Apple Research
Harvesting apples at Billingsley Orchard, Stevensville, MT. Photo credit: Michael Billingsley, Western Cider Co.
The cultivated apple (Malus domestica) is believed to have originated in Central Asia from wild apples which cross-pollinated resulting in cousins of today's edible apples. A genetically diverse species there were once around 10,000 cultivars of domestic apples though many have been lost and few are grown today for commercial markets. Related to pears and quince among other pome fruits, apples are often cold hardy and able to stand up against cold Montana winters.
WARC Apple Research
WARC has a long history of apple research starting with its founding in 1907. Today, research focuses on assisting Montana growers to identify new cultivars for cider markets, determining orchard management practices suited to Montana's growing conditions, and helping growers anticipate adapting to a changing climate. Whether an orchard is focused on the fresh market or value-added products, WARC's research centers on helping growers deliver high quality fruit to local markets.
Cultivation
Training systems for hard cider production
Cider apple cultivars for the Intermountain West
Cultivar-Specific Bloom Timing and Fruit Maturity
2019 apple fruit maturity at WARC, Corvallis, Montana
2020 apple maturity across Montana
Pest & Weed Management
TRAPs - Temperature Resource and Alert for Pests
Grazing Livestock in Orchards: Assessing Risks for Food Safety
Bagging apple fruit for codling moth control
2019 - 2020 Montana apple codling moth surveys
Other Research
MSU Extension Fruit Research Sites
