The use of reduced-risk insecticides has allowed late-season predatory insect populations of wasps in the family Braconidae and Ichneumonidae to significantly reduce the leafminer populations of foliar-feeding insects that once plagued the fruit industry while significantly reducing pesticide loading of organophosphate insecticides.
Recent studies have provided us with data that demonstrate the addition of organophosphates in conjunction with the fruit-thinning agent Sevin XLR are not needed under moderate pest pressure of plum curculio, giving growers the option to use carbaryl alone for early-season insect pest management. This reduction in the use of organophosphates during thinning applications can reduce the costs of petal fall and/or first cover applications by 35 to 55 percent, respectively. Studies using classical bioassays have provided us with data displaying a high degree of efficacy of the neonicotinoid, imidacloprid, against the Hudson Valley leafhopper complex, allowing us to recommend dramatically reduced rates of this material for these pests. This reduction can provide growers more effective predatory insects conservation, saving 25 to 75 percent of material costs, while achieving equivalent degrees of leafhopper and aphid control. Our work with the multistate Risk Avoidance and Mitigation Program (RAMP) has provided growers with the information needed to implement the use of a non-organophosphate pest management program to achieve commercially acceptable fruit quality.
Our work with the biological control agent T. pyri has provided regional fruit growers with current information on the use of specific management techniques to maintain and spread this predatory mite, providing suitable season-long management of phytophagous mite populations while reducing the need for yearly miticide applications. Our recent work on the use of disease-resistant columnar apple and an exclusion netting system may lead us to recommending the use of this system in producing a non-chemical/bio-intensive approach to fruit production. Recent studies of codling moth adults have shown increasing tolerance to azinphos-methyl (Guthion WP) in western processing orchards compared to eastern growing regions.
impact statement issue
The general public perceives a significant need to reduce both pesticide load and potential environmental impacts. There is also significant need to provide useful information to the grower community for transitioning insect pest management toward risk reduction without reduction in efficacy or loss of confidence for success.
impact statement response
We tested newly emerging insecticides with favorable toxicology profiles in field comparisons with older standard insecticides to demonstrate equivalent efficacy or effectiveness in managing the pest complex while preserving beneficial insects.
impact statement summary
Research and extension efforts on pome fruit, onion, and grape have studied the efficacy of newly developed pest management tools, employing them in a cost-effective, environmentally sound approach. This research is to study the impact on fruit production of implementing a non-organophosphate pest management strategy in fruit production. Complementary to this are peripheral projects to study the development of optimum timing, use of insecticide rate reductions, and insecticide-resistance management strategies specific to individual species or insect complexes to reduce environmental impact.
