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Why Plant Intensive Orchards?

Why Plant Intensive Orchards?. Leslie Huffman, Apple Specialist Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs Harrow, Ontario. This is a Big Change! N ew thinking Lots of learning Many new technologies. Why Intensive Orchards?. Why Intensive Orchards?.

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Why Plant Intensive Orchards?

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  1. Why Plant Intensive Orchards? Leslie Huffman, Apple Specialist Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs Harrow, Ontario

  2. This is a Big Change! New thinking Lots of learning Many new technologies Why Intensive Orchards?

  3. Why Intensive Orchards?

  4. Intensive orchards offer the best opportunity for profit Earlier production on new orchards Higher yields on established orchards High quality fruit better grade-out higher prices Why Intensive Orchards?

  5. 1980’s – slender spindle 1992 IFTA Que. - Vertical Axe 1993 IFTA Pennsylvania 25 ft. tall Vertical Axe horticulturally contented….. Vertical Axe → Solaxe → Solen… Widespread success of dwarf rootstocks 2005 and onward… Tall Spindle My journey to intensive…

  6. Why Intensive Orchards? Labour • Change in minimum wage • Additional cost of SAWP $13.87/hr • Aging farmers, and workers

  7. Why Intensive Orchards? Potential for mechanization • Platform • Harvest assist • Uniformity →all labour more efficient

  8. Why Intensive Orchards? Uniformity • Ease of pruning • Ease of thinning • Ease of mowing • Ease of harvest • What else?

  9. Quick response to market demand New cultivars Why Intensive Orchards? Gala • Niche markets? Ambrosia Honeycrisp

  10. Most efficient sunlight harvesters Every branch positioned to grow fruit buds Every bud positioned to receive sunlight Every fruitlet exposed to sprays and sunlight Result = high yields Why Intensive Orchards?

  11. Happy trees = consistent production = high yields = less shading good colour easier to spray easier to prune = happier pickers… Why Intensive Orchards?

  12. Why Intensive Orchards? Warning: Need to spend money to make money!

  13. Why Intensive Orchards? Warning: Need to follow the recipe!

  14. Why Intensive Orchards? • Early to crop • High yields • Fruit quality • Labour efficiency • Mechanization • Responds to management It works!

  15. Plant Intensive Orchards!ontario.ca/apples Leslie Huffman, Apple Specialist Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs Harrow, Ontario

  16. Plant Intensive Orchards!ontario.ca/apples Leslie Huffman, Apple Specialist Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs Harrow, Ontario

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