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GROWER RESPONSES TO THE APPLE IPM PROGRAM* 



William M. Coli and Ronald J. Prokopy 

 Department of Entomology 



In December, 1981, the IPM sub-Project Steering Committee 

 discussed the future prospects of the IPM Program for apples 

 in Massachusetts. Many at the meeting agreed that an integrated 

 approach to pest management v;as desirable for growers. However, 

 no agreement was reached on whether or not growers were prepared 

 to continue some form of IPM once USDA pilot program funds end 

 in September, 1982. 



It was suggested that a questionnaire be mailed to fruit 

 growers to gauge the interest in IPM, indicate the feasibility 

 of private scout/consultants providing IPM services in Massa- 

 chusetts, and determine the need to continue staffing of an 

 Extension Pest Management Specialist. 



This article summarizes the responses to the questionnaire 

 and adds comments where pertinent. 



In all, 87 questionnaires were returned out of 850 that were 

 sent. Tliirty five were from individuals with less than 20 acres 

 of bearing trees, 43 respondents had more than 20 acres, and 9 

 did not indicate their acreage. The total acreage listed by the 

 respondents v;as 3,605, or just about half of the total apple 

 orchard acreage in the state. 



The questions and responses are as follows: 



1. Do you feel that you have received any direct or indirect 

 benefit from the Apple IPM program during its pilot program 

 phase (1978-present) ? 



81 Yes 6 No 



2. If yes , please indicate all of the ways listed below in which 

 the program has been a benefit. 



64 Educational/training sessions 



49 Has enabled me to reduce pesticide usage and costs. 



60 Improved pest messages received through Regional Agent 



newsletters and "code-a-phones" . 

 18 Direct participation in pilot program. 

 62 FRUIT NOTES articles summarizing program results and related 



research . 

 27 IPM information passed on from other growers. 

 10 Other 



* 



We would like to express our sincere thanks to those individuals 

 who took the time to answer and return the questionnaire on which 

 this review is based. 



