We are in the process of collecting best practices from our orchards and those of the other state chapters to provide a manual of alternatives that would allow an orchard manager to easily create an orchard plan. The objective is to provide a list of the issues encountered, and allow an orchard manager, and their Orchard Committee and Science Coordinator to use the manual to devise an effective approach for their orchard.

There are many considerations when purtting together an orchard plan. What is the layout? How will the seedlings be protected from voles and deer? Does the soil need amendment? What do we do if we need to irrigate? Can we (do we want to) use chemicals, what will be used and who, how will that be applied?

Each of these questions has been addressed numerous times, and the expertise is there to help the orchard manager draft their plan.

View the draft manual here.