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a common system of monitoring, the project staff
developed the infrastructure to carry out large-scale
scouting and implementation efforts by training
current growers and their employees, consulting
firms, and agri-chemical firms in the use of the
new information-intensive systems.
In
1999 orchard insecticide use among the project's
growers was reduced 49 percent through the use
of mating disruption on 877 acres and net revenues
were higher in the Integrated Pest Management
(IPM) orchards because of better control and higher
fruit quality.
In the 2000 growing season, the project expanded
to 2,833 acres with 63 growers despite extremely
difficult growing conditions and low prices to
growers. Total organophosphate reduction in selective
blocks, that year, was
26 percent. Again, growers netted higher revenues
through better control, higher quality fruit,
and an average insecticide cost savings of $48/acre.
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CAP's
PARTNERS
Gerber Food Products,
the Michigan Apple Committee, Michigan
IPM Alliance, Michigan State University,
growers, and consultants.
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In
2001 project participation, projected at 8,000 acres, rose
to 8,360 acres. One hundred and three growers participated
in this project last year, and in three years the project
has achieved an overall average reduction of organophosphates
of 35 percent.
Growers
were from the following regions in Michigan:
| Region |
#
of Participating Growers |
Participating
Orchard Acreage |
| South
East |
25
|
594 |
| South
West |
32
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1,439 |
| Fruit
Ridge |
105
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7,611 |
| West
Central |
26
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926 |
| Northwest |
24
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1,506 |
 Educational
Materials
Scouting Guide
In the spring of 2000, the Michigan Apple IPM Implementation
Project (MAIPMIP) produced a 68-page apple pest guide that
can be used by growers in the field. The full-color booklet
is small enough to fit in a large pocket, and the spiral-bound
pages are printed on plastic-coated paper to resist wrinkling,
water, and dirt.
 Fact
Sheets
The project produced fact sheets on key pests in Michigan
apple orchards, including codling moth and oblique-banded
leafroller.
A special edition of the Gerber IPM Newsletter was used to
promote industry-wide awareness and implementation.
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Economic
Analysis: Estimated Net Costs* Per-Acre for Mating Disruption
Programs
| Pheromone**used
for moth mating disruption in Selective Programs |
1999
Growing Season |
2000
Growing Season |
2001
Growing Season |
| #
Farms |
Selective
Programs |
Comparison
Programs |
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#
Farms |
Selective
Programs |
Comparison
Programs |
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#
Farms |
Selective
Programs |
Comparison
Programs |
| Isomate
C Plus |
10 |
$134.20 |
$132.14 |
|
11 |
$151.23 |
$160.93 |
|
14 |
$164.03 |
$196.07 |
| Isomate
CM/LR |
7 |
$266.95 |
$241.00 |
|
13 |
$256.38 |
$264.75 |
|
17 |
$271.71 |
$245.63 |
| MEC-LR |
8 |
$180.59 |
$205.95 |
|
8 |
$211.92 |
$246.16 |
|
7 |
$178.38 |
$180.06 |
*
The figures here total the cost of pheromone dispensers,
cost of labor for placement, and an estimated loss of profit
based on fruit injury sampling. **Click
here for a description of pheromones used.
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Average
annual expenditures on insecticides and miticides used in
selective block ranged between $26.60 and $41.48 per acre
greater than comparison blocks. In general when revenue loss
from fruit injury was factored into this equation, the selective
block were more economical (i.e. total expenditures were less)
than comparison block only when the percentage of fruit being
sent to a fresh market (as opposed to  processing
apples) was near 100 percent. One conclusion of the economic
analysis is that incorporating mating disruption into a selective
pest management program can be done economically, particularly
when a high percentage of the fruit is targeted to a fresh
market.
The economic viability of mating disruption programs can also
be enhanced by eliminating the need for pesticide applications
for secondary pests (i.e. mites, aphids, and leafminers) because
unlike broad-spectrum pesticides, mating disruption does not
reduce or eliminate natural enemies. Elimination of a single
miticide application can result in savings of $40-$50 per
acre, a large portion of the cost of the mating disruption
programs used in this project.
For more information, contact
Project Coordinator
David Epstein, 517-432-4766, email: epstei10@msu.edu,
or
The Michigan Apple Implementation Project website is: http://www.cips.msu.edu/maipmip/
View
the Final Report (file
size: approx 1.5 MB)
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