Introducing the WSU Pesticide Spray Record Evaluator

Tuesday Mar 07, 2023

At some point, many of us have heard from a grower or friend that "it's been a really bad year" for the control of a certain insect pest or "it's so bad we're going to need to pull this orchard out of organic management." While there are many causes for flare ups of a pest population, it begs the questions, 'when were treatments applied?' and 'which treatments in the spray program had the greatest effect on the pest population'?

Sprayer Calibration

Sunday Mar 05, 2023

While the WSU-DAS system focuses on using pest and disease phenology to properly time pesticide sprays, it is critical that the properly-timed sprays are applied correctly. Without proper coverage, sprays will not serve their intended purpose, and growers may waste material, labor, and money, without getting the anticipated control.

Oriental Fruit Moth Management in Washington Orchards

Wednesday Mar 01, 2023

While Oriental fruit moth (OFM) has been a concern for Washington stone fruit growers for decades, infestations of this pest have only been noted in organic apple orchards in the lower Yakima Valley over the past few years. In 2017, damage from this pest showed up with a vengeance in several Washington orchards, most notably in sweet cherry and organic apple orchards in and around the south-eastern edge of Yakima County. While significant losses were noted in organic apples, the economic impact of the damage identified in cherry is currently unclear.

Oriental Fruit Moth Monitoring Required for Export to Mexico or Canada

Wednesday Mar 01, 2023

All stone fruit packed for shipment to Mexico or British Columbia, Canada must be inspected and be certified as free of oriental fruit moth (OFM). OFM must be monitored with traps from first adult flight throughout the season.

Fireblight Prediction and Management

Tuesday Feb 21, 2023

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.