March 2014 - Ridge Quest Inc.

March 27th, 2014 by ifi-admin

The MSU Agricultural Extension is an excellent resource for Michigan fruit growers. The following is information and links from the Fruit Integrated Pest Management Resource page at http://www.ipm.msu.edu/agriculture/fruit. Clicking on any of the links below will either download the resource from the MSU site or take you over to the extention site. To return to Ridge Quest, please use the “back” arrow in your browser.

Seasonal updates and advice

MSU Extension News – Plant and pest management advice for commercial fruit. The search at this site includes 2006 and forward CAT Alert newsletter articles.

Weather resources

Enviro-weather– Weather data for making IPM and other management decisions. Models and information related to:

Pileus Project – How this year’s temperatures and precipitation compare to last year’s

Scouting resources

New pests: Spotted wing Drosophila and Brown marmorated stink bug
Apple scouting guide, E-2720
Blueberry scouting guide, E-2928
Grape scouting guide, E-2889
Stone fruit scouting guide, E-2840
Identifying natural enemies for better pest control
Using Michigan native plants and ecosystems to produce win-win situations for agriculture, communities and the environment

Websites

Some fruit growers are diversifying their farms with these two “new” crops: chestnuts and hops.

MSU Extension publications

Michigan Fruit Management Guide, E-154
Fruit Crop Ecology and Management, E-2759
Conserving Native Bees on Farmland, E-2985

Search for more MSU Extension publications at the MSU Extension Bookstore.

Contacts at MSU Extension

Find an expert in your area at expert.msue.msu.edu

Home gardeners, please see the Community and Home section of this website.

Pest Education: The Lifecycle of a Codling Moth

March 18th, 2014 by ifi-admin

Codling Moths are issue for fruit growers in Michigan and throughout North America. Ridge Quest has developed an effective strategy to interrupt the mating of codling moths, known as The Tangler. First, we thought we’d introduce visitors to the lifecycle of this pest:

Mature codling moth larvae overwinter in silken cocoons in protected sites on the tree (under loose bark, in cracks and crevices), in the soil or in wooden materials under or beside infested trees (bins, ladders, poles, buildings, large prunings).

Larvae pupate in the spring and adults usually begin to emerge in early May and continue emerging until late June (mid-July in cooler areas), depending on temperature. Mating and egg-laying occur when twilight temperatures are above 59°F.

Females lay eggs on fruit or on leaves near fruit. Larvae usually wander over the fruit surface before cutting through the skin and boring deeply into the fruit. Mature larvae leave the fruit to pupate in protected sites on and off the tree as described above. Second generation moths appear in late July and August. Because weather during July and August is usually favorable for codling moth activity and reproduction, second-generation larvae can cause considerable damage, often close to harvest.

Enviro-weather