Enhancing Western Orchard Biological Control

Enhancing Western Orchard Biological Control

Susan Allen
Susan Allen
Welcome to the Fruit Grower Report, I'm Susan Allen WSU's tree fruit and Extension Center calls Integrated pest management " a philosophy of pest control founded on the principles of ecology" I call it using good bugs to irradiate bad ones. It's art and science and. Implementing IPM requires an understanding not only of insect and mite biology and ecology but also of the entire orchard system. Jay Brunner from WSU Tree Fruit and Research & Extension Center Explains:

Brunner: IPM or Integrated Pest Management is a concept that brings the principles of ecology to the agri-eco system. Dr. Hoyt who was an entomologist and actually a past director of the resource center developed, integrated mite control where we still use certain chemicals at low rates to control certain pests but he was able to conserve mite predators in the orchard that would then provide complete biological control of pest mites. That has been a very stable program for over 50 years and saved the industry billions of dollars in the use of miticides to control pest mites.

Brunner is now part of the Enhancing Western Orchard Biological Control team a collaborative project between WSU, OSU, the University of Cal at Berkeley who work to improve IPM programs using natural predators in apple , pear and walnut orchards. The Enhancing Western Orchard Biological Control web page features insects in action and great data. Check it out.

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