Dr. Tree Fruit and Don

Don and Kari debut “Fruit Bites,” a new, short form of the Dr. Tree Fruit and Don podcast to provide information more often in a condensed format. Fruit Bites will be released about once a week. Kari highlights updates from herself and the other specialists discussing apple scab, powdery mildew, brown rot, white peach scale, and more. Speakers: Don Seifrit (host) Kari Peter, Associate Research Pro...

Hello Listeners! The meeting in North East, PA, is ON for May 12, 2022. Don had some confusion between northeast and “North East." ;) In this 1-on-1 episode, Dr. Peter provides an update on fire blight, apple scab, and several other diseases. Don also highlights upcoming in-person Penn State Extension events. Spring Orchard Meetings Registration   Don Seifrit (host), Kari Peter (speaker) Lead...

Dr. Crassweller talks about herbicides that were released after the editing of the new tree fruit production guide, and Greg highlights the chlorpyrifos ban and what that means for growers with some still in their pesticide shed. Below are links discussed in this episode: 2022-2023 Tree Fruit Production Guide Pennsylvania Dept. Of Agriculture Chemsweep Penn State Extension Sprayer Calibration Form...

Kari and Don discuss post-harvest rot with Kari’s Ph. D. student Johanny Castro. Originally from Costa Rica, Johanny currently works with Kari to look at post-harvest rots and diseases in Pennsylvania’s packhouses. Don Seifrit (host) Kari Peter (host) Johanny Castro (speaker) Lead Image: J. Castro, Penn State Make sure you sign up to get notified of future Extension events for tree fruit growers!...

Kari, Greg, Rob, and Don discuss mole and vole control, insect control during late Fall/Winter (including an update on Lorsban (chlorpyrifos)), and some fungicidal techniques to improve the orchard before next season.  Greg also requests grower feedback about worm (codling moth/oriental fruit moth) problems in their orchards. The lead image photo is the strange Pink Lady that’s discussed in the mi...

Don, Kari, Greg, and Rob are together again to discuss seasonal weather, coloration at harvest, stinging insects in fields, and late-season fungicide applications. Rob highlights an upcoming Penn State Extension event on October 27, 2021, Variety Showcase Field Day , about cultivar selections and tasting. Don Seifrit (host) Kari Peter (host/speaker)  Rob Crassweller (speaker) Greg Krawczyk (speake...

Don, Kari, Greg, and Rob confer about which cultivars are ripening around the state. Rob talks about paraquat application. Greg outlines some of the important end-of-season insect pests and management, and Kari discusses post-harvest rots and their management. Don Seifrit (host) Kari Peter (speaker) Rob Crassweller (speaker) Greg Krawczyk (speaker) Dr. Long He (speaker) Lead Image: K. Peter, Penn...

Don, Kari, Greg, and Rob are joined for the first time by Dr. Long He, Penn State agriculture engineer. Dr. He describes his work and background and talks about future projects. Kari, Greg, and Rob also discuss current season concerns. Don Seifrit (host)  Kari Peter (speaker)  Rob Crassweller (speaker) Greg Krawczyk (speaker) Dr. Long He (speaker) Lead Image: K. Peter, Penn State Make sure you sig...

Don, Kari, Greg, and Rob talk about what growers should be keeping an eye on during mid-season development, including the end of periodical cicadas for 2021. They also discuss how one should go about finding a weather station to install on-farm. Special consideration is given to having a station with compatibility to the NEWA system from Cornell University: http://newa.cornell.edu/ Episode Host/Sp...

Don, Kari, and Greg are joined by Dr. Jim Schupp (Penn State Fruit Research and Extension Center) for the first time. Dr. Schupp is a pomology professor, and he highlights some of the most important considerations for spring thinning. Greg talks about the complex entomology issues facing PA this spring, and Kari discusses the fire blight concerns facing orchardists. Episode Host/Speakers:  Don Sei...

Kari talks early season disease pressure, with importance placed on fire blight. Greg highlights the insect challenges facing growers over the next month (before a bigger report in 2-3 weeks), and Rob discusses frost/cold damage to blossoms. Don Seifrit (host), Kari Peter (speaker), Rob Crassweller (speaker), Greg Krawczyk (speaker) Lead Image: R. Crassweller, Penn State University Make sure you s...

Kari and Don discuss grafting (especially scion wood collection) with Rob. Greg highlights early-season insect scouting, and everyone talks weather tracking for their respective fields. NEWA Weather Tracking Resources: http://newa.cornell.edu/ Episode Host/Speakers: Don Seifrit (host), Kari Peter (speaker), Rob Crassweller (speaker), Greg Krawczyk (speaker) Lead Image: R. Crassweller, Penn State U...

Kari and Don are joined by Dr. Hillary Peterson, a former student at the Penn State Fruit Research and Education Center in Biglerville. Hillary talks about her work on brown marmorated stink bug (BSMB) parasitoids, especially the samurai wasp ( Trissolcus japonicus ).  Episode Host/Speakers: Don Seifrit (host), Kari Peter (speaker), Hillary Peterson (speaker) Lead Image: E. Talamas, USDA-ARS Make...

Drs. Kari Peter and Rob Crassweller outline some important information for good winter pruning practices with Don. In the episode, Kari outlines a method of triage pruning for Fire Blight during the growing season. That method is outlined further here: https://extension.psu.edu/disease-update-dealing-with-fire-blight-infections. Episode Host/Speakers: Don Seifrit (host), Kari Peter (speaker), Rob...

Dr. Kari Peter and Don Seifrit are once again joined by Dr. Rob Crassweller.  They discuss winter injury, how cold hardiness develops, and what to be aware of when pruning.  Also, Dr. Crassweller outlines what the virtual Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention will look like in 2021. Episode Host/Speakers: Don Seifrit (host), Kari Peter (speaker), Rob Crassweller (speaker) Image Credit: R. Cr...

Dr. Kari Peter and Don Seifrit are joined by all of the podcast guests from the first (growing-season) year of the Dr. Tree Fruit and Don Podcast. Drs. Rob Crassweller, Greg Krawczyk, and Macarena Farcuh add their thoughts on what the 2020 growing season was like, and what to expect for 2021. There is also some preliminary discussion of what to expect for the 2021 Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable...

Don and Kari introduce Dr. Macarena Farcuh (University of Maryland) to the listeners. Macarena discusses her research and outreach for UMD Extension. Follow Macarena @farcuhmacarena on Twitter or @FruitQualityLab on Facebook. Episode Host/Speakers: Don Seifrit (host), Kari Peter (speaker), Macarena Farcuh (speaker) Lead Image: Image Credit – Macarena Farcuh, UMD Make sure you sign up to get notifi...

Kari, Don, Greg, and Rob discuss late-season orchard issues. Particular attention is paid to marssonina blotch and brown marmorated stink bug. Rob discusses factors affecting ripeness and which cultivars are likely ready to be harvested. Episode Host/Speakers: Don Seifrit (host), Kari Peter (speaker), Greg Krawczyk (speaker), Rob Crassweller (speaker) Image Credit – C. Walsh, UMD  Make sure you si...

Kari and Don are joined again by Rob Crassweller. Kari discusses blossom blast issues, and Rob talks NEWA and the carbohydrate thinning model. Make sure you sign up to get notified of future Extension events for tree fruit growers! Sign Up Flight Seasonalities of Main Fruit Pests During the Growing Season

Kari and Don are joined for the first time by Dr. Greg Krawczyk, Extension Tree Fruit Entomologist from Penn State. Greg and Don discuss some of the more philosophical aspects of integrated pest management to introduce listeners to Dr. Krawczyk’s work. Make sure you sign up to get notified of future Extension events for tree fruit growers! Sign Up Flight Seasonalities of Main Fruit Pests During th...

Dr. Kari Peter (aka Dr. Tree Fruit) and Don Seifrit start a tree fruit podcast!  In this first episode, they discuss early season tree fruit production disease issues. Episode Host/Speakers: Don Seifrit (host), Kari Peter (speaker) Image credit; Kari Peter Make sure you sign up to get notified of future Extension events for tree fruit growers! Sign Up Flight Seasonalities of Main Fruit Pests Durin...

Kari and Don return for episode 2. In this second episode, they discuss early season tree fruit production disease issues. Episode Host/Speakers: Don Seifrit (host), Kari Peter (speaker) Image credit: T. Baugher Make sure you sign up to get notified of future Extension events for tree fruit growers! Sign Up Flight Seasonalities of Main Fruit Pests During the Growing Season

Kari and Don are joined for the first time by Dr. Rob Crassweller, Extension Horticulturist from Penn State. Kari outlines full bloom disease issues, and Rob discusses frost and fruit set. Episode Host/Speakers: Don Seifrit (host), Kari Peter (speaker), Rob Crassweller (speaker) Image Credit – M. Schupp  Make sure you sign up to get notified of future Extension events for tree fruit growers! Sign...