South West Injury on Peach
January 14, 2014 Dave Schmitt
How Cold Did it Get?
October 25, 2013 Dave Schmitt
Integrate Sanitation Into Your Apple Scab Control Program
Apple Scab Control with Urea.
Video link: http://youtu.be/8g0WyVi68GM
This past season we saw elevated levels of apple scab in southern counties. Our IPM scouts found low levels of scab present in orchards where scab had not been detected for many years, even though these orchards had been carefully sprayed using effective materials. Most likely what we are witnessing is the result of an increasing pattern of wet seasons with periods of extreme rainfall and not resistance to DMI fungicides, although that is an area of great concern and cannot be ruled out. Regardless of the cause, high inoculum in the orchard will eventually lead to control failures with materials such as the DMI’s and other chemistries prone to resistance.
At any rate growers that had scab this year should integrate sanitation practices into their scab control program. The recommended sanitation program involves either: fall or spring applications of Urea; flail mowing fallen leaves: or preferably both.
Dr. Dan Cooley and Jon Clements at UMass have uploaded a short video explaining this approach.
June 25, 2013 Dave Schmitt
Brown Rot Found in Nectarines
Last week a block of Fantasia nectarines was found to have a very small percentage of rot present. This week several more blocks were found with rotten fruit present. The common denominator between the three is that they were all mid – late season nectarines that had been just thinned or were being thinned during the severe weather pattern we just experienced. Fruit were injured or the stems knocked loose from either heavy downpours or breaking up clusters. In one orchard many of the rotten fruit were dropping so it is likely the stem had been compromised. Any type of injury in these weather conditions can lead to rot infection.
So what should you do?
- Don’t panic! Fruit should have a high degree of resistance at this point. Only fruit injured in some way should be susceptible to rot;
- Maintain good coverage with a full rate of captan during periods of unstable weather;
- If possible, remove all the rotten fruit from the orchard canopy. Rotten fruit on the ground can be removed by discing where sod middles are not maintained.
May 10, 2013 Dave Schmitt
Tree Fruit Fire Blight Alert: Extreme
The Cougar Blight model at NEWA is predicting “Extreme Risk” for fire blight for the period May 10-15. The model is basing the prediction on the current weather forecast for both southern and northern regions. Keep a close eye on the weather. Apply antibiotics such as Streptomycin, Mycoshield, or Fireline. Streptomycin is the most effective of the antibiotics. The Terramycin products (Mycoshield and Fireline) should be rotated with strep for resistance management. See the New Jersey Commercial Tree Fruit Production Guide for rates. Keep in mind that these antibiotics are best applied under slow drying conditions (dilute applications), and have limited residual activity.
May 4, 2013 Dave Schmitt
Tree Fruit Fire Blight Alert: Caution
The Cougar Blight model at NEWA is predicting “Caution” for all Apple and Pear blocks with open blossoms starting May 7. The model is basing the prediction on the current weather forecast for both southern and northern regions. Keep a close eye on the weather. If conditions for infection occur (60°F or above with rain or severe weather including high winds) apply antibiotics such as Streptomycin, Mycoshield, or Fireline. Streptomycin is the most effective of the antibiotics. The Terramycin products (Mycoshield and Fireline) should be rotated with strep for resistance management. See the New Jersey Commercial Tree Fruit Production Guide for rates. Keep in mind that these antibiotics are best applied under slow drying conditions (dilute applications), and have limited residual activity.
April 26, 2013 Dave Schmitt
Oriental Fruit Moth Update
In southern counties we have accumulated approximately 102 DD base 45 since the biofix set on 4/16. Based on the current forecast, insecticides for OFM control should be applied in 7-10 days. In northern counties, only 14 DD have accumulated since the biofix set on 4/22 so no applications for OFM will be needed for about 2 weeks.
