Author
 |
Knight, Alan |
|
Submitted to: Washington State Horticulture Association Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 11/10/1999 Publication Date: N/A Citation: Knight, A.L. 1999. Spatial versus sociological-based pest management: biological and economic constraints. Washington State Horticulture Association Proceedings. p.167-168. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: The successful area wide program for management of codling moth in pome fruits in the western U.S. has been characterized by two outcomes: decreased fruit injury by codling moth and the reduced use of organophosphate insecticides. Sociological factors that have impacted this success are discussed. The 17 USDA-funded area wide projects have organized groups of growers together to implement a variety of IPM practices through the use of scouting, action thresholds, and integrated control tactics. The successes of these area wide programs has been directly proportional to the intensity of grower involvement within the group. The number one factor has been the project's ability to clean-up the problem orchards. Neighbors can either work together or ignore each other and can have either the same or different objectives. Unlike the use of broad-spectrum insecticides the use of mating disruption requires growers to work more closely together. Every successful area wide program has included the once non-compliant grower. The major reasons why growers have joined the projects has been their eventual acceptance that this has not been just another top-down government program. Growers have made positive outreach efforts to include everyone. The program was demonstrated to work and growers realize they can save money and avoid pesticide-related headaches. |
