Fireblight Prediction and Management

Monday Jan 02, 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.

Ways to Reduce Drift

Monday Jan 02, 2023

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.

Campylomma Bug

Monday Jan 02, 2023

Campylomma can be a pest during the bloom period when it feeds on young developing fruit. However, it is a beneficial predaceous insect that is valuable in control of soft bodied insects (such as spider mites) throughout the rest of year. DAS predicts the phenology of Campylomma during the spring, but beating tray samples need to be taken before and during the spring bloom period to determine if Campylomma is present and whether treatment is necessary.

Woolly Apple Aphid

Monday Jan 02, 2023

Woolly apple aphid (WAA) has become more common over the past few years and is a quarantine threat for export to certain countries. WAA can be found feeding on the roots as well as occurring in the tree canopy where it can appear as a white cottony mass on pruning scars or shoots.

Why Coverage and Calibration Matter

Monday Jan 02, 2023

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.