Future of Tree Fruit IPM in Massachusetts 



17 7 



W.M. Coli , R.J. Prokopy" and W.J. Manning 



As we have stated previously, 1982 was the final year of 

 the Apple IPM pilot program. We anticipate the future of tree 

 fruit IPM in the state to be two fold: 



1) Continued extension involvement - Federal funds for 

 IPM will continue to come to the state on a formula 

 basis at least through FY 1983. While no one can accu- 

 rately predict the level of funding or the security of 

 such funds given the cost-cutting emphasis of the present 

 administration, IPM monies are a high priority item in 

 USDA's budget and appear to be reasonably safe from the 

 "budget axe." 



The 1983 growing season will see the implementation 

 of IPM programs in cranberries, forage crops, and potatoes, 

 thereby substantially reducing the amount of USDA money 

 available for continuing an apple IPM program. 



Nonetheless, the Extension administration has ac- 

 cepted a proposal to continue a part-time IPM Specialist 

 position at the University for the purpose of maintaining 

 a scaled-down apple program effort, A major factor in 

 this decision was the willingness of many large and small 

 growers throughout the state to pledge their financial 

 support of such an effort. As of this writing, $3,500 

 has been pledged by growers, for which we extend our 

 thanks . 



Mr. William Coli will remain in his present capacity 

 of Tree Fruit IPM Specialist, with additional responsibil- 

 ities in the area of peach and pear pest management and as 

 overall coordinator of the multi-crop Massachusetts IPM 

 program, Mr. Coli will serve as a resource person for 

 pest management related questions. In addition, he will 

 continue to take principal responsibility for development 

 of the twice-weekly insect and disease pest status messages 

 based on his own scouting in commercial orchards at several 

 locations as well as on reports from cooperating private 

 scout/consultants, and regional fruit specialists. As in 

 the past, apple scab spore maturity information will be 

 provided by W,J, Manning, Dan Cooley and Chris Becker in 

 the Department of Plant Pathology. 



Extension Pest Management Specialist 



2 



Extension Entomologist 



Extension Plant Pathologist 



