2023 Tree Fruit Schools
This year's orchard fruit schools will be held the week of Feb 20-24. Details are provided below: Mon, Feb 20 - The Winchester School, Winchester. Tues, Feb 11, 8:30 AM - The Madison-Rappahannock school, Graves Mt Lodge, Syria. Wed, Feb 12, 9:00 AM - The Nelson-Albemarle (Central Virginia) school, Nelson Center, Lovingston. Thur, Feb 13, 8:15 AM - The Botetourt-Roanoke school, Brambleton Center, Roanoke. Fri, Feb 14, 8:00 AM -Patrick-Carroll school.
Spotted lanternfly a new invasive concern: Update on range expansion
Spotted lanternfly egg
first hatch for 2022 was reported on 21 April. First
adult emergence for
2022 was noted on 11
July.
This new invasive pest of vineyards and other small fruit crops moved
into eastern Pennsylvania in 2014, and has been
spreading.
During the 2018 season, the infestation zone in Virginia expanded from approximately 1 square mile block in Winchester, Frederick County, to about 18 square miles, and 40 square miles in fall of 2019. By the end of the 2020 season, the zone encompassed 140 square miles. On May 28, 2019, the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announced the establishment of a quarantine to limit the spread of SLF; this zone was significantly expanded in July 2022.
As of 2022, in addition to the original counties of Frederick, Clarke and Warren, SLF is established in Albemarle, Augusta, Carroll, Page, Prince William, Rockingham, Rockbridge, Shenandoah and Wythe Counties, plus the cities of Buena Vista, Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Lynchburg, Manassas, Manassas Park, Staunton and Waynesboroor a map of the current Virginia distribution. This includes the entire Shenandoah Valley, with spread further into the Virginia Piedmont.
Links to the
quarantine map and quarantine protocol may be found here. One of the requirements of the protocol is one person at each operation becoming certified to insect produces and conveyances leaving the quaranine zone. The
certification program may be found here.
This
pest poses an important risk for grape, orchard and tree
crops.
Click here for a recorded talk on this species. A fact sheet is available from Virginia Tech (a
USDA fact sheet is available in Spanish). In
addition, there is a Virginia Tech Pest Alert, with
additional information on recognition and reporting (this is
also available in Spanish). Specific fact
sheets for vineyards and residential areas have been posted. Now
that spotted lanternfly has been found in Virginia, it will be important to follow its spread
through the state. For a current Virginia map, click here.
To report a suspected
find, please follow this link: https://ask2.extension.org/widget.html?team_id=1981?default_location=VA?default_county=All.
2021 Orchard Meetings April 7, 2021 In-Orchard Meeting - Silver Creek Orchard – 160 Massie Lane, Tyro, VA 22976. From Rt 29 south of Lovingston, turn right on Rt 56/ Tye Brook Hwy, go 1.1 miles turn right onto Roseland Rd, 3.9 miles turn left onto Rt 151/Patrick Henry Hwy, take an immediate right
onto Rt 56West/Crabtree Falls Hwy, 4.2 miles turn left onto Pharsalia Rd, 1.3 miles turn right onto Massie Lane-Orchard will be located on the right.
April 14 - Zoom Meeting 11:30am - Seasonal Updates with extension specialist. Dr. Bergh, Dr. Sherif and Dr. Acimovic https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/83225190429
Week of April 19, 2021 Frederick County- TBD
April
21 - In-Orchard Meeting - Saunders Brothers Orchard- Harewood Stop- 199 Harewood Lane – Roseland, VA 22967
April 28 - Zoom Meeting 11:30am - Seasonal Updates with
extension specialist. Dr. Bergh, Dr. Acimovic and Horticulture in-depth lecture by Dr. Sherif https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/83225190429
May 5 - In-Orchard Meeting - Jenkins Orchard, James Jenkins - from Woodville VA, turn left on to Rt. 621, go about 2 miles. The orchard is on the left by the packing shed. (355 Yancey Rd, Woodville, VA 22749
May 12 - Zoom Meeting 11:30am - Seasonal Updates with extension specialist. Dr. Bergh, Dr. Sherif and Dr. Acimovic https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/83225190429
May 26 - Zoom Meeting 11:30am - Seasonal Updates with extension specialist. Dr. Sherif, Dr. Acimovic and Entomology in-depth lecture by Dr. Bergh
https://virginiatech.zoom.us/j/83225190429
June 2 - In-Orchard Meeting - Williams Orchard, Tommy and Eddie Williams, Flint Hill Rt. 211 east to Ben Venue. At
the crossroads, turn north on to Rt. 729 and go approximately 2½ miles. Orchard is on the left. (3 Williams Farm Lane, Flint Hill, VA 22627)
June 9 - In-Orchard Meeting- Carroll County- CANCELLED - Contact Ashley Edwards
aledwards@vt.edu