Club Program 07-31-24 – Matt Borman talks pears, agriculture and the challenges facing the agricultural way of life here in the Rogue Valley.

Matt Borman, Director of Orchards at Harry & David, delivered an insightful presentation on the operations and challenges of farming in the Rogue Valley. His presentation highlighted several key aspects:

• Scope of Operations: H&D Orchards farms 23 properties across 1800 acres, specializing in a single variety of pear. This focus differentiates them in the industry.
• Water and Irrigation: The water management system is supported by 19 weather stations across 4 irrigation districts, ensuring efficient irrigation practices.
• Labor Intensive Tasks: The orchard operations involve nearly 60,000 hours of hand pruning annually from November to April, highlighting the labor-intensive nature of maintaining the orchards.
• Frost Protection: From March to May, frost protection is a critical focus. The methods used include wind machines, propane, water, and diesel to safeguard the crops from frost damage.
• Production and Pollination: In spring the blooming orchards rely on approximately 1,500 local bee hives for effective pollination. This ensures that during peak harvesting season, they will produce 450 tons of pears daily. Over the 30 days of harvest, 420 laborers are hired to hand-pick the fruit.
• Challenges and Future Outlook: Borman emphasized the evolving challenges in farming, stressing the need for continued education and partnerships to address issues related to water availability, labor management, and infrastructure development.

Overall, Borman’s presentation underscored the complexity of modern orchard management and the commitment required to maintain high production standards while adapting to changing conditions.