Apple Farming News
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The Bumper Apple Harvest continues – Cone Bottom Tanks bring cider makers success
Amongst the growers reporting 2015 to be a record apple harvest are the monks of Ampleforth Abbey whose orchards in the North of England are still harvested by hand. The orchard comprises some 2,000 trees that span over 40 varieties of apple, with some being ready for harvest at different times of the year. Therefore, the yield will span over several months. According to official figures from ...
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EU study on bee-killing pesticides increases pressure for ban expansion
A study by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has linked the spraying of three neonicotinoid pesticides to harmful effects on bees, increasing the pressure on the European Commission to expand a current EU-wide ban to all uses and crops, said Greenpeace. EFSA assessed the safety of pesticides thiamethoxam (produced by Syngenta), clothianidin and imidacloprid (both produced by Bayer) when ...
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Cider Season is Nearly Upon Us – Cone Bottom Tanks at the Ready!
As summer matures, so too do the fruits on the UK’s heaving apple and pear trees. Although Horticulture Week indicates that 2015 will see a slight dip in Europe’s forecast apple and pear harvests, with a 4 per cent dip for apples and 3 for pears, both harvests are still above the average for the last three years. Across the 28 EU member states, 11,974,000 tonnes of apples and ...
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UF/IFAS apps give irrigation, growing tips and more
Looking to save money and water when you irrigate? UF/IFAS scientists have developed an app for that. Want to know what plants to grow in your garden? You guessed it: UF/IFAS has an app for that as well. UF/IFAS’ so-called “smart irrigation apps” include an urban lawn app that estimates how long you’ll need to water your lawn to meet current plant water demand. It uses a ...
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End-of-production LED Lighting Increases Red Pigmentation in Lettuce
Growing vegetables in greenhouses extends crop production seasons in northern latitudes, but the greenhouse environment is far from ideal for providing plants with optimal photosynthetic light. In fact, available photosynthetic daily light in greenhouses can be reduced by up to 50% or more by the structures' glazing material, superstructure, and shading. In northern latitudes, low light is ...
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Life cycle study demonstrates the long-term costs of everyday crops
The environmental and economic costs of a selection of common crops have been determined by a new study, which hopes to improve agricultural sustainability assessments in Europe. The researchers used life cycle analysis on organically farmed tomatoes and pears, and intensively farmed wheat, apples, and lettuce to show the overall impact of agricultural methods. Agriculture accounts for 45% of ...
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Need to know what to spray on citrus trees to keep bugs at bay? There’s an app for that
Florida has nearly 70 million citrus trees on more than 531,500 acres. Now imagine trying to figure out what pesticide to spray on each of those trees to keep them safe from citrus greening. University of Florida researcher James Tansey says the answer is as close as your Android smartphone with a new app developed with ZedX, an information technologies company based in Pennsylvania. The free ...
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National Horticulture Convention sowing the Seeds For Industry’s Future
The diverse and dynamic range of careers in horticulture will be on display when a group of year 11 and 12 students descend on the National Horticulture Convention at the Gold Coast on Friday 26 June. During their attendance at the Convention, incorporating both AUSVEG and Apple and Pear Australia Ltd (APAL), students from Loganlea, Beenleigh and Noosa District State High Schools will ...
By AUSVEG
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EPA plans temporary pesticide restrictions while bees feed
If honeybees are busy pollinating large, blooming croplands, farmers wanting to spray toxic pesticides will soon have to buzz off, the Environmental Protection Agency is proposing. A federal rule to be proposed Thursday would create temporary pesticide-free zones when certain plants are in bloom around bees that are trucked from farm to farm by professional beekeepers, which are the majority of ...
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Horticulture’s biggest event to inject millions into Gold Coast economy
Australia’s largest horticultural event, the National Horticulture Convention, Trade Show, and Awards for Excellence, is forecast to boost the Gold Coast economy by over $2 million over the course of the three day event. Now incorporating both AUSVEG and Apple and Pear Australia Limited (APAL), the Convention will run from 25-27 June and is set to attract over 1,400 local and international ...
By AUSVEG
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Sandwich system found effective in organic apple orchards
In organic apple orchards, one of the most serious challenges for growers is determining ways to limit weed competition while improving soil quality and ensuring high yields of quality apples. Scientists from the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences published a study of orchard floor management systems (HortScience, March 2015) that revealed the benefits of using "sandwich systems" in ...
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Apple Joins Ceres Company Network
Ceres announced today that its board of directors has approved Apple as the newest member of the Ceres Company Network. Companies that join the Ceres network demonstrate an executive-level commitment to sustainability and strive to further integrate sustainability into their business strategies. In joining the Ceres network, Apple has committed to continue to improve its social and environmental ...
By Ceres
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Semios Receives Canadian Regulatory Approval for Aerosol Pheromones in Agriculture
Semios, provider of real-time agricultural information and precision pest management tools, has been given approval by Health Canada, Pest Management Regulatory Authority for their Semios OFM Plus pheromone product that disrupts the mating of oriental fruit moth. “We have already had great success rates with this product in the US and Europe, so we are especially pleased to have the ...
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Apple steps up Efforts to Go Green in China
Apple says it's boosting efforts to go green in China by partnering with conservationists to promote sustainable forestry for paper production. CEO Tim Cook also said in a statement Sunday that he will try to get Apple's Chinese suppliers and contract manufacturers to use renewable energy to power their factories. That could take years, Cook conceded. But Apple hopes to set an example by ...
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Revolutionary pest surveillance method to be launched at the 2015 National Horticulture Convention
A revolutionary new pest surveillance system that will help growers monitor insect populations will be on show at the 2015 National Horticulture Convention, Trade Show and Awards for Excellence. The Trapview Smart Trap System utilises innovative technology in a fully integrated system to provide a simplified solution for growers, agronomists and researchers to monitor the levels of various ...
By AUSVEG
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Apple digs in on green with China solar, US forest projects
In a quest to be more green, Apple says it is investing in Chinese solar power and preserving forests that make environmentally friendly paper. The initiatives come as the tech giant this year met a self-imposed goal of powering all its U.S. operations with renewable energy to reduce carbon emissions - initiatives that have won high marks from environmental groups. On Thursday, Apple announced ...
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Select groundcover management systems found viable for organically managed apple orchard
Determining and implementing orchard management practices that can improve soil organic matter is one of the primary goals of the USDA's National Organic Program. For producers in the southeastern United States, where interest in small-scale and organically managed orchards is growing, the challenge can be finding combinations of groundcover management systems and organic nutrient sources that ...
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Think Spring! RainwiseNET PRO adds 3 New Degree Day Options
We are pleased to announce that we have added three new features to RainwiseNet PRO. Users will now have the option to access valuable data for: Growing Degree-Days The way in which plants grow is strongly influenced by the ambient temperature. Growing degree days take aspects of local weather into account and allow gardeners to predict, or in greenhouses, control the plants’ rate of ...
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Aurecon launches ‘Future Cities’ app for Apple iPad
The app has been designed for Apple iPads and is available for free download from the Apple iStore. It features an interactive schematic detailing the technical, engineering and advisory services provided to our Government clients and how these elements interact. ‘Future cities’ are those that make optimal use of their resources, location and access to markets and ensure the ...
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Producing strawberries in high-pH soil at high elevations
Fruit and vegetable production in high-elevation areas can be a difficult enterprise. Variable weather and soil conditions typical of these regions, such as the southwestern United States, present multiple challenges for growers. "High frequency and intensity of late spring frosts in semiarid climates have made fruit production challenging," explained Shengrui Yao, corresponding author of a study ...
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