Long-term effects of rootstock and tree type on the economic profitability of ‘Gala’, ‘Fuji’ and ‘Honeycrisp’ orchards performance.

Authors: GONZALEZ-NIETO, LUIS - Cornell University; REIG, GEMMA - Institute De Recerca I Tecnologia Agroalimentaries (IRTA); LORDAN, JAUME - Institute De Recerca I Tecnologia Agroalimentaries (IRTA); MIRANDA-SAZO, MARIO - Cornell University; HOYING, STEPHEN - Cornell University; FARGIONE, MICHAEL - Cornell University; REGINATO, GABINO - Universidad De Chile; DONAHUE, DANIEL - Cornell University; FRANCESCATTO, POLIANA - Cornell University; CASAGRANDE-BIASUZ, ERICA - Cornell University; Fazio, Gennaro; ROBINSON, TERRANCE - Cornell University

Submitted to: Scientia Horticulturae
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/4/2023
Publication Date: 5/10/2023
Citation: Gonzalez-Nieto, L., Reig, G., Lordan, J., Miranda-Sazo, M., Hoying, S., Fargione, M., Reginato, G., Donahue, D., Francescatto, P., Casagrande-Biasuz, E., Fazio, G., Robinson, T. 2023. Long-term effects of rootstock and tree type on the economic profitability of ‘Gala’, ‘Fuji’ and ‘Honeycrisp’ orchards performance. Scientia Horticulturae. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112129.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2023.112129

Interpretive Summary: The establishment of a modern apple orchard represents a significant monetary investment by apple growers. This long term study examines the profitability of the intersection of several choices that apple growers make when planting a new orchard: scion variety, rootstock, tree type and training system. In essence, this analysis shows that all those variables had a significant effect on profitability where certain combinations like ‘Honeycrisp’ on B.9, G.11 and G.16 yielded the highest cumulative net present value.

Technical Abstract: Planting a new orchard requires a complex management strategy that involves many factors including cultivar, rootstock, planting density, training system, tree type, climate, and economic conditions that affect orchard profitability. To evaluate the relative importance of each factor, data from long-term field studies is required to analyze their impact on lifetime profitability. Here, we conducted two long-term field studies at two locations in New York State (Dressel farm in South-eastern and VandeWalle farm in Western New York State). The trials were planted in 2006 at a planting density of 3,262 tree/ha and the trees were trained as Tall Spindles. The aim of this study was to compare the impact of tree type (newly bench-grafted trees and large 2-year feathered trees) and rootstock (B.9, M.9, G.11, G.16, G.41) on long-term profitability of three apple cultivars (‘Fuji’, ‘Gala’, and ‘Honeycrisp’). There were important differences in profitability between cultivars, with a higher Net Present Value (NPV) for ‘Honeycrisp’, followed by ‘Gala’ and, finally, for ‘Fuji’. For all the cultivars, the NPV of the feathered trees was substantially higher compared to bench-grafted trees. Furthermore, the highest cumulative NPV’s for ‘Honeycrisp’ were on B.9, G.11 and G.16, whereas with ‘Fuji’ the highest NPV’s were on G.16, G.11 and M.9 and with ‘Gala’ the highest NPV’s were on G.16, G.41 and M.9. The break-even year of a positive NPV for each rootstock, tree type, and cultivar, showed that the fastest investment pay offs were achieved with ‘Honeycrisp’, followed by ‘Gala’ and ‘Fuji’. Feathered trees showed a faster break-even year of a positive NPV compared to bench grafted trees in all cultivars. Our results showed that the key variables that influence orchard profitability were, in descending order, fruit price and yield, followed by discount rate, labor cost, and finally tree price and land cost.