Massachusetts Integrated Pest 

 Management Guidelines for Apple 



Craig S. Hollingsworth and William M. Coli 

 Department of Entomology, University of Massachusetts 



Daniel R. Cooley 



Department of Plant Pathology, University of Massachusetts 



Ronald J. Prokopy 



Department of Entomology, University of Massachusetts 



Integrated Pest Management is a systems noted by bold type. The required number of 

 approach to pest management that considers all points is approximately 70% of the total pos- 

 factors ultimately affecting the pest complex, sible, not including advanced IPM, optional, and 

 including plant nutrition and horticultural experimental practices which are worth bonus 

 practices, as well as elements of insect, disease, points, 

 and weed control. Control tactics include cul- 

 tural, biological, chemical, and mechanical Development of the Guidelines 

 methods. An IPM program must be flexible, as Guidelines were developed by interviewing 

 practices which are appropriate in some situa- apple specialists> inc l u ding university faculty, 

 tions may not always be practical or appropriate extension spec ialists, and private consultants to 

 in others. obtain a list of best management practices. 



These guidelines are designed to evaluate Practices were then evaluated for their practi- 

 whether or not an apple crop has been grown ^ ^ weighted by their difficulty and im- 

 under IPM. The guidelines are used in the rtance to IPM Grower input was elicited 

 Agricultural Stabilization and Conservation through commodity associations and from par- 

 Service (ASCS) Integrated Crop Management tid t s in IPM short courses. The guidelines 

 (ICM) cost-sharing program and will be used in haye been tegted for three geasons ^^ the 

 the proposed Massachusetts Department of ^^ ICM cost -sharing program and the Uni- 

 Food & Agriculture IPM recognition program. vergity of Massac husetts IPM program to deter- 

 Whether a grower is enrolled in such a program mine whether or not the concept and the list of 

 or not, the guidelines can be used as a checklist practices are p rac tical. 



to identify areas where pest management effi- Thege Adelines are not absolute. We ex- 



ciency might be improved. t them to evolve with the development of IPM 



As a measure of grower performance, the techno iogy. The authors welcome comments 



guidelines use a point system, allowing a grower ^ suggest ion S for their modification or im- 



to choose those practices which are most suit- Dr0V ement 

 able for a specific farm or situation. Credit or 



partial credit may be earned for each practice, Acknowledgement8 



based on its level of completion or on the portion ° 



of the farm on which it was used. Credit, We thank the following for their suggestions 



however, must be earned in each general cat- and contributions to these guidelines: Wesley 



egory. Higher values are given to practices Autio, Kathleen Leahy, Karen Hauschild, Mary 



which we consider essential to IPM. These are Jane Else, and New England Fruit Consultants. 



12 Fruit Notes, Fall, 1992 



