FFF03-08

FFF is also available in text and PDF versions on the web at:
http://www.hort.purdue.edu/fff/fff.html

Crop conditions:

From cool to hot and now to flooded! Summer is definitely here and
fruit crops are responding accordingly. Grapes are at shatter to bunch
closing, depending on variety and location. Raspberries harvest is
underway in central and northern areas. Blueberry harvest is well
underway in southern areas and is getting started in the main northern
production areas. Strawberry harvest is over in most areas across the
state and renovation has begun.

Rain!  Yep, we all know what rain looks like now.  Just to put this in
perspective, I looked up the rain received in a few places across the
state and compared it with the long term average.  The following data
are in inches of rain:

Location June 03 June average July 03 so far July average LaPorte 2.38
4.44 2.41 3.79 Kendallville 2.51 3.99 3.33 4.05 Indianapolis (SE) 2.46
4.14 2.23 4.78 Vincennes 4.49 4.05 0.57 4.67 North Vernon 5.01 3.82
0.06 4.12

It appears that from Indianapolis and above, we were quite a bit behind
normal in rain received in June.  Only a week into July and we're well
on the way to being average or above average for the month.  Southern
parts of the state show exactly the opposite trend. Above average for
June but well behind average so far in July.  Obviously the storms
causing damage in the northern parts of the state have missed southern
Indiana. (Hirst)

New Fruit and Vegetable Website: A new comprehensive website with fruit
and vegetable information is now online.  With funding assistance from
the Office of the Commissioner of Agriculture, we have developed this
site as a central point for fruit and vegetable information, not only
from Purdue, but also linking other useful information from across the
US and around the world.  The address is
http://www.hort.purdue.edu.fruitveg

Keep in mind this is a work in progress, and will be continually
developed and improved, so check back often for updates and additions.
We would also welcome your feedback on this site

While we are talking about using the internet to exchange information,
we also have 2 list-serves up and running.  These are basically
electronic discussion rooms.  They are primarily intended for Indiana
producers and industry personnel, and are free to anyone to join and
participate in.  The way it works is that you subscribe (by email) and
then send an email in with a question or statement that all other
subscribers receive as an email.  Some of the types of questions may
include things like: _ I am short of Red Delicious this year - anyone
have any to sell? _ I'm looking to buy a new mower and am thinking
about buying an xxx brand - has anyone has experience with this or have
a used one to sell? _ How is your blueberry harvest going so far? _ How
does the fireblight look this year?

OK, so you get the picture.  This is a good way to overcome the
geographical dispersion of growers over the state.  Please do not post
personal messages, and no commercial sales please.  We don't intend to
step in and impose too many limitations on messages, but we'll see how
it goes and will act if we need to.

For more information on the "fruitveg" and winegrape" lists, and how to
sign up, look at Facts for Fancy Fruit, 2003-05 (Hirst)

Brown Rot Warning:  A first warning for severe brown rot of stone
fruits (apricot, nectarine, peach, cherry, plum).  Warm, wet, humid
weather is particularly favorable for this fungus disease.  Also, as
fruit softens during the ripening process, it becomes much more
susceptible to brown rot.  Pre-harvest sprays for brown rot should be
started no later than 3 weeks before harvest or when fruit begins to
color.  For information on fungicides and timing of spray applications
see ID-168, "2003 Indiana Commercial Tree Fruit Spray Guide."  In
addition to maintaining sprays for brown rot, also maintain sprays for
plum curculio and other insect pests that may injure fruit and allow
brown rot to gain a foothold.  Use care in the picking and handling of
fruit to avoid punctures and skin abrasions.  Any break in the skin of
the fruit enables brown rot to more easily cause infection.  Brown rot
can be especially severe where trees are planted closely and/or where
woods surround the orchard.  Such conditions reduce air movement, and
dew or rain evaporates more slowly, leading to possible disease
outbreaks. (Pecknold)

Necrotic Leaf Blotch On Goldens:  Generally we first start noticing
necrotic leaf blotch (NLB) on Golden Delicious in late June or July,
when the weather becomes hot and sticky.  Symptoms of NLB are leaf
yellowing and drop; often patches of brown blotches develop along with
leaf yellowing.  Symptoms develop suddenly, almost overnight, and in
waves, generally from June through August.  The cause of NLB is not
known; however, the disorder is thought to be related to air
temperature, light intensity and soil moisture.  It is most severe when
a cool, rainy period of 4 - 5 days precedes several hot, sunny days.
Although it appears NLB is not fungal caused, the disease is reduced
when ziram is included in the cover sprays. (Pecknold)

Potato Leafhopper - We have been seeing lots of potato leafhoppers in
orchards, vineyards, and other crops. The symptoms of damage on most
crops is yellowing and curling of leaves. Ideally, you would want to
control the leafhoppers before you start to see symptoms, because once
symptoms are apparent, you have already suffered loss. Growers should
be scouting fruit and vegetable (potato, snap bean) crops for
leafhoppers. Excellent control can be achieved with several available
insecticides including Danitol, Avaunt, Dimethoate, Agri-Mek, Asana,
Provado, and others. Make sure that the insecticide you choose is
labeled for the crop(s) you are treating. (Foster)

Codling Moth - We continue to catch codling moths in pheromone traps,
although the catches are considerably lower than they have been with
catches of 0-4 per trap per night. Below are listed the percentage of
damaged fruit that we found in two experiments conducted at the Hort
Farm and at Tuttle's Orchard. Each chemical was applied three times at
14-day intervals and the evaluation was done 2 weeks after the third
spray.

Tuttle's Orchard Treatment	# Fruit	% Damage Guthion	702	1.25 a Assail	
800	2.00 a Calypso	775	2.48 a SpinTor	677	3.11 ab Danitol	793	3.66 ab
Intrepid	750	5.58 bc Esteem	800	5.88 bc Avaunt	680	7.31 c Untreated	750	
8.29 c

Hort Farm Treatment	# Fruit	% Damage Danitol	500	0.60 a Guthion	500	
0.80 a Intrepid	500	1.20 a Assail	500	1.80 a SpinTor	483	2.66 a Calypso	
482	3.13 a Avaunt	468	3.25 ab Esteem	447	6.15 b Untreated	500	16.60 c

Obviously, in both of these trials, Guthion continued to work well. The
two products that impressed me the most were Danitol and Assail.
Intrepid and SpinTor were also effective in both trials. Calypso is not
yet labeled for use on apples.
	We also tested MEC-CM sprayable pheromone for codling moth control in
an adjacent block of trees at Tuttle's. When we checked 600 fruit from
that block, an average of 4.17% of the fruit were damaged. This block
received an insecticide at petal fall for plum curculio control, and no
other insecticides. The results compare favorably with those achieved
with some of the insecticides. At the Hort Farm, we tested LastCall- CM
attract-n-kill material. The results were not as good, with 7.7% of the
fruit infested, but remember from the insecticide trials that the
damage in the untreated trees was twice as high at the Hort Farm as at
Tuttle's.
	My colleagues in Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Ohio are
replicating all of these studies. We will be pooling our data as we
collect it to get a better idea as to how these products work in
different situations. More to come. (Foster)

European Red Mites - We are starting to get calls about outbreaks of
European red mites. In my studies here at Purdue, the numbers increased
dramatically over the past week. Growers should be looking for
increasing populations of mites in their Red Delicious apples or
wherever they typically see mite problems show up first. At this point,
it is too late to use Apollo, Savey, or Agri-Mek. The best choices
available to clean up a problem are Pyramite and Acramite. Pyramite has
consistently done an excellent job as a rescue treatment, although it
is somewhat hard on predator mites. I have less experience with
Acramite, but my research and the reports I have received from growers
indicate that it also works well, and may have less effect on predator
mites. (Foster)

Cane Borers - I have received several reports of cane borers in
raspberries, especially in the southern part of the state. There are
two primary species of cane borers. The raspberry cane borer attacks
the tips of the canes, and may bore all the way down to the base. The
damage usually shows up in June as wilting tips. The best cultural
control at this point is to prune out the wilting tips to several
inches below the symptoms and destroy those prunings. The red-necked
cane borer generally attacks closer to the base of the plant and the
infested canes form galls that show up in July and August. The infested
canes should be pruned out in late fall or early spring. Insecticidal
control should be done just before bloom, so it is too late to use
insecticides for this year. (Foster)

More on Grape Leaf Phylloxera: I continue to get calls about the leaf
or aerial form of phylloxera on grapes. In evaluating our plots I find
that infestation is especially severe on Frontenac, St. Croix and a few
other varieties with Vitis riparia in their background, but can be
found on almost any variety. The life cycle of phylloxera is complex.
The overwintering eggs hatch in spring and the larvae form galls on
lower leaves before bloom where they feed until they mature and lay
eggs. The eggs hatch at about the time grapes bloom and the larvae (or
crawlers) leave the galls and migrate to the shoot tips where they form
new galls on the young leaves. Sprays are timed to control this main
crawler stage while they are out on the leaf surface rather than inside
a gall where insecticide applications are ineffective. Later in the
season, these individuals give live birth to new crawlers that migrate
to more new leaves and form additional galls. Several of these
generations can occur each year. While late season control is usually
considered futile, I noticed just recently that some of the galls on
the older leaves still contain eggs and live larvae. This fact plus the
fact that there are a number of other insect pests on grapes right now,
suggest that Danitol might be a good option in the next spray. See the
related article on insect management. (Bordelon)

Insect Management on Grapes: With the abundance of phylloxera this
year, we've almost forgotten about the other insect pests of grapes.
Japanese beetles have emerged in full force in the Lafayette area.
We've also seen considerable infestation of potato leafhopper on grapes
this year as well and second generation grape berry moth stings are
quite common. Based on the wide range of pests attacking grapes at this
time, growers might want to consider an application of Danitol in the
next cover spray. Danitol is not only effective against berry moth,
leafhoppers and Japanese beetle, but it is one of the only products
that will control grape phylloxera. (Bordelon)

Strawberry Renovation:  Matted row strawberry plantings must be
renovated after harvest to establish new crowns for next year's crop.
For best results, renovation should be started immediately after the
harvest is completed to promote early runner formation. The earlier a
runner gets set, the higher its yield potential. Renovation should be
completed by the end of July in normal years. Harvest is winding down
across the state so growers should begin renovation as soon as the last
marketable berries are harvested. The following steps describe
renovation of commercial strawberry fields. 1.  Weed control:  Annual
broadleaf weeds can be controlled with 2,4-D amine formulations. Check
the label as only a few products are labeled for use on strawberries.
(e.g. Formula 40 [2,4-D alkanolamine salts plus 2,4-D
Triisopropanolamine salt (4 lbs./gal.)] or Amine 4 [Dimethylamine salt
of 2,4-D (3.74 lb./gal.)] at 2 to 3 pts./acre in 25-50 gallons of water
applied immediately after final harvest. 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 2,4-D amine. 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. Generally, 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 inch 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. Dacthal,
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 2 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. Don't 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 early 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)

How much should you charge?  Jane Eckert, of Eckert Agrimarketing has
the following advice.

"How much should I charge for admission?"  I am often asked this
question, but I do not have a one- size-fits-all answer.  For example,
farms in urban areas tend to charge higher admission fees because their
customers are used to paying more for entertainment. It also depends on
how much you offer in terms of entertainment and activities.

The two critical questions to ask are: 1.  Am I giving enough value for
what I am charging? 2.  Am I charging enough for what value I am
providing?

You need to consider the following about your fees: _ Number of
activities offered _ Special activities included (such as wagon ride or
miniature golf) _ Special attractions included (such as small corn
maze) _ How long a guest typically stays for entertainment _ Types of
festivals and festival events

The more you include, the more you can charge.  Do some research. Check
out the websites of different NAFDMA (North American Farmers' Direct
Marketing Association) members to see what they're charging and what
they're offering. Look at other family entertainment destinations near
you for an idea of what they charge.

The best way to find out whether you're charging the right fee is to
ask the people who know best: your customers!!!  Pick a busy weekend to
survey customers as they are leaving the farm. Keep it short and
simple: What activities do you like best? Do you feel the price of
admission was worth the value of the entertainment? (If not, how much
would you be willing to pay?) Would you pay more for admission? (If
yes, how much?) What changes would you suggest to improve the farm
experience?

Based on the responses, you will begin to see a pattern and know
whether your customers are satisfied with the value they're receiving.
If not, you can make a change.

If you do decide to increase your admission, remember that your regular
customers will most likely not be happy with the change. Be sure to
have good signage indicating the new price, along with all the
activities the admission. Train your staff how to respond to upset
customers. For example, "I am sorry you are upset with our fee, but
with the number and variety of activities we offer, it is still a very
good value for family entertainment."

For more information, look at the Eckert Agrimarketing website,
www.eckertagrimarketing.com) (reprinted with permission of Jane Eckert,
Eckert Agrimarketing)

ASEV-ES Annual Meeting:  The 2003 American Society for Enology and
Viticulture/Eastern Section conference will be held July 8-11 in
Corning, NY Raddison Hotel. The program is now available online at
www.nysaes.cornell.edu/fst/asev. A pre-conference tour of the Finger
lakes will be held on Tuesday July 8.  The Symposium title this year is
Wine Closures - Put a Cork in It? and will provide a complete coverage
of issues relating to wine bottle closures. The ASEV- ES technical
session begin Thursday afternoon and the conference concludes Friday
evening. For details and to download the registration forms please
check the web site.

Indiana Winegrowers' Guild Summer Meeting:  The Indiana Winegrowers'
Guild will hold its summer meeting Aug. 11 at Butler Winery and
Vineyard, 6200 E. Robinson Road in Bloomington. For a map and
directions to the vineyard see http://www.butlerwinery.com.  The
general meeting will start at 2 pm and will include a vineyard tour
with Jim Butler and Bruce Bordelon. At 3 pm Ellen Harkness will host a
blind tasting of Vidal wines from across the eastern U.S. This will be
the first of a continuing series of blind tastings focused on grape
varieties currently grown in Indiana, or that have potential for
Indiana. Indiana wineries are urged to bring any Indiana grown Vidal
wines they would like to have included in the tasting. The Business
meeting will follow the tasting at 4:30 pm, which should make for some
lively discussion. Dinner will be served for those wishing to stay and
enjoy the evening watching the deer feeding on Jim's grapes. Dinner
cost will be $10. Please call Butler Winery at 812-339- 7233 to reserve
a dinner ticket. We need to know how many to expect for dinner.

Apple Crop Outlook and Marketing Conference:  The US Apple Association
is hosting this years conference once again at the Fairmont Hotel in
Chicago.  The conference runs August 21-22.  This is a top level
conference on what is happening in the apple industry in the US and
around the world.  Registration is $325 for USApple members and $575
for non-members.  For a list of speakers and more information, look at:
http://www.usapple.org/industry/outlookconference/

Upcoming meetings: July 8-11	American Society for Enology and
Viticulture-Eastern Section conference. Corning, NY. Contact
www.nysaes.cornell.edu/fst/asev.

Aug. 11	Indiana Winegrowers' Guild Summer Meeting. See note above for
information.

Aug. 21-22	Apple Crop Outlook and Marketing Conference, hosted by the
US Apple Association.  See above for more information.