FFF03-11 September 12, 2003

Crop Conditions:  Harvesting is well underway. Peaches are just
finishing up in the lower part of the state with bumper crops this
year.  Apples are also being harvested, with early apples in the north
and Gala just finishing in more southern areas.  Grape harvest is
underway in most areas of the state.

A reminder on apple cider regulations:  Under federal law, all juice
(including cider) producers under the regulation must have a HACCP
system in place by the effective date of the regulation.  Some
frequently asked questions are:

What is the effective date of the regulation?  The effective date for
the juice HACCP regulation depends on the size of the business.  I
think all cider makers in Indiana fall under the federal definition of
Òvery small businessesÓ.  To fit this definition, any ONE of the
following must apply to your operation: _ You have annual sales of less
than $500,000 _ Annual sales are greater than $500,000 but food sales
are less than $50,000 _ Employ less than 100 full-time equivalent
employees and sell fewer than 100,000 units of juice

As a Òvery small businessÓ, you have until January 20, 2004 to comply
with the law.  If you exceed the requirements for a Òvery small
businessÓ and are a Òsmall businessÓ then the effective date was
January 21, 2003.

Who must comply with the regulation?  The main exemption from the
regulation is in the operation of retail establishments.  A Òretail
establishmentÓ includes establishments in which juice is produced and
sold directly to consumers eg in stores, from roadside stands, at
farmersÕ markets and in food service operations, such as juice bars.
This does not included sales through supermarkets unless the cider
maker owns the supermarket.

What about warning labels?  The HACCP regulation supercedes the warning
label rule, so once you are following the HACCP regulation then you no
longer have to use warning labels.  However, if you are using the
retail exemption and not under the HACCP rule, then you need to
continue using the warning label.  You have all been doing warning
labels for a few years now, so know the drill, but remember that they
need to be incorporated into the principal display panel on the cider
jug.

Hopefully those cider makers under HACCP have participated in the HACCP
workshops that Rich Linton and Les Bourquin have conducted over the
last 2 years as well as the presentations Les gave at Hort Congress
last year, and therefore are well up to speed on HACCP.  (Hirst).

Are your trees legal?  A recent story in The Fruit Growers News
highlighted a recent settlement of a lawsuit involving patent and
trademark infringement of protected trees. According to the article,
the nursery industry has established the Nursery Licensing Association
NLA) to educate the industry about patent and trademark rights, and to
protect those rights and prevent trees being propagated illegally.  If
you are propagating your own trees of patented varieties, you are
legally bound to pay the royalty to the patent owner for those trees
that you propagate.   The formation of the NLA should serve as a
warning to those people propagating their own trees to keep it legal.
(Hirst)

Getting the most from the ÒoldÓ stop-drop: NAA:  The use of NAA
(Fruitone N, K-Salt Fruit Fix) for control of preharvest drop has been
overshadowed in recent years by that of ReTain; however, ReTain use
must be planned weeks prior to harvest. With the effective application
time so close to the onset of drop, NAA offers a ÒrescueÓ treatment,
should the threat of preharvest drop be increased due to unforeseen
circumstances. Examples of such situations include unavoidable delays
in harvest due to bad weather or labor issues, slow red color
development, and overlapping harvest schedules of varieties with
similar maturity windows, such as McIntosh with Macoun, or Empire with
Delicious. While it is not the purpose of this article either to
promote or condemn the use of ethephon (Ethrel, Ethephon II) to promote
fruit coloring, those growers using one of these products also need to
use NAA to prevent excessive fruit drop resulting from accelerated
fruit maturation. The following tips and reminders are offered to help
growers brush up on using NAA to best effect.

Timing NAA stop-drop sprays is a little like a game of chicken,
requiring both steely nerves and a good understanding of your opponent.
The label says to apply NAA when the first sound fruit begin to drop. A
single spray of 10Ñ20 ppm NAA offers drop control for about seven days
from the date of application, but it takes two or three days to Òkick
inÓ. Apply NAA three days too early and the window of effective drop
control is about halved. Apply three days too late and perhaps a
quarter of the crop will be on the ground before the NAA takes effect!

Stem loosening coincides with the climacteric rise in ethylene that
signals fruit ripening. Unlike ReTain, which delays drop by delaying
fruit maturation, NAA stops drop by delaying stem loosening. Predictive
degree-day models and the pattern of starch disappearance measured by
the starch index test do not provide a precise guide to timing NAA
stop-drop sprays. These techniques can indicate whether the threat of
drop is earlier or later than normal, but more direct monitoring is
required for the actual timing of the sprays.

Varieties such as McIntosh that are highly susceptible to preharvest
drop require careful monitoring to determine when fruit drop is
beginning. Limb tapping should be used to determine the onset of drop
as fruit near maturity. Bump several scaffold limbs of three or four
inches in diameter throughout the block on a daily basis. Use the palm
of your hand with a short firm stroke, striking the limb at its
mid-point (just like golf, this skill improves with practice and
experience). If zero to one apples per limb drop on average, itÕs too
soon to apply NAA. If the average is about two, check again later the
same day or the next morning. When several apples drop in response to
limb bumping, its time to harvest within two days or apply NAA.

When NAA is used to control drop on ethephon-treated trees, the two may
be tank-mixed if the fruit is to be harvested within seven days. If the
fruit is to be left on the tree longer than seven days after the
ethephon, then NAA should be applied three days after the ethephon.

Rates of 10Ñ20 ppm NAA are usually needed to be an effective stop-drop.
To obtain the maximum drop control, use a split application of 10 ppm
in the first spray, followed by a second spray of 10 ppm five days
after the first. Split applications can provide drop control for about
12 days from the date of the first application.

Research in Virginia showed that the deleterious effects of NAA sprays
on fruit maturity and fruit softening were minimized in Red Delicious
by making repeated applications of 5 ppm NAA at four weekly intervals
prior to harvest. This Òpre-loadingÓ technique has recently been
included as an application option in the Fruitone N label. I have not
repeated this research on Delicious, but using this technique on
McIntosh resulted in more advanced ripening and softening, not less! I
do not recommend NAA pre-loading for McIntosh and other early season,
high-ethylene varieties. I suggest that growers use caution when trying
pre-loading on later varieties. Use it only on a trial basis until more
is known about how varieties other than Delicious grown in different
climates will respond.

As with thinning sprays, stop-drop sprays of NAA work best when applied
with good coverage and plenty of water. Concentrating beyond 4X (less
than 75 gallons of water per acre for 300 gallon TRV trees) may
diminish the effectiveness. Use a non-ionic or organosilicone
surfactant to enhance uptake.

When used as a stop-drop, NAA may advance ripening, especially at the
maximum label rate of 20 ppm. The primary impact of this advance in
maturity is reduced storage potential of the fruit, particularly in the
loss of firmness. This effect is not consistent from year to year or
block to block. The question then arises whether NAA-treated fruit has
potential for CA storage or treatment with SmartFresh (1-MCP).

Perhaps the simplest way to answer the question with regard to CA is to
remember the adage Ògarbage in, garbage outÓ. If the fruit was left on
the tree to the bitter end of the drop control, is measurably softer
than previously harvested fruit, and has elevated starch index values,
then it should be marketed in the short term. On the other hand, if the
fruit was harvested within a week after treatment and has good firmness
and starch values for CA storage for the variety (e.g., McIntosh with
14 lb pressure and a Cornell chart starch index rating of 6 or lower),
there is little reason to expect it to perform differently than similar
fruit that received no NAA.

The question of whether NAA stop-drop sprays have advanced fruit
maturity may be most critical when using SmartFresh on McIntosh, where
the maturity of the fruit is an overwhelming influence on whether the
fruit will respond to 1-MCP. Quoting Dr. Chris Watkins in the
Proceedings of the 2003 Apple Storage Workshop: ÒWe do not have any
data yet, but we assume that induced ethylene production that results
from use of NAA will deleterious[ly] affect fruit responses to 1-MCP.
If you use stickers [NAA stop-drop], your storage operator should be
informed.Ó

Finally, a comment about use of NAA on trees previously treated with
ReTain. The use of both stop-drops at the respective correct times
results in drop control that is superior to that obtained by using
either one alone. Fruit treated in this manner, then left for an
extended time on the tree, often have limited storage potential (see
above); however, this combination can be an effective way of getting
the ultimate in drop control. This drop control comes at a high price
and should therefore only be used on high value fruit with little or no
storage period, such as for a few rows of trees held for late picking
in PYO blocks.  (by Dr. Jim Schupp, Cornell University, Scaffold Fruit
Journal).

Grape Harvest: Grape harvest is underway in most areas. The heavy rains
over the Labor Day weekend have caused some significant cracking and
fruit rot problems on some varieties in some areas. Those varieties
that were close to harvest have the worst damage. About the only
solution is to harvest as soon as possible after the damage if the
fruit is ripe enough. This will help avoid damage from wasps, bees, and
fruit flies, and subsequent spoilage by various microorganisms. Quickly
processing the fruit can minimize oxidation problems. Wine makers may
want to be sure to maintain adequate sulfur dioxide levels after crush.
Varieties that are holding well should benefit from the cooler
temperatures. Continue to monitor fruit chemistry to determine optimum
ripeness. (Bordelon)

Strawberry Fruit Bud Development:  Now is the time to fertilize
strawberries fields with 20 to 50 pounds of nitrogen.  Applications in
late August to September stimulate flower bud initiation during the
fall months.  Rates depend upon amount of nitrogen supplied at
renovation and plant vigor.  New fields with high vigor may not need
additional nitrogen now, but most older fields should benefit.
Irrigation during this time is also extremely important, if rainfall
has not been sufficient.  We suggest about 1 inch per week. (Bordelon)

Fall Herbicide Applications for Strawberries:  A number of herbicides
can be used on strawberries during late summer and fall to prevent weed
germination, kill emerged weeds, and provide residue control until the
following spring.  The key set of weeds you need to control during this
period are fall germinating winter annuals such as chickweed and
shepherdspurse.  You may also need to control wheat, oats, or rye that
come from seed in the straw mulch that you apply for winter protection.

Devrinol (napropamide) is a preemergence herbicide.  It can inhibit
rooting of daughter plants so it should be applied after early forming
daughter plants have rooted.  Late forming (after late August) daughter
plants do not contribute to yield and Devrinol can be applied before
these plants root.  Devrinol must be applied before winter annuals and
small grains emerge.  Devrinol provides excellent control of small
grains and some winter annuals such as chickweed.  Devrinol must be
moved into the soil by cultivation or water after application.

Dacthal (DCPA) is a preemergent herbicide that can be used in new
plantings or immediately after renovation.  It provides good control of
many grasses and some broadleafs such as purslane and lambs quarter.
Like Devrinol, it must be applied before weeds emerge.

Sinbar (terbacil) is primarily a preemergent herbicide but it has some
post-emergence activity against small susceptible weeds.  Fall
applications of Sinbar should only be applied after the strawberries
are completely dominant.  If Sinbar is applied to actively growing
strawberries, injury can occur.  Cultivars differ in tolerance to
Sinbar.  In general, less vigorous cultivars have greater injury.
Applications are most effective when applied to the soil and activated
by rainfall or irrigation.  Sinbar provides excellent control of many
winter annual weeds.  Fall applications of both Devrinol and Sinbar
will persist to the following spring.

Poast (sethoxydim) is a post-emergent, grass active herbicide.  The
grasses must be actively growing.  Thus Poast should be applied in late
summer or early fall before plants become dormant.  Also make sure that
you scout your fields to determine which grass weeds are present.
Summer annual grasses, such as foxtails and crabgrass, will be killed
by fall frosts, and do not require Poast applications for control.
Poast is more effective against annual than perennial grasses.  Poast
can be used in the fall to suppress perennial grasses such as
quackgrass; control early emerging small grains, and kill winter annual
grasses such as wild oats and downy brome.

A systemic, post-emergence broadleaf herbicide, 2,4-D, can be applied
when strawberries are dormant to control some winter annuals.  2,4-D
provides good control of many mustards and shepherdspurse, but is not
very effective against chickweed.  The herbicide should be applied to
actively growing weeds.  Be careful of 2,4-D drift causing injury to
non-target plants.

Gramoxone Extra (paraquat) can be applied as a directed spray between
strawberry rows, using shields to prevent contact with strawberry
plants.  Gramoxone is a nonselective herbicide, so it will kill or
severely injure strawberries it contacts.  Gramoxone is a restricted
use pesticide and is extremely toxic to animals including humans.  It
provides excellent control of annual grass and broadleaf weeds.
Gramoxone does not extensively translocate in plants so it does not
control perennial weeds.  Weeds should be actively growing when
Gramoxone is applied.

In conclusion there are a number of herbicide options that can be used
on strawberries during the fall.  Select herbicides that will control
problem winter annuals and small grains.  Herbicides such as Devrinol
and Sinbar can provide residue weed control until spring. (Bordelon)

Perennial Weed Control:  Late summer and fall is an excellent time to
control troublesome perennial weeds by spot spraying with suitable
herbicides.  Perennial weeds tend to become established within the rows
in fruit plantings because they are not fully controlled by the normal
weed management program.  Once established, these plants can be
difficult to eliminate. Glyphosate (e.g. Roundup) is a particularly
good herbicide for controlling perennial weeds in the fall.  As
perennial plants begin to slow growth and harden off for winter,
carbohydrates are translocated to the roots for storage.  Fall applied
systemic herbicides will be similarly transported to the root system
which leads to excellent control.  Fall application works equally well
on hard to control herbaceous perennial weeds such as thistle, dock,
smartweed, and morning glory, as well as woody perennials such as
poison ivy, Virginia creeper, multiflora rose, mulberry, blackberry and
so on.  The plants do not have to be actively growing for good results
but should have sufficient active leaf area to take up the herbicide.
Check the manufacturerÕs product label for specific recommendations.
NOTE:  Desirable crop plants are also translocating carbohydrates to
the roots and can be severely injured by fall applied systemic
herbicides. Be EXTREMELY CAREFUL when spot treating to avoid any
contact with desirable plants. (Bordelon)

Soil Management and Cover Crops:  Fall is a good time for cultivating
fields, adding lime and fertilizer, and planting cover crops in fruit
plantings.  Cover crops can be an integral part of the orchard floor
management plan.  If you plan on establishing new orchards or vineyards
next year, you should consider a pre-plant soil management program
which includes deep subsoiling, soil pH adjustment, addition of
fertilizer (especially P and K) according to soil test recommendations,
and planting cover crops. Cover cropping a site the year before
planting is an excellent way to increase organic matter and reduce weed
problems.  Several cover crops are available for fall planting, and mid
to late September is the best time to plant in most areas of the state.
 A favorite among growers is winter rye because it performs very well
under Indiana conditions. Rye not only adds large amounts of organic
matter to the soil, but also suppresses the development of many annual
and perennial weeds.  There are several other cover crops and the
choice depends on the growerÕs specific preferences and needs.
(Bordelon)

Grape and Wine Fall Workshop: We have scheduled a fall workshop Sept.
15. for grape growers and wine makers that will focus on vineyard
sampling and fruit processing. The workshop will be held on the Purdue
campus in West Lafayette. For more information visit our web site at
http://www.indianawines.org and click on Events or call Jill Blume at
765-494-1749. Registration is required and space is limited.

Pinpoint Scab:  Wet weather during the apple harvest period can lead to
the development of pinpoint scab and other fruit infecting diseases,
such as sooty blotch and fly speck.  Pinpoint scab can infect fruit up
to and during the harvest period if wet weather persists at this time,
however, the symptoms of pinpoint scab may not show up until the fruit
have been stored for several months.   Late season apple scab can also
build up on leaves after harvest, resulting in large quantities of
primary scab spores the following season, even though a good spray
program was followed early this year.  Help prevent such problems by
maintaining scab fungicides in late cover sprays; also do not stop
cover sprays too early.  Check the label for days-to-harvest
restrictions before making the final application. (Pecknold)

Collar Rot:  Late summer is a good time to inspect trees for
aboveground symptoms of collar rot. Look for weak trees with premature
leaf reddening (especially on goldens); sparse, yellow foliage; and
many small, highly colored fruit.  Keep in mind that such symptoms are
general stress symptoms that may be caused by a number of factors, such
as wet feet, mouse injury, trunk decay, root rot, etc.  However, trees
that show the above-described symptoms AND ALSO  have a canker at or
just below ground level are likely infected with collar rot.  If collar
rot is suspected we advise the use of Ridomil Gold EC in the fall after
harvest.  Apply Ridomil as soon as possible after harvest so it will be
in place before the fall rainy periods begin and possible new
infections occur.  Also be sure to concentrate your Ridomil treatment
on surrounding healthy appearing trees, not just trees already showing
symptoms of collar rot.  Ridomil is best used to prevent collar rot,
not cure it.

The soil-borne fungus, Phytophthora, which causes collar rot can be
even more of a problem on stone fruits, such as cherry and peach.
DonÕt forget to check out your stone fruits for symptoms of collar rot
as described above.

Upcoming meetings: Jan. 26-28, 2004   Indiana Horticultural Congress.
Put the date on your calendar and plan to attend. Feb. 2-8, 2004	North
America FarmersÕ Direct Marketing Association annual conference, ÒA
bounty of golden ideasÓ.  Sacramento, Calif.  For more information,
http://www.nafdma.com/