Integrated Pest Management

Through 25 years of experience, and new research developments, we have learned to use the minimum amount of selective pesticides. The goal is to minimize the environmental impact and produce a product with insignificant residue, while producing quality, saleable fruit. Testing the lower thresholds of chemical protection has resulted in economic losses in some years due to insect or disease, but has been valuable for elucidating the lower limits. Sanitation, pruning practices, nutrition, and ground-cover management all play a part in protecting the orchard and producing quality products.

To limit insect damage, the presence of pest and predator species are monitored throughout the growing season.  Levels of pests are tolerated that will not likely cause excessive damage. Even higher levels of pests are sometimes not eliminated if there is a good possibility that there will be sufficient control by developing predators. When an insecticide is required, the one that will control the pest(s) present while not harming other insects or predators is used. Some new insecticides have very low general toxicity and only require one or two ounces of active ingredient per acre. A relatively new insect-control method, requiring no insecticide, involves pheromone dispensers for moth mating disruption. 

                                                                  Pheromone Traps  for Monitoring Pest Moths

We have used mating disruption for controlling oriental fruit moth very successfully since 2001, and we have  always monitored insects with species-specific lures and traps.  In 2008 we were able to expand our IPM efforts even more through a grant from the US Dept of Agriculture NRCS.  With the grant we were able to increase our monitoring to 60 traps.  Also, we expanded the moth control by mating disruption to additionally include the codling moth (the most common internal apple worm), which had become increasingly prevalent and harder to control.  The NRCS funding also went toward establishing beneficial predator mites and helped pay for the additional cost of using the newest, least toxic, most pest specific (not harming beneficial insects) pesticides.

                                                                                                        Hanging moth pheromone loops in tops
                                                                                                        of  trees

There are some other specific measures that we use to minimize pest control impact.  Spraying lower rates of insecticides at more frequent intervals also helps to decrease the total amount of pesticide used. The shorter duration allows timing the application to the specific need rather than spraying the trees weeks apart with enough chemical to cover the possibility that it is needed. Also, less total pesticide is required with shorter spray intervals, because the minimum effective level is maintained with small amounts instead of the much larger amounts required to remain in the orchard after most of it breaks down or washes off. Of course, as noted above, many insecticide applications can be eliminated when not required. Specifically, we have found (contrary to common practice) that we can always eliminate all prebloom peach and apple insecticides. Similarly, we typically increase days-to-harvest limitations by factors of two or three, and in many cases use insecticide rates that are a fraction of permissible levels.

Disease control is targeted only when its propagation is likely. This mainly takes the form of fungicide applications just before or just after wet periods in the spring. The length of time the leaves and fruit are wet, the temperature, the amount of inoculum present, and the growth stage of the trees determine if an outbreak could occur. When the combination of the levels of these factors is considered,  the fungicide treatment can often be reduced. As with insecticides, new fungicides (such as the strobilurins first discovered in certain mushrooms) are available that only require one or two ounces of active ingredient per acre.

Organic Apple Production

As with IPM, organic apple production presents many challenges to success.  There are very few organic orchards in the eastern U.S. due to increased disease and pest  pressures relative to the western U.S.  Also, the increased labor requirement puts us at a disadvantage to other fruit producing areas of the world.  But since we believe strongly in local production of food, we wanted to include organic production as another way to protect the environment and the health of consumers and workers.  In the process we are also learning new technologies that work and can be used in the other apple blocks.  Also, the diversification of growing methods means that there is the possibility that organic apple production could be profitable even if the price of other apples fails to meet costs of production.

In 2005 we planted a 3.2 acre block of apples that we treated by all the rules required for organic production.  The organic apple block provides a different set of challenges and another management system than the IPM methods discussed above.  Weed control is by rotary tilling in the rows and frequent mowing the row middles.  Additionally, lots of hand hoeing, digging, and pulling weeds has been required.  60 yds of wood-chip mulch were applied the first year.  For nutritional supplement, we mostly just applied compost.  In general, the lower available nitrogen has slowed the growth relative to conventionally fertilized trees, but more biologically active soil helps to decrease some diseases.  One variety shows some symptoms of insufficient calcium, and we have been able to make up some of the deficiency with an approved material.  For pest control, the first three years we used minimal organic-approved sprays, often just applied in a few gallons with a backpack sprayer and targeted at the problem area of the tree.  This minimized collateral environmental detriment and saved expending lots on the expensive available chemicals.  So production was somewhat delayed, but we had about 50 bu in the third year, 200 bu in 2008, 90 bu in 2009, and 430 bu in 2010.  In general organic production will mean lower yields, with pest-caused losses to fruit and leaves.    The challenge will be to produce delicious apples of sufficient size and cosmetics, using organic-approved growing methods in an economically profitable way.

Our organic apple block was officially certified "Organic" by Pennsylvania Certified Organic in December of 2007.  The certification process involves keeping detailed records of everything that was done.  Strict standards for materials, methods, and sanitation are required.  An inspector comes to verify the information.

The organic Goldrush, Enterprise, and Sundance apples are available starting in late October at our farm market or for local wholesale.  The 3 varieties were partly selected for their resistance to common apple diseases, which eliminates the need for spring fungicide sprays.  The tart Goldrush has an amazing flavor with a hint of anise.  It maintains a good consistency and flavor in baking, and it keeps very well.  Sundance and Enterprise are also good for fresh eating and baking.  The Enterprise is a large, red apple, but with a fairly thick skin.