Skeena Cherry Pruning

It's cherry pruning time! We met with our fieldman Tom Pitts last week to get his advice pruning our Skeenas and Sweethearts. Tom's a natural teacher. He doesn't know it, but I do. If he ever gets tired of field work, he would be a great post secondary horticulture teacher. Bill and I always enjoy his visits with all his excitement about farming.

His advice/lessons usually involve him thinking out loud about the latest research and grower feedback concerning the topic at hand. In this case, the latest thinking is that Skeenas produce more if they're not tipped. He recommended we leave the tops. Basically, the less you prune, the more they fruit.

Tom offered to prune the first tree and think out loud as he made choices on what to cut and what to leave.



The first tree Tom pruned for us he "stubbed/tipped" the branches.



Tom is pointing at a one year old shoot that has been tipped to promote branching and growth.  He told us to cut limbs we left last year, as one year shoots, back to the now 2 year old wood with fruit buds.  He told us last year and again this year to leave lateral or flat one year old shoots.

This tree was not stubbed/tipped. You'll take my word for it right? I know this picture doesn't really show what I had hoped. He said we should cut back to the fruit. When we spray this summer with a moderate crop load we'll want to use a more dilute spray.



Tom was on fire teaching and cutting and then ..... a sprinkler line got in between his pruning blades. We had a good laugh over the ease of slicing irrigation lines.



Are you seeing what I'm seeing? Beautiful fruit buds! This is because we tied the limb down so it would grow flat. Horizontal limbs produce more fruit than vertical limbs. After the crew prunes, we'll send them in to tie down limbs.

After Tom's demonstration Bill gave it a go. We think we're ready to bring the crew in to show them this year's pruning plan. Overall, the trees look really good. The fruit buds indicate we'll have a moderate crop load if they all set and don't split. Last summer about the middle of July, we had a little rain that hit most of the state of Washington. Everybody's Skeenas ruptured on the suture line of the cherry. They didn't just have a thin split. No, they ruptured and splayed open like a ripe watermelon dropped on the carport.  I was so mad! Up until that point, it was looking like we were going to finally have a decent crop with this young block. Cherries have made me crazy before but my New Year's resolution is to be a Zen cherry farmer. I also want to be as successful as the Peebles brothers who can grow 14 ton to the acre, so my resolution is to be somewhere between Zen and 14 ton to the acre.

Last spring we met with the Peebles brothers to get their secret. They were so nice and eager to share what they've learned. Are you ready? Write this down, take a little note to remind you in case you didn't know (Oh, I broke out into George Strait lyrics):
1. Nitrogen
2. Limb tying
3. Zinc

We'll discuss this more later!

First Aid Training

When we have our audit for Safe Quality Food, one of the requirements will be that our farm has someone on the premises with a first aid/CPR card. Bam! Mission accomplished! Three of our supervising employees earned their first aid/CPR cards last week in a full day training at Chelan Fruit here in Chelan.   

Way to go, Arturo! Notice the fine pruning cuts Arturo skillfully chooses in this block of Union Valley Honeycrisps? At the end of this week, he will move the crew to Purtteman to begin pruning the cherry trees.

You rock, Rodolfo! Notice the freshly painted walls behind Rodolfo? He and Suzy finished painting all of the interior walls in the Union Valley worker housing. The next step will be to plumb in utility sinks and add new cabinets to Unit D. The "D" use to stand for disaster but now represents delightful. So delightful, in fact, that Victor has decided to move from Unit C to Unit D. Rodolfo has become quite the carpenter and plumber through this renovation process.

High five, Cuco! Cuco and Mario have been pruning the SweeTangos in Purtteman. We wanted this block to get a customized pruning job by two critical thinkers. That meant Cuco and Mario!  The pruning goal in the SweeTangos this year is to slow the growth in the tops of the trees and to promote some fill in with limbs in the lower sections.

Kanpai, Bill! We hiked 3 miles above the Anglemyer Place on Sunday, and Bill found an antler.  Notice the half rack poking out of Bill's back pocket?  Perhaps the antler was a sign that yes indeed these woods need a man-cave? Back at the car, we toasted our hiking achievement as the snow started falling. 

Northwest Wholesale Organic Meeting

I need to begin with another comment on micro pigs to clarify a concern Natalie had after reading my last post. She thought that my suggestion of raising "organic micro pigs" sounded like I was planning on them as an edible farm commodity. Great Scott, No! When Bill heard that, he thought it was very funny. As he was cracking himself up he said, "Organic micro pigs could be the pork industry's answer to the Cornish game hen."

Right now I'm gazing adoringly at these two little micros that went face painting, and I'm wondering where does Bill get his sense of humor?

On Valentine's Day, we attended the annual Northwest Wholesale (NWW) Organic meeting. It is the only horticulture meeting that focuses completely on organic practices in North Central Washington. Here are some of the important points we brought home:

• Stimplex from Acadian Plant Sciences is a plant growth regulator that comes from seaweed and improves just about every attribute of a cherry crop according to the salesman. For best results apply three times over the development of the cherries from bloom until shuckfall. It also benefits apples. In particular, it can increase color if applied 14 -21 days before harvest. We're thinking our trellis block of Honeycrisp could benefit from this.
• In 2010, organic sales grew 12% and demand is still growing. Organic Galas and Honeycrisps are up 24% and Pinatas are up 190%. Fujis, reds and goldens are flat.
• There has been a 25% decline in organic cherry acreage probably because of the next bit of information. The price trend per box of organic cherries is flat. Input costs are up 70% since 1995.
• Organic farmers are going to lose antibiotics for fireblight control in 2014. This is true for conventional farmers as well. Hopefully, the industry task force, a subset of the National Organic Program, will come up with a successful biocontrol by then. Harold Austin of Zirkle Farms is a grower on the task force if farmers want to contribute input.
• Organic herbicides don't work. Tillage greatly lowers the soil's organic matter so organic input needs to be high! More reason to put on compost.
• DiPel  for leafroller control is best at temperatures above 65 degrees. Use the Decision Aid system and do 2 applications for 90% control. Three applications may be necessary for a summer generation. Don't tank mix with products that raise pH level. Two mph tops with sprayer to ensure adequate coverage.
• ProVide makes cells elongate and increase cell plasticity. This decreases russet that is caused by weather. Do 4 applications 1 week apart beginning at petal fall. We're thinking we should try this on a few of the SweeTangos.
• ReTain delays and reduces disorders in maturity. We've used this on the Red Chief block of Honeycrisps and think maybe we should try it on a few rows of the trellis block.
• ProGibb delays harvest and creates firmer fruit. Bill's plan this year is to apply one time at the translucent stage (end of pit hardening) at 400 gal/acre. The optimum temperature range is 70 - 80 degrees and the higher the humidity the better. If the humidity is high but the temperature is 65 degrees go ahead and spray because the humidity is very important. Sprayer travel speed should be 2 mph tops.  

Spring Lambs

I know I'm supposed to talk about spring lambs, but I keep thinking about micro pigs. Somebody in Japan would like one as well. I'm thinking micro pigs are going global! I'm going to talk to Bill about Diamondback expanding into organic micro pigs. Since their originally from Devon England, I would need to interact with them using a British accent to help them feel at home. This would also be good practice for when John visits.

Grandma, Grandpa and I visited Mike and Mary Sherer's farm to see their new spring lambs. We think this barn is gorgeous and a fantastic home for sheep. Where the sheep and barn are was once a 4 1/2 acre block of Red Delicious apples that Bill and I use to farm. Up above the barn on the left is the Golden Delicious block of apples we farmed last fall. Since we expanded with the Union Valley orchards, we made the decision to discontinue farming this block.

This is the barn kitty who thinks she's part sheep.

These sheep are Katahdins and are a breed of hair sheep. The mature ewes usually have twins. These lambs are three weeks old.

Tucked away inside the barn is the newest family. These lambs are just three days old. Mary puts them in flannel jackets for the first couple of weeks.

Mary had a little lamb!

Grandpa had a little lamb! They have the softest noses.

See how soft it is? And they make sweet little grunting noises.

Grandma also has a little lamb and lots of memories to share about our goat farming days. On our hobby farm in Cheney, we had goat babies every spring. I loved our goats and joyously milked two times a day.

What a little show off!

See what I mean? Barn kitty is part of the sheep family.

While Mary gave us background information about her flock, Miss Monkey, the brown ewe joined our conversation. I tried taking pictures of her face, but she always tried to put her lips on my lens. There's a reason why Miss Monkey's so friendly. Besides the fact she's very pregnant and eager for distractions, her early lamb days were spent in the house with Mike and Mary, so she imprinted on them.

This is Miss Monkey in the kitchen. She does kind of look like a monkey!

Here she is with Bentley, the farm/house dog. Bentley's a wildlife enthusiast and occasionally loses his farm priviledges. 

 Miss Monkey strolling the beaches with Mike.

Artists on the Farm part 2

Every fall my sister-in-law Linda has a quilting weekend at the condo with her quiltist friends. They throw open the windows, set up their individual work stations, and set out chocolate snacks for a flurry of quilting.

Linda was sewing pillow cases for the wedding quilt she made for Shyla and Grayson. By putting the pieces up on the wall, it allowed her to step back and assess the overall design.

The newlyweds were delighted. The quilt store owner, Rose, said the colors and design were calming. I think they hint towards fertility....

Sari recycles chicken feed sacks by sewing them into totes. She sells them at the farmer's market. Hey, I think I need a tote like that!

Back at Linda's house, she's showing Bill her quilting machine. She hopes to hire out for quilting as soon as she gets the machine's tension correct. Whenever there's machinery, the Clark brothers are interested. 

If Linda was actually quilting, this is sort of what it would look like.

Grandma is 73 years old. She has been sewing for at least 63 years, and these are her first quilting blocks ever. She is helping the ladies at the Habitat Store make a quilt for a fund raiser.

This is the bear paw design. I asked her how she liked quilting. She said it's very precise and involves a lot of ironing. She said she would sit and sew for a minute then stand and iron for a minute. She didn't really answer my question, so we'll see......Grandma's hard to predict because she's always learning new things.

Speaking of learning new things, I've been learning lots of new things since Natalie's been home!

1. I needed a complete make over. She assisted me at Nordstrom's when we went for her job interview in Seattle. Thankfully, she's very tactful and helpful.
2. I have renewed exercise energy! Oh my gosh, her I-Pod music really motivates me. One of her Australian songs by the Hilltop Hoods just made me get off the elliptical and dance.
3. Turns out I love Reese's Puffs breakfast cereal and Fritos dipped in Tostitos Salsa con Queso. Good thing I have renewed exercise energy!
4. I also love micro-pigs.

 John told Natalie that these little pigs are very popular in the UK. I can understand why!

Artists on the Farm

Breath taking wouldn't you agree? We were on our way home from Wenatchee and noticed the moon over the lake. Of course I pulled over, and Bill generously offered to position himself over the hood of our car to get this shot while 20 cars drove by. Upon re-entering the car with frost on his 'stache, I asked him if he felt like an artist. He said, "No, I felt like a ...... tourist!"

Grandma's bread is a work of art. Every week she shares a loaf with us. She adds whole grains, so it has the most wonderful texture. One afternoon, Natalie baked with Grandma and brought home the recipe. We discovered one of the secrets to Grandma's perfect loaves....don't tell I told.....it's extra yeast.

We found this cup in the hippy camp above our house. As it ages, it takes on an artful form, and the mystery around this vacated camp grows. We ask ourselves, "Why did hippies hike a mile up a hill to dig holes in the ground to sleep?" And we also wonder, "Why did the hippies haul tubs and cups without a water source?" And of course Natalie has to ask, "How do we know they were hippies?"

Grandpa is modeling BBQ aprons Grandma made for the Back Country Horseman auction. Grandma's aprons are always a hit with the horse group in Twisp. Oh, and her pies cause a ruckus as well!

Thanks Grandpa! We like that apron too!

Wait Grandpa! That's our favorite for Valentine's Day!

And don't you fret, Grandma makes aprons for the cowgirls too!

Grandma knows cowgirls love flowers!

But we all agree Grandma's best work for 2011 was Shyla's wedding dress! There was a rumor on the farm that Grandma is considering making another wedding dress just for fun and then selling it. We'll keep you posted!



Columbia Fruit Packers Winter Meeting

This is a picture of two of the leaders at Columbia Fruit Packers. Jim Wade is president on the left and his son Mike Wade is the manager on the right. I didn't know it until today, but Mike Wade is also a winemaker/winery owner of Fielding Hills Winery.

Our Honeycrisp returns at Stemilt had been a disappointment for several years, so we decided in 2010 to try a couple of other sheds that had had better results. Columbia Fruit Packers was one of the two we tried. We were pleased with their results, so we did the same thing again this year.

We attended their winter grower meeting, and had a few noteworthy take homes to share:

• California has had a really warm winter so the cherry industry is anticipating an earlier start this year.
• A lot of acreage is going into Rainiers.
• Consumers really like the clam shell packaging.
• Facebook/social media is huge for advertising.
• The apple market has had excellent movement with good prices this year. 45% of crop sold to date.
• Export market has had a decent year with some port closures. India had a fumigation issue but the southern hemisphere and Mexico are picking up.
• Consumers like sliced apples, so that market has seen big growth. This is particularly important in helping keep the processor market better. Many tons of apples are sliced and sold fresh market that would have otherwise ended up as juice or peelers.
• Honeycrisps are hugely popular. Retailers are clamoring for them.
• Galas continue to do well.
• Organic market does better later in the season after the initial rush.
• This year fruit condition was bad. We had the cool wet spring and a late harvest by two weeks. Lots of bruising occurring with Grannys, Goldens and Pink Ladys.
• Processor prices better this year!
• Food safety certificates will be required for all harvested fruit in 2012. This is the demand from the nation's largest retailers. Columbia Fruit will not guarantee any non-certified fruit. Non-certified fruit will incur additional costs for the trouble to segregate it from the rest of the fruit. Columbia Fruit has adopted the Global GAP food safety program. We've adopted the Safe Quality Foods program through Stemilt. The certificate we receive from Stemilt will be recognized by Columbia and other sheds.

Tim Smith, the WSU Extension Tree Fruit Specialist spoke about pests, sprays and the Western Cherry Fruit Fly.

• In 2010, Spotted Wing Drosophila (fruit fly) was the new pest.
• Cherry fruit flies come out later in May about 4 weeks before Bings are harvested. They peak about harvest time. They are around 10 days to 2 weeks before harvest.
• Drosophila doesn't like hot dry conditions. Infestations will occur at low levels in the trees.
• Haviland trap is the best one of everything tried last year. It allows for a high volume of vinegar and the more holes the better. Apple cider vinegar was the most popular with the fruit flies.
• Cherries are the first commodity in NCW that Drosophila like.
• Begin trapping June 23rd. Numbers are low until about August 18th and then it climbs through October 6th.
• Use GF 120 up to 3-4 weeks before harvest. 2 weeks before harvest, start to apply Entrust if Drosophila appears.
• When you start your first GA sprays also start your GF 120 sprays.
• Entrust is hard on beneficial insects like lady bugs that fight Black Cherry Aphid.
• Powdery Mildew is the result of humidity and shade. Hold off on first irrigation as long as possible. Cherries are the 2nd most drought tolerant fruit trees.

OK so now you're really smart about tree fruit. You've probably worked up an appetite? I tried this fabulous soup recipe this week, and it was a huge hit. If you love fresh mushrooms, you're really going to like this!

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/hungarian-mushroom-soup/

Housing Improvements

We've been working on the Union Valley (U.V.) worker housing this week. Suzy and Rodolfo have been helping us.

This is their youngest son, Grayson. At this point in the morning, Grayson was starting to feel comfortable with the whole housing fix - up arrangement. Before that, he was shy and quiet as we all ogled over him. Then as we adults started talking and working and ignoring him, he started to voice his thoughts louder and louder.

Suzy was one of my students a long time ago when I was a parapro at the elementary school in Chelan. She still has the same beautiful smile that she had in second grade. And it is so fun that she named one of her sons Grayson since our son-in-law is also Grayson! We think Grayson sounds like Great son.

Back to the work details....These units need fresh paint and miscellaneous repairs. We're working in Units A & B in these photos.

Rodolfo is filling the holes in the wall. 

The ivory semi-gloss did a nice job of spiffing up the kitchen. Unit D is another story. It's going to need a lot more than a coat of paint. In this case, D stands for disgusting or disaster or demolition. None of us can believe a family with children lived there in those conditions. The housing fix-up is going to take more time and money than we initially thought.