Skip to content

Fruit Program News

Perennial Crops - Sales Closing Date for Crop Insurance is Nov. 20

October 30, 2015

Perennial Crops - Sales Closing Date for Crop Insurance

November 20th, 2015 is the last day to purchase a new, change or cancel an existing crop insurance or Non-Insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP) policy. Growers are encouraged to read the fact sheet for apples and peaches as they consider their 2016 risk management needs. All other perennial crops are covered byNAP which is administered by the Farm Service Agency (FSA). Growers can also contact the UMass Extension Risk Management Education team for assistance understanding these programs.
2015 Apple Maturity Report

August 31, 2015

2015 apple maturity reports have begun, last update October 8, 2015 click here...
SWD Update for week of June 9-15, 2013

June 9, 2013

This week we found 2 cases where a single female SWD was caught in traps, one in Hampshire County, one in Southern Berkshire County.
Covid-19 Guidance and Resources for Massachusetts' Fruit Farms

Information for fruit growers during the Coronavirus Spring of 2020 COVID-19 SPECIFIC INFORMATION NEW Massachusetts Dept. of Ag. Resources Farm Pick-Your-Own(PYO)/Agricultural Tourism Activities Bulletin Comprehensive MDAR Covid-19 Resource Page NEW Cornell Best Management Practices for U-Pick Farms During the COVID-19 Pandemic (from Cornell but contains very useful and relevant information for MA growers) NEW Farmers Guide to Direct Sales Software Platforms (National Young Farmer's Coallition) Considerations for Fruit and Vegetable Growers Related to Coronavirus & COVID-19 (Chris Callahan, UVM)

Read more
New England Cider Apple Program at the NEVFC

Craft hard cider production -and consumption- has been on the rise in the United States. Not all apples are suitable for the craft cider market. There remains a dearth of cider-specific apples in production in the Northeast. Many of the varieties that possess the most desirable qualities for juice are considered too difficult to grow. Extension faculty and staff from UMass, UVM, and UMaine are working together to find the keys to solving these problems! Funded by Northeast SARE Research & Education Program LNE19-373.

Read more
April Fruit Twilight Meetings

Fruit Twilight Meetings, April 11 (C.N. Smith Farm) and April 16 (UMass Cold Spring Orchard)

Read more
MFGA Annual Meeting and UMass Extension Education Program

MFGA Annual Meeting and UMass Extension Education Program Thursday, January 10, 2019 9 AM to 3:30 PM Great Wolf Lodge, 150 Great Wolf Drive, Fitchburg, MA

Read more
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug

While trap captures are begining to increase, Brown Marmorated Stink Bug populations remain below threshold for tree fruit crops. There is not, currently, any recognized population threshold in small fruit. See the New England Tree Fruit Management Guide or the New England Small Fruit Management Guide for more information.
Spotted Wing Drosophila Spray Tables for 2018

Fruit Growers should be scouting for Spotted Wing Drosophila in their fields and orchards now. Review labled spray materials for 2018 (courtesy of Mary Concklin, UConn Extension)

Read more
2017 Program Survey

Every year we gather feedback from recipients of our programming to help us do a better job serving the fruit growers in Massachusetts and New England. We hope you'll take a few minutes to give us your feedback by taking a brief survey. The questions are general in nature and help us learn more about how you are receiving information from us, how helpful you find it, and how we might do better.

Read more

Pages