Facts for Fancy Fruit 2000-08 June 14, 2000

Crop Conditions:  Warm conditions have been favorable for fruit growth
of apples, peaches, grapes and berries.  Tree fruits are generally
looking good except for some scattered hail damage and fireblight.
Strawberry season is winding down. The crop was better in the southern
part of the state than in central and northern areas because of late
spring frosts and the early June heat (repeat of last year).
Blueberries are looking good. The crop is a bit light in some
plantings, but the estimate is for a normal crop this year statewide
(about 80% of last year). Grape bloom is ending and cluster numbers are
high. Last yearÕs drought apparently didnÕt affect fruitfulness of
buds.

Managing Apple Summer Diseases:   Apple summer fruit rot and blemish
diseases (sooty blotch & flyspeck, black rot, white rot and bitter rot)
are now on the increase.  The SI fungicides (Nova, Rubigan, Procure and
Bayleton) do not provide good control of these diseases. Mancozeb and
Polyram are excellent for control of summer diseases, however they can
only be applied up to 77 days of harvest.  After the 77 day to harvest
restriction has passed captan and ziram remain our best options for
summer cover sprays; they should be used at the full labeled rate and
on a tight schedule if cool, wet summer weather prevails.  We also
suggest tank mixing with Topsin-M or Benlate if it turns into a Ôsooty
blotch/fly speck yearÕ; however, Benlate and Topsin-M should be used
sparingly (no more than once a month) to avoid harm to predator mites
and lessen the possibility of the development of resistance.  NOTE:
Benlate, and to a lesser extent Topsin-M, are reported to cause Ôscarf
skinÕ if used within 40 days of petal fall.  Scarf skin is a
physiological condition in which the fruit surface develops a milky
white or grayish appearance.  Scarf skin has no effect on fruit quality
or storage ability, but impairs the appearance and shine on a red
apple. Another option for control of sooty blotch and flyspeck is now
available with the stroblilurin fungicides, Flint and Sovran.  The best
timing for Flint and Sovran in summer sprays remains to be determined;
however, we concur with those who advocate an early cover spray (2nd or
3rd cover) to help prevent an early build up of SBFS and subsequent
secondary spread.  Of course this assumes you have not already applied
the maximum of four sprays allowed per season for the strobilurins.
Infection from summer diseases, especially sooty blotch and flyspeck,
can further be reduced through IPM strategies that lower humidity and
promote rapid drying.  These include keeping grass mowed during summer
and keeping trees well pruned.  Tree spacing within and between rows
should allow air movement between all trees.  Removing adjacent woods
or cutting breaks in hedgerows will also help improve airflow in the
orchard.  Of course it goes without saying (so IÕll say it) that all
the above suggestions are pretty much a waste of time if good
sanitation measures are not strictly followed.  -Pecknold

Ugly Stubs & Fire Blight: Growers should be especially alert for fire
blight symptoms in late May to early JuneÉ. this is generally the time
fire blight makes itself known. Special attention should be given to
young trees and trees on M9 and M26 rootstocks or interstems. Look for
new growth that appears wilted and crooked at the tip with browning and
wilting of leaves.  Efforts to limit secondary spread by cutting out
fire blight strikes are most successful if these strikes can be removed
immediately after they appear.  Cut out blighted twigs 10 to 12 inches
below any sign of infection; however, if the infected shoot is
associated with the main trunk or a major scaffolding limb you may want
to try the Òugly stubÓ cut to help avoid possible canker formation.  Do
not cut flush with the trunk or major limb, but instead leave a naked
4-5 inch branch stub.  Marking the ugly stubs with flags or a bright
colored paint when the cuts are made can help in relocating them during
the winter pruning operation, when the ugly stubs are removed, without
fear of canker formation.  Another advantage of pruning out fire blight
tissue in winter is that you do not have to sterilize pruning tools
between each cut, something you must do at this time of year. -Pecknold

Lorsban:  The Environmental Protection Agency has announced the second
registration decision stemming from the Food Quality Protection Act
that will have a major affect on Indiana apple growers. Effective
December 31, 2000, Lorsban will be allowed for use on apples pre-bloom
only. Lorsban was identified in our 1994 pesticide use survey as the
third most commonly used insecticide on apples in Indiana. This
restriction will eliminate most of the uses for which Indiana apple
growers applied Lorsban. Foliar applications of Lorsban 50W will be
allowed during the current growing season. The tolerance for
chlorpyrifos (the active ingredient in Lorsban) will be reduced from
1.5 ppm to 0.001 ppm. Lorsban also will become a Restricted Use
Pesticide.
	Last summer when the decision eliminating the use of Penncap M on
fruit crops and placing greater restrictions on the use of Guthion were
announced, I stated that I believed that Indiana apple growers could
live with those changes, as long as we were able to keep our remaining
products, particularly Imidan and Lorsban. Beginning in 2001, one of
those remaining tools will no longer be available. As I see it, the
upcoming decision on Imidan is going to be critical. As things stand
now, I think that we can get by reasonably well. However, with more
decisions pending, the amount of flexibility we have is being reduced
more and more.
	In addition to the restrictions on apples, the tolerances will be
reduced on grapes and revoked on tomatoes. These changes will affect
imported produce, since Lorsban is not labeled for use on these crops
in the US. Dow Agrosciences and EPA estimate that these changes will
reduce dietary exposure to chlorpyrifos by 75%, effectively reducing
dietary risk concerns. Also, virtually all uses by homeowners will be
eliminated. Most uses for control of residential pests will either be
eliminated or phased out. Use in schools, parks or other areas will
children could be exposed will be eliminated.  -Foster

Strawberry Renovation:  Matted row strawberry plantings must be
renovated after harvest to establish new crowns for next yearÕs crop.
For best results, renovation should be started immediately after the
harvest is completed to promote early runner formation. The early a
runner gets set, the higher its yield potential. Renovation should be
completed by mid-July in normal years. Now that harvest is over,
growers should begin renovation.  The following steps describe
renovation of commercial strawberry fields. 1.	Weed control:  Annual
broadleaf weeds can be controlled with Formula 40 (2,4-D alkanolamine
salts plus 2,4-D Triisopropanolamine salt (4 lbs./gal.) at 2 to 3
pts./acre in 25-50 gallons of water applied immediately after final
harvest. Formula 40 is the ONLY 2,4-D formulation labeled for use in
strawberries. The other amine formulations such as Weedar 64 or Amine 4
have a different formulation and are not labeled specifically for
strawberries. Be extremely careful to avoid drift when applying 2,4-D.
Even though the amine formulation is not highly volatile, it can
volatilize under hot, humid conditions and can cause damage to
desirable plants a considerable distance from the site of application.
Some damage to strawberries is also possible. Read and understand the
label completely before applying Formula 40. If grasses are a problem,
sethoxydim (Poast) will control annual and some perennial grasses.
However, do not tank mix Poast and 2,4-D. See ID 169 and the product
label for rates and especially for precautions. 2.	Mow the old leaves
off just above the crowns 3-5 days after herbicide application. Do not
mow so low as to damage the crowns. 3.	Fertilize the planting.  A soil
test will help determine phosphorus and potassium needs, but foliar
analysis is a more reliable measure of plant nutrition. For foliar
analysis, sample the first fully expanded leaves following renovation.
Nitrogen should be applied at 25-60 lbs./acre, depending on vigor. It
is more efficient to split nitrogen applications into two or three
applications at regular intervals, rather than apply it all at once. A
good plan is to apply about half at renovation and half again in late
August. 4.	Subsoil:  Where picker traffic has been heavy on wet soils,
compaction may be severe. Subsoiling between rows will help break up
compacted layers and provide better infiltration of water. Subsoiling
may be done later in the sequence if crop residue is a problem or if
soils are too wet at this time. 5.	Narrow rows:  Reduce the width of
rows to a manageable width based on your row spacing, the aisle width
desired, and the earliness of renovation. A desirable final row width
to attain at the end of the season is 12-18 inches. Wider rows lead to
low productivity and increased disease pressure. This means that rows
can be narrowed to as little as 6 inches during renovation. Use a
roto-tiller or cultivator to achieve the reduction. Since more berries
are produced at row edges than in the middle, narrow rows are superior
to wide rows.  Narrow rows will give better sunlight penetration,
better disease control, and better fruit quality. 6.	Cultivate:  Work
in straw between rows and throw a small amount of soil over the row by
cultivation. Strawberry crowns continue development at the top, and new
roots are initiated above old roots on the crown, so 1/2 - 1 inches of
soil on the crowns will facilitate rooting. This also helps cover straw
in the row and provides a good rooting medium for the new runner
plants. 7.	Weed control: Pre-emergence weed control should begin
immediately. Sinbar or Devrinol are suggested materials. See ID-169 and
check the product labels carefully. Devrinol must be incorporated by
irrigation, rainfall, or cultivation to be effective. Rate and timing
of Sinbar application is critical. If regrowth has started at all,
significant damage may result. Some varieties are more sensitive to
Sinbar than others. If unsure, make a test application to a small area
before treating the entire planting. Use up to 6 oz/acre/application
and no more than 8 oz/acre/year total. Sinbar should not be used on
soils with low organic matter, or on sensitive varieties like Guardian,
Darrow, Tribute, Tristar and possibly Honeoye. If Sinbar gets onto
strawberry leaves, irrigate to wash it off. 8.	Irrigate:  Water is
needed for both activation of herbicides and for plant growth. DonÕt
let the plants go into stress. Ideally the planting should receive 1 to
1-1/2 inches of water per week from either rain or irrigation. 9.	
Cultivate to sweep runners into the row until plant stand is
sufficient. Thereafter, or in any case after September, any runner
plant not yet rooted is not likely to produce fruit next year and is
essentially a weed and should be removed. Coulter wheels and/or
cultivators will help remove these excess plants in the aisles. 10.	
Adequate moisture and fertility during August and September will
increase fruit bud formation and improve fruit yield for the coming
year. Continue irrigation through this time period and fertilize if
necessary. An additional 20-30 pounds of N per acre is suggested,
depending on the vigor. -Bordelon

Shoot Positioning in Grapes:  Sunlight exposure is crucial for fruit
quality and productivity in all fruit crops. Sunlight penetration in
the grapevine canopy is improved through a series of cultural practices
collectively known as canopy management. This includes training system,
pruning severity, nutrient management, leaf pulling, shoot positioning
and so on. Now that fruit set has occurred and shoots have toughened,
grapes can be shoot positioned. On high cordon trained vines typical of
Midwestern vineyards, shoots that are growing laterally across the top
of the trellis cause considerable shading of the fruit and renewal
zone. These need to be pulled downward to increase sun exposure of the
critical zone in the canopy.  Not only does this help reduce shading in
the cluster and renewal zone, but it also can also devigorate shoots, a
benefit in high vigor situations. On upright growing varieties trained
to a vertically shoot positioned system, catch wires are pulled up to
lift shoots before their weight causes them to droop. Shoot positioning
should be done as early as possible to get the maximum benefit of
improved fruitfulness in the renewal zone. -Bordelon

Care of Young Vines:  Vines in newly planted vineyards need plenty of
care.  As IÕve noted before, weed control is critical to getting strong
growth from 1st year vines. Right now, newly planted vines are growing
rapidly due to the heat and rain.  If grow tubes are being used, be
sure to provide support for the vines after they grow above the tube.
Either stake each vine or tie string between the trellis wires to
support the growth above the tube.  Use loose ties to attach the shoot
to the support. Many growers using ÒtapenersÓ for speed and ease.
Unsupported shoots tend to get damaged when wind blows them across the
top of the tube.  Also, if the shoot is not supported, its weight will
cause it to bend downward and growth will slow, lateral shoots will
develop, and the main shoot may never reach the top wire during the
growing season.
	Pest control is usually not too difficult on young vines. Because they
lack fruit and the foliage density is sparse, diseases can usually be
controlled with a few sprays of protectant fungicides such as mancozeb
or captan.  These products do not control powdery mildew, so if powdery
becomes a problem another product will have to be applied. This could
be potassium bicarbonate (Armicarb, Kaligreen), JMS Stylet Oil,
potassium monophosphate (eKspunge) one of the Sis (Nova, Bayleton,
etc.) or one of the strobilurins (Flint, Sovran, Abound).  Sulfur could
be used if the variety is tolerant.  Among insect pests, Japanese
beetles are the most common and damaging on new vines.  Beetles can eat
most of the leaves on a young vine in a matter of days, so scout twice
weekly and apply Sevin when beetles are first spotted.
	New vineyards are a big investment. Proper care of newly planted vines
will insure early returns on the investment. -Bordelon

Pesticide Spray Drift - A Critical Issue Every Year:  (Adapted from
Kentucky Fruit Facts by Lee Townsend, U.K. Entomology and Ken Franks,
Jr. Division of Pesticides, KY Department of Agriculture)  Spray drift
is a potential problem almost every time a pesticide application is
made. The following information, from the Environmental Protection
Agency, provides a good review of something every applicator should
know. The EPA defines pesticide spray drift as the physical movement of
a pesticide through air at the time of application or soon thereafter,
to any site other than that intended for application (off-target). Its
definition does not include movement caused by erosion, migration,
volatility, or contaminated soil particles that are windblown after,
unless specifically addressed on a pesticide product label with respect
to drift control requirements.

How Does Spray Drift Occur? When pesticide solutions are applied by
ground spray equipment or aircraft, droplets are produced by the
nozzles of the equipment. Many of these droplets can be so small that
they stay suspended in air and are carried by currents until they
contact a surface or drop to the ground. A number of factors influence
drift including weather conditions, topography, the crop or area being
sprayed, application equipment and methods, and decisions by the
applicator.

How Does EPA View Off-Target Spray Drift? When labels of pesticide
products state that off- target drift is to be avoided or is
prohibited, the policy is straightforward: pesticide drift from the
target site is to be prevented. However, [the EPA] recognizes that some
degree of drift of spray particles will occur from nearly all
applications. The question becomes - were all reasonable measures to
reduce drift followed? Applicators must use all available practices
designed to prevent drift. They must consider factors such as wind
speed (greater than 10 mph), direction and other weather conditions
(inversions), application equipment, the proximity of people and
sensitive areas, and product label directions in making their
decisions. Sprays should not be applied when conditions favor drift or
when prohibited by the label requirements. EPA uses its discretion to
pursue violations based on the unique facts and circumstances of each
drift situation.

Twelve Tips for Applicators By following this check list, applicators
can comply with critical state and federal regulations concerning
pesticide use and application. 1. Know your fields. Be aware of
sensitive areas such as sinkholes, bodies of water, and slopes where
runoff can occur and use buffer strips as appropriate.

2. Always read and follow label directions. You should read the label
every time you get a new shipment of pesticides. Pay close attention to
sections on Practical Treatment, Precautionary Statements, Directions
for Use, Storage and Disposal, in addition to instructions for the crop
you are treating. Be aware of any label changes. Pesticide labels can
change in the middle of a season. It is a violation of state and
federal law to use a product in a manner that is inconsistent with its
label. Have a copy handy as a reference.

3. Follow the Worker Protection Standards. Keep your central posting
area up to date. Be sure personal protective equipment is repaired and
clean. Have decontamination station equipment ready.

4. Check your spray equipment for wear and calibrate carefully. Check
hoses and nozzles for wear, especially if you apply a lot of WP, DF,
WDG, DF, or F formulations. These are abrasive and wear nozzles.
Inspect pumps and pressure gauges.

5. Keep accurate pesticide application records. This must be done for
all Restricted Use pesticides but is a good idea for General Use
products, too. Accurate records can assist an applicator in the event
the product does not perform to expectations. Be aware of the record
keeping requirements of the USDA., Worker Protection Standards, and the
groundwater protection act.

6. DonÕt spray when it is windy or rain expected. Drift can be a major
and costly problem. Do not spray when the wind speed is 10 mph or more.
Use low pressure, low boom placement, and large droplet size, as
appropriate. Heavy rainfall can wash off applications during the first
several hours. Check the product label for specific guidelines.

Young Tree Management:  Now is a good time to give a little attention
to those apple trees you planted this year.  I stress the LITTLE part
of this Ð remember that the more you prune a young tree, the more you
delay cropping, so donÕt prune them too hard.  The only pruning I would
do is to remove and broken or diseased branches, and to single out
shoots.  By singling out, I mean if there are several shoots competing
to be the leader of the tree, leave the most dominant, upright branch
and remove competing shoots.  The same can be done to the ends of
branches that you want to become lower scaffold branches Ð just single
them out to encourage their continued development. There are a few
other things to watch for with young trees.  Good control of weeds,
pests and diseases is essential to rapid tree establishment.  Deer can
really cause havoc with young trees Ð an electric deer fence may prove
to be a good investment, but if this is not possible, then tying small
bars of soap to each tree may help.  The amount of time needed to take
care of your investment in young trees is not great, but can really
make a difference to how soon you start to see a return on that
investment. -Hirst

IHS Summer Meeting:  Just a reminder Ð the Indiana Horticultural
Society will be holding its summer meeting on June 27-28 at Joe Huber
Family Farm and Huber Orchard, Winery, Starlight, IN.  The brief
schedule is: Tuesday, June 27, 2000 3:00-5:00 pm	Tour the Forest
Discovery Center.  If you need directions, we will be at the Barnyard
Bash II pavilion at Joe Huber Family Farm at about 2:30 pm.

6:00 pm	Dinner (Dutch Treat) at Joe Huber Family Farm restaurant.

7:30-9.00 pm	Round Table Discussion will be held in the restaurant
after dinner, or we will adjourn to the Barnyard Bash II for the
discussion.

Wednesday June 28, 2000

Assemble at Joe Huber Family Farm, Barnyard Bash II.

8:00-9:00 am	Registration and Coffee and Donuts

9:00-12:00 	Tour of the orchards, fields market and facilities at Joe
Huber Family Farm

12:00 		Travel to Huber Orchard, Winery

12:00-1:30pm  Lunch in the restaurant at Huber Orchard, Winery

1:30-2:15pm 	Indiana Horticultural Society Business meeting

2:15-5:15pm 	Tour Huber Orchard, Winery orchards, fields, market and
facilities.

See the last edition of Facts for Fancy Fruit for more details.  All
are welcome Ð you donÕt need to be a member of the Indiana Hort.
Society to attend.

I encourage your participation.  The two operations we are visiting are
among the very best you will see anywhere in term of marketing not only
the produce, but the whole farm experience. Whatever the scale of your
farm, you are bound to leave with some good ideas and a lot of
enthusiasm and encouragement.

Indiana WinegrowerÕs Guild Summer Meeting:  The IWG will hold its
summer meeting at Oliver Winery in Bloomington on Friday July 7. The
board of directors will meet at 2:00 pm and the general membership will
meet at 4:00 pm. A bar-be-que dinner will be held at 6:00 pm at a cost
of $10 per person. There are some important issues to discuss during
the business meeting so the board is urging all members to attend. The
meeting is open to IWG members and anyone interested in Indiana grapes
and wine. Come see what all the excitement is about!

Coming Meetings:

June 27-28 Ð Indiana Horticultural Society Summer Meeting.  See details
in the past issue.

July 7 Ð Indiana WinegrowerÕs Guild Summer meeting. See details above.
Contact Bruce Bordelon 765-494-8212 or Dave Lundstrom 219-464-4936.

August 2 Ð Southwest Michigan Annual Viticulture Field Day and Steak
Cookout. Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center, Benton
Harbor, MI. Contact Tom Zabadal 616-944- 1477.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bruce Bordelon, 1165 Dept. of Horticulture, Purdue University, West
Lafayette, IN 47907-1165, 317/494-1301, e-mail:
bordelon@hort.purdue.edu

Peter Hirst, 1165 Dept. of Horticulture, Purdue University, West
Lafayette, IN 47907-1165, 317/494-1323, e-mail: hirst@hort.purdue.edu

Paul Pecknold, 1155 Dept. of Botany & Plant Path., Purdue University,
West Lafayette, IN 47907-1155, 317/494-4628, e-mail:
Pecknold@btny.purdue.edu

Rick Foster, 1158 Dept. of Entomology, Purdue University, West
Lafayette, IN 47907-1158, 317/494-9572, e-mail:
Rick_Foster@entm.purdue.edu


Disclaimer:  Reference to products in this publication is not an
endorsement to the exclusion of others which may be similar.  Any
person using products listed in this newsletter assumes full
responsibility for their use in accordance with current label
directions of the manufacturer.