The newsletter has not officially begun but I have a few comments to share before we are fully underway.
Early Season Reminders
Logistics
- Check the expiry date on your pesticide license. In order to renew you must fill out the application form, have receipts totalling 15 Pesticide Continuing Education Points, and pay the fee as a cheque to the Minister of Finance. The cheque and paperwork can be delivered to a local office of the Department of Environment.
Scale Insects
- The timing for oil application to target scale insects is when trees are ideally dormant or by green tip at the latest (complicated by the risk of freezing temperatures damaging green tissue).
- The timing for targeting scale is not similarly effective for mites. The timing for mites is geared toward egg hatch after bud break and closer to tight cluster. Target your oil application for the more important pest issue.
Pear Psylla
- The first line of defence against pear psylla is the use of dormant oil to delay egg laying and synchronize control of pear psylla with later insecticide applications. Dormant oil application should be made before green tissue when conditions allow.
Peach Leaf Curl
- A protectant fungicide is needed for peach leaf curl in spring if one was not applied in fall, or if you applied a fall fungicide but disease pressure is generally high. The fungicide can be applied when buds are dormant and up until bud swell. Applications are most effective when applied before bud swell. Delayed applications (still prior to green tip) will provide some but not complete control.
- If applying a fungicide during both fall and spring, do not repeat the use of chlorothalonil products (Bravo ZN or Echo 90 WSP) because they can be applied only once for peach leaf curl either as a fall or spring dormant spray.
- As a reminder, the new label dated 2024 stats that all mixing and loading must be done with closed transfer systems.
Pruning
- With bud break just around the corner, prune the youngest blocks first so growth is directed into desirable leader and terminal extension. Prioritize high value trees and then return to low value areas.
- Also consider how pesticide re-entry intervals will affect your pruning schedule once the spray season begins.
- For more information on pruning, join us for the pruning workshop on April 2 described below.
Early Season Weed Control
- Think about residual/pre-emergent herbicides as filling windows of time. Most residual products will give about 4-6 weeks of weed control. Some products have longer-lasting control like Alion (trees >3 yrs old) and Sinbar. Use residual herbicides through periods of high weed germination like in spring.
- For young orchard, consider using Chateau for broadleaf control with a combination of Prowl H2O for grass control. Later in the program could include Ignite with Sandea.
- HOWEVER, take caution because residual herbicides applied last year in the drought can have an extended persistence and carryover that increase the risk of plant herbicide damage.
- Authority:
- Instead of waiting the usual 2 years for reapplication, you should wait 3 years since your previous application.
- 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 interval is 1 year. However, the label also says, “After periods of extended drought longer rotational intervals may be needed.”
- Alion:
- 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.
- For more information on weed control, join us for the spring workshop classroom session on April 1 described below.
NSDA Programs begin accepting applications on April 1, 2026:
Before submitting your application, please:
- Renew your farm registration.
- Complete a Program Funding Registration Form if you are new to Programs or have not applied to Programs since 2023. Update your Program Funding Registration Form if your contact person, contact information (email or phone), or banking information has changed.
- If you are not using direct deposit, consider signing up. Contact the Programs office for the forms.
- Make sure your Environmental Farm Plan (EFP) is up to date (April 1, 2021 or later) if it is required. The projects you want to apply for must be listed in Schedules A and B, and you must include both schedules with your application.
- Get current equipment quotes if required.
- For the Limestone Trucking Assistance Program, make sure you have a soil test or Nutrient Management Plan dated April 1, 2023 or later.
- Reach out to your Ag Rep or Business Development Officer for help with completing your application.
NSFGA Spring Workshop
This is a reminder that the NSFGA Spring Workshop, hosted by the NSFGA Production Committee, will take place on Wednesday, April 1st and Thursday April, 2nd. Please find the workshop agenda below:April 1st: Classroom Session (Orchards Room)
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Speakers
- 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM: Michelle Cortens (Perennia) – Post-Drought Wood Analysis Results and Discussion
- 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM: Scott White (Weed Science Specialist) – Tree Fruit Herbicides: Controlled Weeds, Residual Activity, and Resistance
- 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM: Vicky Levesque (AAFC) – Soil Health: Building Resilient Soils and Soil Fertility
- 2:30 PM – 2:45 PM: Justin Rinkema (AAFC) – Ambrosia Beetle and Targeting Stressed Trees
- 2:45 PM – 2:55 PM: Suzanne Blatt (AAFC) – General Pest Management Discussion Post-Drought
Moderator: Cassian Ferlatte (Lutz Family Farm)
Panelists: Dwayne Barteaux (Barteaux Farms), Ryan Swanson (Eisses Farms), Waldo Walsh (Birchleigh Farms), and Henry Wolgemuth (Wolgemuth Farms)
April 2nd: Pruning Workshop
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Lutz Family Farm (1427 Prospect Rd., Strong Block)
Topic: Side-by-side pruning comparison: Pruning drought-stressed trees versus trees that performed well through the drought.
We look forward to seeing you there.
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