With the looming risk of labor shortages and limitations on public visiting farms, tree fruit growers should consider their options for apple pre-harvest drop management. The past few nights have been cool enough for color development in early varieties such as Honeycrisp and Gala, emphasizing the need to initiate harvest management strategies.
Excellent practical guidance on using plant growth regulators to control drop prepared by Professor Jim Schupp of Penn State is available here:
https://extension.psu.edu/apple-pgrs-prevention-of-preharvest-drop-in-apple-orchards
Growers of MacIntosh, Gala, and Honeycrisp should also refer to the variety-specific recommendations from Dan Donahue of Cornell Cooperative Extension available here:
Recommendations for Harvest Management Plant Growth Regulators in Eastern NY
Keep in mind that the response for stop drop control with PGRs is variable based on cultivar, and weather factors, so be sure to consult your local agricultural agent or tree fruit consultant for individual recommendations prior to application.
