OrganicA - a resource for organic apple production: Organic IPM

~ Practical Guide for Organic Apple Production ~
The goal of this publication is to share the authors' experiences and knowledge about organic apple production in New England.
click here to view the guide

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 2013

2013 Orchard Observations
2013 OrganicA Orchard Bud Stages - Orchards 1, 2, 4

What's new in 2012

2012 Orchard Observations
2012 OrganicA Orchard Bud Stages
eOrganic Webinar on the OrganicA Project results
OrganicA Project Progress Report: January 2009 - February 2012
Practical Guide for Organic Apple Production -- The goal of this publication is to share the authors' experiences and knowledge about organic apple production in New England.

What's new in 2011

OrganicA Project Research Summaries, 2009-2011 -- presentations given at the Organic Apple Session at the New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference in Manchester, NH, on December 15, 2011.
Practical Guide for Organic Apple Production -- The goal of this publication is to share the authors' experiences and knowledge about organic apple production in New England.
2011 Orchard Observations
2011 OrganicA Orchard Bud Stages
Brown Marmorated Stink Bug in Vermont -- Watch out for it in 2011
Organic Apple Video Gallery
Update on OrganicA Project Research, 2009 & 2010. A Slide (with Audio) Presentation at the Vermont Tree Fruit Growers Annual Meeting, Feb. 8, 2011, Middlebury, VT. [Please note: This Power Point presentation is very big. It will take 8-10 minutes to download. Enjoy an organic apple while you wait !!]

What's new in 2010

What's new in 2009

What was 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.
Invitation to Orchard Tour & Discussion of Organic Methods at Pietree Orchard, Sweden, Maine, on July 31, 2008.
Weekly Growing Season Degree Day Accumulation for Estimating Apple Scab Ascospore Maturity
Weekly Growing Season DD Accumulation for Plum Curculio
Weekly Growing Season Degree Day Accumulation for Estimating Arthropod Pest Development

Recent Articles

Disease and Arthropod Management -- what we have learned (2009 Progress Report)
An Evaluation of Alternative Fungicides for Organic Apple Scab Management - These results are part of a study conducted by Morgan Cromwell for a Master of Science degree.
A Preliminary Evaluation of Raw Milk as a Fungicide for Apple Scab Management in Vermont - These results are part of a study conducted by Morgan Cromwell for a Master of Science degree.
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.

Whole Farm Planning is a process integrating management decision making with environmental, economic, and production concerns in mind in order to balance profitability and environmental and social sustainability.
Organic Whole Farm Planning (Ohio Ecological Farm & Food Association)
Successful Whole Farm Planning (Great Lakes Basin Farm Planning Network)

Organic Apple Production Guides

"A Grower's Guide to Organic Apples" published by Cornell University - http://nysipm.cornell.edu/organic_guide/apples.pdf

Apples: Organic Production Guide (ATTRA, 2011) A new publication providing information from recent research and producer experiences.

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

Brown Marmorated Stink Bug in Vermont -- Watch out for it in 2011
Michigan* State University Extension Organic Apple Spray Program includes table on insect control.
Fact Sheets with color pictures (NYS IPM Program website)
Apple IPM Resources ( 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.