Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Advanced IPM protocols were developed and tested for apple scab disease (AS), summer diseases (SBFS), plum curculio (PC), apple maggot (AMF), leafrollers (mainly OBLR) and the internal Lepidoptera [codling moth (CM), oriental fruit moth (OFM)], and chemical thinning without Carbaryl, in 12 apple orchards in New England and New York. From March through November each year, project scientists were in close contact with each other and with owners and staff of the 12 orchards. On-site pest and damage sampling and grower consultations were conducted almost weekly. Surveys were conducted of damage to fruit at harvest (500-1000 fruit per block, depending on block size). One block of trees (3-5 acres) was dedicated in each orchard to the Advanced IPM protocols (Test block). One was managed according to the grower's standard practices (Check block). Growers were trained in use of weather stations, pest models, and information available from websites: http://extension.umass.edu/fruitadvisor/, http://treefruitipm.info/), and the NEWA website (http://newa.cornell.edu). For AS, potential ascospore dose assessments (PAD) were performed each Fall to help growers spray less at the start of scab season the next Spring. Leaf sanitation was performed before bud break. Fungicide resistance management, Modified Mills infection periods, and degree-day models were were used. For SBFS, sprays were model-directed. Accumulated leaf wetness hours and rainfall depletion of spray residues were model inputs. A trap-tree approach was used with a degree-day model for PC to replace general orchard sprays. Trap trees, at 25 m spacing, were baited with PC aggregation pheromone and synthetic host plant volatiles. After a full block spray at petal fall, PC sprays in Test blocks were applied only to trap trees. Attracticidal spheres, placed along the outside of perimeter trees in the Test blocks (8 m spacing), were used for AMF to replace orchard sprays. Each sphere was baited with synthetic apple volatiles as a lure. For OBLR and CM/OFM, fruit was monitored through the season to optimize insecticide treatments. Organophosphate insecticides were eliminated for all pests in Advanced IPM blocks in favor of materials with fewer non-target impacts. Apples were thinned without Carbaryl (a carbamate thinner/insecticide) in Test blocks in 2011 according to a carbohydrate model. In summary, an advanced IPM system was developed and tested successfully with a group of 12 orchards and ten scientists over a 2.5-year period in 5 states. IPM methods, techniques, and predictive models were tested and improved. Growers, their staff, and the scientists learned much from each other. Additional outreach included publications, presentations, and workshops at grower meetings and other venues throughout the Northeast. Over 30 presentations were made to a total of about 2025 people. During 2012, pesticide records for both years and both types of blocks were recorded and analyzed. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Daniel R. Cooley (PI), Wesley R. Autio (Co-I), Jon Clements, Arthur Tuttle, and Angela Madeiras (support scientists), University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA; Tracy C. Leskey (Co-I) and Starker Wright (support scientist), Appalachian Fruit Research Station, USDA/ARS, Kearneysville, WV; W. Harvey Reissig (Co-I), Arthur Agnello, and Kerik Cox (support scientists), Cornell University NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, NY; Peter Jentsch (support scientist) Cornell University Hudson Valley Laboratory, Highland, NY. Twelve commercial apple orchards were Partner Organizations that collaborated on the research project. They helped plan and execute the experiments and made in-kind contributions of labor, supplies, and equipment: Mark and Ellen Parlee, Parlee Farms, Tyngsboro, MA; Aaron and Dana Clark, Clark Brothers Orchards, Ashfield, MA; Homer Dunn, Alyson's Orchard, Walpole, NH; Zeke Goodband, Scott Farm, Dummerston, VT; Dennis Hartley, Littletree Orchards, Newfield, NY; Barney and Chris Hodges, Sunrise Orchards, Cornwall, VT; Josh Knight, Knight Orchards, Burnt Hills, NY; John Lyman, Lyman Orchards, Middlefield, CT; Glen Schreiter, Saxtons River Orchards, Saxtons River, VT; Peter TenEyck, Indian Ladder Farms, Altamont, NY; William Truncali, Truncali Farms, Marlboro, NY; Daniel Wilson, Hicks Orchard, Granville, NY; the NYS IPM Network for Environment and Weather Applications (NEWA) was a collaborator. Training in advanced IPM was provided to growers, farm staff, and a few students and research assistants at the University of Massachusetts and Cornell University. TARGET AUDIENCES: During two years of the project, the primary target audience was the group of collaborating growers and their staff. Their levels of knowledge about the 5 groups of pests and the advanced IPM strategies used to manage them increased. Their ability to act on the knowledge also increased. Growers also learned how to do fruit thinning without using Carbaryl. With assistance from project scientists, the growers operated weather stations, ran insect and disease forecasting models, and made spray decisions based on action thresholds, degree-day models, and a carbohydrate thinning model. They created the comparison in their blocks of apples trees between management with advanced IPM methods versus management with their previous grower practices. This is the essence of this project. In year 2 of the project, we shared results and gains with a larger group of growers, crop consultants, and researchers via grower meetings, workshops, seminars, and on-farm visits. Overall, 30 presentations were made to a total of approximately 2025 people. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The project was initiated with 11 commercial apple orchards in New England and New York. In the second year we added Parlee Farms in MA. Rather than perform thinning without carbaryl in all 12 orchards, we chose to use blocks that had McIntosh apples in both blocks to reduce variability introduced by cultivar. In year 2, we altered the Advanced IPM Scab Protocol to include % ascospore maturity as an indicator for application of the 1st scab spray. Several orchards experienced devastating frost damage in Spring 2010 (Alyson's Orchard, Walpole, NH; Clark Brothers' Orchards, Ashfield, MA; Indian Ladder Farms, Altamont, NY; Knight Orchards, Burnt Hills, NY; and Saxton's River Orchard, Saxton's River, VT) and lost much of the crop in their advanced IPM blocks. They proceeded with the research as best they could and succeeded to a large degree. Many of these growers had to scale back on their spray programs to reduce costs, and therefore had rebounds of some of the pest species in 2011. This gave a greater than expected challenge to the advanced IPM strategies. It was necessary to amend the protocols and allow some spraying that would not have been needed in an average year. For this reason we had lower reductions of pesticides in year 2 than expected. There was also significant hail damage in some orchards during both years.
Impacts
For growers there were changes in knowledge/actions regarding weather stations, pest prediction models, IPM and weather websites, 5 pest groups and fruit thinning. For scab disease (AS), growers learned to conduct PAD assessments. Six growers in year 1 delayed the 1st spray an average of 8 days. Eight delayed in year 2 an average of 5.4 days. Sanitation was performed by 6 growers in 2010 and 8 in 2011. Fungicide for scab was reduced 21% (calculated as dosage equivalents) in Test blocks in 2010 and 2.5% in 2011. In 2010 the average % fruit with scab damage was 0.8 for Test and 1.7 for Checks. In 2011 it was 0.8 for Test and 0.9 for Checks. For summer diseases (SBFS), 12 growers used the new model to time sprays. Rainfall depletion of spray residues, and accumulation of leaf wetness hours were key. The average % fruit with SBFS was below 1.0% both years for both types of blocks. For plum curculio (PC), there was a reduction of insecticide of 15% in 2010 and 5% in 2011 in Test blocks. Average % damaged fruit in Test blocks was 4.8 in 2010 and 3.9 in 2011. For Checks it was 2.3% in 2010 and 2.9% in 2011. For apple maggot (AMF), use of traps in year 1 did not provide control compared with insecticide treatments: there was an average of 5.3% injury in Test blocks compared with 2.3% in Checks. 4 of 10 growers elected to spray in Test blocks. In Year 2, traps performed much better in Test blocks. There was an average of 1.0% injury in Test blocks vs. 0.9% in Checks. No growers sprayed in Test blocks. The % reductions in insectide were 70% in year 1 and 54% in year 2. For OBLR, CM and OFM, fruit were monitored repeatedly to optimize insecticide treatments. Pheromone trap capture patterns and incidence of damage were used to determine choice and timing of materials. In year 1, average % early fruit damage by OBLR was below 0.1% for both blocks. Late season damage was 3.9% for Test blocks and 0.6% for Checks. In year 2, early season OBLR damage was 0.6% in Test blocks and 0.8% in Checks. Late damage was 0.3% in Test blocks and 1.25% in Checks. Damage by CM/OFM was below 0.5% in all blocks for both years. Sprays were minimal. In 2010, a study on reduced-risk chemical thinning concluded that the addition of Carbaryl to thinning sprays did not result in greater thinning. In 2011, 7 growers eliminated Carbaryl from their programs in McIntosh Test blocks. Starting at green tip, daily max and min temperatures and solar radiation were recorded from on-site weather stations. At bloom, this data was run through a carbohydrate thinning model every 3 days. Growers were given recommendations for timing and rates of materials (NAA or BA). Growers who eliminated Carbaryl did not notice differences in fruit color. At 3 of 6 sites where harvest samples were taken, Test block apples weighed slightly less. 2011 was an atypically cloudy and rainy thinning season. Some growers used no thinners. The advanced IPM methods and techniques developed in this study can lead to significant reductions in pesticide inputs for all 5 pest groups and for chemical thinning. Continued outreach will contribute to changes in conditions: a safer food supply and a cleaner environment.
Publications
- Cooley, D.R. and J. Clements. 2009. Effective use of models in the management of sooty blotch and flyspeck. Fruit Notes 74(1-4): 19-31.
- Agnello, A., and H. Reissig, 2010. Development and validation of a real-time apple IPM website for New York. New York Fruit Quarterly 18(2): 25-28.
- Autio, W.R., J.M. Clements, and W.P. Cowgill, Jr., 2010. A look at fruit thinning weather in 2010. Fruit Notes 75(3-6).
- Cooley, D.R., A.Tuttle, J. Clements, and S. Schloemann, 2010. University of Massachusetts Amherst Extension Fruit IPM Report for 2010. Fruit Notes 75(4): 18-19.
- Cooley, D. R., M. Rozyne, H. Reissig and A. Agnello, 2010. AD-421. Progress report for A pest management program using reduced-risk pesticides, Eco-apple protocols, and value added marketing for NY and New England growers. MAS0200603526. 2 pp.
- Green, T., M. Rozyne, A. Tuttle, J. Carroll, J. Clements, K. Leahy and D. R. Cooley. 2010. Eco-apple protocol and grower self-assessment. Working document for 2010 growing season, version 5.2 (revised annually). IPM Institute of North America, Inc., Madison, WI. 30 pp. http://www.redtomato.org/PDF/Protocol.pdf.
- Clements J.M., and W.R. Autio. 2011. Looking into the crystal ball: apple fruit thinning without carbaryl Fruit Notes 76(2): 5-9.
- Pinero, J. C., A. M. Agnello, A. Tuttle, T. C. Leskey, H. Faubert, G. Koehler, L.Los, G. Morin, K. Leahy, D. R. Cooley, and R. J. Prokopy. 2011. Effectiveness of odor-baited trees for plum curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) monitoring in commercial apple orchards in the northeast. J. Econ. Entomol. 104: 1613-1621.
- Lesky, T.C., S. Wright, V. Hock, G. Chouinard, D. Cormier, K. Leahy, D. Cooley, A. Tuttle, A. Eaton, and A. Zhang, 2012. Evaluating Eletrophysiological and Behavioral Repsonses to Volatiles for Improvement of Odor-Baited Trap-tree Management of Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). Submitted to Environmental Entomology.
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Progress 09/01/10 to 08/31/11
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Advanced IPM protocols were developed and tested for chemical thinning without carbaryl, apple scab disease (AS), summer diseases (SBFS), plum curculio (PC), apple maggot (AM), leafrollers (mainly OBLR), codling moth (CM), and oriental fruit moth (OFM), in 12 apple orchards in New England and New York. From March through November, project scientists were in close contact with each other and with owners and staff of the 12 orchards. On-site pest or damage sampling and grower consultations were conducted almost weekly from April through October. One block of trees (3-5 acres) was dedicated in each orchard to the Advanced IPM protocols (Test block). One was managed according to the grower's standard practices (Check block). Growers were trained in use of weather stations and pest models. Information was available to them on a "Real-Time" Apple IPM website (in development) and the NEWA/Cornell homepage. For AS, potential ascospore dose assessments were performed in Oct. 2010 to help growers spray less at the start of scab season in 2011. Leaf sanitation was performed before bud break. Fungicide resistance management, Modified Mills infection periods, and degree-day models were stressed. For SBFS, sprays of reduced-risk materials were model-directed. Leaf wetness and rainfall were inputs. A trap-tree approach was used with a degree-day model for PC to replace general orchard sprays. Pesticide-treated spheres, placed along the perimeter of the block, were used for AM to replace orchard sprays. For OBLR and CM/OFM, fruit monitoring was done through the season to optimize insecticide treatments. Organophosphate insecticides were eliminated for all pests in Advanced IPM blocks in favor of materials with fewer non-target impacts. Apples were thinned without Carbaryl (a carbamate thinner/insecticide) in 7 of the orchards. Project information and results were disseminated at grower meetings and other venues in MA and NY, and at an IPM workshop in VT. Pesticide applications and records for the Advanced IPM blocks and the standard grower practice blocks were documented. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Daniel R. Cooley (PI), Wesley R. Autio (Co-I), Jon Clements, Arthur Tuttle, and Angela Madeiras (support scientists), University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA; Tracy C. Leskey (Co-I) and Starker Wright (support scientist), Appalachian Fruit Research Station, USDA/ARS, Kearneysville, WV; W. Harvey Reissig (Co-I), Arthur Agnello, and Kerik Cox (support scientists), Cornell University NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, NY; Peter Jentsch (support scientist) Cornell University Hudson Valley Laboratory, Highland, NY. Twelve commercial apple orchards were Partner Organizations that collaborated on the research project. They helped plan and execute the experiments and made in-kind contributions of labor, supplies, and equipment: Mark and Ellen Parlee, Parlee Farms, Tyngsboro, MA; Aaron and Dana Clark, Clark Brothers Orchards, Ashfield, MA; Homer Dunn, Alyson's Orchard, Walpole, NH; Zeke Goodband, Scott Farm, Dummerston, VT; Dennis Hartley, Littletree Orchards, Newfield, NY; Barney and Chris Hodges, Sunrise Orchards, Cornwall, VT; Josh Knight, Knight Orchards, Burnt Hills, NY; John Lyman, Lyman Orchards, Middlefield, CT; Glen Schreiter, Saxtons River Orchards, Saxtons River, VT; Peter TenEyck, Indian Ladder Farms, Altamont, NY; William Truncali, Truncali Farms, Marlboro, NY; Daniel Wilson, Hicks Orchard, Granville, NY; the NYS IPM Network for Environment and Weather Applications was a collaborator. Training in advanced IPM was provided to growers, farm staff, and a few students and research assistants at the University of Massachusetts and Cornell University. TARGET AUDIENCES: During two years of the project, the primary target audience was the group of collaborating growers and their staff. Their levels of knowledge about the 6 groups of pests and the advanced IPM strategies used to manage them increased. Their ability to act on the knowledge also increased. With assistance from project scientists, they operated weather stations, ran insect and disease forecasting models, and made spray decisions based on action thresholds and degree-day models. They created the comparison in their blocks of apples trees between management with advanced IPM methods versus their previous grower practices. This is essence of this project. In year 2 of the project, we shared results and gains with a larger group of growers, crop consultants, and researchers via grower meetings, workshops, seminars, and on-farm visits. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The project was initiated in 11 commercial apple orchards in New England and New York. In the second year we added Parlee Farms in MA. Rather than perform thinning without carbaryl in all 12 orchards, we chose to use blocks that had MacIntosh apples in both blocks to reduce variability introduced by cultivar. Apple scab season (late Apriil-mid-June) was unusually wet. Many growers had a difficult time keeping susceptible new leaf tissue covered and infection periods followed one another without a break. We altered the "Advanced IPM" scab protocol to include % ascospore maturity as an indicator for application of the 1st scab spray. Several orchards experienced devastating frost damage in Spring 2010 (Alyson's Orchard, Walpole, NH; Clark Brothers' Orchards, Ashfield, MA; Indian Ladder Farms, Altamont, NY; Knight Orchards, Burnt Hills, NY; and Saxton's River Orchard, Saxton's River, VT) and lost much of the crop in their Advanced IPM blocks. They proceeded with the research as best they could and succeeded to a large degree. Many of these growers had to scale back on their spray programs to reduce costs, and therefore had rebounds of some of the pest species in 2011. This gave a greater than expected challenge to the "Advanced IPM" strategies. This year, 2 orchards chose to spray for apple maggot in Advanced IPM blocks when the trap captures were above threshold. Given the damage inflicted by these weather events as well as more recent hail, tornados, Hurricane Irene and a freak blizzard in October, it is no wonder we still have pesticide data to analyze with the growers. We are fortunate to work with such a dedicated group of growers and thank them for seeing this project through.
Impacts
For the participating growers there were significant changes in knowledge and actions for all 6 pest groups in the study. For scab disease, many of the growers learned how to conduct potential ascospore dose (PAD) assessments. Nine growers had low enough levels of scab to qualify for delayed 1st sprays. Eight were able to delay the 1st scab spray in the Test blocks. The average delay was 5.4 days. Eight performed sanitation before bud-break, and all paid close attention to weather data, infection periods, and disease models. As a result there was a reduction in fungicide for scab in the Test blocks as compared to the check blocks (approx. 15%; amount is being calculated at present) and no difference in damage to fruit, except at 1 site. For summer diseases, 12 growers used a new weather-driven model to time sprays. There was a reduction in summer disease sprays in the Test blocks (amount being determined). Damage to fruit at harvest was greater in the Test block at only 2 of 12 orchards. For plum curculio, trap trees were set-up with host-plant attractants and aggregation pheromone along the perimeter of the Test blocks and a degree-day model was used to time sprays. All blocks received full block sprays at petal fall. After that only the trap trees were sprayed in the Test blocks, resulting in a reduction in those blocks (currently estimated at 35 %). Damage levels at harvest were higher in both blocks at some orchards than in 2010, probably due to rebound populations from reduced spray programs (frost injury). In 4 orchards PC damage was higher in Test blocks and in 2 orchards it was higher in Check blocks. For codling moth, oriental fruit moth and leafrollers, fruit were monitored repeatedly during the season to time sprays. Damage at harvest was low in all blocks and lower than in 2010. Spray reductions in Test blocks will be determined. For apple maggot, red spheres treated with a low-risk insecticide and fruit volatiles were placed around the perimeter of Test blocks. Adult flies were trapped on sticky spheres in the block interiors to check for pest penetration. Sprays were applied for AM in Test blocks in only 2 of the 12 blocks. High numbers of flies trapped on sticky traps and high levels of damaged fruit at harvest in those and 1 other orchard can be attributed in part to populations that rebounded from reduced spray programs the year before. In 2011, the reduction in apple maggot sprays in Test blocks as compared to Check blocks will be significant again, approximately 70 %. Growers gained expertise on thinning without carbaryl in 7 of the orchards. This was performed in orchards that had Macintosh fruit in both blocks. Carbaryl was replaced with the environmentally-friendly materials NAA (Fruitone) or BA (Maxcel). There was no loss of fruit color in Test blocks. Fruit weight data will be analyzed. As the project matures and these advanced IPM techniques are improved and more fully adopted, these pesticide reductions among the 6 groups of pests will contribute to changes in conditions: a safer food supply and a cleaner environment.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Advanced IPM protocols were developed and tested for apple scab disease (AS), summer diseases (SBFS), plum curculio (PC), apple maggot (AM), leafrollers (OBLR), and internal Lepidoptera (CM/OFM), in 11 apple orchards in New England and New York. From March through November, project scientists were in close contact with each other and with owners and staff of the 11 orchards. On-site pest or damage sampling and grower consultations were conducted almost weekly from April through October. One block of trees (3-5 acres) was dedicated in each orchard to the Advanced IPM protocols. One was managed according to the grower's standard practices. Growers were trained in use of weather stations and pest models. Information was available to them on a "Real-Time" Apple IPM website (in development) and the NEWA/Cornell homepage. For AS, potential ascospore dose assessments were performed in Oct. 2009 and Oct. 2010 to help growers spray less at the start of scab season. Leaf sanitation was performed before bud break. Fungicide resistance management, Modified Mills infection periods, and degree-day models were stressed. For SBFS, sprays of reduced-risk materials were model-directed. Leaf wetness and rainfall were inputs. A trap-tree approach was used with a degree-day model for PC to replace general orchard sprays. Pesticide-treated spheres, placed along the perimeter of the block, were used for AM to replace orchard sprays. For OBLR and CM/OFM, fruit monitoring was done through the season to optimize insecticide treatments. For all pests, organophosphate insecticides were eliminated in the Advanced IPM blocks in favor of materials with fewer non-target impacts. Approaches to apple thinning without the carbamate Carbaryl were begun. Project information and preliminary results were disseminated at grower meetings in MA and NY, and at an IPM workshop in VT. Pesticide applications and records for the Advanced IPM blocks and the standard grower practice blocks were tracked carefully. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Daniel R. Cooley (PI), Wesley R. Autio (Co-I), Jon Clements, Arthur Tuttle, and Angela Madeiras (support scientists), University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA; Tracy C. Leskey (Co-I) and Starker Wright (support scientist), Appalachian Fruit Research Station, USDA/ARS, Kearneysville, WV; W. Harvey Reissig (Co-I), Arthur Agnello, and Kerik Cox (support scientists), Cornell University NYS Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, NY; Peter Jentsch (support scientist) Cornell University Hudson Valley Laboratory, Highland, NY. Eleven commercial apple orchards were Partner Organizations that collaborated on the research project. They helped plan and execute the experiments and made in-kind contributions of labor, supplies, and equipment: Aaron Clark, Clark Brothers Orchards, Ashfield, MA; Homer Dunn, Alyson's Orchard, Walpole, NH; Zeke Goodband, Scott Farm, Dummerston, VT; Dennis Hartley, Littletree Orchards, Newfield, NY; Barney and Chris Hodges, Sunrise Orchards, Cornwall, VT; Jerry and Josh Knight, Knight Orchards, Burnt Hills, NY; John Lyman, Lyman Orchards, Middlefield, CT; Glen Schreiter, Saxtons River Orchards, Saxtons River, VT; Peter TenEyck, Indian Ladder Farms, Altamont, NY; William Truncali, Truncali Farms, Marlboro, NY; Daniel Wilson, Hicks Orchard, Granville, NY; the NYS IPM Network for Environment and Weather Applications was a collaborator. Training in advanced IPM was provided to growers, farm staff, and a few students and research assistants at the University of Massachusetts and Cornell University. TARGET AUDIENCES: During the first year of the project, the primary target audience was the group of collaborating growers and their staff. Their levels of knowledge about the 6 groups of pests and the advanced IPM strategies used to manage them increased. Their ability to act on the knowledge also increased. With assistance from project scientists, they operated weather stations, ran insect and disease forecasting models, and made spray decisions based on action thresholds and degree-day models. They created the comparison in their blocks of apples trees between management with advanced IPM methods versus standard grower practices which is the essence of this project. In year 2 of the project, we will solidify these gains and reach-out to more growers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The project was initiated in 11 commercial apple orchards in New England and New York. Early Spring was unusually warm and tree phenology was almost 2 weeks earlier than average (late bloom to petal fall), when frost stuck many of the orchards on May 10. Alyson's Orchard (Walpole, NH) lost 95 percent of its fruit in the Advanced IPM block. We decided to proceed with the apple scab part of the study but to suspend the rest of the study at that site for this year. Clark Brothers' Orchards (Ashfield, MA), Indian Ladder Farms (Altamont, NY), Knight Orchards (Burnt Hills, NY), and Saxton's River Orchard, (Saxton's River, VT) lost most of the crop in their Advanced IPM blocks. Many of these growers had to scale back on their spray programs to reduce costs, but were able to proceed with us to complete as much of the study as possible. Hail damage has also been a problem for many of these growers. Scaling back on spray programs due to frost or hail can result in high pest populations later on. These will be a major challenge next year. This year we ammended protocol to allow apple maggot sprays in some Advanced IPM blocks because of hail-related scaling back that occurred in summer 2009.
Impacts
For the participating growers there were significant changes in knowledge and actions for all 6 pest groups in the study. For scab disease, many of the growers learned how to conduct potential ascospore dose (PAD) assessments. Seven of the growers had low enough levels of scab to qualify for delayed 1st sprays in the Spring. Six of them decided to delay (an average of 8 days). Six of them performed sanitation before bud-break, and all paid close attention to weather data, infection periods, and disease models. As a result there was a 16.5 % reduction (on average) in fungicide for scab in the Advanced IPM (Test) blocks as compared to the standard practice (check) blocks and no difference in damage to fruit. For the summer diseases, all 11 growers used weather-driven models to time fungicide sprays. There was a 22.6 % reduction in summer disease sprays in the Test blocks. Damage to fruit at harvest was greater in the Test block at only 1 of 10 orchards. For plum curculio, trap trees were set-up with host-plant attractants and aggregation pheromone along the perimeter of the Test blocks and a degree-day model was used to time sprays. All blocks received full block sprays at petal fall. After that only the trap trees were sprayed in the Test blocks, resulting in a 35.7 % reduction in those blocks. Two of the Test blocks had high damage levels at harvest. These were also blocks with high frost damage and reduced amounts of spray. For the internal Lepidoptera (codling moth and oriental fruit moth) and the leafrollers, fruit were monitored repeatedly during the season to time sprays. Damage at harvest by moth larvae and early leafrollers was low in all blocks. Damage by late leafrollers was high in some Test blocks and some Check blocks. Sprays for leafrollers were reduced in Test blocks. For apple maggot, red spheres treated with a low-risk insecticide and fruit volatiles were placed around the perimeter of Test blocks. Adult flies were trapped on sticky spheres to check for penetration into the blocks of trees. No sprays were applied for this pest in Test blocks in 6 of the 10 blocks that we have complete data for at this time. High numbers of flies trapped on sticky traps and higher than average levels of damaged fruit at harvest in a few orchards can be attributed in part to populations that built up from 2009 hail and frost damage and severely reduced spray programs. In 2010, the reduction in apple maggot sprays in Test blocks as compared to Check blocks was 71.4 %. As the project matures and these advanced IPM techniques are improved and more fully adopted, these pesticide reductions among the 6 groups of pests will contribute to changes in conditions: a safer food supply and a cleaner environment.
Publications
- Autio, W.R., J.M. Clements, and W.P. Cowgill, Jr., 2010. A look at fruit thinning weather in 2010. Fruit Notes 75(3): 3-6.
- Diaz, M., J. C. Batzer, A. A. Wong, S. C. Bost, D. R. Cooley, M. A. Ellis, J. R. Hartman, D. A. Rosenberger, G. W. Sundin, T. B. Sutton, J. W. Travis, M. J. Wheeler, K. S. Yoder, M. L. Gleason. 2009. Diversity and biogeography of sooty blotch and flyspeck fungi on apple in the eastern and midwestern United States. Phytopathology 100 (4): 345-355.
- Cooley, D.R. and J. Clements. 2009. Effective use of models in the management of sooty blotch and flyspeck. Fruit Notes 74(1-4): 19-31
- Green, T., M. Rozyne, A. Tuttle, J. Carroll, J. Clements K. Leahy and D. R. Cooley. 2010. Eco-apple protocol and grower self-assessment. Working document for 2010 growing season, version 5.2 (Revised annually). IPM Institute of North America, Inc., Madison, WI. 30 pp. http://www.redtomato.org/PDF/Protocol.pdf
- Cooley, D. R., M. Rozyne, H. Reissig and A. Agnello, 2010. AD-421. Progress report for A pest management program using reduced-risk pesticides, Eco-apple protocols, and value added marketing for NY and New England growers. MAS0200603526. 2 pp.
- Pinero, J.C., A. Agnello, A. Tuttle, T. Leskey, H. Faubert, G. Koehler, G. Morin, K. Leahy, L. Loss, D. Cooley, and R. Prokopy, 2010. Effectiveness of odor-baited trap trees for plum curculio (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) monitoring in commercial apple orchards in the Northeast. Submitted to J. Econ. Entomol.
- Agnello, A., and H. Reissig, 2010. Development and validation of a real-time apple IPM website for New York. New York Fruit Quarterly 18(2): 25-28.
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