Cherry growers hear mixed news about pests

The good news for fruit tree growers: the Montana Department of Agriculture didn't find any of the seven insects it looked for in its 2005 Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey.

The bad news: They did find apple maggot.

Kimberly Merenz revealed survey results to a group of about 20 people at a fruit tree pest meeting in Yellow Bay on Tuesday night. Merenz, state survey coordinator, said apple maggot was found on the east shore of Flathead Lake, as well as in some areas of the Bitterroot Valley.

The maggot, Merenz said, is native to the eastern United States. It prefers apple trees and hawthorn, but if there aren't enough of those, it will lay its eggs in cherries - a problem for area cherry growers.

"It's not particular," Merenz said.

The survey did not find dark fruit tree tortrix, cherry ermine moth, European cherry fruit fly, apple ermine moth, cherry bark tortrix, plum fruit moth or apple tortrix.

It did, however, found Western cherry fruit fly in the same areas as the apple maggot. This was no surprise to the audience; that fruit fly is the No. 1 fruit-damaging bug in Montana.

State entomologist Patty Denke discussed the Western cherry fruit fly, as well as other fruit tree pests, at the meeting.

Although pests tend to prefer one type of tree to another, most, like apple maggot, aren't particular about where they make their homes.

"As long as it's a rose family plant they'll say, 'Yeah, this'll do,'" she said.

Cherries, apples and hawthorn are all members of the rose family.

In addition to types of pests, Denke discussed integrated pest management, which she defined as management by all suitable methods to keep damage below economic levels. In layman's terms, do what you have to do using a variety of means to keep bugs from eating a hole in your crop or your pocket.

This often includes more than attacking the bugs themselves, Denke said. It may include community education and mapping which plants are most affected by pests.

When it comes to pest control, there are more options than just spraying, which is expensive and often has "ecological implications," Denke said.

"We want to kind of back off on that as much as possible."

Employing organic techniques, such as disrupting mating and removing damaged fruit, is one control option. Cultural control, such as planting pest-resistant trees, is another.

Growers also can use biological control by introducing predators to feed on pests, Denke said, or mechanical control, which includes the less-than-high-tech method of "squishing" bugs.

Finally, there are regulatory control options, which is where the state Department of Agriculture comes in. Through the use of laws, including inspections, quarantines and required treatments, the government hopes to help growers control pests.

One thing growers should be aware of, Denke said, is the importance of chemical labels.

"Before you use any chemical, make sure it is labeled for use in Montana," Denke said. "Read and follow the label directions. The label is the law. That's the way we enforce it in Montana now."

Sarah Holden, agricultural specialist with the ag department's Missoula field office, ended the meeting by further explaining legal requirements - especially regarding worker safety.

Growers who use pesticides and have employees must obey safety requirements established by the government, the Worker Protection Standard. If they don't, they'll be in trouble with more than just the Department of Agriculture.

"Worker protection is the No. 1 priority of the EPA right now," Holden said.

Holden urged growers to make sure workers wear proper protective gear. They also must have a decontamination site, where workers can wash their eyes, hands or other body parts that might come in contact with toxic chemicals.

While protecting workers is mandatory, growers are under no legal obligation to protect the public, Holden said.

Fruit tree farmers in the Flathead area are doing a good job meeting standards so far, she said.

"You guys are definitely moving in a great direction," she said. "Let's keep that moving forward."

Reporter Kristi Albertson may be reached at 758-4438 or by e-mail at kalbertson@dailyinterlake.com.