, there may be an opportunity to apply foliar nutrition that could be mobilized to the root system. Thank you to Kendra in New Brunswick for sharing information from Dr. Lailiang Cheng that reads:

"When there is drought stress in the fall, root uptake of nutrients is negatively affected, leading to lower reserve nutrient status in the tree particularly nitrogen and boron. If the trees are defoliated early due to drought, this would make the situation worse. We have been recommending putting on two sprays of foliar urea after fruit harvest at 10 days apart (from late Sept to late October) at 3% (25 lbs of urea per 100 gals of water). In the spray you can also add 1 lb of Solubor. These sprays are particularly important for trees with marginal N and B levels (leaf N < 2%; leaf B <25 ppm).

Notices

Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture - 2025 Drought Impact Assessment Survey

The NSFA are gathering feedback from farmers on the impacts of the 2025 drought. The results will be shared with the Nova Scotia Department of Agriculture to help inform future programs and supports.

This short survey (10–15 minutes) will give you the opportunity to share:

How your farm operations were affected.
The challenges you faced.
What supports are most needed going forward.

All responses are confidential and will only be reported in aggregate.

By sharing your experience, you are helping shape future programs, advocacy, and supports that can strengthen farm resilience in the face of extreme weather. Share Your Impact with NSFA. (NSFGA from a few weeks ago was a separate survey).

Nova Scotia Crop & Livestock Insurance Commission

The Nova Scotia Crop & Livestock Insurance Commission has advised that for any insured perennial crops showing plant damage that may result in yield loss next year, they encourage producers to submit a Notice of Damage now.

Perennia Food and Agriculture Corp.
Edited by Michelle Cortens, Tree Fruit Specialist