MSU and the Organic Apple Team invite you to visit the Clarksville Horticulture Experiment Station Organic Apple Orchard on Thursday, June 16, 2005 from 1:00 to 4:00.  The five acre site with over 2500 trees is in the fifth growing season. We will review the ground floor management, soil biology/fertility, and pest management strategies and answer questions about organic certification and marketing.

The project, funded primarily by Project GREEEN and a USDA Sustainable Agriculture Grant through the Michigan Agriculture Experiment Station includes over 40 faculty, staff, extension agents, farmers, advisors, and students.  Project results will benefit both organic and conventional growers.
 

• Soil Quality and Fertility
• Tree and Ground Floor Management
• Pest and Disease Management
• Orchard Management Education

• Marketing, Costs and Certification

Primary presentation and discussion topics will include:

Building soil quality, fertility and biological diversity. Alfalfa hay mulch, compost, and clover are the primary sources of nutrients for most of the orchard.  Routine soil sampling has been used to document changes in  nutrient availability and the quantity of bacteria and fungi in the soil as the length of time in organic production increases.

Orchard ground floor and tree management. A comparison of three root stocks of varying vigor levels and three different methods (mulching, flaming, Swiss Sandwich System) of managing the vegetation competing with the tree roots has generated differences in tree growth and soil fertility.  The results are applicable to all orchards.

Disease and insect monitoring and management. Primary concerns are apple scab, fire blight, codling moth and plum curculio. The orchard is large enough for testing a variety of management strategies including trapping, attractants, organic approved sprays and introduction of plant biodiversity.  The planting includes three cultivars of different disease susceptibility and two different management strategies.

The field day will begin at 1:00 PM  sharp  with wagon transport from Clarksville headquarters into the orchard plots and continue to 4:00 PM.  There will be three stations in the field and first time participants will visit each station in small groups.  Return participants will take part in a separate tour that builds on the introductory foundations. A printed summary will be provided.

REGISTRATION:  To help us prepare adequate transportation and handouts, please RSVP to Sandy Allen by Monday, June 13, 2005.  Let us know if you are a first time or return participant.

Voice:  517-355-5191 x 1339
Email:  allens@msu.edu
  -or-
REGISTER ONLINE

For additional information call CHES at 616-693-2193 or email the station at:  stewar28@msu.edu

DIRECTIONS:  Take I-96 to Clarksville Exit #59.  Go South 1/2 mile to Portland Road then west 3/4 mile.  The Experiment Station is on the north side of the road.