Why Plant Intensive Orchards?

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

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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?. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Why Plant Intensive Orchards?

Page 1: Why Plant  Intensive Orchards?

Why Plant Intensive Orchards?

Leslie Huffman, Apple SpecialistOntario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural

AffairsHarrow, Ontario

Page 2: Why Plant  Intensive Orchards?

Why Intensive Orchards?

This is a Big Change!

New thinkingLots of learningMany new technologies

Page 3: Why Plant  Intensive Orchards?

Why Intensive Orchards?

Page 4: Why Plant  Intensive Orchards?

Why Intensive Orchards?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

Page 5: Why Plant  Intensive Orchards?

My journey to intensive…

• 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

Page 6: Why Plant  Intensive Orchards?

Why Intensive Orchards?Labour• Change in minimum

wage• Additional cost of

SAWP $13.87/hr

• Aging farmers, and workers

$6.00

$6.50

$7.00

$7.50

$8.00

$8.50

$9.00

$9.50

$10.00Ontario Minimum Wage

Year1995 2004 2006 2007 2008 20092005

Page 7: Why Plant  Intensive Orchards?

Why Intensive Orchards?Potential for mechanization• Platform• Harvest assist

• Uniformity →all labour more efficient

Page 8: Why Plant  Intensive Orchards?

Why Intensive Orchards?

Uniformity• Ease of pruning• Ease of thinning• Ease of mowing• Ease of harvest• What else?

Page 9: Why Plant  Intensive Orchards?

Why Intensive Orchards?Quick response to market

demand- New cultivars

Niche markets?

Gala

Ambrosia Honeycrisp

Page 10: Why Plant  Intensive Orchards?

Why Intensive Orchards?Most efficient sunlight harvestersEvery branch positioned to grow

fruit budsEvery bud positioned to receive

sunlightEvery fruitlet exposed to sprays and

sunlightResult = high yields

Page 11: Why Plant  Intensive Orchards?

Why Intensive Orchards?Happy trees = consistent production = high yields = less shading

good colour easier to spray easier to prune

= happier pickers…

Page 12: Why Plant  Intensive Orchards?

Why Intensive Orchards?

Warning: Need to spend

money to make money!

Page 13: Why Plant  Intensive Orchards?

Why Intensive Orchards?

Warning: Need to follow the

recipe!

Page 14: Why Plant  Intensive Orchards?
Page 15: Why Plant  Intensive Orchards?

Why Intensive Orchards? • Early to crop• High yields• Fruit quality• Labour efficiency• Mechanization• Responds to management

It works!

Page 16: Why Plant  Intensive Orchards?

Plant Intensive Orchards!

ontario.ca/apples

Leslie Huffman, Apple SpecialistOntario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural

AffairsHarrow, Ontario

Page 17: Why Plant  Intensive Orchards?

Plant Intensive Orchards!

ontario.ca/apples

Leslie Huffman, Apple SpecialistOntario Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural

AffairsHarrow, Ontario