12 



CRANBERRY IPM IN HASSACHUSETTS — WHAT IT HEANS AND HOW IT WORKS 



Joan A. Lasota 



Cranberry Experiment Station 



University of Massachusetts 



East Wareham, MA 



Tn 1986 a record cranberry crop (1.8 million barrels) was produced in 

 Massachusetts, where the total earnings reached approximately $90 million. 

 This level is a 7 percent increase from the previous season, making the 1986 

 crop the largest in Massachusetts history and makes the state the leading 

 cranberry producer in the U.S. for the third consecutive year. Cranberries are 

 this state's most valuable agricultural commodity, accounting for 23 percent 

 of the total cash receipts in 1985. The average per acre harvest is currently 

 149.3 barrels, an increase from 70.1 barrels in 1975. The price per barrel 

 also has increased — from $13 in 1975 to $55 in 1985. This figure was between 

 $52 and $5^* in 1986. Ocean Spray Cranberries, which markets approximately 80% 

 of the fruit sold in Massachusetts, increased its sales from $361 million in 

 1982 to $541 million in 1985 and expects to continue this trend. 



Results of a pesticide survey conducted for pesticide-treated cranberry 

 acreage in 1983. 1984, and 1985 indicated that greater than 60 percent of all 

 pesticides used on cranberries in Massachusetts were insecticides. Evaluation 

 of the period between 1981 and 1985 showed that the number of insecticide 

 applications for bogs in Massachusetts increased by a factor of 1.6 in 1984; 

 however, this figure decreased to 1.0 in 1985, making 1981 and 1985 equivalent 

 in terms of the number of insecticide application. Tn all cranberry growing 

 regions, parathion was the most widely used insecticide. It was used on at 

 least three times as many acres as any of the other insecticides. A gradual 

 decrease in the use of parathion in bogs has been noted and may be related to 

 an increase in the use of 'orsban, an insecticide which only recently became 

 registered for use on cranberries in Massachusetts. 



Environmental contamination, hazards to human and other non-target 

 organisms, increased monetary costs of pesticide applications, and the 

 increased probability of resistance to pesticides demands that current and 

 future research efforts focus on an integrated approach to pest management, 

 emphasizing minimal use of chemical pesticides. Depressing the use of 

 chemicals is particularly important in highly residential areas, such as 

 southeastern Massachusetts, to help prevent environmental contamination. 

 Pollution of aquifers is of particular importance. Additionally, the proximity 

 of cranberry bogs to homes results in fear of pesticide drift on the part of 

 homeowners. Recently, growers have been faced with public hearings on 

 proposed bills requiring notice 60 days prior to pesticide application. There 

 also have been hearings to ban all aerial applications in certain towns. 

 Pressure from external sources is forcing growers to contemplate alternatives 

 to the standard, prophylactic, calender application of pesticides, a spray 

 schedule which has little or no regard for pest population levels. 



Integrated pest management (IPM) means the judicious use of chemical 

 control measures while taking full advantage of cultural, mechanical, and 

 biological controls. With IPM, calender-based spray schedules are replaced by 

 chemical controls which are based on sampling and monitoring pest populations. 



