12. 



Number of orchard blocks scouted 



iiach week, field staff visited 25 IPM blocks in 16 commercial 

 orchards throughout the major fruit growing regions in Massa- 

 chusetts. IPM growers received a weekly written scouting report 

 and were contacted either in person or via telephone by the IPM 

 Specialist and advised as to the need for spraying, materials to 

 use. and timing . 



In addition, we monitored Check blocks in 6 commerical orchards 

 on a weekly basis when possible. Insect monitoring was identical 

 to that in IPM blocks, although growers followed their own pesti- 

 cide application program with no advice from us. 



Also, 4 orchards were Alternate Middle vs. Every Middle spray 

 blocks. We will discuss the results of this aspect of the program 

 in the next issue of Fruit Notes . 



Grow e r financial support 



The majority of funding for the IPM program continues to be 

 the original 5 year USDA Grant which began in 1978. However, in- 

 asmuch as USDA funds for scouts are scheduled to decrease each 

 year and grower support for scouts is meant to increase, partici- 

 pating IPM orchards were charged $300 for combined insect and dis- 

 ease scouting and advice or $200 for insect scouting and advice 

 alone. Growers paid a total of $4,500 into a special Extension 

 Activity Fund, which was used exclusively for paying scout salaries. 

 No fee was assessed Check or Alternate-Every Middle orchards. 



Grower participation in orchard scouting 



In response to substantial grower interest we offered a series 

 of training sessions to acquaint growers or designated orchard 

 personnel with insect identification and life histories, IPM 

 monitoring techniques, and recommended control measures. These 

 "grower scouts" were encouraged to participate in weekly scouting 

 and data collection in their IPM blocks, and to scout additional 

 blocks of their orchard on their own. Of the 16 IPM orchards, 11 

 utilized "grower scouts" on a weekly basis, 4 used them sporadically, 

 and 1 not at all. Interest in the "grower scout" concept appears 

 to be high, and may offer a means for growers to continue to im- 

 plement IPM programs after September, 1982 when Federal funding is 

 scheduled to end. 



Sampling methods 



Weekly, intensive orchard monitoring continues to provide 

 the soundest basis for accurate pest management decision making 

 and grower advisement. However, if IPM techniques are to be applied 

 to large orchard acreages, more rapid methods of accurately esti- 

 mating insect densities are desirable. For this reason in 1980 

 we utilized fewer trapping stations per block (1 per 2-3 acres) 

 than in 1978 or 1979 (1 per 1-2 acres), although time spent at 

 each station was similar to previous years. 



