A new conference hits New York state this March, with cider from the Northeast headlining the event. The inaugural Northeastern Cider Conference (NCC) will be held in Albany, New York, Tuesday, March 24 through Thursday, March 26, as an opportunity for cidermakers to network, share knowledge and learn from each other.

Hosted by the New York Cider Association (NYCA) in partnership with the Glynwood Center for Regional Farming and Angry Orchard Hard Cider, the NCC was created with the intention of meeting the unique regional needs of the Northeastern cider community.

THE PROGRAMS

“This conference will provide apple growers and cider makers with the most up-to-date technical information available from researchers and experienced producers,” says pomologist Greg Peck of Cornell University. “It’s going to be an incredible learning experience for both new and existing cider businesses throughout the Northeast.

The programming for the three-day conference will include four educational tracks — Growing, Fermenting, Midstream (distribution, packaging, etc.) and Downstream (retail, education, promotion) — across 20+ panels, conceptualized by planning committees of Northeastern cider professionals.

A wide variety of respected cider industry presenters and panelists will lead the sessions, including Ian Merwin and Greg Peck of Cornell University, Eleanor Leger of Eden Specialty Ciders in Vermont, Dana Masterpolo of Bantam Cider in Massachusetts and Eric Shatt of Red Byrd Orchard Cider in New York. A trade show will also be held for makers and growers to see the latest and greatest in cider production and business.

Tuesday will kick off with an evening cider share reception, while Wednesday and Thursday will host the majority of the programming, with sessions covering topics such as holistic orcharding, microbial impacts on cider, branding and packaging, co-fermentation, how to elevate apple character, tasting room optimization and a sensory lexicon.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT

“The cider industry has evolved and expanded rapidly over the past decade, and with the extraordinary growth it has become ever clearer that Northeastern cider and its makers have unique needs and interests,” says Megan Larmer, director of regional food at Glynwood. “The time is ripe for this community to gather for intensive learning and to build the cooperative spirit pioneered by the region’s earliest makers.”

Conference organizer NYCA has been an independent trade association since 2015 and is one of the leading associations in the country. The organization has developed a certification process as well as a dryness scale, built a campaign for New York cider brand identity with a competition and four different cider weeks and actively works with the New York legislature in supporting the state’s cider producers.

“Our hope is that folks who come to this conference will walk away with practical knowledge that helps them to better achieve their goals as growers, cidermakers and beverage professionals,” adds David DeFisher of Rootstock Ciderworks and board president of the NYCA. “Beyond that, we hope they feel connected to this vibrant community and have a great time.”

To register for the Northeastern Cider Conference, click here. Sign up for the early-bird rate before February 14. For more info, visit the NYCA’s website.

Reprinted from CiderCraft Magazine with permission

For more Information and to Register
Conference info: https://www.newyorkciderassociation.com/event-calendar
Eventbrite tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/northeastern-cider-conference-tickets-76112493517
 

Orchard People Podcast #52 - Developing a Spray Schedule

On New Year's Eve I spent a little over an hour with Susan Poizner of Orchard People discussing developing a spray schedule, the ins and outs of various sprays, disease and insect development, and a variety of other issues related to good orchard management. The podcast link and YouTube distillation are up and running for your listening and viewing pleasure

Full Podcast: Orchard People podcast #52
YouTube: Orchard People podcast #52

For more information about Orchard People, please go to:
LEARN ABOUT FRUIT TREES: 
COURSES: OrchardPeople.com's Online Certificate in Fruit Tree Care 
BOOK: Award-Winning Fruit Tree Care Book Growing Urban Orchards
RADIO SHOW AND PODCAST: The Urban Forestry Radio Show and Podcast
 
SOCIAL MEDIA: 
Orchard People Youtube Channel
OrchardPeople on Facebook
Susan Poizner on Twitter
 

Know Your Roots 2020- Workshop and Seminar Schedule
Sign up for all Know Your Roots orchard workshops for just $275. The Cornell CCE and Midsummer Farm workshops not included. For more information or register go to: https://knowyouroots.com/orchard-classes1.html. Or contact Mike Biltonen at mike@knowyouroots.com

The Promise of Biodynamics 2020
Saturday, March 14, 2020 – 10am-4pm
Location – Trumansburg, NY. Specific location - TBD
Rudolf Steiner framed the need for biodynamics by saying the poor quality of food we were eating was seriously diminishing our capacity to interact on a spiritual level and achieve the things we were capable of as a species. And this was in the 1920s! The Promise of Biodynamics 2020 focuses on creating an agronomic foundation for the practical use of biodynamics in most farm and orchard settings. Revitalizing our farms and orchards so that the food we produce and eat allows us to achieve a higher energetic level in concert with nature as a clear path to healing ourselves and the planet. In this course, we will cover basic and advanced concepts of biodynamics tying them to practical farming and orcharding techniques. And since we’re on the cusp of a new spring, we’ll also discuss waking up your farm and orchard biodynamically.
Cost: $55/$45 (pre-register by March 1)
 
Transitioning Conventional Perennial Crops to Organic and Beyond!!
Monday, March 23, 2020 – 6-8pm
Location – Human Services Complex, Rm 120, Montour Falls, NY
Thinking of transitioning an apple orchard and perennial fruiting system from conventional system to an organic/holistic/biodynamic system? This workshop focuses on the practices you’ll need to consider in order to complete a successful transition. Brought to you by Cooperative Extension of Schuyler County.
Workshop fee is $30, pre-registration is required. https://www.facebook.com/events/756892041463247/
 
The Promise of Biodynamics 2020
Sunday, March 29, 2020 – 10am-4pm
Location – Midsummer Farm, Warwick, NY.
Rudolf Steiner framed the need for biodynamics by saying the poor quality of food we were eating was seriously diminishing our capacity to interact on a spiritual level and achieve the things we were capable of as a species. And this was in the 1920s! The Promise of Biodynamics 2020 focuses on creating an agronomic foundation for the practical use of biodynamics in most farm and orchard settings. Revitalizing our farms and orchards so that the food we produce and eat allows us to achieve a higher energetic level in concert with nature as a clear path to healing ourselves and the planet. In this course, we will cover basic and advanced concepts of biodynamics tying them to practical farming and orcharding techniques. And since we’re on the cusp of a new spring, we’ll also discuss waking up your farm and orchard biodynamically.
Register with Midsummer Farm at their web site.
http://www.midsummerfarm.com/pdc-guest-teachers.html
 
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) for Regenerative Orchardists
Saturday, April 18, 2020 – 10am-4pm
Location – Trumansburg, NY. Specific Location – TBD
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is not a static science or set of practices, it is a dynamic and practical toolkit that serves all growers equally...if they know how to use it. As we move towards a more holistic future, the power of IPM as science and practice increases our ability to manage pest pressures and ensure crop productivity without the use of toxic chemicals and fertilizers. In this workshop, we’ll discuss primary and secondary spring insect and disease pests of apples, IPM tools and strategies, use of biodynamic preps, developing a disease suppressive soil, and even create a skeleton spray program for a typical northeastern apple grower.  We'll cover basic spray application theory and practice, as well. We'll spend a good portion of the time in the field [weather pending], so come prepared.
Cost: $55/$45 (pre-register by Apr 4)
 
Radical Pomology! Orchard Ecosystem Management
Saturday, May 9, 2020 – 10am-4pm
Location – Trumansburg, NY. Specific Location – TBD
As Regenerative Agriculture becomes the rallying cry of progressive farmers everywhere, comprehensively understanding Soil Health, Plant Stress, & Understory Management is critical to stewarding your orchard ecosystem towards a balanced and vibrant state. Soil health is no longer just viewed as simple chemical and mineral inputs, but on managing the underlying soil food web (biology), as well as biochemical and mineral interactions. Good soil health drives healthy plants which in turn feed the soil food web that creates a disease suppressive soil. Managing plant stress ensures healthy plant compounds that drive its own immunity process are fully functioning. Ecosystem Management is a comprehensive, holistic approach underlying a basic understanding that the orchard is an interactive biologically-driven organism unto itself. Cabon sequestration, composting, Indigenous MicroOrganisms, compost teas, biochar, and other regenerative practices will be discussed.
Cost: $55/$45 (pre-register by Apr 25)
 
Regenerative Orcharding for the Summer Season
Saturday, June 27, 2020 – 10am-4pm
Location – Trumansburg, NY. Specific Location – TBD
We're at the midpoint of the season. The crop is set. The bulk of the insect and disease pests are out of the way, now all we have to do is guide the orchard to the finish line. Right! Now the fun really begins. Summer disease and insect pests can be as problematic as the early spring ones. Setting the orchard up for a quality productive crop, but also good return bloom are critical steps in the life cycle of any apple orchard. We'll also cover primary and secondary summer insect and disease pests of apples, IPM tools and strategies, use of biodynamic preps, and even create a summer spray program for the typical northeastern apple grower. We'll spend a good portion of the time in the field [weather pending], so come prepared.
Cost: $55/$45 (pre-register by Jun 13)
 
Fundamentals of Plant Communication
Saturday, July 18, 2020 – 10am-4pm
Location – Trumansburg, NY. Specific Location – TBD
The fact that plants do in fact communicate with each other is no longer highly controversial. They may not communicate in the way the way humans or other organisms communicate with each other, but they do send out signals in times of need or stress – or just to say hi. This communication system runs through what I call the plant's neural network. That is, a network of 'synapses' and 'neurons' maintained and enhanced by appropriate soil and plant health. As we begin to understand the physiological, biochemical and spiritual aspects of how plants communicate and how we can interact with plants [as stewards], we can use this knowledge and wisdom to encourage a holistic plant ecosystem beneficial to growing nutritious food.
Cost: $55/$45 (pre-register by Jul 4)
 
Putting the Orchard to Bed
Saturday, October 17, 2020 – 10am – 4pm
Location – Trumansburg, NY. Specific Location – TBD
The end of another long growing season is nearly upon us. Now is the time to help the orchard relax and settle into its winter slumber. The winter season is the time when the orchard and trees rest and contract, breathing in the cosmic forces as they re-energize in preparation for another growing season that's just around the corner. Practices may include the use of biodynamic tree paste, use of other biodynamic preparations, nutrient applications for bud health, lime or compost applications, tree painting, weeding, rodent control, and more. We'll discuss strategies for ensuring that your orchard goes into the winter healthy and strong, ready to get ready for the next growing season.
Cost: $55/$45 (pre-register by Oct 3)