Join us for the annual Brushy Mountain Tree Fruit Meeting in Wilkesboro, NC on February 15th!
Orchardists from North Carolina and surrounding states are encouraged to attend this meeting packed with updates from NC State Specialists. There will be industry exhibitors and sponsors present at the meeting, along with a meal.
This meeting is FREE and Open to the Public. Prior registration is required to obtain an accurate headcount for the meal. Please register ASAP, or by February 10, 2023. Register on the Eventbrite Page or by calling the N.C. Cooperative Extension – Alexander County Center (828-632-4451), Caldwell County Center (828-757-1290), or Wilkes County Center at (336-651-7330).
Note that this meeting is suitable only for commercial growers and those who work with the commercial orchard industry. This will not address homeowner/backyard fruit production.
*NCDA Pesticide Recertification Credits (2: N,O,D,X) will be offered for NC Applicators.
Tentative Agenda
9:00 am – Welcome and Introductions
9:05 – Orchard Weed Management Update (Wayne Mitchem, Southern Regional Small Fruit Consortium Coordinator & Extension Specialist, Dept. of Horticulture, NC State)
9:35 – Management strategies to optimize insecticide use (Dr. Jim Walgenbach, Extension Specialist, Dept. of Entomology and Plant Pathology, NC State)
10:15 – Myth busters: Bitter Rot and Fire Blight Edition (Dr. Sara Villani, Extension Specialist, Dept. of Entomology and Plant Pathology, NC State)
10:40 - 2023 Peach Disease Update: Scabs, Curls, and Rots (Dr. Sara Villani, Extension Specialist, Dept. of Entomology and Plant Pathology, NC State)
11:00 – Break & Visit with Sponsors
11:15- Food Safety Update (Elena Rogers, Area Specialized Agent, Agriculture - Food Safety - Fresh Produce Western NC, NC State)
11:45 – Split Happens: An Overview of Apple Fruit Cracking and Splitting(Dr. Tom Kon, Southeastern Apple Research Specialist, Dept. of Horticultural Science, NC State)
12:15 pm – Lunch & Visit with Sponsors
12:45 – NEWA Tool Demo (Cari Mitchell, Horticulture Extension Agent, Alexander County, NC State)
1:00 – Harvest and Postharvest Management of Apples (Dr. Michael Parker, Extension Specialist, Dept. of Horticulture, NC State)
1:30 – Young Tree Establishment of Peaches (Dr. Michael Parker, Extension Specialist, Dept. of Horticulture, NC State)
2:00 – Closing Remarks & Pesticide Credits
Location: N.C. Cooperative Extension- Wilkes County Center / Wilkes Agricultural Center, 416 Executive Drive, Wilkesboro, NC, 28697
Many thanks to our generous sponsors for supporting this meeting!
This meeting is co-hosted by the N.C. Cooperative Extension - Alexander, Caldwell, and Wilkes County Centers! Please contact Cari Mitchell, Horticulture Extension Agent in Alexander County (cari_mitchell@ncsu.edu) with any questions.
