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XOregon
Fruit LOSING GROUND: EXAMPLES: |
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Putting
the Farm Bill to Work for Oregon fruit growers
According to
Dusty Eddy, District Conservationist with the Natural Resource Conservation
Service (NRCS) based in The Dalles, a key component of these efforts
has been the use of Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)
incentive payments made possible by the NRCS. Sprayer technology. On orchards, which require intensive pest management, cost-sharing has allowed growers to adopt lower-volume tower sprayers that apply pesticide downward onto trees instead of traditional “air blast” sprayers that cover trees as well as off-target areas. The new sprayers use less total pesticide because they apply it more precisely. In some instances, improved efficiencies are realized by sprayers equipped with sensors that turn off machinery when a tree is not detected. Remote weather stations, online applications. Orchardists in the Wy’East Conservation and Development Area also have direct access to 50-plus remote, in-orchard weather stations. The stations broadcast local weather data in real time enabling growers to monitor wind and temperature via the Internet. What’s more, online pest modeling programs help growers determine when pesticide application will be most effective and least damaging to the environment. The online modeling interface helps growers make better management decisions. It also allows them to apply new-generation, less toxic pesticides as well as improve the precision of their production practices. “The weather stations give the growers a much better opportunity to apply pesticides when it’s going to be most effective versus having to use a calendar method or rule of thumb, or simply reacting to seeing pests,” said Eddy. Slurry versus spraying. For cherry growers, the cherry fruit fly is the worst pest problem, and pesticides used to combat the insect have significant potential for getting into streams and having other adverse impact on the environment. Eddy reports that a possible alternative to the airplane-applied pesticide is a bait slurry distributed using an ATV. The slurry is mud-like and lands on tree bark and foilage, specifically attracting and killing the female fruit flies. This method does not broadcast pesticide through the air. “We’d like to see this more widely adopted, but many growers are waiting for additional results to see how well it works,” said Eddy. Irrigation
and water conservation. Eddy has also been working with
growers to adopt irrigation plans that incorporate micro sprinkler
systems that dispense one quarter to two gallons per minute versus
20 gallons per minute with existing systems. Carter has
also received federal assistance installing a geotextile ground
cover fabric in the tree rows on 10 to 12 of his acres, saving 40
percent on water usage where installed. Scouting. All things considered, watching out for first-hand evidence of pests or for vulnerability to them is another good line of defense, said Eddy. “So scouting is also an incentive practice—either hiring consultants or taking the time to walk the orchards themselves,” he said. “Using technological tools and modeling is important, but so is seeing problems with your own eyes. It’s kind of a whole package approach.” Generating awareness, helping growers participate. Eddy said the EQIP program’s successes to date have been driven by word of mouth coupled with farm and extension services and a very active information/education program in the county. This has included:
“The most effective communication has been grower-to-grower,” said Eddy. “They really like the neighborhood meeting concept and other informal get-togethers. We may be sitting on five-gallon buckets and just tossing out ideas.” Growers have
appreciated the resources made available through EQIP and NRCS.
“They’ve put us on a steep learning curve, and they’ve
been very helpful,” said Carter. To date NRCS has funded EQIP contracts with over 20 orchardists and about 127 other producers—at a total disbursement of $3 million. These orchardists represent an estimated 2,000 acres, although EQIP-funded projects may have been used on only a part of their acreage. More
funding anticipated. “We anticipate funding more
in the coming years,” said Eddy. In fact, he reported that
NRCS expects a high number of Conservation Security Program (CSP)
Tier 3 contracts to be funded in the 2005 fiscal year, involving
orchardists as well as wheat growers. |
Growers
understand the value of conserving natural resources and protecting
the environment. They also face an increasing array of environmental
and regulatory challenges—from water quality to endangered
species. Problem is, practices that address these challenges are
often cost prohibitive for growers. But there’s good news.
With incentives to adopt integrated pest management (IPM) practices
using 2002 Farm Bill funding, qualified fruit growers in Oregon’s
Wasco County are realizing significant environmental and financial
benefits. In fact, the successes here are models for how incentives
can work in other areas across the country.