The Process:
In January 2003 the eco-apple team mailed out a production survey to apple growers within the State of Wisconsin. The results of this survey were used to evaluate what extent Wisconsin apple growers where implementing IPM techniques. The team sent out 369 surveys to all known Wisconsin apple growers, growing status unknown. Ninety-eight of the surveys were returned, seventy-eight of these surveys were usable since 20 were returned citing that they were no longer in business.
The Baseline IPM Score
Weighting and Scoring:
Prior to analyzing the data from the 2003 grower implementation surveys the eco-apple team assigned a weighting of importance in IPM implementation to each of the answers, questions and sections of the survey. This weighting system allows a growers to receive more credit or greater points for implementing an IPM technique which requires extended grower effort. Each survey was then assigned an IPM implementation score. The data was used to establish a baseline IPM implementation curve for the apple industry in Wisconsin.
The Measurement Tool, a two part system
The Toxicity Index
The baseline IPM survey score allows growers to gauge how they have implemented IPM on a year to year basis. Yet this score does not necessarily provide an adequate measure of pesticide reduction. In order to measure pesticide reduction the eco-apple team and Benbrook Consulting developed toxicity indices for chemicals used in Wisconsin apple production. The indices have undergone several changes from this initial compilation. These refined indices are combined with a grower's spray data to provide pesticide use scores. These scores are compared with previous years and give a measure of toxicity reduction in the grower's spray regime.
Integrated Pest Management
Integrated Pest Management(IPM) for the production of apples allows for a combination of cultural pest management techniques and chemical applications. This approach assists growers in making informed decisions regarding chemical application and if implemented correctly should help with an orchard's overall bottom line. The eco-apple project creates a tool for individual orchards to see how they score each year in their specific pesticide reduction and IPM adoption.
Eco-apple Project Home Page | What's New | AppleTalk | Upcoming Events | Publications |