Orchard improvement can boost apple yield and income, researcher reports

Apples are grown on nearly 4,000 acres in Northern New York and contribute a farm gate value of $16 million to the regional economy. Although the region has knowledgeable and progressive growers, an extensive infrastructure and proximity to large markets, Cornell University horticultural sciences professor Terence Robinson said, "To remain competitive in the world apple market, Northern New York apple growers need to continue to modernize their orchards to improve production efficiency and fruit quality."

With funding from the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program, Robinson has been mentoring apple growers with the latest region-specific research on how new varieties, disease-resistant rootstocks, high planting densities for early production and partial labor mechanization can help them maximize profits.

"This research needed to be conducted in the Northern New York region due to its colder climate and unique growing conditions. The results from high density orchard research conducted elsewhere in New York state are not directly transferable to Northern New York orchards," Robinson said.

His report is at www.nnyagdev.org/_

horticulturecrops.htm.