Fireblight Part 3

We have been talking with WSU's Tim Smith about his groups search for a non-anitbiotic fireblight control.

SMITH: One of the other things I'd like to point out about some of these new products that are being tested in the industry is that people are putting them on orchards that already have a fireblight problem. These are preventatives and if you are using them to treat an orchard that has a fireblight problem you have intense pressure in there. And you can't expect 100% control without an all out effort of sanitation and multiple sprays at the right time until you get it back under control.

He reiterates that these products would work much better as preventatives instead of a cure.

SMITH: And if you have an orchard that gets fireblight occasionally you probably should use fireblight control every year. Just for the every four or five years that you get fireblight. If that comes along these products are going to prevent it from happening a lot better than they are going to cure it after it happens.

Smith has one more thought to share.

SMITH: The last thing I'm going to say is that we've wondered for years whether it was ok, effective to use a copper in the dormant and the answer to that is Ken Johnson and Rachel Elkins proved that it actually does suppress the amount of bacteria in the blossoms during that growth phase of the bacteria and the blossoms so yes, it is effective.

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