5 May 2026 - Recent Weather Impacts on Pomes & Stones with Win Cowgill, Scab and Fire Blight Updates

Win Cowgill is an emeritus Rutgers Professor who currently owns his own consulting company called Win Enterprises where he consults on horticulture and pomology. And consults from New Jersey up to Maine. Kerik continues to talk about getting through extended/multiple apple scab infection periods, and the lack of fire blight risk in a cold bloom.This week on Scaffolds, I talk to Win Cowgill an emeritus Rutgers professor about what is going on in the north east region with all of the freezes and some options for what to do if you have damage in both apple and peach, Kerik gives us an update on scab and fire blight management strategy, and Anna closes the episode with the state of the state update on phenology, degree days, and trap captures around the state. LInk from Win CowgillMSU Critical Spring Temperatures for Tree Fruit Bud Development Stages https://www.canr.msu.edu/fruit/uploads/files/TreeFruitCriticalTemperatures.pdfHistorical Phenology and Average Degree Day Accumulation Base 43 (for reference)-            Tight cluster (McIntosh) || 228 ± 27 || 27-Apr ± 7 days-            Pink (McIntosh) || 289 ± 26 || 3-May ± 7 days-            Full bloom (McIntosh) || 378 ± 35 || 10-May ± 6 days-            Petal fall (McIntosh) || 479 ± 42 || 18-May ± 6 days Phenology & DDs for NY NEWA Stations from 1/1 – 5/4Station || Stage || DD 43F || DD 43 Forecast Through 5/10 ||Geneva (AgriTech North) || Early Bloom || 460 || 476Highland (HVRL) || Petal Fall || 524 || 616Clifton Park || Bloom || 421 || 494Peru (Forrence) || Open Cluster || 284 || 346Medina (Roberts) - Inland || Early Bloom || 420 || 464Appleton North - Lake || Early Bloom || 310 || 346Fairville (The Apple Shed) - Inland || Early Bloom || 447 || 491Williamson (DeMarree) - Lake  || Early Bloom || 375 || 404*all DDs Baskerville-Emin, B.EUpcoming Pest EventsPest/Phenology Event || DD Base 43˚F || Approx. Date---Tight cluster (McIntosh) || 228 ± 27 || 105 ± 19 || 27-Apr ± 7 daysTarnished plant bug – 1st observed || 222 ± 105 || 105 ± 62 || 25-Apr ± 15 daysOBLR – 1st overwintered larvae observed || 236 ± 78 || 112 ± 48 || 29-Apr ± 7 daysBlack stem borer – 1st adult catch || 283 ± 50 || 137 ± 40 || 6-May ± 3 daysEuropean red mite – egg hatch observed || 284 ± 53 || 134 ± 34 || 6-May ± 4 days---Pink (McIntosh) || 289 ± 26 || 139 ± 21 || 3-May ± 7 daysOFM Traps set out || PinkOriental fruit moth – 1st adult catch || 229* ± 44* || 126 ± 33 || 2-May ± 8 daysRBLR – 1st flight peak || 303 ± 75 || 150 ± 48 || 4-May ± 9 daysSTLM – 1st flight peak || 337 ± 71 || 168 ± 45 || 7-May ± 8 days---Full bloom (McIntosh) || 378 ± 35 || 192 ± 25 || 10-May ± 6 daysOBLR Overwintered Gen. Sample || BloomCodling Moth Traps set out || BloomCold Temperature and Frost RiskPicture Table of Critical Spring Temperatures for Tree Fruit Bud Development Stages https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/picture-table-critical-spring-temperatures-for-tree-fruit-bud-development-stages  Regional Weather Events page for NEWA weather stations, including a map of freeze events from 2024 and 2025. https://newa.cornell.edu/regional-weather-events/Cornell Statewide Frost Protection webinar held on Friday April 12th recording now available online here: https://youtu.be/TIBEpfb98wsScouting and Monitoring ResourcesNY Tree Fruit Pest Monitoring Network Bloghttps://blogs.cornell.edu/treefruitpests/Interested in collaborating and contributing trap capture data? Contact Anna Wallis [email protected] Guide for Apple Insect Pests https://help.nysipm.org/hc/en-us/articles/23290226665751-NEWA-Quick-Guide-for-Apple-Insect-PestsVirtual Orchard Scout Training webinar recording on the Cornell IPM YouTube channelhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtyOWCL1Q2A