New Research Aims To Help Northern NY Apple Growers Boost Income

With funding from the Northern New York Agricultural Development Program, Cornell University horticultural sciences professor Terence Robinson has been mentoring northern New York apple growers with the latest region-specific research data on how using new high value varieties, disease-resistant rootstocks, high planting densities for early production, and partial labor mechanization can help them reduce costs and maximize profits.

“This research needed to be conducted in the Northern New York region due to its colder climate and unique growing conditions,” Robinson says. “The results from high density orchard research conducted elsewhere in New York State are not directly transferable to Northern New York orchards.”

Robinson’s 19-page report, “Improved Apple Orchard Management Systems and Rootstocks for Norther NY”  compares the production and fruit quality of five orchard production systems and several new disease-resistant rootstocks with McIntosh and Honey crisp apples at five northeastern NY farms. “The high density tall spindle system has been the most productive in the Champlain Valley, with the highest and earliest production. Production began with a small crop in the second year and very high yields by the fifth year,” Robinson says. “In 2009, (year 8 of one research trial), the tall spindle system produced yields of 1,200 to 1,600 bushels per acre.”

While Honeycrisp trees on all rootstocks and systems yielded less than the McIntosh, the cumulative crop value of the Honeycrisp yield was four times that of the McIntosh due to higher fruit price and larger fruit size.