Event Details

Date

March 5, 2019

Time

8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

Location

CCE Cattaraugus County
28 Parkside Drive
Ellicottville, NY 14731

Cost

$35.00 NYSBGA members


$45.00 non-members

Host

New York State Berry Growers Association
Karen Wilson
315-521-0852

NYS Berry Growers Association


Blueberry Intensive Workshop--Ellicottville

March 5, 2019

Blueberry Intensive Workshop--Ellicottville

The New York State Berry Growers Association (NYSBGA) is partnering with the experts art Cornell CCE to bring you the region's first-ever blueberry intensive, an in-depth look at blueberry growing techniques, pests and diseases, marketing and other business topics, and an afternoon demonstration on working farms. 

8:30-9:00 am: Registration--DEC credit sign-up

9:00-9:10 am: Welcome/introductions
Esther Kibbe, CCE Harvest NY and/or Laura McDermott, CCE ENYCHP

9:10-9:30 am: Considerations when choosing and prepping a site for blueberry production 
Kathy Demchak, Berry Specialist, Pennsylvania State University
Site selection and preparation is one of the most important aspects in terms of long-term success, as it will impact overall plant growth, pest pressure, weed management, and fruit quality.

9:30-10:00 am: Blueberry diseases of note
Dr. Kerik Cox, Plant Pathologist, Cornell University
Dr. Cox will outline the major diseases that blueberry growers in Western NY need to be aware of. He'll discuss the most successful management strategies, including conventional fungicide programs and organically appropriate approaches.

10:00-10:30 am: Managing blueberry insect pests
Dr. Dara Stockton, Entomology Research Assoc., Cornell University
Dr. Stockton will discuss major blueberry insect pests including cranberry and cherry fruit worm, blueberry maggot and Spotted Wing Drosophila. Pests like scale that may increasing due to more aggressive spray programs will also be discussed.

10:30-10:40 am: Break

10:40-11:10 am: Using the NEWA blueberry pest and disease models to your best advantage
Dr. Juliet Carroll, Fruit IPM Specialist, NYS IPM
Dr. Carroll will lead growers through a hands-on discussion of the NEWA pest models that will allow growers to better time and hopefully reduce sprays while still getting good control of pests.

11:10-11:30 am: Alternative options for markets
Cheryl Thayer, CCE Harvest NY
Farm to school, value added, nutraceuticals, organic wholesale--market options are plentiful for blueberries.

11:30 am-12:15 pm: Berry crops profitability tool—knowledge is power!
Dr. Miguel Gomez, Agriculture Economist, Cornell

12:15-1:00 pm: Lunch (provided)

1:00-1:20 pm: Making it work at Duda's Blues Berry Farm
David Duda, owner, Duda's Blues, Machias, NY

1:20-2:10 pm: Blueberry nutrition
Kathy Demchak, Berry Specialist, Pennsylvania State University
Feeding blueberries is an important and challenging aspect of blueberry culture. Acidity of soil and water plays a huge role, so a discussion about acidification will be part of the presentation. Plants in good vigor are much better at resisting insect and disease pests.

2:10-2:30 pm: Post-harvest handling--reducing pest damage and improving fruit quality
Laura McDermott, CCE ENYCHP
One method of preserving fruit quality in harvested berries that may have had pressure from SWD is immediate and adequate chilling. Growers need to understand the importance of removing field heat and how to do it quickly with forced air cooling. Modified atmosphere packaging will also be discussed along with helpful tools like a CoolBot.

2:30-3:00 pm: Pruning correctly throughout the life of the planting
Dr. Marvin Pritts, Horticulture, Cornell University
Like nutrition, good cultural care is important for an overall vigorous and pest durable plant. Pruning is as the plant moves through its juvenile period so that will be described.

3:00-3:30 pm: Transition to field--Great Valley Berry Patch
5608 Humphrey Rd., Great Valley, NY
Owner: Nadine Litchfield, 716-945-5221

3:30-4:00 pm: Pest scouting and weed management discussion
Dr. Marvin Pritts, with help from Laura McDermott and Esther Kibbe
Examining existing blueberries in the early season is the first thing to do for pest control. Looking for scale, mummyberry apothecia, and gall's while plants are just breaking dormancy is crucial. Weed populations will begin to be evident as well. Herbicides are often used in the early pre-bud break time period for best results. Adding mulch should be done in the spring.

4:00-4:30 pm: Pruning demonstration
Dr. Marvin Pritts, with help from Laura McDermott and Esther Kibbe
This hands-on opportunity will provide continued discussion of the 2:30 afternoon session. We'll address the differences in cultivars and pruning approaches, which will become more obvious as we look at plants. The use of a pneumatic pruner will be demonstrated, as well as more traditional tools.

4:30 pm: Workshop adjourns 

Attendees will receive a resource packet of presenter handouts and other valuable information that they can refer to season after season. In addition, they will have the opportunity to ask the experts questions that are specific to their own farms.

COST: $35 for NYSBGA members; $45 for non-members

For questions about programming, contact: Esther Kibbe or Laura McDermott

For questions about registration, contact Karen Wilson, 315-521-0852

For questions the day of the event, contact Tamara Bacho, 716-699-2377




view calendar of events

Upcoming Events

Intercropping with Mushrooms

October 14, 2025
4:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Poughkeepsie, NY

Join us for an afternoon of hands-on learning at Pershing Community Farm, led by Urban Agriculture Specialist Yolanda Gonzalez.

2025 Agroforestry Field Day Series -- Agroforestry Implementation and Management

October 23, 2025
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Highland, NY

Interested in incorporating agroforestry practices into your farm? Join us for a series of workshops co-hosted by CCE Ulster, Orange, and Harvest NY with Mastwood Farms, Black Creek Farm and Nursery and Scenic Hudson. 

On October 23, we'll return to Erik Schellenberg's farm, Black Creek Farm and Nursery, for a Fall tour of their agroforestry plantings. Erik will talk about harvesting and managing plantings while we see some seasonal crops and installations of different ages and types. There will be time for questions and discussion as we wrap up the series. covered.

Soil Health 101 for Community Gardens -- A Bilingual Workshop

October 24, 2025
11:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Staten Island, NY

Join Urban Agriculture Specialists, Karen Guzman and Yolanda Gonzalez, as they discuss the importance of soil health and testing your soil as you prepare for the incoming growing season. They will go into strategies for best practices when it comes to soil health management and highlight the current soil testing program through NYSDAM and CCE. This workshop will be in both Spanish and English.

Announcements

New Produce Auctions in NYS!

With the opening of the new Augusta Produce Auction on August 19th, New York State now has 11 produce auctions! See the new map of produce auction locations across the state and contact information.

New York Urban Farms Sustainable Pest Management Fact Sheet Series

Cornell Cooperative Extension has partnered with dozens of urban farms across New York State to demonstrate and evaluate sustainable pest management strategies. Together with farmers, we found success using control methods that prevent or reduce crop losses through exclusion strategies, crop timing, host resistance, the introduction of beneficial organisms, and more. Regardless of management strategy used, common requirements for success include a knowledge of the pest and disease complex, preventative deployment and commitment to the process. The New York Urban Farms Sustainable Pest Management Fact Sheet Series includes case studies highlighting pest management techniques that New York urban farms have found valuable.