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Dr. Hollis Spitler Agricultural Technician I |
The small fruit insect and mite program at WSU Mount Vernon NWREC is focused on new and cost effective cultural and pest management strategies developed from integrated and holistically targeted research. Release and registration of new mode of action insecticides and miticides, when rationally integrated with their ecological selectivity to natural enemies and precision placement will lead to increased efficiency and more cost effective productivity. The programs’ integrated management of arthropod pests of the state’s $100 million small fruit industry is focused on researching alternative pesticide chemistries, biorationals and applied biological control. Our program includes regional and international components and endeavors to improve the quality of food and health of farmers and consumers here and in developing countries. Food safety concerns, water and environmental health along with increased costs of agrichemical protection, production and arthropod pest control tools are issues central to the programs’ focus to enhance small fruit production in western Washington.
Outreach activities of his program are to develop programs that reflect the diversity of American farmers, from conventional to organic growers, through testing of new selective chemistries, biorational pesticides and applied biological control that will include research such as:
- Root weevil management in strawberry, red raspberry blueberry.
- Utilize IPM to control the potato flea beetle with entomopathogenic nematodes, fungi and selective insecticides in thin-skinned potato.
- Investigate the biology and control of blueberry gall midge using the organically acceptable compound Bt and insecticides exhibiting low toxicity and a narrow target range.
- Conservation of naturally occurring beneficial predatory mites and insects to control spider mites on red raspberry through careful timing and use of selective acaricides.
- Evaluate selective new chemistries to control aphids infesting small fruits.
- Investigate native predatory mites to control spider mites in Philippines’ strawberry.
Featured Links:
Archived Reports
Blueberries
International Programs
Landscape/Ornamentals
Potato
Presentations/PDF
Proceedings
Raspberries
Recent Research
Strawberries
For further information, please try these links:
The Northwest Berry and Grape Infonet
The Washington Red Raspberry Commission
The Oregon Raspberry / Blackberry Commission
Washington State Blueberry Commission
Washington State Potato Commission
CURRENT FUNDING SOURCES:
Washington State Red Raspberry Commission
Washington State Strawberry Commission
Washington State Blueberry Commission
Northwest Agricultural Research Foundation
Washington State Potato Commission
Washington State Commission on Pesticide Registration
United States Agency for International Development
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