Fruit Industry Teams Up For IPM Innovations

In the midst of current big issues — the global economic maelstrom, a new administration in Washington, DC, and the uncertain finish to the ‘08 apple crop — it is a real joy to see something absolutely positive, simple, and successful.

I am talking about a home-grown initiative that is helping transform the Washington apple industry. The Pest Management Transition Program (PMTP) seeks “to change practices, attitudes, and perceptions of apple Integrated Pest Management (IPM) activities while sustaining grower profitability through acceptable crop protection, reducing pesticide exposure risks of farm labor, and enhancing environmental quality.” (http://pmtp.wsu.edu/background.html)

Sounds like a lot of mission statements: balanced, ambitious, broad, a little fuzzy. That may be so, but the goal of the PMTP is focused, doable, and absolutely essential for the Washington apple industry to stay in business. It can also be put very simply: help the state’s producers implement practices to control codling moth without Guthion, quickly.

Taking The Initiative

The PMTP is the apple industry’s proactive response to EPA’s regulatory action phasing out use of the organophosphate pesticide azinphos-methyl (Guthion, MANA Crop Protection). This long-time standard control for codling moth, Washington’s key apple pest, will not be available after 2012.

Prior to EPA’s announcement, which was not unexpected, many industry groups, representing the general inclination of their growers, fought this action. Many are still fighting it. I believe this fight is doomed, both by international regulatory actions as well as marketplace issues.

Carbamates and organophosphates are clearly targeted for increasing regulation. Producers used to relying on these materials will have to comply or find an alternative.

Fortunately, Washington apple growers have a range of alternatives to control codling moth, most of which are IPM-based programs created, tested, and applied by scientists from Washington State University and the USDA Agricultural Research Service.

As the PMTP website highlights: “Research has developed new technologies and strategies for incorporating them into commercially relevant programs.” These technologies rest on a foundation of pheromone-based mating disruption, but rely on the integration of new technologies, Web-based decision assist systems, and effective sprayer technologies, all of which have been documented in this and other trade publications, Extension documents, and industry meeting in the past few years.

Based on a strategic approach developed by Dr. Jay Brunner and colleagues at Washington State University, the industry is committed to beating the EPA deadline of 2012 in its transition away from organophosphate-based codling moth control to IPM-based alternatives. The Washington State Horticultural Association (WSHA) obtained a $550,000 grant in 2007. The grant provides funding to target those tree fruit producers who have not fully embraced new IPM practices with a three-pronged approach. (see “IPM Education”)

Accomplishments after the first field season are impressive. A broad-based Advisory Committee representing producers, the ag chem sector, farm workers, and non-agricultural stakeholders sets overall policy. An energetic and enthusiastic staff leads education and communication efforts.

Changing Perceptions

A unique feature of the PMTP is the inclusion of a rural sociologist as a key team member. Dr. Nadine Lehrer is leading the development and utilization of systematic, rigorous survey tools to understand shifts in behavior and reasons for adoption or non-adoption of recommended practices. One of her initial key findings is that the PMTP has already had a positive impact on more than 80,000 acres in just one year. Her survey also shows that the PMTP has a ways to go to reach every acre in Washington, as well as getting our story to the broader public.

In a recent online opinion piece, American/Western Fruit Grower group editor Brian Sparks urged growers to work with their commodity organizations, adopt IPM practices, and educate our customers about our innovative management approaches.

I think the Pest Management Transition Program is exactly what Brian had in mind. This program builds on the forward thinking of the WSHA and the support of our legislature. Mostly, though, it builds on years of research and Extension effort by the dedicated scientists who have taken ideas and turned them into practical knowledge that will help us meet regulatory demands and remain profitable. Our thanks to Jay Brunner and his team.