Two On-Farm Workshops On The Fruit Fly

The Cornell Cooperative Extension will hold two farm workshops on Tuesday, September 10, in Rensselaer County.  Both workshops will highlight farm research aimed at understanding and controlling the Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD). This invasive fruit fly is very damaging to soft fruit,  especially berry crops that ripen later in the season.  SWD caused over a million dollars in damage to berry crops in 2012 in New York alone.  Because of this, SWD management has been a major statewide research and extension focus during 2013, with two of the projects located in the Capital District region.  Plan to join growers, extension educators, Cornell University research faculty, industry and government representatives for updates on innovative management techniques for SWD.
• Fixed Sprayer System in a High Tunnel Raspberry Planting – The Berry Patch of Stonewall Hill Farm, 15370 NY Route 22, Stephentown from 2 to 3:30 pm. This project examines the effectiveness and labor saving attributes of this mode of pest control when faced with a challenging pest like SWD.  Owner Dale Riggs is the president of the NYS Berry Growers Association which has been advocating for increased research funding for SWD.  The farm also grows blueberries with bird netting and day neutral strawberries in a high tunnel – all for local markets.  This project is supported by a research grant from the NY Farm Viability Institute.
• Exclusion Netting and Mass Trapping to Control SWD in Organic Blueberries – Hay Berry Farm, 1276 Babcock Lake Road, Hoosick Falls from 4 to 5:30 pm. Lawrie Nickerson was awarded a NE SARE Farmer Grant to evaluate netting as a management tool for SWD.   She also looked at weed mat and berry quality in the study.  The farm features a SMART NET bird net, deer fencing and a portable hand-washing station to meet U-Pick customer needs.
To register for these workshops call Marcie at 518-272-4210. For more information, call Laura McDermott at 518-791-5038 or email her at lgm4@cornell.edu.