New York's Apple Crop Average in Size, Excellent in Quality

New York really is the Big Apple and the state’s apple growers are now demonstrating why, as pickers statewide begin harvesting a forecasted 28 million cartons – or 1.1 billion pounds – of apples over the coming weeks. 

The 2017 crop forecast was developed at U.S. Apple Association’s Crop Outlook and Marketing Conference Aug. 24-25, and updates U.S. Department of Agriculture’s July forecast, states officials with the New York Apple Association.

The association is planning a full court press to get the word out about this year’s crop to wholesale, institutional and consumer customers alike, said apple association President Cynthia Haskins.

The association reports that while New York’s 2017 apple crop will be of average size for the state, the crop size is about the only thing that will be average this year. 

The state has generally had favorable weather for bloom and during the growing season, so apple fans – wholesale and consumer alike – will find ample supplies of all their favorite New York state apples and cider this fall. Fruit size and finish are expected to be good.

“New York state grows more apples than any other state east of the Mississippi River, our state is made for growing apples,” said Haskins. “There is no reason for New Yorkers and other East Coast buyers to look any further than their own back yard for great tasting apples and apple cider.”

The apple association is also reaching out to New York consumers to encourage New Yorkers to buy local apples and cider. 

The association is highlighting the broad range of apple tourism opportunities that are available across the state, where apples are grown from the lower Hudson Valley to the upper Adirondacks, and to the west.

“Our consumer marketing is designed to complement our retail activities, by driving demand and traffic to mass-market retailers as well as to our industry’s own direct marketers,” noted Haskins.

There are many ways for New Yorkers to sample the New York state apple industry’s wares and support local apple growers at the same time, from family-friendly apple picking day trips to whole weeks dedicated to adults-only hard cider tasting.

The association’s website, www.NYAppleCountry.com is designed to help consumers find a farm market, “u pick”, cider maker or apple festival nearby, with a handy locator map located front and center on the website’s home page. 

To learn more about New York’s cider industry, consumers should visit www.NYCider.com this link.

To learn more about the New York Apple Association as well as the New York state apple industry and its wares, go to www.NYAppleCountry.com this link. 

Tiny Parasite Wreaks Havoc on New York Bee Supply

A column from state Sen. Patty Ritchie:

Bees, both wild and managed, play a key role in our state’s agriculture industry, helping crops of all kinds thrive.  

However, these powerful pollinators are under attack by parasitic mites.

The varroa mite – a tiny parasite that attacks honeybees – has infected 90 percent of the bee colonies surveyed this year. As a result, agriculture could see up to $500 million in potential losses. The top crops that are dependent on healthy and abundant pollinators are apples, pumpkins and tomatoes. 

In addition, managed bee colonies in Upstate New York have lost up to 70 percent of their bees over the last few years because of disease, pesticides and loss of habitat, according to a recent state study. Once the mites take hold, potentially deadly viruses spread throughout the colony, which could wipe the colony out.   

Experts say that it’s becoming increasingly difficult to keep this mite from spreading. The varroa mite thrives off weakened bee colonies and when one colony dies, nearby hives will take honey from the weakened bees, which causes the mites to spread at a rapid rate.

The destruction of bee colonies is starting to reach alarming levels. In an effort to combat this problem, I’m pleased to have been able to secure $290,000 over the past two years in state funding for various programs at Cornell University, aimed at conducting vital research and disease testing to protect our state’s bee population.  

As chair of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I will continue to work to support programs and spearhead initiatives designed to preserve our state’s pollinators and help keep this key sector of the state’s economy “buzzing” for years to come.

2 Join New York Apples Sales Inc.

Allen

Jim Allen and Matt Wells have joined New York Apple Sales Inc. 

Allen, who served for 17 years as president and chief executive officer of the New York Apple Association, becomes New York Apple Sales' vice president of marketing.

Wells, previously a procurement manager for Dr Pepper Snapple Group, team leader of Cornell’s Lake Ontario fruit team, and orchard supervisor for Maple Ridge Fruit Farm, will be director of field services.

“Jim Allen’s extensive experience in all aspects of the produce industry will be a great plus for us,” says Kaari Stannard, president and owner of New York Apple Sales.

“Along with his tenure at the Apple Association, he was in produce sales for 16 years, so he knows this business inside and out," Stannard said. "Matt Wells brings the ideal background to our business. He grew up in a family fruit business, worked at Cornell, has been out in the field, and understands the procurement and sales processes completely.”

Allen recently retired from his role at the state’s Apple Association. He received multiple awards during his presidency of the organization, including Packer Apple Person of the Year, United Fresh Produce Advocate of the Year, US Apple Association Apple Champion, and several others. 

Allen says he’s excited to be working with the experienced professionals at New York Apples Sales.

“This is a company focused on quality, innovation, and growth,” he notes. “Think of the way NYAS has teamed with suppliers in New Zealand and Nova Scotia to bring fresh and new apple varieties to the states as just one example. I’m thrilled to be able to help take this company even further.” 

Allen will focus on retail promotion, public relations, managed varieties, and government relations, in addition to other marketing efforts in his new role at New York Apple Sales.

Wells

Along with his deep experience as an orchard supervisor and procurement manager, Wells most recently served as a business management specialist for Cornell Cooperative Extension, helping to educate fruit growers on production economics. 

In his new role as director of field services, he will focus on food safety and quality assurance. “I’m excited to work for a company that is a leader in the industry and is growing,” says Wells.  “I love to work ‘in the field’ and look forward to working with our grower partners.”
 

 New York Apple Sales, Inc., is the state’s largest and most diverse apple sales agency, with headquarters in Glenmont, Albany County. The company teams with multiple growers and packing facilities throughout New York state – located in all the major growing regions – to deliver the best selection, competitive pricing, and superior fruit all year long. 

Apple Freeze Probability

Here's something cool from Cornell University.

It helps predict temperature changes so one can predict damage to items like fruit or take precautions so fruit isn't damaged.

Go to http://climatesmartfarming.org/tools/csf-apple-freeze-probability/ to check it out.

Insights into the GMO Fruit Called Arctic Apple

Great column.

This is what I've been saying about GMO foods for years. So many people think the foods are played with like Frankenstein's monster. But they're not.

Go to http://www.agdaily.com/insights/farm-babe-new-arctic-apple-positively-change-publics-perception-gmos/ this link to read the story.

Research Study Uses Integrated Pest Management in Apple Orchards

From the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program

As the 2016 apple harvest nears completion, researchers with money from the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program are eager to see if growers have been able to reap a second year of benefits from application of a precision management process to reduce the impact and cost of orchard insect pests.
 
The protocol provided excellent control of economically-significant apple pests, with an average of 96 percent clean fruit at harvest plus time and money saved by reducing the pest control applications required in 2015.
 
“Changes in the landscape of northern New York apple orchards over the past decade have influenced which insects have become the key economically-significant pests of the apple industry in the region that includes Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties,” said Anna Wallis of the Cornell Cooperative Extension Eastern New York Commercial Horticulture Program. 

Wallis served as project co-leader with Cornell University Entomologist Arthur Agnello.
 
Five Northern New York apple growers assisted the research. The early results of this farmer-driven Northern New York Agricultural Development Program project were requested for grower meetings in Vermont and Virginia. 

The complete report is posted at www.nnyagdev.org. The 2016 results of this research will be available in the spring of 2017.
 
The changes impacting orchard management in the region include the predominant choice of apple rootstocks planted, implementation of new training systems, restrictions on what spray applications are available for pest management, changes in climatic conditions and the introduction of new pests through global trade.
 
Five Northern New York apple growers participating in the project following the protocol that uses trapping and scouting to identify which insect pests are present in an orchard block and at what level. The scouting effort was especially alert to codling moth, oriental fruit moth, obliquebanded leafroller, apple maggot, mites, aphids and scales. 
 
When pests reach an economic damage threshold level, a specific insecticide application is precisely timed based on insect activity and computer models.
 
This comprehensive integrated pest management protocol was developed by Agnello and Cornell colleague Harvey Reissig in the 1990s. Due to changes over time, growers moved away from the protocol, but Wallis says, are now making good use of it once again, integrating a variety of management strategies, including chemical, cultural, biological and mechanical.
 
The protocol was applied to orchard blocks, including blocks of the two most popular cultivars in Northern New York: Honeycrisp and McIntosh.
 
“The early work of this project demonstrated how well the IPM (integrated pest management) protocol can work and prompted growers to request field workshops so they could implement it more broadly in 2016. With each additional year of use, we are evaluating the opportunity for IPM use to be consistent under a variety of growing climate conditions as a long-term management option for apple growers in this region,” Wallis said.
 
The first-year report for the Identification and Grower Education of Key Pests in Apple Orchards in Northern New York project is online at www.nnyagdev.org. 

The report identifies key early, summer, and late season pests. For example, San Jose scale, not previously identified in the participating orchards in NNY, is increasingly becoming a problem.
 
The report also measures fruit damage by the various pests, and the number and effectiveness of the integrated pest management applications.

The Northern New York Agricultural Development Program provides grants for on-farm research and technical assistance projects in Clinton, Essex, Franklin, Jefferson, Lewis and St. Lawrence counties. Funding for the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program is supported by the state Senate and administered through the state Department of Agriculture and Markets.

New York State Specialty Crops Receive Money for Research

From state DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE AND MARKETS
 
Projects in the state looking at apples, Christmas trees, kale, onions, mushrooms and garlic have been awarded money through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program.
 
State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball announced the awards Nov. 1 totaling nearly $1.1 million for eight projects to strengthen New York agriculture through research, protection and promotion of the state’s specialty crops.
 
Projects are:
 
** $99,801 to test new kale varieties both in the field and at the market. The project will conduct on-farm evaluation trials, as well as consumer taste tests.  The successful varieties will create new opportunities for specialty crop producers and tasty new choices for consumers.
 
** $99,962 to better understand the cause of Stemphyium Leaf Blight (SLB) in onions. SLB, which has emerged in recent years, is reducing the yield and harvest quality of onions. The research will identify SLB resistant varieties and the best agronomic practices for integrated management of this disease.
 
** $98,429 to develop a standard test for moisture content and freshness of real fir trees. This test will help wholesalers and retailers ensure they are providing fresh cut trees to holiday shoppers. The project is led by the Christmas Tree Farmers Association of NY in partnership with the SUNY College of Environmental Sciences and Forestry in Syracuse.
 
** $95,507 to build predictive models that will allow growers to understand which of their McIntosh, Cortland, Red Delicious and Ruby Frost apples are most likely to develop superficial scald, which causes dark spots on the skin of the fruit. The models will also help growers identify which apples are likely to store well. The research will examine the use of dynamic controlled atmosphere to support long term storage of apples without chemical treatment.
 
** $77,939 to partner with the Cornell Small Farms Program for the development of training and business planning tools for log-grown shiitake mushroom farmers. The project, which has a goal of helping 36 new farmers develop and implement woodland mushroom production, will include one-on-one business mentoring from experienced growers as well as a full market assessment report for the product in five regions of the state.
 
** $75,841 to learn how to help New York garlic growers avoid costly Fusarium diseases in our typically wet and cold climate. Research will be paired with education and outreach to expand general knowledge of field-based disease identification and best-management practices; sources of disease inoculum; and cultural practices which can reduce field-based disease severity.
 
In addition, the Department of Agriculture and Markets will implement two statewide initiatives that will benefit the specialty crop industry throughout the state.
 
These projects are designed to evaluate water testing hold times in preparation for the USDA’s Food Safety Modernization Act Produce Safety Rule and to increase the amount of locally-grown specialty crops served to students in New York schools through the state’s Farm-to-School program.
 
“Specialty crops are as important to the agricultural industry as they are to our health. These grants will help farmers overcome some of the critical challenges they face when growing these crops and allow for a stronger and safer food supply,” Ball said.
 
“By increasing our access to these healthy food options, we are also taking an important step to protecting the well-being of all New Yorkers,” he said.
 
Specialty crops include a variety of agricultural products, including fruits and vegetables, honey, herbs, shrubs and commercially-grown trees. 

Many of the specialty crops grown in New York rank highly in the nation in terms of production and economic value. New York ranks second in production of apples, maple syrup, cabbage and snap beans, third in grapes, and fourth in pears.
 
Together, these projects will provide innovative solutions to many of the challenges that effect the profitability of local farming operations. They will also create new opportunities for growers by enhancing the quality of several New York specialty crops and allowing consumers to enjoy them for a longer part of the season.
 
By utilizing these solutions, New York farmers will be able to better protect their crops, enhance and diversify their operations and remain competitive.
 
“The farmers on our review panels did an outstanding job selecting projects that will help New York growers bring to market a diverse range of foods that will connect with today’s consumers,” said Jim Bittner, Bittner-Singer Orchards and chair of the New York Farm Viability Institute.
 
“Whether improving the storage capability of apples, fighting diseases in garlic and onions, or increasing the availability of New York grown Shiitake mushrooms the outcomes of these projects will be a win for farmers and consumers.”
 
“Cornell’s research will continue to empower Empire State farmers to remain competitive and to provide New Yorkers with wholesome and safe foods to feed their families,” said Kathryn J. Boor, the Ronald P. Lynch Dean of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University. 

“From products that spice up our meals to those that spruce up our holidays, CALS is committed to connecting the people of New York State with New York State produce.”

State Kicks Off 2016 Big Apple Crunch

From the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets:

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball Thursday Oct. 20 joined the 2016 Big Apple Crunch in New York City, sponsored by the FarmOn! Foundation, an agriculture-focused non-profit supporting educational youth programming.  

The Big Apple Crunch is an annual event that celebrates New York state agriculture and promotes New York’s apple producers through food and nutrition education across the State.

Ball, joined by the commissioner of the state Department of Health and representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, FarmOn! Foundation and New York City SchoolFood, helped lead dozens of middle school students and staff from Public School 96 in taking a bite out of a New York state grown apple.  

The “crunch” followed an announcement of the expansion of the NY Thursdays program in schools across New York City.  NY Thursdays kicked off last year and features locally grown and produced foods on school menus. This year, the program has expanded to include New York State produced beef.

In addition to the event held at PS 96, dozens of Big Apple Crunch events were held throughout New York City and across the state. The New York Apple Association joined the NYC Food Policy Center at Hunter College for a Big Apple Crunch at La Marqueta.  

The event brought together hundreds of children to take part in fun and educational activities, and wrapped up with a record-breaking Big Apple Crunch. The event also featured activity centers with apple art, games, tastings and nutrition education led by East Harlem organizations and small businesses.

In Albany, the state Education Department Senior Deputy Commissioner Jhone Ebert and Assistant Commissioner for Student Support Services Renee Rider joined more than 50 staff members from the department's Office of Child Nutrition on the front steps of the State Education Building this morning for the Big Apple Crunch.  

They got into the spirit, simultaneously biting into locally grown, New York state apples to celebrate National Food Day and promote New York state food and farms.

Created through a partnership of GrowNYC and the NYC Office of Food Policy in 2012 and sponsored by the FarmOn! Foundation, the Big Apple Crunch originated as a way to celebrate National Food Day. 

In the first year of the event, about 400,000 New Yorkers bit into locally grown New York State apples at the same time in a universal call to action to raise awareness about supporting local agriculture. 

Since its inception, the annual Big Apple Crunch has expanded its reach, breaking a world record in 2015 with one million New Yorkers participating in the crunch.

This year, FarmOn! Foundation called on all New Yorkers to take the Big Apple Crunch Challenge and pledge to eat locally by participating in the Big Apple Crunch. 

For additional incentive to support the cause, crunchers who submit a #BigAppleCrunchChallenge video on social media can win $1,000 towards a FarmOn! Victory Garden, which will help bring fresh produce and educational opportunities to a school of their choosing.

Get In on The Big Apple Salad Challenge

From Empire Farm & Dairy:

NEW YORK APPLE ASSOCIATION
 
The New York Apple Association invites apple fans who want to eat more healthfully to take the Big Apple Salad Challenge this fall, by eating at least one salad a day that includes apples.
 

Fans who take the Big Apple Salad Challenge are invited to try New York Apple Association's salad recipes, and to send pictures of their own apple salads to New York Apple Association — the association will share fan photos on its website and Facebook page.
 
“Whatever your health goal – eating cleaner, feeling better, losing weight – salads are a deliciously easy way to eat better without sacrificing flavor or satisfaction,” said association registered dietitian Linda Quinn said. “Apples add crunch, texture and flavor – as well as nutrients and fiber-related fullness – to any salad. Plus, apple cider and cider vinegar make great salad dressings!”
 
Quinn has developed a number of apple salad recipes to help apple fans get started on the Big Apple Salad Challenge, including:
 
• New York Apple Slaw with Sweet and Sour Cider Dressing – NYAA’s Facebook fans picked this recipe for Quinn to prepare during a demonstration at the Great New York State Fair last month
• New York Apple-cado Salad, a fruity, crunchy twist on traditional guacamole
• New York Apple Seasonal Salad, with kale, quinoa and dried cranberries in a cider vinaigrette dressing
• For the guys who grill, New York Grilled Apple Salad with a tangy cider mustard vinaigrette dressing
• New York Apple BYO Salad with Apple Cider Drizzle – build your own salad with what’s in your fridge!
 
“Eating clean means eating more of the best, healthiest foods – and less of the not-so-healthy ones. It means eating whole foods, close to their source,” Quinn said. “Eating clean doesn’t just make you feel better about the food you’re eating, it actually makes you feel better.”
 
Send New York Apple Association your favorite salad recipe or salad photo by Oct. 31, and you will also be entered in the Big Apple Salad Sweepstakes – you could win one of three $500 Visa gift cards in a random drawing.
 
New York Apple Association will share sweepstakes winners’ photos after the sweepstakes has concluded. (You can also simply fill out and submit the sweepstakes entry form – no purchase, photo or recipe is necessary.)
 
To learn more about the Big Apple Salad Challenge, to find salad recipes and to enter the sweepstakes, visit www.nyapplecountry.com and click on the link at the top of the home page.

Apples Smaller, But Sweeter This Year Due to Drought

From Empire Farm & Dairy magazine:

By DEBRA J. GROOM
dgroom@wdt.net
 

Some New York state apples

It’s a wonder there’s any type of apple crop in New York state this year.
 
All sorts of calamities have hit this growing season, from early bud to late frost to no rain.
 
But still, somehow, the apples survived, grew and this season, New York is seeing a “great” apple harvest.
 
“By the time this crop gets off the trees and to market, all New York state apple fans are going to see is ‘great’ — great variety, great quality and great flavor,” said Jim Allen, president of the New York Apple Association.
 
Allen said that despite early budding of trees throughout the state, a late frost and hail hitting some areas, the state’s apple producers still will pick about 30 million cartons of fruit this year. This is down from the 32 million picked last year, but still above the state’s average crop of 28.6 million cartons over the last five years.
 
A check around the state shows a hit and miss on varieties and what growers have been able to harvest.
 
In Central New York, early varieties like Paula Red are OK, but some later varieties have been nearly wiped out.
 
At Adam’s Acres, a certified organic orchard in Jamesville, Onondaga County, this is the dire note on the business’s website:
 

New York snapdragon apples

“This year’s crop is the worst we have had. The spring winter weather killed most of our apple buds. Then the drought caused the limited fruit to be small. Also last week’s storms destroyed about 200 of our trees. The end result is we lost our early varieties. We will not be in full operations until mid-September. And we will have little or no Honeycrisp this year!”
 
Others echo this sad tale.
 
James Sims at Owen Orchards in Sennett, Cayuga County, said they lost from 50 to 60 percent of their crop due to the early frost.
 
“It was just 3 to 4 degrees too cold right after budding,” Sims said. “And we’ve got no peaches this year. They were frozen.”
 
Another orchard seeing the bad effects of Mother Nature this year is O’Neill’s Orchard in LaFayette, Onondaga County. This is the note from its website: “A warm winter resulted in an early bud break. Subsequent freeze/frost events contributed to varietal loss of up to 100 percent on certain varieties. 

Apple picking will be severely curtailed.”
 
The same is true at Beak & Skiff, also in LaFayette. Mark Fleckenstein, a co-owner of the business, characterized this year’s crop as “good,” but said two frosts killed off a number of buds on his trees.
 
“The crop is lighter in the valley,” he said.
 
It got much colder in the valley areas of his orchard than on the hills during the Feb. 14 and April 5 freezes, killing off some buds.
 

The apples that are on the trees — and many orchards have trees filled with fruit — may be smaller in size this year due to the drought. But the quality of the apples won’t be harmed at all — in fact, Allen said the lack of water makes the apples crunchier and sweeter because with less water content, the concentration of sugars in each apple is higher.
 
“There is plenty of fruit on the trees this year, they’re just smaller in size than usual. Moms and kids will be especially happy,” Allen said.
 
And when speaking about the apple sweetness caused by the drought, he said “even downsides can have upsides in this industry.”
 
“We have a lack of size, but they’re sweeter — the sugar is high,” Fleckenstein said.
 
“The big loss this year of course with the dry weather is size (of the apples),” said David Frost, owner of McPherson Orchards and Christmas Tree Farm in Genesee County. 

“While normally we would start picking right now (early September), they are so small I’m not sure if I’ll pick any ... Later varieties have another 30 days pretty much, give or take. So depending on weather again, how much size they’ll put on by then, time will tell,” he said.
 
Frost said apples need a consistent rain throughout the season to grow large.
 
“A number of the showers we had (this year) had been so small — a tenth, two tenths, three tenths,” he said. “They don’t get down anywhere. The surface gets wet, but it doesn’t penetrate or go anywhere. We just needed one of those day-long rains where it would push water down and get down to where it needs to be.”
 
In the Hudson Valley’s apple region, growers also are seeing smaller apples, but good quality apples.
 
“Everything is a little bit smaller this year than it was last year, but it’s still good fruit and it’s still fruit that you would like to pick,” said Bill Philip, owner of Philip Orchards in Claverack, Columbia County.
 
The orchard grows about 15 varieties of apples and about five types of pears. Philip said the pears don’t seem to be affected by the drought.
 
In Kinderhook, Yonder Fruit Farms, a garden center and farm market, has also seen smaller-sized apples this year because of the weather conditions.
 
“We are starting to pick some apples and they are smaller in size because of the drought,” said Peter Chiraro, the owner of the farm located in Columbia County.
 
Yonder Fruit Farms sells fruits, vegetables, flowers and more at various locations throughout the Capital Region. The farm’s pick-your-own orchards are located in Valatie, also in Columbia County.
 
Chiraro is worried consumers will buy fewer apples because of their size.
 
“It hurts us because we are not going to have the size in apples. There’s going to be less buying because it’s smaller,” he said.
 
The farm has been irrigating crops since May in an effort to provide relief from the drought.
 
In Greene County, Henry Boehm, owner of Boehm Farm in Climax, said droughts haven’t affected his apples and irrigation is important in order to have a bountiful apple crop.
 
“We irrigate, so we got nice apples,” Boehm said.
 
However, his peach crop wasn’t so lucky. Boehm said the flower bud of the peach plant is more susceptible to freezing and in February all it took was two days to kill the peach crop entirely.
 
“There’s no peaches, they froze in February,” he said.
 
He added normal winter weather doesn’t seem to have much of an effect on his crops overall.
 
“It doesn’t seem to make much difference,” Boehm said.
 
Allen of the apple association said the state’s growers are growing more of the varieties that apple fans love — including new favorites Gala and Honeycrisp, and old New York favorites McIntosh and Empire.
 
“Our growers produce more apples now on fewer acres because of technology — smaller trees that produce more fruit, computer-aided packing and sorting, and high-tech cold storage that puts apples to sleep until they are ready to ship to stores,” he said.
 
And by buying local New York state apples, consumers support hundreds of farm families.
 
“Many of our families have been growing apples for several generations,” Allen said. “It’s always exciting to see the next generation getting involved.”
 
For more information on New York apples, go to www.nyapplecountry.com. On that site, you will find a variety guide to figure out exactly which apple is best for your plans (fresh eating, baking, salads) and when those varieties are normally available.

Contributing to this story: Victoria Addison and Daniel Zuckermanm, Columbia-Greene Media; Mallory Diefenbach, Daily News in Batavia.

Drought Stresses Crops Throughout New York State

By JOE LEATHERSICH, MALLORY DIEFENBACH,
JIM KRENCIK and DEBRA J. GROOM
Empire Farm & Dairy
 
It’s hot.
 
It’s dry.
 
It’s not raining.
 

Drought map as of early August

That’s the forecast farmers have been dealing with since they began putting crops in the ground a few months ago. It doesn’t matter what they’re growing, the crops have been stressed due to the ongoing drought hitting a good part of New York state.
 
“Many areas of the state are in a severe drought,” said Aaron Reynolds, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Buffalo. “The precipitation has been real spotty in nature. And that is producing stress in the crops.”
 
According to a map put out by the National Weather Service, the worst of the drought is in Western New York. The map shows a severe drought area along the Southern Tier from Binghamton west, the Finger Lakes region, the Suffolk County area of Long Island and most of Western New York.
 
Patches of the Hudson Valley, Nassau County on Long Island and most of Central New York, such as Onondaga, Oswego and Jefferson counties, are in a moderate drought. The north country is deemed “abnormally dry.”
 
It doesn’t seem the weather will get any better any time soon.
 
Though rain is forecasted for short periods, it’s going to take a lot more than that to break the drought. And even then, the damage has been done to many of Western New York’s farms.
 
Crops struggling
 
Some farmers are fighting a two-front war as the drought worsens — with one problem not as obvious as the other.
 
Most obviously, the lack of water is hurting the crop harvest. Yields are way down as plants are struggling to grow. By this time of year, corn stalks should be above your head, but this year’s crop is topping out at about two feet high. And it’s not like the corn is behind schedule — it’s just done growing.
 
John Starowitz of Starowitz Farms in Byron, Genesee County, said his corn crop has already “tasselled,” meaning the corn is as good as it’s going to get, and it’s barely above your knee.
 
“When you have crops and vegetables, they all rely on water, and you’ve got to have a certain amount of water,” he said. “When you don’t have water, everything is skimpy and small.”
 
Jason Turek, who runs the third-largest vegetable farm in the state — Turek Farm near King Ferry in Cayuga County — grows 4,000 acres of vegetables that are sold throughout the Northeast and Middle Atlantic states. Of that, 2,500 acres are sweet corn.
 
He said he is harvesting only about a quarter of each field in early harvest vegetables, like corn and green beans. “It is hurting us — we’re in denial,” he said.
 
He said his corn is “hurt for sure” and by now, he should have cut 20,000 boxes of cabbage for shipment. He’s cut 1,000 boxes.
Ironically, his farm is spread out along the shore of Cayuga Lake. 

He’s lacking water but there’s a whole lake nearby.
 
But Turek said it really doesn’t make any difference. If he could draw water from the lake, he would be allowed by regulation to take only 100,000 gallons a day. He said he needs 65 million gallons to water his entire farm.
 
“It’s like fighting a forest fire with a garden hose,” he said.
 
The drought is bringing on another problem that might not be as obvious, too: pests.
 
Pests are attracted to moisture, and the only things with any semblance of it are the crops, even though they’re struggling themselves.
 
Starowitz said the bugs, deer and woodchucks are all causing damage to his crop, worse this year than past years because of the drought. The pests are “clearing out anything that’s green,” he said.
 
He hasn’t completely given up hope yet, though. He said there might be enough crop to sell to buyers, but he’s not expecting to make any money on it.
 
“Basically we’re just riding the storm out, we’re going with the punches,” Starowitz said. “There’s always hope.”
 
While some crops suffer in the drought, others are doing well. 

Onions seem to be coming through the drought OK, said Christy Hoepting, Cornell Cooperative Extension vegetable specialist.
 
“One of the benefits of it being hot and dry, and so breezy, is that we don’t have very much disease pressure,” Hoepting said. “The disease pressure is what can really be ravaging. There are a couple diseases that get going when it is cool and wet, so we don’t have to worry about any of those. The biggest pest concern is onion thrips, which do very well in the heat.”
 
However, onions — which prefer moderate temperatures — will grow quicker, and may not reach their full-size potential, especially in ground which hasn’t been irrigated. Still, Hoepting believes this season’s yields will be “pretty good.”
 
“Our (onion) quality should be excellent,” she said, explaining without the diseases to contend with, onions can produce crop of higher worth. “Quality is usually excellent in a hot, dry year at the expense of maximum bulb size.”
 
Dairy farmers feel the heat
 
Dairy farmers are having trouble handling the heat, too.
While crop farmers are dealing with the effects of the drought now as they harvest, the season will be over soon and what’s done will be done.
 
Dairy farming, however, is a 24/7, 365-day operation and can’t necessarily stop because corn and hay crops failed. But the harvests are so low that farmers are looking elsewhere for feed.
 
“We’re taking a lot of steps to purchase feed,” said Dale Stein of the multi-generational Stein Farms in Le Roy, which has about 1,000 cows on it. He’s taking these steps because his corn harvest is down 60 percent.
 
“We’re going to be so short (until next harvest),” he said.
 
Unsurprisingly, this shortage brings on a lot of financial burden. 

Stein said this shortage will cost him about $25,000 a month for 12 months until he can harvest again. Many farmers have insurance for situations just like this, as Stein does and has tapped into a little this year, but that doesn’t recoup lost revenue as much as it lightens the debt burden. 

For instance, Starowitz said if you have $100,000 in debt because of the drought, insurance might cover $90,000 of that, leaving the farm still in the red.
 
Stein said dairy farms’ problems are being compounded as well by drought; not only are they paying for feed, but small revenues are being brought in because of the low price of milk.
 
He added this has him “concerned” and “worried” that the effects of this situation might linger for another two years.
 
One glimmer of hope in all of this for some dairy farmers is that milk production is relatively stable thanks to technological advancements.
 
Cows like cooler temperatures and definitely do not like the heat. But since a lot of farms have invested in equipment that regulates the temperature in Western New York’s fickle climate, most cows are none-the-wiser.
 
“Our cows are kept cool,” Stein said.
 
Livestock impacted as well
 
The drought affects farmers in different ways, depending on their crop and what they are raising.
 
For those who raise livestock, there was no pasture available for animals to graze. While livestock typically graze about six to seven months out of the year, pasture foraging was limited because the season started so dry.
 
“A lot of livestock producers are now feeding hay, which they would normally feed during the winter,” said Nancy Glazier, small farm specialist on the Northwest Dairy, Livestock and Field Crops Team for Cornell Cooperative Extension. “Their hay harvest has been lighter than normal, so that’s adding another kind of a wrinkle. 

They have to purchase some hay elsewhere.”
 
While some farmers have been buying hay from their neighbors, others have been going out of the region and out of state to get what they need. She added some farmers even put in alternative feed such as oats or another type of annual grass.
 
The drought affects the livestock as well; Glazier said the drought and high heat causes more stress.
 
“Some farms may actually keep their animals in the barns, because it is a little cooler if they don’t have trees available for them in pastures,” she said.
 
“Farmers are pretty resilient,” Glazier went on. “Every year is a different year. They just have to deal with the hand they are dealt from Mother Nature.”
 
Other commodities affected by drought
 
Most people probably wouldn’t think trees would be bothered by a lack of water. Mature trees have deep roots and can draw on underground water for their needs.
 
But the lack of rain and excessive heat still can stress trees. Christmas tree growers, maple syrup producers and apple growers all are worried about this year’s crop or future crops.
 
Mary Jeanne Packer, president of the Christmas Tree Growers of New York, said some producers have lost up to half their crop of new trees planted this spring. Each year, growers replace the trees they harvested and sold last holiday season and it’s these young trees that have trouble in a drought.
 
“Some have set up irrigation,” she said. “Most of the problem is west of Syracuse.”
 
The loss of young trees won’t affect consumers immediately, but you never know down the road. Packer said if growers lose half of their young trees this summer, they will have to plant double the amount next spring and that damages their bottom lines.
 
Jim Allen, president of the New York Apple Association, said both apple trees and grape vines are stressed this summer from lack of rain.
 
With the apples, the drought won’t kill the trees, but it will affect the size of the fruit.
 
“The apples will be much smaller. They will be good and very sweet because there will be less water in them and more sugar,” he said.
 
It won’t be good financially for the apple growers either because the drought also will reduce the number of apples on the trees, cutting their yields. He said they shouldn’t have a problem with new trees planted in the spring because most growers irrigate these.
 
Maple trees won’t die from the drought, said Helen Thomas, executive director of the New York Maple Producers Association.
 
But, “if the water table is low and continues through the winter, the trees won’t have enough water to make as much sap in the spring,” she said. This means there could be a lot less syrup and other maple goodies next year.
 
What’s causing record dryness
 
David Thomas, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Buffalo, said the recent summers that could take the silver or bronze medal in the Drought Olympics were 2012, 1995 and 1988. 

In all three cases, the past droughts followed particularly dry years, with isolated or widespread droughts across Western New York in the March 1 to July 31 period, that were eased by later summer weather.
 
“2012 was also dry from spring into the summer,” Thomas said. “It was a little wetter than this year (with rain picking up in the summer). It helped (end) the drought, but we did have a dry period from March to July.”
 
The National Weather Service monitors droughts via multiple measures, with precipitation at airports an input that Thomas said shows this as the driest summer in 75 years. It’s been a confluence of factors to get here.
 
In Western New York, multi-year droughts like the one hitting California are prevented by the shear accumulation of snow that provides an annual replenishing of the water table and soil moisture.
 
Batavia experienced a reprieve from heavy snowfall in 2016 after back-to-back winters that brought blizzards, sustained deep freezes and snow-bound misery, but that wasn’t helpful below ground.
 
An upper-level wind pattern that frequently blew from the northeast prevented the “no doubters” of Gulf of Mexico-fueled spring rains that commonly add to the precipitation scoreboard.
 
“We didn’t have a really snowy winter, and that led into a dry spring that really caused the ground to dry out quickly across the region,” Thomas said. “The bright, sunny days through the spring and drier air allowed the drought conditions.”
 
Even the timing of weather systems hasn’t helped. Cold fronts have generally appeared over Western New York during the more atmospherically stable overnight hours, whereas an afternoon conflict with the daytime heat would lift the formation of clouds and thunderstorms.
 
“Without the sun’s heat, there’s not as many showers and thunderstorms,” Thomas said.
 
More than a little rain needed
 
This far into a drought, the region needs more than a sustained rainfall. Thomas said it will take months of above-normal precipitation to replenish the water table and have lawns, fields and trees recover.
 
“It won’t be one particular event or a week-long stretch,” he said.
 
A wayward hurricane ready to unload a flash of rain in Western New York, similar to the late stages of Hurricane Frances in 2004, wouldn’t be the solution. Thomas said a tropical storm would bring an abundance of rainfall, but forecasting one to pass over the region is next to impossible at this point.
 
And a flood doesn’t “fix” the problems of a drought. It just creates problems of its own.
 
At Fenton Farms in Batavia, Paul Fenton and his wife Gail have been fortunate to catch a portion of the handful of rain events that have punctuated the worst drought in their 30 years of farming an area between the city and Thruway. But each week the benefit has been weaker.
 
“It’s just evaporating so fast, the subsoil is absorbing the showers we do get, and with the high temperatures — we have three days of 85 degrees plus this week — the evaporation is just intense,” Fenton said. 

“We’re still producing nice stuff where it’s getting water, but the work to produce the product (is unprecedented). We’re irrigating seven days a week.”

New York Apple Association Leader Jim Allen to Retire

From the New York Apple Association:

Allen

Jim Allen will retire Jan. 2 as president and chief executive officer of New York Apple Association, Inc.

Allen has headed the apple industry’s second-largest state marketing order since 2000. During his tenure, Allen earned a reputation as a passionate industry supporter who advocated for nationwide industry cooperation rather than regional competition.

Allen joined the apple association in 1996 as retail program director, and was named to the association’s top job four years later. As the association's senior executive, he represents over 675 apple growers across New York state, overseeing all promotional, grower education, communications, market research, and public and government affairs activities. 

He represents the New York industry on U.S. Apple Association committees and to that group’s board, he has served three times as chair of the U.S. Apple Export Council, and currently serves on numerous committees working to advance New York and U.S. apple industry and agriculture.

Prior to joining the New York Apple Association, Allen led export sales and procurement for Sun Orchard Fruit Company, Burt, Niagara County, and worked in procurement and sales for Keystone Fruit Marketing, Greencastle, Pa.

Allen was awarded “Apple Person of the Year” honors in 2002 by The Packer; the newspaper also named him to the Top 25 Agricultural Leaders in the United States in 2008. United Fresh Produce Association named Allen “Produce Industry Advocate of the Year” in 2007.

"It has been privilege and pleasure to serve such a great industry for so many years. I have been fortunate to work with many dedicated people, from the growing communities to the board room,” said Allen. 

“As I look back on my career, one of my greatest satisfactions has been working with industry from across the country, on topics ranging from production and marketing to politics and international trade, all working together for the good of our industry overall,” Allen said.

Apple and produce industry leaders lauded Allen’s longtime service and contributions.

“Jim has been a valuable asset in so many ways, he has become the backbone of the New York apple industry and is recognized worldwide for his leadership,” said Will Gunnison, chair of the apple association board of directors. “His 20 years of service is greatly appreciated by the New York industry, and he will be greatly missed. I wish him all the best in his future endeavors.”

‘It has truly been an honor to work in unison with Jim over the years – the U.S. apple industry is losing a great asset,” said Todd Fryhover, president of Washington Apple Commission.

“In a competitive U.S. apple industry, Jim has always been able to see the bigger picture and promote consensus amongst differing geographic apple-growing states for the greater good of all apple producers," Fryhover said. "Washington state leadership will miss Jim’s enthusiasm and dedication to the industry.”

“Jim's tireless advocacy for the apple industry, and his fellowship, will be missed,” said Jim Bair, president and chief executive officer of U.S. Apple Association (USApple). “USApple has frequently leaned on Jim in legislative matters because of his credibility with New York members of Congress  – of every stripe – who all like him so much. Of course, on a personal level we are all very happy for him, and wish him well in whatever opportunities he pursues next."

Happy National Apple Pie Day

Photo from National Institutes of Health

Today is National Apple Pie Day!

This American as, well, you know, dessert is made from lots of wonderful ingredients that are grown right here in the United States. The key ingredient is well known right here in New York and even Central New York -- apples.

Called “America’s  favorite dessert” on the National Calendar Day website, Apple Pie Day iis celebrated annually each May 13.

The first apple pie recipe printed was in England in 1381. The list of ingredients included in the recipe were: good apples, good spices, figs, raisins, pears, saffron and cofyn.  (the cofyn is a casing of pastry).

Celebrate by digging out some of those apples you picked in the fall and make yourself a pie.

Bill Passes State Senate to Boost Craft Beverage Industry

Ritchie, righ,t with Ashley Lynn Winery's Craig Hurlbut, front, and Leon Hurlbut, back. Ashley Lynn, in Mexico, makes wine out of apples and other fruits.

From the office of state Sen. Patty Ritchie:

A bill that would help boost the state’s growing craft beverage industry by allowing farm breweries, wineries and distilleries to sell each others products has passed the state Senate and moved on to the state Assembly..

While current law allows farm breweries to sell beer or cider, it does not allow them to sell farm wine or spirits. Similarly, while the law allows farm wineries to sell wine or spirits, they cannot sell beer or cider.  

The bill sponsored by state Sen. Patty Ritchie allows farm breweries to sell wine and spirits, and beer and cider would be able to be sold at farm wineries.

Today, New York’s wine and grape industry generates more than $4.8 billion annually for New York state, and includes nearly 1,700 family vineyards, as well as more than 400 wineries — up from just 14 wineries in New York state in 1976. 

There’s been growth when it comes to distilleries too, with the number of farm distilleries increasing by more than 25 percent in the past year. 

New York’s craft beer sector has also seen tremendous growth, with the number of craft breweries more than doubling from 2012 to 2015. Overall, the craft beer industry has a $3.5 billion economic impact on New York state annually.  

In addition, New York has harnessed the power of one of its biggest crops — apples — to expand our state’s cider industry. Today, there are more than 50 operating cideries in New York state, including 16 farm cideries, 19 cider producers and 16 farm wineries that also make cider.