ATTENTION, new time-schedule for the apple-cider meeting: Tuesday 14th January  9:30 to 11:30

Given the willingness of the professionals to use sustainable practices, the substantial development of the AB (organic farming) apple-cider orchard and the regulatory evolutions, the industry had to optimize its practices and integrate alternative strategies. Mechanical operations are an interesting answer to reduce the number of inputs even if they impact the working structure and the production and investment costs. The recent evolutions in the apple orchard concern row maintenance, spraying and thinning. This lecture will give an update on recent developments and ongoing research in these sectors

9:30 – 9:40 Opening of the meeting
Denis ROULAND (Président de l'Institut Français des Productions Cidricoles – President of the French Institute for Apple-Cider production)

9:40 – 10:30 Optimising spraying in arboriculture: results of the R&D "Pulvarbo" project
Florence VERPONT (Ctifl), Jean LE MAGUET (IFPC)

10:30 – 11:00 Evolutions in apple thinning alternative strategies and perspectives
Nathalie CORROYER, Jean-Charles CARDON (Chambre Régionale d'Agriculture de Normandie - Regional Chamber of Agriculture – Normandy)

11:00 – 11:30 A Comparison of row maintenance mechanical tools for apple orchards
Anne DUVAL-CHABOUSSOU (Ctifl/Station La Morinière), Jean LE MAGUET (IFPC)

11:30 End of the Meeting and cocktail (Cider)