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predicting ascospore maturity and infection periods of apple scab 

 and fireblight infection periods also comprised a very essential 

 part of the pest management strategy of this project. 



While the results of the project must be interpreted with 

 caution, every indication points to the fact that the growers who 

 followed the pest recommendations of the farm advisors realized 

 substantial reductions in the amount and cost of pesticide usage. 

 Specifically, the 6 growers within the project area who followed 

 all or most of the recommendations in 1975 averaged 94% clean fruit 

 sprayed an average of 8 times, and incurred an average pesticide 

 cost of $68.06 per acre. From 1973 to 1975, their insecticide, 

 miticide, and fungicide usage decreased 10, 58, and 25%, respec- 

 tively. The 4 growers within the project area who followed few or 

 none of the recommendations in 1975 also averaged 941 clean fruit, 

 but sprayed an average of 11 times, with an average pesticide cost 

 of $96.29 per acre. It is very important to point out, however, 

 that the 6 growers within the project area who followed about half 

 of the recommendations averaged only 83% clean fruit even though 

 they sprayed more often (9 times) and their pesticide costs x-iere 

 greater ($79.59 per acre) than growers who followed all or most of 

 the recommendations. As in the old saying "half a truth is a dan- 

 gerous thing", these data show that following only half the recom- 

 mendations of the farm advisors in a program as complex as this 

 pest management program was indeed counter-productive. 



ome 



Do apple pest management programs of the sort carried out in 

 New York, Michigan, North Carolina, and British Columbia, and som 

 other states and countries have a future in Massachusetts? My 

 answer is hopefully yes, but the road to implementation will take 

 time. Apple production in Massachusetts is on a much smaller 

 scale than in states like New York or Michigan. We lack the agri 

 cultural funding, equipment, and number of fruit research, exten- 

 sion, and farm advisor personnel that New York and Michigan have. 

 But we intend to make a beginning, instituting the initial stages 

 of pest management trials and demonstration plots in a few small 

 blocks in commercial apple orchards in different parts of the 

 state this year. We welcome your interest and cooperation. 



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