Why Is the Harvest Period Important in an IPM Program?
The harvest period is a good time to assess which pests were damaging in the orchard this year to help plan next year’s pest management program, including the need for a dormant or delayed dormant treatment. Examine fresh fruit from different varietal bins for damage caused by peach twig borer, oriental fruit moth, leafrollers, San Jose scale, stink bugs, plant bugs, katydids, thrips, and other pests, and record your observations. By reviewing these records and your pest management practices of the current season, you can determine which activities seemed to work well. In addition, these records will reveal which pests may cause problems during the next growing season and give you a head start on planning future monitoring and management strategies.
