What's HOT in Apple Production and Research

(Updated 5 March 2020)


2020 Revisions to Fruit Pest Management recommendations:

The revised Pest Management Guide for Home Fruit, Commercial Vineyards, Commercial Small Fruits, and Hops, are now available.  The tree fruit manual, separate from the Pest Management Guide series, is in production, and we hope to have it ready for our fruit schools.

The guides are available free online in PDF, and will also be available for purchase.
Corteva to cease production and sale of chlorypyrifos:
On Feb 6, Coreteva announced it will cease production and sale of chlorpyrifos, the active ingredient in Lorsban.  The statement cited economic factors.  This material has been in the news lately, for human health and regulatory concerns.  In November 2015, EPA announced its plan to revoke all tolerances because of neurodevelopmental problems resulting from neonatal exposure.  However, the plan was subsequently reversed following a call for more comments in November 2016, finalized in July 2019.

 Spotted lanternfly a new invasive concern

A new invasive pest of small fruit crops and vineyards moved into eastern Pennsylvania in 2014, and has been spreading.  The quarantine zone for 2020 added 12 new counties, bringing the total to 24 Pennsylvania counties.  This infestation now reaches the Ohio border.  In 2017, the range increased from 6 to 13 Pennsylvania counties, and also into Delaware, New York and northern Virginia.  Specimens of dead adults and egg masses were found in Winchester in January 2018 (actually 2017 individuals) and in Clark County in November 2019.  Spotted lantern fly is now established in New Jersey and Maryland, and has been reported from one county in West Virginia.  This pest poses an important risk for grape, orchard and tree crops.  Click here for an Adobe Presenter talk on this species.  A fact sheet is available from Virginia Tech (a USDA fact sheet is available in Spanish).  In addition, there is a Virginia Tech Pest Alert, with additional information on recognition and reporting (this is also available in Spanish).  Specific fact sheets for vineyards and residential areas have been posted.  Now that spotted lanternfly has been found in Virginia, it will be important to follow its spread through the state.  To report a suspected find, please follow this link:  https://ext.vt.edu/spotted-lanternfly.

 VDACS establishes quarantine for spotted lanternfly

Late Tuesday afternoon (5/28), Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS) announced the establishment of a quarantine for spotted lanternfly (SLF), an invasive pest insect that was found in Winchester in January 2018 (ext.vt.edu/spotted-lanternfly).  This insect threatens to be a major pest of fruit crops, forest trees, and other plants in Virginia.  Despite an eradication effort in 2018, SLF increased its distribution from about 1 square mile to 16 square miles.  This year, the overwintering eggs began their hatch on April 27, earlier than last spring.  They are now in the second instar, or second nymphal stage.

The press release on the SLF quarantine linked here.  A direct link to the quarantine document is linked here as well.  The regulated area includes the City of Winchester and Frederick County.  Some of the key provisions of the quarantine are:

1) Regulated articles (plants, outdoor industrial materials, shipping containers, outdoor household articles, and others) may be moved from the quarantine area if they have been inspected, and are accompanied by a permit;

2) Regulated articles may be moved within the quarantine area following an inspection; a certificate is not required.

3) From April 1-Dec 31, regulated articles may be moved through the regulated are without stopping, or stopping only for fuel or traffic conditions.

4) To obtain a permit to move regulated articles, a person doing business must complete a VDACS-approved training (see below) and agree to train employees on identification of SLF.

The training needed to obtain a SLF permit is available online.  There is a $6.00 fee.
For questions on the quarantine and related issues:
For questions about the quarantine or movement of material or trucks, or the compliance agreement, call VDACS.  Call the Richmond number (804-786-5525) even if its a question about the Winchester area.
For questions about the training for the SLF Detection Credentials, go to:  ext.vt.edu/spotted-lanternfly.  Look for a purple button the right side of the page to start the process.

For suspected finds of SLF, go to either the detection portal:

which is also linked through the SLF page:  ext.vt.edu/spotted-lanternfly
or contact their local extension office: https://ext.vt.edu/offices.html
For questions about the training modules, contact Eric Day or Tree Dellinger, 540-231-4899 or idlab@vt.edu
If a caller's web page will not load, direct them to VT 4Help: https://vt4help.service-now.com

I'll be posting more on this later.

2019 Orchard Meetings
This year's orchard meetings will be listed here when available:
Nelson-Albemarle: April 9 - Hosted by Henry Chiles and everyone at Crown Orchard.  Meet at the Johnson Purvis orchard block with is located just south of the village of Covesville.  Directions from Charlottesville: Travel on Rt 29 south for 15 miles (about 20 min). Approx. 1 mile south of Covesville turn left on Rt 632 (Faber Rd).  From Lynchburg: Travel on Rt 29 north.  Approx. 1 mi north of Nelson County line, at the top of the hill, turn right on Rt 32 (Faber Rd).  The orchard entrance is less than a quarter mile down the road.  Turn left and cross the wooded railway trestle.  The orchard is on the other side. April 23 - Saunders Brothers, we will be meeting at the Harewood Shop Location which is located 199 Harewood Lane, Roseland, VA 22967.   May 7 - Silver Creek Orchard, we will be meeting at the 160 Massie Lane, Tyro VA 22976.  DIRECTIONS:  From Charlottesville: Travel on Route 29S south to Arrington. Turn right onto VA 56W. Turn right onto State Rte 65.  Follow VA-56 W to State Rte 680.  Follow State Rte 680 to Massie Ln in Tyro. From Lynchburg: Travel north on Route 29.  Merge left onto VA-151N.  Turn left onto VA-56 W.   Turn left onto State Rte 680 .  Turn right to stay on State Rte 680.  Turn left at Massie Ln .  Turn right onto Massie Ln

Rappahannock-Madison: April 17:  Williams Orchard, Tommy and Eddie Williams, Flint Hill Rt. 211 east to Ben Venue.  At the crossroads, turn north on to Rt. 729 and go approximately 2½ miles.  Orchard is on the left. (3 Williams Farm Lane, Flint Hill, VA 22627).  May 15:  Jenkins Orchard, James Jenkins, Woodville, From Rt. 231, turn right on to Rt. 621, go about 2 miles.  The orchard is on the left by the packing shed. (355 Yancey Rd, Woodville, VA 22749).  Jun 12:  F.T. Valley Orchard, Alan Clark, Sperryville, From Rt. 231, south to orchard on right. (403 F.T. Valley Road Sperryville, VA 22740.  July 24: Graves' Mountain Farm, Jimmy Graves, Syria.  Rt. 231 to Rt 670.  Meet at the picnic shelter on left just past Syria (3626 Old Blue Ridge Turnpike, Syria VA  2243).


Fruit Insect Blog for current information of fruit insects! 
Visit https://virginiafruitinsectupdates.blogspot.com/.

Brown marmorated stink bug and Virginia fruit:

See StopBMSB.org web site!  A new addition to the stink bug complex is brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål).  Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) has recently been introduced from Asia into the northeastern U.S.  It was first detected in 1998 in Allentown, Pennsylvania (see NAPIS map; this map underrepresents the situation in Virginia).  It was later found in New Jersey, Maryland and Delaware, and in October 2004 it was found in Montgomery County, Virginia, and in Tennessee in 2008.  Injury in tree fruits can be severe, exceeding 25% (individual blocks have been estimated to have much higher levels of fruit injury).  Externally, fruit may have multiple reddish dents at feeding sites, resembling hail strikes.  Upon cutting into fruit, corky areas are seen in the flesh of the fruit.  In vineyards, a unique problem is posed.  Stink bugs may be harvested along with clusters and be transported to the winery in lugs or bins, where the wine can be imparted with a "stink bug taint".  Research is underway to test short-residual insecticides to knock down BMSB from clusters at harvest.  For further information and images, see the Brown marmorated stink bug page.  A working group on organic management of BMSB has been established, with their own web site.  There is opportunity to participate in grower forums.

New!  The College of Agriculture and Life Science at Virginia Tech has established a new on-line Master's in Agriculture and Life Sciences.   This curriculum has been approved by the State Council of Higher Education and is now accepting applications for Fall semester 2007.  In this program, you can earn a master's degree in agriculture while working in your current job - emphasis is on education for place-bound learners, and all courses are taken on-line.  In addition to a core area, there are courses offered in five areas of concentration: (1) Biosecurity, Bioregulations and Public Health, (2) Education, (3) Environmental Science, (4) Food Safety, and (5) Plant Science and Pest Management.  In addition to course work, the student completes a project decided upon in consultation with your major advisor.  Lists of courses within each concentration may be found in the web site linked above.  This program was recently the subject of an interview by Jeff Ishee with Virginia Public Televsion's Virginia Farming.  For more information, contact Doug Pfeiffer (dgpfeiff at vt.edu) or Sharon Proffitt (sproffit at vt.edu) (see 2008-2009 Extended Campus tuition rates).

Mating disruption and Organic certification:
The National Organic Standards Board has recently amended organic guidelines so that many pheromone dispensers for mating disruption will now be allowed in organically certified orchards.  Most hand-placed dispensers are now considered to emit negligible amounts of inerts, and will be allowed.  Sprayables and puffers will not be allowed.  More information will be posted when available.


Archived Fruit Schools:
2020 Tree Fruit Schools
This year's orchard fruit schools will be held the week of Feb 10-14. Details are provided below: Mon, Feb 10, 8:45 AM - Patrick-Carroll school, Sky View Baptist Church, Fancy Gap VA.  Tues, Feb 11, 8:30 AM - The Botetourt-Roanoke school, Brambleton Center, Roanoke.  Wed, Feb 12, 9:00 AM - The Nelson-Albemarle (Central Virginia) school, Nelson Center, Lovingston.  Thur, Feb 13, 8:15 AM - The Madison-Rappahannock school, Graves Mt Lodge, Syria.  Fri, Feb 14, 8:00 AM -  The Winchester School, Fox Meadow Barn, 350 Old Firehouse Lane, Winchester.

2019 Tree Fruit Schools
This year's orchard fruit schools will be held the week of Feb 11-15. Details are provided below: Mon, Feb 11 - Patrick-Carroll school,  Golden Corral Restaurant, Mt Airy NC.Tues, Feb 12, 8:00 AM - The Botetourt-Roanoke school, Brambleton Center, Roanoke.Tues, Feb 12, 1:30 PM - The Southside school (see registration information), SPAREC, Blackstone.Wed, Feb 13, 8:30 AM - The Nelson-Albemarle (Central Virginia) school, Nelson Center, Lovingston.Thur, Feb 14, 8:15 AM - The Madison-Rappahannock school, Graves Mt Lodge, Syria.  Fri, Feb 15, 8:00 AM -  The Winchester School, West Oaks Farm Market and Event Ctr., Winchester.
2018 Tree Fruit Schools
The Patrick-Carroll school will be held on Monday, Feb 12.  The Botetourt-Roanoke school will be held on the morning of Wednesday, Feb 13, starting at 8:00 AM. A recently added fruit school, the Southside school in the lineup again this year, and will be held on the morning of Feb 14.  The Nelson-Albemarle (Central Virginia) school  will be held in the late afternoon-evening of that Wednesday, Feb 14, starting at 3:00 PM.  The Madison-Rappahannock school will beheld on Thursday, Feb 15, and the Winchester school will be held on Friday, Feb 16.  Additional details on the agendas will be posted when available.
2017 Tree Fruit Schools
The Patrick-Carroll school will be held on Monday, Feb 13.  The Botetourt-Roanoke school will be held on the morning of Wednesday, Feb 14, starting at 8:00 AM. A recently added fruit school, the Southside school in the lineup again this year, and will be held on the morning of Feb 15.  The Nelson-Albemarle (Central Virginia) school (see Registration) will be held in the late afternoon-evening of that Wednesday, Feb 15, starting at 3:00 PM.  The Madison-Rappahannock school will beheld on Thursday, Feb 16, and the Winchester school will be held on Friday, Feb 17.  Additional details on the agendas will be posted when available.  Click here for Proof of 2017 Spray Bulletin for Commercial Orchards.

2016 Tree Fruit Schools
The Patrick-Carroll school will be held on Monday, Feb 8.  The Botetourt-Roanoke school will be held on the morning of Wednesday, Feb 9, starting at 8:00 AM. A new fruit school, the Southside school (brochure and agenda) in the lineup this year, and will be held this year, morning of Feb 10.  The Nelson-Albemarle (Central Virginia) school will be held in the late afternoon-evening of that Wednesday, Feb 10, starting at 3:00 PM.  The Madison-Rappahannock school will beheld on Thursday, Feb 11, and the Winchester school will be held on Friday, Feb 12.  Additional details on the agendas will be posted when available.

2015 Tree Fruit Schools
The Patrick-Carroll school (Mt. Airy) was held on Tuesday, Feb 10.  The Botetourt-Roanoke school was held on the morning of Wednesday, Feb 11, starting at 8:00 AM.  The Nelson-Albemarle (Central Virginia) school was held in the late afternoon-evening of that Wednesday, starting at 4:00 PM.  The Madison-Rappahannock school was held on Thursday, Feb 12, and the Winchester school was held on Friday, Feb 13.


Fruit Times newsletter from Penn State.