1996 IDFTA Summer Tour, Michigan
Monday, June 23 Orchard Tours
...of the Belding area (Northeast of Grand Rapids) and MSU
Clarksville Horticultural Research Center
Tom Rasch Orchards, Belding, MI
Tom Rasch Jr. tells Phil Schwallier (MSU Extension) "this 9 (M.9) grows
a BIG apple." Tom and his father planted 6,000 young apple trees this
year, mostly high density blocks on M.9.
Kropf Orchards, Belding, MI
Chris Kropf, a graduate of the Wenatchee Valley College (WA) Pomology program,
explains one of the oldest vertical axis plantings on their farm. Speaking
of fruit thinning, Chris said "Accel and Sevin did a beautiful job
on Empires."
Kropf Fruit Company, Belding, MI
Matt McCallum (l.), assistant editor-publisher Great
Lakes Fruit Grower News, Jon Clements (c.), University of Vermont and
Win Cowgill (r.), Rutgers Cooperative Extension compared notes at the Kropf
Fruit Company headquaters. Kropf is one of the largest apple packers and
shippers in Michigan operating out of a new 'state-of-the-art' packing plant,
with the lastest in computer controled packing, grading and CA storage.
Michigan State U. Clarksville Horticultural Experiment Station
Phil Schwallier (l.), Clarksville Experiment Station Coordinator, and Dr.
Ron Perry, Extension Specialist in Horticulture discussed numerous plantings
at the station including: several NC-140
apple rootstock and system trails; NE-183
Apple cultivar trial; Gerber processing cultivar and system trial; and a
grant-funded IPM trial focusing on goundwater quality and other apple pest
and disease interactions.
Tunnel Sprayer manufactured by Munckhof Company, Horst Holland. This brand
new recirculating tunnel sprayer was demonstrated. It is best for spraying
dwarf trees in high density systems, especially where spray drift is a concern,
The 'CurTec' Sprayer, invented at Michigan State University, was demonstrated
in a sweet cherry planting at the Clarksville Horticultural Experiment Station.
'Mr Liberty', AKA Jon Clements, inspects numerous platings of Liberty,
a high quality scab-resistant apple, at the MSU Clarksville Station
