COST OF PRODUCTION FOR TRANSITIONING FROM CONVENTIONAL CODLING MOTH CONTROL TO AEROSOL-RELEASED MATING DISRUPTION ("PUFFERS") IN PEARS

R.B. Elkins, K.M. Klonsky, R.L. DeMoura
Codling moth (Cydia Lasperysia pomonella) (CM) is the primary pest of pear in California. Larvae bore into the core and feed. Organophosphate (OP) insecticides are conventionally applied three or more times as a control. A field demonstration project utilizing the alternative strategy of pheromone mating disruption (MD) was carried out on 65 ha from 1996-1998, 202 ha in 1999, 332 ha in 2000, 526 ha in 2001, and 459 ha in 2002. The use of MD decreased the number of OP sprays nearly 100% and allowed use of selective materials. This provided the basis for a comprehensive cost analysis using data from monthly pesticide use reports submitted by the growers participating in the Lake County, California project, “Areawide Implementation of Mating Disruption in Pears Using Puffers”. Cost of production analyses were prepared from the data, comparing average annual costs for all 14 participating growers for seven years to the cost of a conventional insecticide-only program. Evaluations of damage from 1996-2001 showed similar yields and fruit quality between the conventional and MD practices, thus resulting in increased grower participation in the project. Total operating costs for each of the seven years using current costs (2003) declined compared to the conventional insecticide program. During the first two years in the MD program, total operating costs decreased $109 and $89/ha, respectively, per year. From the third to seventh years, savings were $247 to $511/ha per year, an average of $352/ha per year or $8/tonne. Fluctuations in savings were mainly due to the variability in psylla and mite applications, as well as a post harvest spray for rust mite that began in the sixth year due to the reduced sprays in the previous years. Savings were minimal during the first two years of transitioning into the MD program, but became significant beginning in the third year.
Elkins, R.B., Klonsky, K.M. and DeMoura, R.L. (2005). COST OF PRODUCTION FOR TRANSITIONING FROM CONVENTIONAL CODLING MOTH CONTROL TO AEROSOL-RELEASED MATING DISRUPTION ("PUFFERS") IN PEARS. Acta Hortic. 671, 559-563
DOI: 10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.671.78
https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.2005.671.78
pear, codling moth, integrated pest management, mating disruption, puffers, cost of production
English

Acta Horticulturae