Aug 25, 2021

Berry production workshops planned in New York state

On Wednesday, Sept. 15, from 4-6 p.m.., The Berry Patch in Stephentown, New York, and Abers Acres in Kennedy, New York, will host concurrent Berry Production Workshops, in collaboration with Cornell University.

Designed for the commercial berry grower, these free workshops will give farmers up-to-date tools and techniques for monitoring for the invasive pest spotted wing drosophila. They will also cover the use of exclusion netting to combat the devastating pest, as well as understanding cultural and chemical management strategies. The workshops are sponsored by the New York State Berry Growers Association and are free to attend; preregistration is required.

This educational event will feature hands-on demonstrations by, presentations by, and question-and-answer sessions with a variety of experts. For the Stephentown workshop, speakers include Laura McDermott of Cornell Cooperative Extension, Berry Patch owner Dale-Ila Riggs, Ted Storozum of Quebec-based netting manufacturer TekKnit, Chris Callahan of the University of Vermont, and Paul Lucas of Gintec in Ontario, Canada. Presenters for the Kennedy workshop include Dr. Greg Loeb and Stephen Hessler of Cornell University, Anya Osatuke of Cornell Cooperative Extension Harvest NY, and Abers Acres owner John Abers.

The agenda for both workshops is identical, and will cover:

• •  An overview of spotted wing drosophila (SWD) monitoring, and management with insecticides and cultural practices
  • An introduction to exclusion netting, a non-chemical, organic control for SWD
  • Structural considerations for installing exclusion netting

• Using exclusion netting on fall high-tunnel raspberry crops
• Hands-on netting removal and storage demonstration

Although the workshop is free, registration is required. Click here to register for either workshop. The Berry Patch is located at 15589 NY-22 in Stephentown, NY. Aber’s Acres is located on Rt. 394 in Kennedy, NY.

Founded in 1988, the New York State Berry Growers Association (NYSBGA) is a nonprofit educational association for berry growers, from large wholesale family farms to independent farm stands and small pick-your-own operations, across New York state.

The NYSBGA promotes the growing and marketing of berries through the exchange of valuable information, including scientific research and farming techniques. We also represent growers in issues of labor, research and technology, both academically and legislatively, and award research grants to study and address issues important to New York state berry growers.

To locate a farm in your area of New York that sells fresh, locally grown berries, visit the Find a Farm directory.

Berry Patch owner Dale-Ila Riggs. Photo: Dale-Ila Riggs