WERA_OLD043: Establishing Bio-Intensive Pest Management Programs for Western Orchard Systems
Statement of Issues and Justification
Codling moth (CM), Cydia pomonella L., is the key pest of pome fruit and walnut production in the western region of the United States (US) (Beers et al. 1993). Apple and pear are grown on 300,000 acres in five states (WA, OR, ID, UT, CA) and the region accounts for 70% of the fresh market apples sold in the US and 90% of the pear production. In addition, walnuts are produced on nearly 200,000 acres in CA. Organophosphate (OP) insecticides are the most widely used class of insecticides in pome fruit orchards in the western US, most targeted at control of CM (Beers and Brunner 1991, NASS 1992, 1994, 1996, 1998). Resistance to OP insecticides occurs in the key pests, codling moth and leafrollers, and has been documented in pome fruit orchards throughout the western US (Varela et al. 1993, Knight et al. 1994, Dunley et al. 2000). Many secondary pests, such as aphids, leafhoppers, and leafminers, have also developed high levels of resistance to OP and carbamate insecticides.Implementation of the Food Quality Protection Act of 1996 (FQPA) will limit the availability and use of OP, carbamate and other insecticides that have been used for over 30 years (Whalon et al. 1999). Because apple and pear are important foods in the diets of infants and children (NAS 1993), the FQPA will restrict pesticides used on these crops more than on others.
The widespread adoption of CM mating disruption (CMMD) in western apple and pear orchards resulted from efforts of the highly successful Codling Moth Areawide Management Project (CAMP) ? 1995-1999 (Calkins 1998, Brunner et al. 2001). CAMP was successful in achieving its goals of implementing mating disruption as the primary control for CM, reducing broad-spectrum insecticide use by about 75%, and enhancing opportunities for biological control in pome fruit orchards. The same group scientists involved in CAMP successfully competed for and IFAFS (Building a multi-tactic pheromone-based pest management system in western orchards) and RAMP (Enhancing pheromone mating disruption for lepidopterous pests in western orchards) grants with goals of stabilizing and extending the benefits of CAMP through research and educational activities. Participants in these grants form the core of individuals requesting the establishment of this new multistate coordinating committee.
This proposed new WCC broadens the focus of the former committee (WCC-43). The new WCC will provide a vehicle to continue and enhance the coordination of research projects and exchange of ideas and information that exist within the region and to expand the focus to crops other than pome fruits. The new WCC will likely coordinate activities and possibly hold joint meeting, with a similar newly formed coordinating committee in the eastern US working on similar kinds of issues associated with deciduous tree fruits.
The proposed new coordinating committee will address issues of reducing reliance on broad-spectrum pesticides, development of alternative methods of pheromone delivery for mating disruption of pests, development and evaluation of non-pheromone monitoring methods, determination of the impact of new pesticides on natural enemies, evaluation of how modification of orchard habitats and nearby natural habitats can enhance biological control, and information transfer to pest management decision makers. All of these issues are of critical importance to the western orchard industry. New knowledge generated from these activities will provide greater stability of ?soft? pest control programs allowing growers and crop consultants to implement multi-tactic programs with a greater degree of confidence. The reduction of reliance on broad-spectrum pesticides will reduce risk of negative environmental impacts of pest management practices, a benefit to all citizens living in the western region. However, the group most directly benefiting will be farm worker whose working environment will become much safer.
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