Fruit Tree Pruning Demonstration February 21

Feb 03, 2015

By Debbie Roos

North Carolina Cooperative Extension will offer a fruit tree pruning demonstration on Saturday February 21 from 10:00 am – noon at Howard’s Farm a few miles west of Pittsboro on Hwy 64. Annual training and pruning are needed for fruit trees to develop proper shape and form but many growers are intimidated by pruning and neglect this important task. Properly trained and pruned trees will yield high-quality fruit much sooner and live significantly longer. Dr. Mike Parker, North Carolina State University Fruit Tree Specialist, will demonstrate proper pruning techniques for apple and peach trees.

NCSU Fruit Tree Specialist Dr. Mike Parker (left) with grower Harold Howard

This demonstration is open to the general public and appropriate for both commercial growers and home gardeners. There is no cost to attend but a RSVP is requested. To RSVP, send an email to extension.programs@chathamnc.org and put “pruning demo” in the subject line.

For more information contact Debbie Roos at 919-542-8202.

Source: ncsu.edu

Video: Developing disease resistance in new wheat varieties

Dr. Colin Hiebert, research scientist with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada – Morden, is focused on developing new tools that wheat breeders can use to improve, diversify and strengthen disease resistance in new wheat varieties. This includes new genomic tools that address resistance to five diseases including: Fusarium head blight, leaf rust, stripe rust, stem rust and common bunt.

Learn more about how research conducted at AAFC-Morden will impact wheat variety development, production and profitability for the future. This research is part of the Canadian National Wheat Cluster and funding is provided through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Alberta Grains, Sask Wheat, Manitoba Crop Alliance, Western Grains Research Foundation and Canadian Field Crop Research Alliance.