Kentucky Fruit Facts. Fruit Crop News John Strang, U.K. Extension Horticulturist and Matt Dixon, U.K. Ag Meteorologist

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1 Cooperative Extension Service University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Lexington KY November-December Newsletter Kentucky Fruit Facts John Strang, Extension Fruit Specialist, Editor Denise Stephens, Newsletter Designer Figure 1. Vole tunnels at the base of a dwarf apple tree. Fruit Crop News John Strang, U.K. Extension Horticulturist and Matt Dixon, U.K. Ag Meteorologist It has been a very mild exceptionally warm and dry fall, but we have finally had a killing frost. Many soils are still exceedingly dry and fruit crops particularly young trees will benefit from one last irrigation. The trees may have dropped their leaves, but the roots still need to have enough water to carry out the biochemical processes necessary for developing their winter hardiness. In September the USDA s National Agricultural Statistics Service released the U.S. apple crop forecast for 2016 as being 10.4 billion pounds. This is the 4th largest crop since 2000 and 4 percent above the 2015 crop. The pear crop is predicted to be 5 percent below the 2015 drop due mostly to the removal of acreage and the grape crop is up 2 percent from a year ago. This is the time of year to attend to vole control. We have noticed a number of vole tunnels in our Lexington orchard already. Vole populations have the potential to build rapidly and after a heavy frost, tree rootstock bark begins to look pretty good to them (Figure 1). Apple trees are the most susceptible to vole damage, but voles also feed on other fruit tree types as well as occasionally blueberries Inside this Issue: Fruit Crop News Upcoming Meetings Fruit & Nut Crop Summary Fruit & Vegetable Conference Meeting Outline Attention Fruit Growers - Has Spotted Wing Drosophila impacted you? Phomopsis Twig Blight & Stem Canker of Blueberry Fruit & Vegetable Conference Registration Form Receiving Fruit Facts on the Internet Figure 2. Vole damage to a young apple tree. and brambles. Vole damage may kill the plant (Figure 2), so it is important to watch your populations. The 2016 Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide edu/hla/hort/pages/sfg_sprayguide.aspx discusses commercial tree fruit control options on page 66. It is still not to early/late to apply a fungicide spray for peach leaf curl. This spray needs to be applied before peach buds begin to expand in the winter to be effective. Fungicides available are Bravo Weather Stick (other formulations and generics are also available), Ferbam, Ziram, and fixed coppers. The fixed coppers may also reduce overwintering bacteria that cause bacterial canker and bacterial spot. If you have a problem getting pre-emergence herbicides down early enough in the spring because of a heavy work load and tree prunings in the way, you might consider putting herbicides down this fall. It is also time to winterize your sprayer and blow water out of drip irrigation lines. Matt in the U.K AG Weather Center indicates that the three-month long range winter weather outlook is in flux. The predicted La Nina development for the fall appears to be fading making predictions difficult. Thus the state has an equal chance of temperatures being above or below normal and the same is true for eastern, southern and far western Kentucky with respect to precipitation. Northern and north west Kentucky appear to have the potential for above normal precipitation. This will be the last Fruit Facts issue for HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Educational programs of the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service serve all people regardless of race, color, age, sex, religion, disability, or national origin. University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture, Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service Kentucky State University

2 Upcoming Meetings (All meetings are Eastern time unless specified.) Dec. 5. North American Berry Conference (A joint meeting of the North American Strawberry Growers Association and North American Raspberry & Blackberry Association) is a preconference event of the Great Lakes Fruit and Vegetable and Farm Market EXPO - Devos Place Conference Center and The Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI. See Dec. 6-8 Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market EXPO Devos Place Conference Center and The Amway Grand Plaza Hotel, Grand Rapids, MI. See for registration and the conference brochure. Jan Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference Embassy Suites Hotel, Lexington, KY. Contact John Strang ; jstrang@uky. edu Program follows. Jan Indiana Hort Congress Indianapolis Marriott East Hotel, 7202 East 21st Street, Indianapolis, IN See for program and online registration. Jan Illinois Specialty Crops, Agritourism, and Organics Conference Crown Plaza Hotel, Springfield, Il. See for program registration form and online registration. Jan. 24 Matted Row and Plasticulture Strawberry Production Adair County Extension Office, 409 Fairground St., Columbia, KY. 6:00 p.m. CT. Contact Jan Southern Sustainable Agriculture Working Group Conference Lexington Convention Center. Lexington, KY. See conference for program and registration information. Feb. 28 Fruit Tree Grafting Workshop Woodford County Extension Office, 184 Beasley Drive, Versailles, KY :00 p.m. Contact Fruit & Nut Crop Summary By John Strang, Shawn Wright, Patsy Wilson, Chris Smigell, Dwight Wolfe, Daniel Becker, Nicole Gauthier, and Ric Bessin The 2016 growing season in Kentucky was challenging as normal. The winter was very mild and temperatures did not drop below 0 F. Early season warm temperatures advanced floral development up to three weeks earlier than normal. On the mornings of April 3 and 10 temperatures dropped below freezing in many areas causing some frost injury, which did not substantially reduce crops for most growers, but a few had severe peach and apple losses. 2 Monthly precipitation averages for 2016 were below normal for January, April, September and October. February, May, July and August monthly averages were 1.3, 0.6, 3.5 and 1.4 inches above normal respectively. Overall since January the state is 0.5 inches above normal in total rainfall up until November 1. It was a wet season until late August and difficult to keep pesticides on plants, but then turned very dry. Monthly temperature averages were above normal for all but January and May. March and October temperatures were about 5.6 and 5.8 F above normal respectively. Fruit matured slightly early or at a normal date. In western Kentucky, Princeton had 29 days at or above 90 F compared to 19 last year, while Bowling Green experienced 9 days at or above 90 F compared to 21 last year. In central Kentucky Lexington recorded 8 days at or above 90 F as compared to 1 in In Jackson there were 2 days at or above 90 F. Japanese beetle populations were considerably higher this year in some areas because of the wet season and previous wet years. Many growers had problems with green June beetle fruit feeding. The brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is continuing to move westward and becoming more of a problem particularly in eastern Kentucky, Louisville and the Lexington areas. Spotted wing drosophila (SWD) was first trapped this year on May 19th about a week earlier than last year in Princeton, KY and confirmed across the state in all traps by July 1. Despite the early trap catch, SWD did not become a problem until mid-july as in the past two seasons. Fruit sales were very good for most growers. Apples Most Kentucky growers had full crops, but several growers experienced light to serious frost losses in April. Rainy conditions during pollination caused some fruit size reduction. Thinning was difficult because of persistent rainfall. Fruit color was less than average due to higher temperatures. High levels of cedar apple rust were observed on leaves and fruit where fungicide sprays were not maintained. Fire blight infection levels were high throughout the apple bloom period and resistance to Streptomycin was confirmed in one orchard. Frequent, heavy summer rains increased fruit rots, especially among early ripening varieties and those with extended spray programs where spray residue was washed off the fruit, leading to further potential reduction in crop. Frogeye leaf spot, Sooty blotch and fly speck and bitter rot, were very common. Oriental fruit moth remains a serious problem in some central Kentucky orchards. Codling moth levels fluctuated substantially between orchards. Pears European pears produced from 0 to a 50% crop while

3 Asian pears had a 5-100% crop depending on location. Fire blight inoculation levels were low because of cooler temperatures during bloom, but shoot infection levels were serious for some growers. Codling moth was at normal levels. BMSB damage levels were severe on Asian pears where this pest is established. Peaches & Plums The peach crop was excellent with the exception of a few isolated freeze incidents eliminating crops. In contrast to the previous season when cold winter temperatures and spring frosts severely reduced or eliminated the crop across much of the region, crop set was almost uniformly excessive. Vigorous crop thinning was necessary, which despite this activity was often still not enough to prevent an over-cropping situation. Several growers reported that it appeared that every flower developed into a fruit, that June drop did not seem to occur, and that they could not thin enough. Subsequently, harvested fruit size was smaller than expected. Frequent rains during ripening diluted the sugar and aromatic compounds in the harvested fruit, resulting in soft textures and watery flavor. Peach leaf curl levels were moderate. Bacterial spot and brown rot levels were high. The European plum crop was very variable, some growers had full crops while others had little or no crop. Pawpaws Pawpaws had between a 0 and 60% crop because of late spring frost. hybrid grapes produced 80% of a full crop. Vinifera grapes that survived the February 2014 extreme low temperature event are being retrained or growers have replaced them with hybrid cultivars. Most growers have had serious black rot, downy mildew, and or powdery mildew problems. Late season bunch rot, sour rot and botrytis were a problem, but overall fruit quality has been decent, particularly since dry conditions predominated in late August and September. Some vineyards experienced elevated bird pressure, especially on early ripening cultivars, possibly due to being caught off guard by the earlier than expected onset of ripening. Green June beetle populations and Japanese beetle populations were high in many vineyards. Grape root borer populations in vineyards above four years of age are on the increase. Blueberries Highbush and Southern highbush blueberries produced full crops. Mild weather during flowering provided excellent conditions for a high rate of flower pollination and subsequent fruit set. Berry size was good with leaf diseases and fruit rots being relatively minor. Loss from bird damage was spotty, with some areas experiencing higher pressure than others. Generally, where prevention was initiated too late or on later ripening cultivars. Phytophthora root rot was a severe problem with this spring s excessive rainfall. SWD does not seem to be much of a problem with blueberries. Strawberries Matted row strawberries produced about % crop due to frost and fruit rots, while plasticulture strawberries produced a 90% crop due to wet weather during harvest. Elevated temperatures early in the spring advanced bloom and some plasticulture fields experienced misshapen fruit from poor pollination or frost injury during a cool period in early to mid-april. The farm-toschool marketing program was a good one for plasticulture growers. SWD was found in a few strawberries at the very end of the season in southern Kentucky. Brambles Thorny and thornless blackberries produced full crops. Green June beetle and Japanese beetle feeding were significant. SWD was a problem in semi erect and primocane fruiting blackberries. The spring raspberry crop was normal. Fall bearing raspberries also produced mostly full crops, but dry weather and SWD were a serious late season problem. Systemic orange rust and Rosette were at normal levels. Grapes The 2016 harvest was reduced by spring frost and excessive rain and disease. American and interspecific 3 Nut Crops Nut crop production was mainly affected by wet spring weather. Since these crops are wind pollinated, rain reduced pollination. Thus, crops varied considerably from one area of the state to another. The wet weather also contributed to disease pressure, particularly Anthracnose which caused severe leaf drop in susceptible black walnut trees and scab which infected nut shucks and reduced nut fill in less resistant pecans. Figure Fruit & Nut Crop Production Percentages Fruit Percent of Full Crop Range (%) Tree Fruit Apples Pawpaws Peaches Pears, Asian Pears, European Plums, European Small Fruit Blackberries, thorny 100.

4 Fruit Percent of Fruit CropP Blackberries, thornless 100 Blueberries 100 Grapes, American & 80 hybrid Grapes, vinifera 0 Raspberries, fall 80 Raspberries, spring 90 Strawberries, matted row Strawberries, plasticulture Range (%) Nuts Chestnuts Heartnuts Hickory, Shagbark Hickory, Shellbark Hicans Pecans Walnuts, Black Walnuts, Persian Kentucky Fruit & Vegetable Conference January 9-10, 2017 Monday and Tuesday Embassy Suites Hotel 1801 Newtown Pike Lexington, Kentucky (859) FAX (859) Reservations: 800-EMBASSY The full program may be found online at: Dear Fruit and Vegetable Growers: The 2017 Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference will again be at the Embassy Suites Hotel, Lexington, KY, Monday and Tuesday, January 9 and 10, Highlights of this year s meeting will be a pre-conference Plasticulture Strawberry Short Course and Vegetable, Tree and Small Fruit Round Table Discussions. During the conference there will be sessions on Farmers Markets, Commercial Fruit and Vegetable Production, Greenhouse and High Tunnel Production, Small Fruit Production, Organic Production, the Grape and Wine Short Course, Wholesale Marketing, Food Safety and a What to Think About Before You Plant Workshop. We have many excellent out-of-state speakers this year including: Bradley Beam, Enology Specialist, Illinois 4 Grape Growers and Vintners Association, Springfield, IL; Brad Bergefurd, Extension Horticulturist, The Ohio State University; Brenda and Keegan Hash, High Tunnel Growers, Hardinsburg, IN; Dr. David Lockwood, Extension Fruit Specialist, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN; Paul Mock, Mock s Greenhouse and Farm, Berkeley Springs WV; and Carl Sams, Fruit & Vegetable Teaching and Research University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN There will be an optional Commissioner Cup Wine Tasting Monday evening. We will also have Exhibitor/ Grower and Conference Luncheons featuring Kentucky Proud products. A Trading Post bulletin board will be available to sell used equipment. If you are looking for equipment buyers, bring along a description containing your name, phone number and the equipment price. PLEASE make your room reservations directly with the hotel at Our block of rooms will be held until Dec. 30, After this, room prices will be higher. Be sure to let the hotel know that you will be staying for the Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference by calling to obtain our special suite room rate for a single or double (they are all suites) of $ If you are told that the block of rooms at our conference rate is full on or before Dec. 30, please call Amy Stamper at Embassy Suites ( ) only to increase the number of rooms that we have blocked. The room cost includes an evening managers reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with drinks and a full cooked-to-order breakfast daily. We encourage growers to stay at Embassy Suites Hotel to help cover meeting overhead expenses. Note: if the hotel parking lot is full, meeting attendees may park along Aristides Street in front of the hotel. The $40 meeting registration fee includes a year s membership in the KVGA, KSHS or OAK and entrance into the Grape & Wine Short Course. The attached pre-registration form enables you to preregister so your tickets and name tag will be ready for you when you arrive at the meeting. NOTE: WE STRONGLY URGE YOU TO PRE-REGISTER. LUNCHEON TICKETS MAY NOT BE AVAILABLE AT THE REGISTRATION DESK. NAME BADGES WILL BE REQUIRED TO ENTER MEETING ROOMS. PRE-REGISTRATION FORMS NEED TO BE IN OUR HANDS BY FRIDAY DECEMBER 16, Phone registrations will not be accepted. Participants that do not pre-register may register at the door. If you would like to serve on the KVGA or KSHS boards of directors or would like to nominate another member, please designate this on your registration sheet. If circumstances are such that you cannot attend the meeting, and you would like to remain a member of the KVGA, KSHS, or OAK, please complete and return the form with a check to Ms. Mary Ann Kelley, Research & Education Center, P.O. Box 469, Princeton, KY to

5 continue your association membership. Sincerely, Joel Wilson, President KY Vegetable Growers Association Dana Reed, President KY State Horticultural Society Meeting Outline SUNDAY, JANUARY 8 PRE-CONFERENCE SESSIONS PLASTICULTURE STRAWBERRY SHORT COURSE (Coldstream 4) 1:30 p.m. The Basics of Plasticulture Strawberry Production 2:00 p.m. Continued 2:30 p.m. Break 3:10 p.m. High Tunnel Strawberry Production in Eastern Kentucky 3:40 p.m. How to Make A Spray Schedule 4:10 p.m. Kentucky Strawberry Assoc. Meeting and Round Table Discussion 6:30-7:30 p.m. Vegetable Round Table Discussion (Coldstream 5) 7:30-8:30 p.m. Tree & Small Fruit Round Table Discussion (Coldstream 4) MONDAY, JANUARY 9 8:00 a.m. Exhibits and Registration Desk Open KSHS - KVGA JOINT SESSION (Coldstream 3) 8:45 a.m. Welcome 8:55 a.m. Horticulture Department Update 9:00 a.m. Horticulture Council Update 9:15 a.m. Kentucky State University Update 9:30 a.m. Kentucky Department of Agriculture Update 9:40 a.m. Growing and Marketing Vegetables for 12 Months 10:05 a.m. Greenhouse/High Tunnel Hydroponic Pesticide Free Vegetable, Berry and Herb Production in WV 10:40 a.m. Cider/Coffee Break and Visit Exhibits - 11:10 a.m. New Technologies: Drones, Sat Maps & Field Mapping 11:40 a.m. Produce Safety Certificates 11:50 a.m. Farm Service Agency Update GRAPE & WINE SHORT COURSE (Coldstream 4) 8:50 a.m. Welcome 9:00 a.m. Craft Beer Narratives 9:30 a.m. Subconscious and Conscious Marketing Through Bottle Shape and Label 10:00 a.m. How Glass Bottles are Made 10:30 a.m. Cider/Coffee Break and Visit Exhibits - 11:00 a.m. Addressing Common Wine Flaws and Faults 11:30: Continued ORGANIC ASSOCIATION OF KENTUCKY ANNUAL MEETING (Fayette Room) 11:00 a.m. Organic Association of Kentucky Annual Meeting 12:00 p.m. EXHIBITOR/GROWER LUNCHEON - Coldstream 1 & 2 Rooms 12:00 p.m. KVGA, KSHS, KWA BOARD MEETINGS MONDAY AFTERNOON, JANUARY 9 CONCURRENT SESSIONS FARMERS MARKETS (Coldstream 1 & 2) 1:30 p.m. Farmers Market for the Health of It 2:00 p.m. Food Sampling at the Farmers Market 3:10 p.m. Nutritional Programs Update 3:40 p.m. CFA s 2016 Farmers Market Support Program and What to Expect in :10 p.m. Selling Flowers at the Farmers Market VEGETABLE PRODUCTION (Coldstream 3) 1:30 p.m. Growing Giant Pumpkins and Watermelons 2:00 p.m. Vegetable Grafting 3:10 p.m. Vegetable Cultivar Trial Results (Fall Broccoli, Supersweet Corn, Muskmelon and Watermelon) 4:10 p.m. How Much is Too Much Phosphorus 4:40 p.m. Marketing Your Business with Excel Farm GRAPE & WINE SHORT COURSE (Coldstream 4) 1:30 p.m. Hard Cider Production Method Basics 2:00 p.m. Cryoextraction of Apples for Hard Cider Production 3:10 p.m. Tasting of Hard Ciders Produced at 5

6 UKHRF 3:40 p.m. Producing Award Winning Kentucky Wines - Roundtable Discussion with Commissioner s Cup Award Winners 4:10 p.m. Continued 4:40 p.m. KY Wine Industry Update TREE FRUIT PRODUCTION (Coldstream 5) 1:30 p.m. Antibiotic Resistance 2:00 p.m. The Managed Pollinator Protection Plan for Kentucky 3:10 p.m. Apple Fruit Rots 3:40 p.m. Biofumigation in Strawberries and Tree Fruit 4:10 p.m. Fruit Abiotic Disorders 4:40 p.m. Horticulture in Transylvania MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 9 5:00 p.m. Exhibits Close 6:00-7:30 p.m. COMMISSIONER CUP WINE TASTING (Coldstream 1 & 2) A Toast to The Gold Medal Winners TUESDAY MORNING, JANUARY 10 8:00 a.m. Exhibits Open - Pre-Function and Lower Atrium Areas 8:00 a.m. Registration - Pre-Function Area outside meeting rooms CONCURRENT SESSIONS ORGANIC PRODUCTION (Coldstream 1 & 2) 8:30 a.m. OAK Transition Trainers Program 9:00 a.m. Growing Organic Blueberries 9:30 a.m. Organic Soil Management 10:00 a.m. Cider/Coffee Break and Visit Exhibits - 10:40 a.m. Organic Production in Nepal VEGETABLE PRODUCTION (Coldstream 3) 8:30 a.m. KVGA Annual Business Meeting, Produce Auction Needs & Food Safety 9:00 a.m. New Vegetable Grower Experiences 9:30 a.m. Pumpkin Varieties and the Southern Ohio Pumpkin Growers Cooperative 10:00 a.m. Cider/Coffee Break and Visit Exhibits - 10:40 a.m. Deer, Raccoon and Coyote Control 11:10 a.m. Downy Mildew on Cucurbits GRAPE & WINE SHORT COURSE (Coldstream 4) 9:00 a.m. Developing an Effective Vineyard Pest Spray Program 9:30 a.m. Continued 10:00 a.m. Cider/Coffee Break and Visit Exhibits - 10:40 a.m. Effective Spray Programs for Multiple Cultivar Plantings 11:10 a.m. Identifying Understanding, and Preventing Late Season Bunch Rots TREE FRUIT (Coldstream 5) 8:30 a.m. Strategies for Designing Spray Programs for Peaches 9:00 a.m. Controlling Problem Orchard Weeds 9:30 a.m. The Intelligent Sprayer and Saving on Pesticide Costs 10:00 a.m. Cider/Coffee Break and Visit Exhibits - 10:40 a.m. Pawpaw Production 11:10 a.m. KSHS Annual Business Meeting WHOLESALE MARKETING (Fayette Room) 8:30 a.m. Meet the Buyers: What Supermarket, Retail, and Wholesale Buyers are Looking for in Informal meetings between producers, wholesalers and restaurateurs. 9:00 a.m. Continued 9:30 a.m. Continued 10:00 a.m. Cider/Coffee Break and Visit Exhibits- Pre- Function and Lower Atrium Areas 10:40 a.m. Farm Food Safety: Low Cost Solutions and On-farm Assistance 11:45 a.m. CONFERENCE LUNCHEON (Coldstream 1 & 2) 12:00 noon KGWC BOARD MEETING TUESDAY AFTERNOON, JANUARY 10 FOOD SAFETY (Coldstream 1 & 2 Rooms) 1:30 p.m. Produce Safety Programs 2:00 p.m. Food Systems Innovation Center 3:10 p.m. GAP, FSMA, Produce Safety Certificates, OH MY! 3:40 p.m. Third Party Audits: A USDA GAP Auditor Perspective 4:10 p.m. Panel Discussion 6

7 GREENHOUSE AND HIGH TUNNEL PRODUCTION (Coldstream 3) 1:30 p.m. Grower Experiences with High Tunnels 2:00 p.m. Converting to Soilless Culture to Solve Problems 3:10 p.m. Biological Control of Arthropod Pests in Greenhouses and High Tunnels 3:40 p.m. Aquaponics Potential Figure 4. Directional Map to Embasssy Suites GRAPE AND WINE SHORT COURSE (Coldstream 4) 1:30 p.m. Maintaining Productivity of Mature Vineyards 2:00 p.m. Improving Early Productivity: Vine Establishment 3:10 p.m. State of the Industry 3:40 p.m. Roundtable Grower Discussion 4:10 p.m. Continued SMALL FRUIT PRODUCTION (Coldstream 5) 1:30 p.m. Small Fruit Farm-to-School Marketing 2:00 p.m. Roadside Signs, Research: What Works the Best 3:10 p.m. Blueberry Potting Media 3:40 p.m. Primocane Fruiting Blackberry Production 4:10 p.m. Matted Row Strawberry Production and Variety Trial Results CENTER FOR CROP DIVERSIFICATION WORKSHOP: (Fayette Room) 1:30 p.m. What to Think About Before You Plant Tim Woods 2:30 p.m. Cider/Coffee Break and Visit Exhibits- Pre- Function and Lower Atrium Areas 3:10 p.m. Grower Buyer Panel 4:40 p.m. Adjourn 7 Attention Fruit Growers - Has Spotted Wing Drosophila impacted you? If you grow fruit in Kentucky, we would like to know if you have been impacted by the spotted wing drosophila (SWD). We would also like to know if you used the Facebook page SWDinKY or if you used traps to monitor for SWD. To collect this information we have created a short survey. It is only 8 questions and should take 5 minutes or less to complete. Your responses are anonymous. No information about you or information from your computer will be collected. If you grow fruit in Kentucky, please take the survey now at SE/?SID=SV_9uGz6qsIFS9OqHz The survey results will be used for reports and to improve SWD programs. If you have questions concerning this survey contact rbessin@uky.edu or plucas@uky.edu. Survey will be available till December 31.

8 Phomopsis Twig Blight & Stem Canker of Blueberry By Kim Leonberger, Extension Associate and Nicole Ward Gauthier, Extension Specialist Phomopsis twig blight and stem canker is becoming more common in Kentucky blueberry. Stressed plants are more susceptible to this disease, and reports are often associated with fields that have a history of Phytophthora root rot or severe abiotic disorder such as high ph. Phomopsis Disease Facts Symptoms first appear in spring as blighted twigs that result in flower bud loss (Figure 5). Necrotic, reddish-brown lesions may develop around blighted areas and spread downward. Wilting and flagging is observed as stems die (Figure 6). Girdling cankers can often be observed lower on stems. Leaf spots can also occur on foliage, and fruit may ripen prematurely or rot. Disease is favored by warm, moist periods. Plants damaged by freezing temperatures or stressed by poor planting sites are more susceptible to disease. Caused by the fungus Phomopsis vaccinii. The pathogen survives winter in dead or infected twigs. Prune out infected twigs by cutting a minimum of 6 inches below infected tissue. Discard cuttings; never leave them in the field. Avoid planting sites prone to frosts. Maintain plant health with proper fertilization, irrigation, and weed management. Avoid wounding stems. Fungicides may be applied preventatively (before infection) beginning at bud break and continuing through full bloom for plantings with high infection risk. Homeowners may use fungicides that contain the active ingredients captan or propiconazole. Contact a county Extension agent for more information on fungicide use. Fungicides do not cure Phomopsis tip blight. Additional Information Backyard Berry Disease &Pest Management Using Cultural Practices (with Low Spray, No Spray, & Organic Options) (PPFS-FR-S-25) Blueberry Diseases (PPFS-FR-S-10) Commercial Fruit Pest Management Guide (ID-232) Disease and Insect Control Programs for Homegrown Fruit in Kentucky (ID-21) Fruit, Orchard, and Vineyard Sanitation (PPFS- GEN-05) Midwest Blueberry Production Guide (ID-210) FRUIT HUMOR Figure 5: Symptoms first appear as blighted twigs. (Photo: Annemiek Schilder, Michigan State University) How do you make an Apple Turnover? Push it down hill! Figure 6: Infected plants exhibit wilting and flagging as stems die. (Photo: Mary Ann Hansen, VPI, Bugwood.org) Management Options Select resistant cultivars such as Elliott 8

9 KENTUCKY FRUIT AND VEGETABLE CONFERENCE Embassy Suites Hotel, Lexington KY -- January 9-10, 2017 Mark one: ADVANCE REGISTRATION I am not able to attend--continue my membership(s) as listed below. NAME(S) for name tag (Please print) ADDRESS CITY, STATE ZIP PHONE: ( ) OCCUPATION/FIRM FAX: ( ) PLEASE LIST NAME(S) OF ADDITIONAL REGISTRANTS: I would like to be considered for nomination or recommend for the KSHS or KVGA Board of Directors. Complimentary registration for County Extension Agents, University Students, and children under 15 years of age accompanying an adult. ** A $40 per person registration allows entrance into any conference meeting session. One year membership plus meeting registration. $40 PER PERSON Kentucky State Horticultural Society Number attending $ Kentucky Vegetable Growers Association Number attending $ Organic Association of Kentucky Number attending $ Grape & Wine Short Course Number attending $ Register for the Commissioner Cup Wine Tasting, Jan. 9, 2017 / 6:00-7:30 PM Number attending x $20 each = TOTAL $ EXHIBITOR/GROWER LUNCHEON -- January 9, 2017 / 12:00 PM Noon EST MENU: Will include locally produced Kentucky Proud Products. Meal prices include meal, tax and tips. Number attending x $27 each = TOTAL $ CONFERENCE LUNCHEON - January 10, 2017 / 11:45 a.m. EST Number attending x $30 each = TOTAL $ MENU: Will include locally produced Kentucky Proud Products Please make CHECKS payable to: KENTUCKY VEGETABLES GROWERS ASSN. CHECK # CHECK AMT $ CASH AMT $ TOTAL PAID $ Mail advance registration to: Mary Ann Kelley, Research & Education Center, PO Box 469, Princeton, KY Phone: x 216; Fax: Dr. John Strang, Coordinator ADVANCE REGISTRATION MUST BE RECEIVED BY FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2016 Participants may also register at the conference. 9

10 Receiving Fruit Facts on the Internet By subscribing to the notification service you will receive an announcement when each new issue is posted on the web with a link. You should receive confirmation by return . If you have a problem, or if you wish to communicate with a person about fruitfacts, the owner s address (the TO: line of the message) is: owner-ky-fruitfacts@lsv.uky.edu To subscribe, send an message: TO: SUBJECT: MESSAGE: listserv@lsv.uky.edu Fruit Facts subscribe KY-FRUITFACTS Followed by a blank line OR to unsubscribe, the lines: signoff KY-FRUITFACTS Followed by a blank line Cooperative Extension Service University of Kentucky Horticulture Department N-318 Ag. Science Ctr. No. Lexington KY