IDFTAAWARDS

Extension Award
Ken Wilsonhas been involved with the Ontario apple industry for over 26 years.He completed
his undergraduate studies at the University of Guelph.During his Master’s degree studies in
plant physiology with Dr. Ben Teskey at the University of Guelph, he studied the effects of
shredded recycled tires as a mulch treatment for apple trees.Ken joined the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture in 1973.He worked in the Milton office for a short time and then moved to the
Georgeon Bay area.

Ken Wilson has a keen interest in improving the economic position of the Ontario apple
producers.He has moved the industry forward from standard planting systems through the semi-
dwarf rootstocks and central leader systems to dwarfing rootstocks and high density production
systems used today.Ken was a member of the team which smoothed the transition of apple IPM
research to the field.He pioneered the “orchard hotline,” still in use today, which gives cultural
and pest management recommendations for growers in a timely fashion during the growing
season.He is author of numerous publications, fact sheets and technical documents, many of
which are posted on the OMAFRA web page.He has specialized in orchard production systems
and tree training and has a special interest in the introduction of high density supported orchard
systems.He has led the Ontario apple team in publishing “Establishing the High Density
Supported Apple Orchard” and in organizing six successful high density apple schools.

Ken Wilson is always available to the apple industry and his colleagues.His many years of
experience have shown that he has a keen sense of knowing how to transfer research into the
field in a practical way.He has not only worked with the Ontario growers but other grower
groups in Nova Scotia and Quebec.

Grower Award
After obtaining a M.S. from the University of Guelph in 1970 in plant pathology,Harold D.
Schooleyworked with Elanco Division of Eli Lilley, first as a crop chemical researcher in
eastern Canada.He then moved into sales in western Canada and then to the London, Ontario,
area in a marketing position.However, the call of the land persuaded him to move back to the
home farm in Windham Township, Ontario, in 1976, becoming the third generation to grow
apples on the Windham farm.Always an innovator, Harold proceeded with a complete
renovation program on the home farm with a major commitment to semi-high density slender
spindle and vertical axis planting systems.

Harold Schooley is never too busy to discuss apple production with friends and visitors.He
traveled widely throughout North America with the International Dwarf Fruit Tree Association
and served as its President in 1991 and 1992.As a result of these activities, Harold is well
known throughout North America for his expertise, inquisitive nature and for the ease in which
he can be approached and at which he relates his own experiences.Harold has welcomed
participants at the IDFTA 1993 Summer Tour and 1999 Conference to his orchards.Harold is a
Past President of the Norfolk Fruit Growers’ Association and represents District 3 on the Ontario
Apple Marketing Commission.

Harold Schooley has made a significant contribution to the improvement of the North American
apple industry.He has always been willing to share his ideas to the benefit of all IDFTA
members.

Researcher Award
Dr.David Preeis originally from a beef cattle operation near Cayuga, Ontario.Dr. Pree has a
B.S.A. from the University of Toronto and M.S. from the University of Guelph.He obtained his
Ph.D. from Washington State University in 1971.He began his career as a scientist with
Agriculture Canada, Kentville, Nova Scotia, and transferred to Vineland, Ontario, in 1975.

Dr. Pree’s research interests are insect toxicology and insecticide resistance with the ultimate aim
to develop sustainable IPM systems.In the 1970s, Dr. Pree led the Ontario research and
extension team to develop and deliver the IPM program for oriental fruit moth on peach. In the
1980s, his research focused on resistance management strategies for spotted tentiform leaf miner
and pear psylla.Throughout this time, his work also involved European red mite resistance
management strategies.Currently Dr. Pree is working on the development of a resistance
management program on oriental fruit moth and obliquebanded leafroller.His cooperative work
includes research on mating disruption of oriental fruit moth and obliquebanded leafroller and
transgenic fruit trees.

Dr. Pree has traveled to Texas to work on transgenic cotton.His work has also taken him to
Australia to investigate resistance management in tree fruit and cotton.Dr. Pree has published
70 scientific and 150 miscellaneous publications.He is the associate editor of theCanadian
Entomologist.Dr. Pree is a world-class researcher and is a major contributor to the tree fruit
industry in Ontario.

1999 IDFTAResearch Funding

The following research projects received funding:

Project Leader

Project Title

FundingReceived

Aldwinckle, H.

Regeneration of M.9

$4,000

Barritt,B., W.C. Johnson

Early intermediatelevel testing of new
CG. applerootstocks in the PacificNorthwest

$5,000

Hoying, S.A., T.L.Robinson,
I.Merwin

Assessing theresponseofG.16 toreplant
diseaseand preplant soil amendments

$2,000

Johnson, W.C.,H.T.Holleran,
I.Merwin, M. Mazzola

Relativetoleranceof applerootstock
cultivars toreplant disorders

$4,000

Johnson, W.C.,H.T.Holleran,
H.S. Aldwinckle, W.F. Wilcox,
M-H.Simard

Relativetoleranceof applerootstock genotypes
toPhytophthoraspp. root rots

$8,000

Johnson, W.C.,H.T.Holleran,
J-P. Privé,D. Hebb,
C.Embree, M.L.Kaps

Relativetoleranceof applerootstock
genotypes to freezing injury

$9,000

Lang,G.A.

Sweet cherry canopyarchitecture,Giessen
rootstocks, and intensive cropping

$3,750

Marini,R.andNC-140
coordinators

NC-140 datasummarization

$14,000

Perry, R.,J.Flore

Crop load and vigorbalancestudyfor
sweet cherry on dwarfingrootstocks

$4,000

Robinson, T.L.,R. Andersen,
S. Hoying

High-densityorchard planting systems
ofsweet cherry intheNortheast

$5,000

Robinson, T., W. Johnson,
S. Hoying

National evaluation ofthenewCornell-Geneva
rootstocks and otherpromising rootstocks
fromaround the world

$6,000

Struss,D., A. Iezzoni

Geneticfingerprinting threeGiselarootstocks

$2,500

Total Funding

$67,250