Pesticide Residue Study

The tree fruit industry as a whole is increasingly concerned about complying with Maximum Residue Levels or MRLs for pesticides in export markets. The Ag Network's Lacy Gray has more.

Due to interest from the tree fruit industry regarding pesticide levels the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission initiated studies in 2011 in apple and cherry to develop some residue data for commonly used chemistries to help Washington growers make more informed choices about their spray programs. The WTFRC Internal Program recently completed a 2013 study in apple which featured 14 insecticide/acaricides and 8 fungicides commonly used in Washington orchards. The study included different use patterns of those products, the potential influence of popular sunburn protectants on pesticide residue persistence, and the use of carbaryl or Sevin only as a chemical thinner early in the growing season.

Thanks Lacy. The results of that study, as well as previous reports from similar projects on apple and cherry are now available on the WTFRC homepage: www.treefruitresearch.com.

That's today's Fruit Grower Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network.