| Extension/Outreach |
1 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Integrated Orchard Management (IOM and its pest management components) carry
considerable management costs that are seldom given due weight for high-value
commodities such as peaches. Growers, especially processing growers, need orchard
consultants to successfully implement increasingly complex pest management options. The
economics of pest management must be re-examined in light of its non-farm benefits to
society in order to sustain a badly need cadre of pest management consultants. Integrated
Orchard Management is a key element of both worker safety and environmental
stewardship. |
| Extension/Outreach |
2 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Best management practices for mitigating in-orchard spread of virus and other systemic tree
diseases has become an industry priority. |
| Regulatory |
1 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Peaches are highly dependent on hand labor. Step-wise, acute and cumulative, in-orchard
quantification of worker exposure to key pesticides is needed for all key activities. |
| Regulatory |
2 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Regulatory decisions on re-entry intervals (REIs) need to recognize the need to conduct field
essential activities and such decisions should take into effect cost/benefits considerations. |
| Regulatory |
3 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Regulatory decisions on OPs have extended preharvest intervals (PHIs). However the need
to for late season insect control and the effects on IPM programs with longer PHIs needs to
be fully considered in regulatory decisions and in the evaluation of mitigation options |
| Regulatory |
4 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
American produce growers, including peach growers, should receive assurance that foreign
producers will be held to U.S. standards for pesticide labels. Tolerances should not allow
foreign competitors unfair advantages. |
| Regulatory |
5 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Resistance management is a key concern with orchard pests. Rotating pesticides to expose
pests to varied modes-of-action is the most feasible management option. Regulatory
decisions should thoroughly consider resistance management concerns. It is imperative
to maintain multiple modes-of-action for use against key pests. |
| Regulatory |
6 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Critical point analysis (HACCP) for both microbial and pesticide residue risks is badly
needed to model risks from harvest through shipment. |
| Regulatory |
7 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Region-wide virus and phytoplasma tree-health programs are needed to mitigate potential
spread of plum pox virus (PPV) and reduce the incidence on less catastrophic, endemic
viruses. Nursery certification and elimination of non-certified stocks is an industry priority. |
| Research |
1 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Re-inventing eastern peach IPM must first focus on pest biology for peach pests: insects,
mites, diseases, nematodes and weeds, along with their complements of natural enemies, to
develop a currently lacking, prerequisite knowledge base. Improved understanding of biology
is needed to form the foundation for creating biologically-refined monitoring and predictive
tools for key peach pests. |
| Research |
2 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Plum curculio (PC) in the Southeast and Oriental fruit moth (OFM) in the mid-
Atlantic and upper mid-West are the key fruit insect pests. Even the modest
reduction in organophosphate achieved to date, have facilitated observable
elevations in the pest status of both PC and OFM in those areas where they are
presently subordinate pests. Pest biology and behavior studies for PC and
OFM are key prerequisites to development of more evolved IPM options. |
| Research |
3 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Low risk insecticides that do not promote scale problems are badly needed
for stink bugs and opportunistic fruit pests. Stink bugs and tarnished plant
bugs in particular are a concern. These pests damage fruit and they can be
important mechanical vectors of brown rot. |
| Research |
4 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Scale, primarily San Jose and white peach, have become damaging primary
pests. This elevation in pest status is attributable to changes in pesticide
availability. Research should focus on scale biology and model development
to improve timing of insecticide applications. |
| Research |
5 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Beetles (Japanese, green June, rose chafers & white fringed) are occasionally very difficult to control.
Research needs need to include these occasional but highly problematic pests |
| Research |
6 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Efficacy trials of lower-risk insecticides and biorational controls must be
conducted. Impacts on key, secondary and induced pests; beneficials; and
“new” pests must be carefully studied. Promising options must be incorporated
into existing commercial practice. |
| Research |
6 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Brown rot is the East’s key fruit rot of peach. De-methylation inhibitor (DMI)-
based control programs are excellent, but the brown rot organism readily
develops fungicide resistance. A fuller understanding of the pathogen’s
biology and epidemiology is needed to improve timing of sprays and
develop prudent resistance management strategies. |
| Research |
7 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
At present, some 20% of the bearing peach acreage is planted to cultivars
susceptible to bacterial spot. Chemical control is solely dependent on materialsthat face regulatory scrutiny. Pesticide resistance is a major concern. Host plant
resistance is important and is being used. However, all but the most resistant
cultivars need supplemental chemical control when pest pressure is high. A
better understanding of pest biology and examination of lower-risk control
options are essential. |
| Research |
8 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Research is needed to determine optimal weed-free intervals for early-, midand
late-season peaches. In-row cover crops must be evaluated as a potential
means of reducing herbicide use and controlling weeds during at least part of
the annual production cycle. New herbicides must be evaluated as potential
replacements, especially for simazine and 2,4-D. |
| Research |
9 |
All |
|
6- to 12-Inch Shoot |
Research on nematode control must focus on pest biology, resistant rootstocks
and cultural controls. More environmentally favorable alternatives to methyl
bromide are badly needed, especially in the tree nurseries |