The Northern New York Agricultural Development program recently posted the results of precision apple orchard management research, evaluating the impact of applying its practices to improve the yield, fruit size and quality of the regional apple crop for a more consistent higher economic return per acre.
Three specific strategies are under evaluation by a research team of apple growers, Cornell University faculty and Cornell Cooperative Extension personnel. The orchard management practices, designed to enhance the efficiency of apple production, include precision orchard thinning, irrigation and harvest timing.
The Northern New York growers involved with the project achieved excellent results in 2015.
The computer models components of the precision orchard management system, providing information to the growers for best timing and application rates for thinning fruit blossoms to achieve an optimal crop load per apple tree and data for irrigation timing and amounts based on soil type and tree age.
One Clinton County apple grower evaluated tree growth, stress, crop yield, fruit size and fruit quality in both irrigated and non-irrigated orchard blocks. The Cornell researchers estimate that, depending on orchard density and age, a lack of irrigation can decrease the apple crop value between $3,859 and $6,809 per 100 acres.
Two apple growers participated in precision harvesting of the honeycrisp apple variety to compare pre-harvest data to post-harvest production with the goal of creating specific parameters for better sorting fruit for short-term sales and longer-term storage and sales.
The complete results of the project are posted at nnyagdev.org. The report also includes data from orchards in Ontario, Orleans, Ulster and Wayne counties.
Source: waynepost.com
