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Project Leader(s): Terence
Robinson, Dept. of Hort. Sci., NYSAES,
Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456
Art
Agnello, Dept. of Entomology, NYSAES,
Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456
Ian
Merwin, Dept. of Horticulture, Cornell
University, Ithaca, NY 14850
Harvey
Reissig, Dept. of Entomology, NYSAES,
Cornell University, Geneva, NY 14456
David
Rosenberger, Dept. of Plant Path., NYSAES,
Cornell University, Highland, NY 12528
Jim
Schupp, Dept. of Hort. Sci., NYSAES, Cornell
University, Highland, NY 14456
Richard
Straub, Dept. of Entomology, NYSAES, Cornell
University, Highland, NY 12528
Cooperator(s): Deborah I. Breth,
Cornell Coop. Ext.-Lake Ontario Fruit Team,
Albion, NY 14411
Mike
Fargione, Ulster County Coop. Extension,
Highland, NY 12528
Stephen A.
Hoying, Cornell Coop. Ext.-Lake Ontario
Fruit Team, Newark, NY 14568
Kevin
Iungerman, Cornell Coop. Ext.-Northern NY
Fruit Program, Balston Spa, NY 12020
Kevin
Bittner, Dept. of Horticulture, Ithaca, NY
14850 (Undergraduate Student Assistant)
James
Bittner, Fruit Grower, Singer Farms Olcott,
NY (Grower Cooperators)
Steve
Clark, Fruit Grower, Milton, NY (Grower
Cooperators)
Type of
grant: Pheremones, biorationals;
microbials; organic pesticides
Project location(s): Throughout
the Northeast
Abstract: Several NY apple growers
have indicated they see a marketing
opportunity for NY grown organic apples
(both fresh and processed products) and have
requested a Cornell University led effort to
develop a system of organic apple production
for NY. In 2001 we studied insect pest
management, fruit thinning, and weed control
tactics that are organically approved. We
have evaluated two organic approved
insecticides (Surround and Aza-Direct) in
season long programs. They both provided
some pest control but less than half of the
fruit was free from insect damage. Handgun
treatments were better than airblast
treatments. Both of the products showed some
promise but organic growers will still have
to accept considerably more insect damage
than with conventional pest management
products.
With
organic approved thinning agents we had
excellent success. The Fish oil/lime sulfur
combination gave excellent thinning efficacy
and a wide window of application (full bloom
to post petal fall). NC-99 also gave
significant thinning but was only tested at
full bloom. Both products also resulted in
improved fruit size. There was some
phytotoxic effects of both products and a
small amount of fruit russetting from
multiple applications of fish oil/lime
sulfur. We must still evaluate the effect of
the thinning agents on return bloom in the
spring of 2002..
We
successfully modified and improved a weed
flaming unit that gave promising results in
2001 for cost effective weed control in
organic apple orchards. The use of a shroud
allowed faster travel times and more
effective weed suppression. This method
should allow organic apple growers to limit
weed competition and improve tree growth,
yield and fruit size.
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