Eco-Fruit

Wisconsin fruit growers associations, six grower networks, private consultants, NRCS, the IPM Institute, a regional packing house, county Extension educators, and UW researchers are working with CIAS faculty, staff and students to build a sustainable and vibrant fruit industry in Wisconsin. Initiated in 2000, apple, cherry, berry and grape growers are innovating with environmentally-sound production systems, investigating market-based options, and publically-supported conservation initiatives that will help this industry re-tool for sustainability.

Field component
Three elements comprise the program's work in the field with growers. Coachinggives growers the confidence to try systems approaches to pest management based on sound data specific to their farms. Regular conference calls help growers to trouble-shoot during key intervention times. If you are interested in participating in the conference calls, contact Samuel Pratsch at 608-265-3637, spratsch@wisc.edu. Samuel can give you a user name and password to access our blogs and connect you to the conferencing service. Grower networksgive farmers additional support in making systemic changes on-farm. Access to new toolsmakes it possible for growers to learn the value of these tools in managing complex systems. Tools include in-field data collection methods and information management tools to help growers make sense of detailed pest information.

Training component
The program makes it a priority to provide additional professional development opportunities for farmers and other agricultural professionals. Every November, growers meet to talk about what is working and what could be improved in the program. From these sessions, faculty and staff are given direction on how to best serve growers. We are currently providing special training in pesticide application and the Stewardship Index' PRiME tool, and training new consultants to work in a coaching capacity with growers.

Participatory research component
Farmer direction of the program and involvement in research is critical to the program's success. Starting in 2009 based on grower interest, faculty expertise, and interest from the Xerces Society, CIAS is part of a team to explore the impact of native bees in orchards and to identify ways to conserve these native pollinators. More than 30 orchards are participating. CIAS is also working with wholesale apple growers and their packing house to meet sustainability goals.

Policy component
The program's long-term success depends on steady support for growers to make changes on their farms. Market-based incentives are taking a long time to be realized, so in the interim, federal conservation programs are helping to bridge the gap. CIAS is involved in policy development at the state and multi-state levels to support conservation programs for specialty crop producers who care about environmental quality improvement.

See our Journal of Soil and Water Conservation article.

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Who sponsors this site?

This site is made possible by Wisconsin agricultural organizations that know reducing high-risk pesticides is both possible and desireable. Reducing pesticides is possible because farmers and researchers are continually searching for better ways to manage pests. Reducing high risk pesticides is desirable because high risk pesticides can have unintended negative affects on our health and environment.

A number of agencies also support the University of Wisconsin's Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems work on pesticide reduction. They are:

  • US EPA - Minor and Specialty Crops IPM Special Projects: “Pesticide reduction in WI fruit production,” 2006-2009
  • USDA Special Projects pesticide reduction grants, 2002-present
  • Center for Agricultural Partnerships, in cooperation with the US Environmental Protection Agency Headquarters: “EQIP for apple growers,” 2005
  • American Farmland Trust, in cooperation with the US Environmental Protection Agency – Region V: “Pesticide Risk Reduction in WI Apple/Fruit Production,” 2004-2007
  • USDA SARE PDP: “WI Eco-apple production education and outreach,” 2004-2006