To Nova Scotia, July 23-25. Oh yea, maybe I am getting older or just think I have seen it all, I was not particulary inspired to report on my attendance at this IFTA event, but I suppose I need to earn my keep. It was also kind of hot and sunny, which does not particulalry motivate me either, but once I get going it jogs my memory and kind of enjoy documenting it. Although glad when I finish it!
The 2023 IFTA Summer Study Tour was based in Wolfville, Nova Scotia at the Old Orchard Inn where we were treated Sunday July 23 with a hearty reception on arrival -- food that is, otherwise a cash bar, but I have always enjoyed an (or 2 or 3) Alexander Keith's IPA. Monday morning the 24th we (approximately 120 of us) boarded three buses at 7:30 AM (6:30 EDT) for orchard visits in the Annapolis Valley. What fun!
First orchard stop was Birchleigh Farms in Berwick where our host was owner Waldo Walsh. Waldo grows for Scotian Gold where he "farms 100 acres of orchard (apples and pears) with apples representing over 95% of the production. The predominant apple varieties grown on the farm are Honeycrisp, Minneiska (SweeTango), Gala and Ambrosia." Focus of this stop however was Keith Fuller, research scientist for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) out of Kentville. A project here in collaboration with Nova Scotia Federation of Agriculture "Living Lab" Agriculture Climate Solutions was using Pic Plus Fumigant as a replacement for Telone C-17 in apple replant situations. Fuller's results to-date suggest Pic Plus is useful to improve tree growth in true replant disease situations, but still not as effective as if Telone C-17 was used.
AAFC's Keith Fuller at Birchleigh Farms talk replant disease treatment
Replant disease at Birchley Farms? Looks pretty good to me...
Next up CAP Farms where Andy Parker (the "P" in CAP?), son-in-law Eric Chappel, and Scotian Gold's Danny Davison discussed management of a hi-density Ambrosia planting including their homemade over-the-row sprayer. C Andrew Parker Farm grows for Give Them aWink, "Wink" being a brand of Van Meekeren Farms, also home of Pazazz apples in Canada. Of particular note is the fact their over-the-row sprayer had no fan assist which apparently is not necessarily in their well-sculpted (hedged) rows of apples. No complaints here.
Fanless custom-built over-the-row sprayer at CAP Farms
Nicely sculpted (heged?) apple trees at CAP Farms
Very healthy-looking Ambrosia at CAP Farms
After a chicken BBQ lunch (yum) at the Northville Farm Heritage Centre we walked (literally) to a bi-axe (Honeycrisp?) block at Van Meekeren Farms being shepherded (babied?) by Harrison VanMeekeren. Unfortunately cropping has been light to date on these Geneva rootstocks. (Which one?, I really should be taking notes!). I was not surprised. Also a hot and sunny equipment demonstration, most notably an autonomously equipped/operated GOtrack tractor. Among other toys by ProduceTech.
Multi-leader Honeycrisp at VanMeekeren Farms
Last (not really) afternoon stop was at Vermeulen Farms looking at raised bed strawberries (not really into it) and a lively farm labor discussion. Not even a picture for you here. Really the LAST afternoon stop was the mandatory group picture from "The Lookoff," overlooking the Annapolis Valley and Minas Basin. Shameless self-promotion picture here but the real group picture here. Second mandatory IFTA Nova Scotia stop was a lobster supper (chicken optional, eh?) at the Louis Millet Community Complex in New Minas. For some reason can't help but think about Evangeline here.
Selfie from "The Lookoff" overlooking Minas Basin
Tuesday, the 25th of July. Lutz Family Farm Ltd. first on the agenda, our hosts being Larry Lutz, son-in-law Cassian Ferlatte, son Sam, and their Jamaican farm crew. Lutz Family Farm owns over 1,000 acres of land with only 140 acres of orchard, Larry equally likes his winter work of land clearing/logging. Apple rootstocks and Ambrosia pruning were the focus here, but also a thinning trial with Accede was highlighted by Michelle Cortens of Perennia. Take homes? M.26 still in favor in Nova Scotia, although Geneva rootstocks are being planted with some trepidation. Lutz is using Supporter 4 too, and has an on-farm nursery producing ten to twenty thousand trees annually. Prune Ambrosia hard using longish stubb cuts to prevent growth from becoming upright, long and lanky away from the central leader. Accede has promise as a thinner at larger fruitlet sizes, but like all chemical thinning, it's a bit variable in efficacy. If you have eleven minutes, check out my video interview with Larry here, it's a pretty good story.
At Lutz Family Farm Ltd, Sam, Larry, and Cassian field attendee questions
Lutz nursery, 'Rave' bench grafts on G.935 (Larry Lutz photo)
Valent crew and Perennia's Michelle Cortens discuss thinning with Accede
I'd say Accede worked pretty good on these Honeycrisp!
Second morning stop was Crisp Growers Inc. owned Scotian Gold and their fourteen apple growing families. Kind of an interesting (but slightly dated) story here. But we were only here to see the H.S.S AgBot sprayer and Vivid Machines crop load management vision technology (aka camera mounted on an ATV). That AgBot is kind of scary, check out the video, what could go wrong? 😑
After a Jamaican food truck lunch (yum) and cider tasting (double yum) at Spurr Brothers Farm Market, we followed Lisa Jenereaux to Spurr Brothers Farm to look at V pears (sorry Lisa, I was not really into it) and another replant experiment being honchoed by Keith Fuller, this one being mulching (with and without fumigation) to improve newly planted tree growth. To date results are lackluster explained Keith, as tree growth in general in the first two seasons was poor, and compost and fumigaiton with Pic Plus did not improve tree growth. But pre-plant compost addition suppressed root leasion nematodes and compost presisted for 4+ years after planting as measured by soil C content. Oh well.
Lisa Jenereaux at Spurr Brothers Farms talking about her pears.
Final IFTA Nova Scotia 2023 Summer Tour stop was the impecably manicured Wohlgemuth Farms where pre-harvest leaf removal to improve red color and NC-140 rootstock trials (2019 Buckeye Gala) were showcased by AAFC Kentville personnel. Also some of their research on effect of anti-ethylene products ReTain and Harvista and optimum harvest window of Ambrosia and Honeycrisp apples. Nice orchard, good research, overall a fitting Tour finale. Did I mention they are a hog farmer also?
Pneumatic leaf removal experiment to improve red fruit color at Wohlgemuth Farms
I have come to the conclusion that hog farmers have the nicest orchard!
Suzanne Blatt, AAFC Kenville entomologist, does double duty as a horticulturist while discussing the 2019 Buckeye Gala NC-140 planting at Wohlgemuth Farms
The 2019 Buckeye Gala NC-140 planting (on left)
That's about all I got, maybe all apple trees are starting to look alike, but I have to say, the longer I am in this business the more confused I get (about some things). I can confidently say though that Nova Scotia is a pretty darn good place to grow quality apples -- particularly Honeycrisp, they are absolutely the best there -- but they do have these tropical storms that in recent years have caused them some headaches! Thanks to all who planned and hosted us, best of luck to you during the upcoming harvest!
I think there is Scotian Gold at the end of the rainbow as seen from the Old Orchard (note foreground apple trees) Inn
