Degree Days and Upcoming Events - July 30

Tuesday, July 30, 2024

 Today's post is a brief update on degree day accumulations and offers a few notes about upcoming events.


2024 Degree Day Accumulations

Degree day accumulations are 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, relative to the average. Use harvest dates from the years 2021, 2012 and 2010 for estimates. 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 July 29 for the past 17 seasons. Provided by Jeff Franklin (AAFC).
  • Approximately 7% more plant development heat units compared to the 5-year average, and 8% more compared to the 10-year average.
  • Approximately 6% more plant development heat units compared to 2023, and 3% more compared with 2022.
  • Approximately 9% more insect development heat units compared to the 5-year average, and 11% more compared to the 10-year average.

Events and Notices


NSFGA Summer Tour Full Schedule - Wednesday, August 7

NSFGA is pleased to announce the detailed schedule of the summer orchard tour is now available. 


Registration is not required to attend the orchard tour, however NSFGA does encourage registration for the chicken barbeque, which is detailed below.

There is still opportunity for sponsorship until August 1st 2024.
Reach out to elutz@nsfruitgrowers.ca if you are interested in sponsorship or featuring any equipment at the chicken barbeque following the tour.

Summer Tour Chicken Barbeque
Sponsored by AgroFresh and NM Bartlett

This year for the NSFGA annual summer orchard tour on Wednesday August 7th 2024, NSFGA is bringing back a treasured favourite: The post-tour chicken BBQ! This family friendly event is open to all who are involved in the apple industry to gather, enjoy a meal, and spend a beautiful summer evening together over delicious food at Noggins Corner Farm in Greenwich.

There will be equipment from local dealerships on display, a playground for the kids, delicious local chicken prepared by the Berwick Lion's Club, fresh corn on the cob from Noggins Corner Farm and pie from Apple Valley Foods! We are also pleased to announce that Nova Scotia's Minister of Agriculture Greg Morrow will be in attendance to bring greetings.

We ask that if you plan to attend the barbeque that you register so we can plan for an accurate amount of food. We kick things off at 5:00pm at Noggins Corner Farm (corn maze entrance and playground).


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. You can copy this event to your calendar by clicking here.

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*
On-farm Technology Adoption Program
On-farm Automation and Innovation Program
Apiculture Sustainable Growth and Health Program
Agriculture Skills Student Bursary Program
Limestone Trucking Assistance Program
Get Growing Program
Wildlife Damage Mitigation Program
On-farm Electrical Preparedness Program
Planning New Opportunities Program
Speaker Series Assistance Program

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

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