Show all posts by user
Ask other growers about sprayers, mowers, scythes, pruning tools, tractors, row-mulchers, wood chippers, cider presses, fermenting vats, and more.
Re: Liquid fish stabilization - DRAMM - 21 days ago
I can speak for phosphoric acid from the standpoint of holding fish hydrolysate over a year. I purchase a pallet of four drums of Organic Gem every other year. One plus drum goes to other growers nearby but one drum definitely is put aside for the second season. And it's always been totally fine that next spring, needing only a stir with a drum mixer to integrate the fish oils back throughout theby Michael Phillips - Spray Nuance
Re: Biodynamic Tree Paste - 26 days ago
Yet another variation on the earth poultice for bark health! Pottery-sourced clay works fine if you don't have a local vein to tap into. I use a dark grey clay found along the Little Ammonoosuc River when we go canoeing. Alpaca manure sounds almost boutique but certainly works. I primarily use sheep manure after a diverse composting phase. The upshot here is that "Biodynamic Tree Paste"by Michael Phillips - Biodynamic Orcharding
curculio progress - 7 weeks ago
How are we doing with curculio strategies? I am quite happy with the results of a limited Surround plan integrated with biological kill strategies. Specifically, this means full-rate Surround where this pest first shows up immediately after bloom ends. For me, that's essentially the American-Asian hybrid plums. the pie cherries, and the pears. All these fruits bloom prior to apple and thus have aby Michael Phillips - Bug by Bug
Re: severe winter injury - 7 weeks ago
Deep cold kills certain cultivars, end of story. Sorry to hear those otherwise hardy varieties died down to the snowline . . . but hopefully it was a deep snowline. Winter injury is more insidious, resulting in contorted cambium which restricts vascular flow. This is what you are seeing with respect to "leafout" being delayed, Trevor. This sort of damage happens when temperatures wildlyby Michael Phillips - Just Talk
Re: Latest timing for last holistic spray? - 7 weeks ago
These wetter times seem to call for an increase in summertime applications, if anything. Rots and blotch are evermore serious issues, and second generation moth pressure ties in here as well. The pace outlined in the June 2018 newsletter as regards the holistic spray schedule does not shift in light of global warming. Summer apps typically spread to 14 days apart but I wouldn't let off more thanby Michael Phillips - Spray Nuance
Re: DIY EM : Unlimited Probiotic Effective Microorganisms - 2 months ago
All good stuff, as usual, Karn. I'm doing trials this year with separately added photosynthetic bacteria using Quantum Total at manufacturer suggested rates and my own inclinations at less than half the expense. Rocky Mountain Bio-Ag has contributed product to make this possible. I really like what you are doing to generate your own lactobacilli but for now continue with SCD's mother culture (thby Michael Phillips - Spray Nuance
Re: Late season dormant scionwood grafting - 2 months ago
I finished up grafting a row in the nursery about two weeks ago when a class was here at the farm. Those buds now showing green. The cost of late grafting is limited growth in year one but I think juicy scionwood will readily take. It helps that things remains relatively cool.by Michael Phillips - Grafting
Re: Dead trees - 2 months ago
Look below, Joanne. I suspect that Phytophthora is the issue. Root rot fungi claimed the niche at the buried base of the tree and destroyed the cambium. You will find extant bark down to the soil line and then things turn soft and mushy. The demarcation will be a sharp line between the reddish-brown (diseased) and white (healthy) portion of the crown or major roots. This reddish discoloration bby Michael Phillips - Just Talk
Re: Questions on Effective Microbes (From Growing to Storing) - 2 months ago
Surface molds require air, thus surface space, while the bulk of facultative organisms in EM carry on in a dormant state down below. I see such "scum" as well in the later life of a brew but don't worry about it.by Michael Phillips - Spray Nuance
Re: regional groups - 2 months ago
The way I plug into local perspective here in this forum is by taking note of where growers are by means of their signature. Thus attached to this reply you find that I am in Zone 4 in New Hampshire. Plus there's a link to my grower profile on my orchard name . . . which too many network members have not taken advantage to set up. The private message feature is one way to contact someone in yourby Michael Phillips - Making It Better
Re: Oddly staggered bloom sequence - 2 months ago
Accordingly, those of us further north have requested that curculio and apple maggot fly and the whole slew spend more time in "nirvana" this year.by Michael Phillips - Pollination
Re: Oddly staggered bloom sequence - 2 months ago
The real story this year is that here in northern zones we are all having bloom in June! Another thing that seems to be staggered is waking up times beyond the apple. Ash is just now unfurling first leaves. Those European bittersweets that green up much later than American dessert varieties are really waking up late this year. The plum/cherry/pear/apple blossom continuum was also far more scruncby Michael Phillips - Pollination
Re: Fire Blight vs. Blossom Blast / Wilt ID - 3 months ago
The bacterial species Pseudomonas syringae has the ability to infect young tissue subject to freeze damage through the bloom period. I've had reports of Blossom Blast here and there this wet spring throughout the Northeast . You keyed on to the "ooze factor" with respect to this not being fire blight, Josh. Copper applications if timed beforehand will reduce organism viability on thby Michael Phillips - Bacterial Opportunists
Re: inserting images - 3 months ago
Just to let everyone know, I'm aware of the desire for more straight-forward image insertion. Right now my plate is more than full with creating one central mailing list and better communications ability. And other website updates. (Oh yeah, and actual orcharding!) It may be the answer lies in someone who's tech savvy willing to serve as image coordinator. Karen obviously had success recently soby Michael Phillips - Making It Better
Re: liquid fish sourcing - 4 months ago
The quick way to affirm the integrity of a fish hydrolysate product is to look at the N-P-K numbers on the label. The first number is nitrogen. If this is a 2 or a 3, you're golden. Up that to 4 or 5, it's fish emulsion. Up that even more and the "fish" is spiked with synthetic nitrate. Agricultural Solutions offers many fine products for Canadian growers.by Michael Phillips - Spray Nuance
spray influence on open blossoms - 4 months ago
This could lead us down controversial paths. I asked the tech people at SCD Probiotics why they state in their literature the following: Do not spray while blooming or blooms may drop. Could they please explain why/how lactobacilli and yeasts are going to make blooms fall off? Here's the response: "The transition from vegetative growth to reproductive growth, i.e. flowering, is a criticalby Michael Phillips - Pollination
Re: 11 y/o Pear that doesn't bloom - 4 months ago
The adage to plant pears for your heirs is at play here, Josh! I used to think that meant pears will live and bear a long, long time (which is true) but now have come to understand it also can mean its the next generation that will get the fruit. I have trees going on ten years old with nary a blossom. This may be a north country factor as trees grow slower in Zone 4. Then again I have severby Michael Phillips - Organic Thinning
goa search tool - 4 months ago
A grower told me today how absolutely blown away he is by using our in-house search tool to look up a topic. As in any orchard-related topic. Here's how one can immediately gain perspective on forum contributions, articles in the biological curriculum, and even overlooked newsletter content. If a given subject has a holistic track record, hocus pocus, you are there. All that's required is toby Michael Phillips - Just Talk
Re: DIY EM : Unlimited Probiotic Effective Microorganisms - 4 months ago
Glad to hear of progress of the home microbe front, Karn. But I absolutely need to address this statement about the integrity of TeraGanix. There's a backstory here . . . and it feels appropriate to explore this within your DIY thread. Any and all information on a biological label is subject to an array of regulations. Not just federal but state by state. Any company selling product nationwideby Michael Phillips - Spray Nuance
Re: Neem Pure - Definitive Guide to Mixing - 4 months ago
You forgot the dance. Growers absolutely must do the 'neem dance' while mixing to perfect the emulsification. Pure humor to go with pure neem!. I love the idea of a consolidation post, Mike, to bring a range of complications and solutions to the fore. My two suggestions would be: -- Provide the math for a 0.5% concentration as that's the rate for general foliar application. This requiresby Michael Phillips - Spray Nuance
organic management survey - 4 months ago
A collaboration of researchers from Cornell, Rodale Institute, University of Vermont, and University of Minnesota are putting together a proposal for a federal research grant on organic apple production in the eastern US. These folks have put together a survey to better understand major disease and pest issues under different management practices for different varieties. The data collected will hby Michael Phillips - Grower Research
Re: Exploration of Quorum Sensing Disruption in Bacterial Pathogens - 5 months ago
The translation that matters here, Jason, goes like this: Microbial diversity well-stocked with food resources (fatty acids) creates a competitive reception by which fire blight bacteria will falter. The term quorum sensing emphasizes that a minimum amount of "something" is necessary to achieve an effective biofilm. Fire blight bacteria achieving quorum sensing through a numbers oby Michael Phillips - Bacterial Opportunists
Re: Brown Marmorated Stink Bugs - 5 months ago
Another piece of the puzzle is assisting Samurai wasps, an avid predator of BMSB. Growers in New York State can sign up for a shipment of samurai wasps this coming growing season: http://blogs.cornell.edu/jentsch/2019/03/13/join-in-hvrl-efforts-for-redistribution-of-samurai-wasp-in-nys-in-2019/ These wasps are showing up in more and more places as they follow stink bug in its journey acroby Michael Phillips - Bug by Bug
Re: herbal extractions for sprays - 5 months ago
First off, Tom, since I (as one of the forum moderators) wasn't quite able to identify your intent with the above in the holistic fire blight thread, I directed this conversation into its own post. Still, a general discussion about herbal extraction is a good one to have. Which isn't to say someone else can't start a hops-inspired fire blight thread with a practical bent. The foundation for suchby Michael Phillips - Spray Nuance
Re: Ahimsa availability? - 5 months ago
Monday morning, it's snowing, and still I can connect readily to the Neem Resources website. I would hear if Usha is changing course. The availability of pure neem and karanja oil should not be a problem for the 2019 season.by Michael Phillips - Just Talk
Re: Using neem oil in Canada - 5 months ago
Well said, David. I felt this response deserved the spotlight in its own right and thus the move from within another post on granulosis virus. The choice of putting this in the Tree Fruit Nutrition category is arbitrary, admittedly, but yet another way of making an important point. Pure neem oil does contain azadiractins which inhibit the molting cycle of foliage feeding pests (like moth caterpilby Michael Phillips - Tree Fruit Nutrition
graft union orientation - 7 months ago
All sorts of theories abound about graft union orientation at planting. Bud unions can be positioned so as to have the prevailing wind "push" the varietal shoot towards the rootstock. Of course that's totally irrelevant when a nor'easter blows strong from the other side. I think this is less of a consideration for the stronger whip-and-tongue union. What would be more helpful (maybe) isby Michael Phillips - Starting an Orchard
Re: overheated neem oil - 7 months ago
The herbal constituents in pure neem oil are degraded over time by being subject to being "thawed" again and again. By which I mean going from a cool state (below 60F) where the oil solidifies to warmer temps where the oil liquefies. Storage at higher temps wouldn't be helpful but one day in summer heat doesn't undo potency. Far more important is pouring into batch size containers uponby Michael Phillips - Spray Nuance
Real Organic Project - 7 months ago
Some of you know efforts are underway to restore integrity to organic certification in the hands of the USDA with a supplemental label. The Real Organic Project is grower-led and harkens back to original intentions that the word "organic" represent healthy soil, healthy food, sound ecology, happy animals, and yes, viable farming. This LINK features Steve Ela, a fruit grower out in Colorby Michael Phillips - Just Talk
Re: Thought on diseased wild trees - 8 months ago
I'm going to ask you to clarify a couple points, Tom, in hopes this will give others enough information to respond. The notion of "escaping disease" by removal of a tree to ground level --and thus a reboot provided the root system sprouts anew -- demands we understand deep systemic reality versus biological and nutritional deficits within a given growing system. A tree with fire bliby Michael Phillips - Just Talk