Orchard Management

Over 40 top fruit growers attended a recent workshop organised by, CAFRE at the Agrifood and Biosciences Institute (AFBI), Loughgall.  The growers took the opportunity to review management of the 2009 crop with the aim of producing quality fruit. This is of particular relevance in the current year, since pollination was limited by the poor spring weather, so the region’s Bramley’s Seedling apple yield will be lower than average.

Scab is one of the most damaging pathogens to affect an orchard, destroying fruit quality and weakening blossom bud development for the following season’s bloom.

Graeme Cross, CAFRE’s Top Fruit Development Adviser told growers there were eleven ascospore scab infection periods, spanning twenty two days recorded at AFBI. This exceptional level of disease pressure was a challenge for all growers.  Many growers were keen to discuss the strategies available to them where apple scab continues to threaten fruit and foliage. Graeme said “The cycle of secondary scab infection will continue if wet weather is prevalent through the summer months.  In such circumstances, protection programmes are essential, to prevent disease spread and loss of fruit quality.”

During the workshop growers were also updated on the cumulative yield figures for the Greenmount High Density technology project which was planted in 2000. This project has proved a valuable technology demonstration and has been adopted by a high proportion of top fruit businesses.

Technical information from this event, along with other aspects of commercial top fruit production, can be accessed through the fruit production pages of the DARD Rural Portal website at www.ruralni.gov.uk or contact Graeme Cross on 028 3751 5638 or email graeme.cross@dardni.gov.uk.

David Allen, Liskyborough, Richhill and Terry Morgan, Red Lion, Kilmore viewing the high density orchard at AFBI, Loughgall at the recent workshop organised by CAFRE.