AN EVALUATION OF SITE-SPECIFIC MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES IN THE U.S. PEAR INDUSTRY

The initial objectives of this project were to 1) measure per tree yield variability in a highly productive pear orchard using site-specific management procedures, 2) establish a statistical method to measure that variability, and 3) estimate the economic impacts from the per tree yield variability. The average return/tree in 2002 was $17.48, with a high of $39.58, low of -$2.13, and a standard deviation of $5.76. In 2003, the average return/tree was $18.57, with a high of $34.65, a low of $5.90, and a standard deviation of $4.90. A regression analysis showed a strong linear relationship between returns per tree and tree yield. By weighing each bin of fruit by tree at harvest a grower could account for 93.37% of its value based solely on its weight in 2002 and 98.52% in 2003. When comparing returns to per tree cross sectional area, that relationship was not as strong as yield but did demonstrate that 28.29% of the returns/tree from 2002 data can be accounted for by its tree cross sectional area and almost 50% from 2003. About 88% of the trees are within $10 of the boundary condition line, however, the financial impact of not correcting the variability in this particular block is $25,027/ha. This is the amount of investment a grower could spent to implement technologies and inputs to eliminate the per tree yield variability early in the life of this orchard.