OrganicA - a resource for organic apple production: Organic IPM

What is IPM?

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a sustainable approach to managing pests that integrates biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks. (National Coalition on IPM)

What is Organic IPM?

Organic Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach to managing pests that integrates organically-approved biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in a way that minimizes economic, health, and environmental risks.

What's New in 2008

Orchard Observations - this is a weekly 'blog' of what we are seeing in the two OrganicA orchards at the University of Vermont Horticulture Research Center.
Weekly Growing Season Degree Day Accumulation for Estimating Apple Scab Ascospore Maturity
Weekly Growing Season Degree Day Accumulation for Estimating Arthropod Pest Development

Recent Articles

An Organic IPM Checklist for Vermont - Safety and quality have always been top priorities for Vermont apple growers. IPM is an important component in producing high quality fruit and in reducing pesticide risks in apple production. The Organic IPM checklist was developed to serve as a quick reminder of IPM considerations during different times of the year.

Additional Resources

NOTE: Some of the following links are provided for biological information only and may not contain organically-approved practices and materials.

Organic Apple Production Guides

Organic Apple Production Guide for Nova Scotia*
http://www.organicagcentre.ca/DOCs/OACCappleGuide.pdf

Apple Diseases

Disease Management Guidelines for Organic Apple Production in Ohio*
http://www.caf.wvu.edu/kearneysville/organic-apple.html
Scab Resistant cultivars (SRC)-- these cultivars are important consideration in organic apple production. In 1997, The Final Report of a multi-year, regional project focused on the evaluation of SRC was written and may provide valuable insights into whether they are appropriate for your situation. Also, in 1995, Dr. David Rosenberger wrote an Update on Scab-Resistant Cultivars and Advanced Selections for Consideration in New Plantings which may also provide some insights on these cultivars.
Link to Market Diseases of Apples, Pears, and Quinces, Agricultural Handbook #376 (currently out of print; internet version has excellent photographs and descriptions)
Fact Sheets with color pictures (NYS IPM Program website)
Gallery of Disease Images of Tree Fruit Diseases (West Virginia* University website)
Index of Apple Disease photographs and biology (West Virginia* University website)

Arthropod Pests

Michigan* State University Extension Organic Apple Spray Program includes table on insect control.
Fact Sheets with color pictures (NYS IPM Program website)
Apple IPM Manual: A Guide for Sampling and Managing Major Apple Pests in New York State ( NYS IPM Program website)
Additional pictures and information on Insect Pests of Apples (Website on the Mid-Atlantic* Orchard Monitoring Guide)

Biological Control Agents

Beneficial Insect and Mites in Ontario* Orchards (Factsheet with excellent pictures)
Achieving Biological Control of the European Red Mite in Northeast Apple Orchards, NYS IPM Program
Predatory Mites , NYS IPM Program
Beneficial Insects, NYS IPM Program
Predators of Aphids and Mites (Mid-Atlantic* Orchard Monitoring Guide)
Leafminer parasitoid - P.ornigis (Bio.Control: A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America website)
Aphid predators -- lacewings, cecidomyiids (Bio.Control: A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America website)

Other Links of Interest

Economic Significance of Organic Fruit Production in New England, the US, and the World (2002)

*Please note that the pest complex and environmental conditions are somewhat different in New England but these programs offer information and insights on the challenges of arthropod and disease management.