PACIFIC NW POLLUTION PREVENTION RESEARCH CENTER
POLLUTION PREVENTION RESEARCH PROJECTS DATABASE
Project Title: Comparative Performance and Farm-Level Function of Conventional and Certified Organic Apple Production Systems in California
Date Last Updated: 6/96
Project Summary: Certified organic apple production has expanded to over 2,000 acres in California and specific field-tested production guidelines are necessary to assist growers in converting to certified organic apple management practices, and to develop protocols for pest and disease controls for organic production of apples. The objective of this project is to conduct field tests and develop production guidelines, as well as to document economic performance of organic management practices.
Two certified organic production demonstrations (North Central Valley, Central Coast) have been studied for four years. In addition to these long-term demonstrations, the research group continued and expanded statewide monitoring of synthetic phermone-based codling moth mating disruption with biological (certified organic) and chemical (conventional) controls. In Dec. 1994 scientific research papers describing aspects of this research were published by the agricultural research journal, California Agriculture.
Critical management component studies have included an evaluation of biorational control strategies for secondary pests (rosy apply aphids) in orchards using pheromone-based mating disruption programs for codling moth management in the North Central Valley Region, and comprehensive disease (apple scab) control trials with certified organic spray materials (sulfur, copper, oils, and compost tea) in the North Coast Region, a production area in which disease pressure is most severe in organic management studies.
Project Keywords: sustainable agriculture, organic growing, apples, pheromone-based pest control, pesticides
Organization Performing Research: University of California, Santa Cruz
Primary Research Contact:
Sean L. Swezey
Farm Extension Program
Center for Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems
University of California
Santa Cruz, CA 95064
phone: (408) 459-4367
fax: (408) 459-2799
e-mail: findit@cats.ucsc.edu
Date Research Started/Completed: 7/92 - ongoing
Publications Based on Research: research findings published in California Agriculture, 12/94
general guidelines for apple growers, by Walt Bentley, published in The Grower, 1/95
Approximate Project Budget: $175,000
Primary Project Funder: Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education
Primary Project Funder:
Phil Rasmussen
Coordinator
Western Region SARE
ASTE Building
Utah State University
1500 North 800 East
Logan, UT 84322-2310
phone: (801) 797-3537
fax: (801) 797-4002
e-mail: soilcomp@cc.usu.edu
© 1999, Pacific Northwest Pollution Prevention Resource Center
phone: 206-352-2050, e-mail: office@pprc.org, web: www.pprc.org