u - 



reflection of the relatively small size of most orchards in Massachusetts, 

 and k% relied on monitoring by IPM personnel. Only one grower said he 

 relied on a pesticide fleidman For his scouting. 



Over half (5'*.'*%) of the growers said they based their spray decisions 

 primarily on information obtained through scouting, almost exactly the same 

 number (5^.1%) who said they scouted their acreage weekly. Another 1 8% 

 relied on information obtained through the county agent, and ]h% relied on 

 the calendar. The ]2% who stated "other" all said they did not want to 

 choose one method, but used some ccnnbination of methods. 



Table 2. How frequently do you use the following? {% each response) 



Frequently Sometimes Never 



Pest Alert message/Agents' newsletter 

 Recommendations from UMass Extension 

 Code-A-Phone message 

 Sticky spheres for apple maggot fly 

 Alternate row spraying 

 Pheromone traps 

 Leaf wetness machine 

 Perimeter-only sprays 



Growers say they are using Extension material, since over 95% used the 

 Pest Alert messages sent via the regional agents' newsletter and UMass 

 Extension recommendations. Nearly 60% of respondents said they used the 

 county-based Code-A-Phone message system. Over 50% used sticky spheres, and 

 a similar number used alternate row spraying as a routine practice. About 

 2/3 of growers said they never jsed pheromone traps. Over 82% said they 

 never used a leaf wetness machine. 



Sixty-five percent of the growers said they calibrate their sprayers at 

 least once per season. It was difficult to tell how many did a detailed 

 calibration. Some said that they check to see how much of a tank they have 

 left after spraying a given area and base their "calibration" on that infor- 

 mation. Surprisingly, 19% of respondents calibrate their sprayer less than 

 once per season. However, this is offset somewhat by the 22% who calibrate 

 twice per season, and the 13% who calibrate m ore than twice per season. 

 Most growers use a high-volume sprayer primarily, fewer use a low-volume, 

 and some used both. A few of the smallest growers surveyed use backpack- 

 type sprayers. 



When asked about whether they had changed spray practices in the last 

 ten years, 52% of those who responded said they sprayed less now. Thirty- 

 six percent said they sprayed about the same, although many of these spe- 

 cified that they felt they were using pesticides more intelligently as a 



