Hi RI Fruit Growers,
Our April twilight meeting will be on April 23 at 5:30 at Belkin Family Lookout Farm in South Natick, MA. It’s maybe a little bit longer drive then we are used to, but it will be well worth the trip. The farm was established in 1651 and it is a site to see. The farm has pick-your-own apples, pears, peaches, plums, cherries, strawberries and pumpkins. They also grow lots of vegetables and have a garden center and farm stand. I’m looking forward to seeing it!

The cost of the meeting is $20 per farm ($25 for non RIFGA members) and one hour of pesticide recertification credit is available.

Directions:
• Take 95/128N to Exit 21 (Route 16)
• Follow Route 16W through Wellesley
• After approximately 3 miles, you will come to a fork in the road, bear left and continue on Route 16 to South Natick
• At the set of lights (there will be a white church on your right), take a left onto Pleasant Street
• You will travel exactly 3/4 of a mile on Pleasant street before seeing our Red Farm Market – take a right into our parking lot
Here is their website: http://www.lookoutfarm.com/
Phone: 508–653–0653

I have been looking for hatched winter moth caterpillars, but have not found any yet. I expect to see them any day. For those growers with known winter moth infestations, an insecticide such as Imidan or Delegate (the new spinosad) should be applied now.

We’ve had green tissue exposed on apple trees for nearly one week. Orchards that had scab last year should be protected with a fungicide at this time. In the Hudson Valley, NY, apple scab ascospores are 35% mature and ready to be released with the next rain fall! I don’t know if we have similar conditions here – but we should be cautious!

These freezing temperatures we’ve been experiencing means you should wait to apply oil. Oil should only be applied if freezing temperatures aren’t expected for 2 days.

Hope to see you at Lookout Farm!

Heather