Virginia Tech Tree Fruit Extension and Outreach

10/05/2026

09/29/2026

https://www.wric.com/news/virginia-news/protect-crops-research-freeze/

Virginia’s w**e and fruit industries are still recovering from this year’s late-spring freeze that damaged crops across the commonwealth.

09/24/2026

https://news.vt.edu/articles/2026/09/cals-faculty-staff-awards-2026.html

Six faculty and staff members were recognized for contributions in research, outreach, service, and support of the college’s land-grant mission.

09/20/2026

Fall is a great time to get your soil tested! 📣 Submitting a sample now means a shorter wait time for your results and you have time to apply lime, which takes months to effectively adjust your soil pH. If you've submitted a sample before, note that there have been recent changes to the submission process. We now have an online portal where you will submit forms and get your results!

Read more about those changes and learn how to submit a sample here: https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/articles/2026/soil-testing-laboratory-launches-new-online-management-system.html

Soil test website to access the new online submission portal: https://www.soiltest.vt.edu/index.html

Contact your local Extension Office to get a soil test box!

09/09/2026

🍇🍎🍑A few photos from today’s field day activities at the Alson H Smith Jr Agricultural Research & Extension Center.

09/03/2026

The Alson H. Smith Jr. Agricultural Research and Extension Center will hosting a Grape and Tree Fruit Field Day this upcoming Tuesday. This is an open event with no registration fee. RSVP is requested as lunch will be provided.

RSVP:
[email protected]

Date:
September 8
8:30 AM - 1:00 PM

Location:
AHS Jr. AREC
595 Laurel Grove Road
Wi******er, VA 22602

Learn more by visiting them on Facebook.
Virginia Tech Tree Fruit Extension and Outreach 🍏
Grape Pathology at Virginia Tech 🍇

Online:
https://www.arec.vaes.vt.edu/arec/alson-h-smith.html

08/28/2026

08/21/2026

08/13/2026

Tree fruit growers in the Old Dominion were devastated by a late spring freeze event. Now we are getting some firm numbers from the USDA on the resulting impact.

We are also seeing some surprises in the numbers for corn and soybeans in Virginia.

A new report (August 12) from the National Agricultural Statistics Service shows the following stats for Virginia:

* Total apple production is expected to be down from 149 million lbs. in 2025 to only 77 million pounds this year

* Wheat yield is expected to be down from 66 bpa in 2025 to 48 bpa this year.

* Alfalfa hay yield is expected to be down from 3.2 tons per acre in 2025 to 2.8 tons per acre this year

* All other hay is expected to be down from 2.3 tons per acre in 2025 to 2.0 tons per acre this year

* Corn yield is expected to INCREASE from 168 bpa in 2025 to 169 bpa this year

* Soybean yield is expected to INCREASE from 38 bpa in 2025 to 42 bpa this year

* Peanut yield is expected to decrease from 4,400 lbs. per acre in 2025 to 4,300 lbs. this year

* Cotton yield is expected to decrease from 1,127 lbs. per acre in 2025 to 1,103 lbs. per acre this year

* To***co yield is expected to decrease from 2,150 lbs. per acre in 2025 to 1,900 lbs. per acre this year

NOTE: Peach and grape production for Virginia were not included in the new report.

Source: National Agricultural Statistics Service report on August 12, which can be found here>https://esmis.nal.usda.gov/sites/default/release-files/796015/crop0826.pdf

Image credit - Jeff Ishee

08/12/2026

The study marks the first major research milestone in a national effort to develop new tools that help growers combat one of the most damaging diseases of apples and pears.