GOALS: My overall goal is to develop improved orchard production systems including spacing, training system, canopy and crop management strategies, tree forms, planting configurations, rootstocks, irrigation, fertilization and growth regulators that improve yield, fruit quality and profitability of apple, pear, cherry, peach and plum fruits. I have 6 sub-goals under my main goal: • Understand the fundamental principles of orchard system performance by studying the effects of tree form, orchard planting configuration, pruning system and rootstock on light interception and utilization by the canopy and their relation to yield, precocity, fruit quality and pest control. • Determine the profitability of different orchard systems by developing sound data on performance, fruit quality and costs to properly evaluate the economic potential of different orchard systems and management practices to assist growers in making wise investment decisions. • Evaluate new apple rootstocks for adaptability and performance under New York conditions that will improve orchard productivity, survivability and profitability. • Develop improved crop load management strategies that will reduce the risk and improve predictability of producing the most profitable fruit sizes. • Develop improved canopy management practices that will allow trees to be managed at a variety of spacings without excessive vigor, with minimal pruning and with good light distribution . • Develop improved management practices that will maximize new tree growth of newly planted orchards to reduce the turn-around time and investment associated with orchard renewal.

I have no formal teaching appointment but I enjoy teaching and look for ways to be involved. I participate in graduate education and I have participated in the development and teaching of the graduate woody plant physiology course Hort 620. Alan Lakso and I team taught 1/3 of the course. I also give guest lectures in the Orchard Management class which is taught by Ian Merwin and Mineral Nutrition of Horticultural Crops which is led by Chris Wein. I appreciate being involved in the teaching program.