Fireblight Prediction and Management

Sunday Jan 02, 2022

Many consider blight an apparently random curse, and part of the game a pome fruit grower must play. As outbreaks do not occur yearly, damage always seems to be somebody else's problem, until it suddenly appears in your orchard.

Which Leafroller Species is in Your Orchard?

Sunday Jan 02, 2022

There are two leafrollers commonly found in Washington orchards: Pandemis leafroller (PLR) and Obliquebanded leafroller (OBLR). The phenology of the two species is quite different and you need to be sure which species you have for proper management and use the correct model on DAS. PLR used to be more common, but in the past 10 years, OBLR has displaced PLR from many of the production areas.

Delayed Dormant Sprays for Leafrollers

Sunday Jan 02, 2022

Pandemis leafroller (PLR) and oblique-banded leafroller (OBLR) have different phenologies which are well documented on DAS. Delayed dormant sprays can work well for PLR, but are generally too early in the season for efficacy against larvae of OBLR.

Why Coverage and Calibration Matter

Sunday Jan 02, 2022

Taking the time to ensure that your sprayer is properly calibrated will insure best control of pests and diseases and save time and money. Proper calibration of an airblast sprayer requires that tractor speed, water volume, and nozzle manifold arrangement be coordinated to achieve the best coverage under site-specific operating conditions. Driving too fast is the most common error made in airblast sprayer calibration.

Ways to Reduce Drift

Sunday Jan 02, 2022

Spray drift is one of the most important issues facing pesticide applicators. Movement to off-site locations can be caused by wind, poor calibration/adjustment, and operator error.