1. Integrated Pest Management and Pesticides

2. Bruce P. Alber, CF
Wilbur-Ellis Company

5. Pesticide definition
A product that prevents, destroys, repels, or mitigates a pest (FIFRA)
Christmas tree pesticides
Herbicides Fungicides
Insecticides Rodenticides
Deer Repellants

6. How will you spray?

7. Calibration is critical
How many gallons of mix per acre?
Constant walking speed, spray pressure, nozzle type
Different people walk different speeds
Careful calculation of pesticide per gallon of water depends upon calibration

8. Calibration is critical
Proper pesticide rate per acre =
Enough product to control the pest
Too much product can damage trees and waste money
Too much product is illegal
Not enough product wastes money, doesn’t kill the pest, can cause weed escapes

9. Pesticide use: IPM Correctly identify the pest
Is the pest population above a level of damage concern?
Can an early treatment stop the population & reduce the need for repeated applications?
Is the pest life cycle at the succeptable time to treat?

10. Don’t spray by the calendar. Are you a licensed applicator
Don’t spray by the calendar! Are you a licensed applicator? - necessary for purchase & application of Restricted Use Pesticides

11. Choosing a Christmas tree pesticide
Always read and follow all label directions
There must be specific recommendations for the site: Christmas trees
Conifer plantations?
Not forestry (Oust XP)
Not non-crop

12. Modes of Action questions
Why does one pesticide control some species but not others?
You can tank mix some pesticides
Two or more herbicides in a tank
Mix an insecticide + a fungicide

15. Herbicide activity types
Foliar spray: what stage of plant growth is best for control? Early leaf, bud stage, full extension, late summer?
Soil active spray: prevent weed seed germination

16. Soil Active Herbicides: Conifers & Plant selectivity
Physical selectivity:
Soil active – solubility, soil adsorption breakdown half life
Herbicide location in soil vs. plant roots
Growth stage selectivity:
Weeds actively growing?
Seedling weeds?
Conifers dormant?

17. What does this all mean to the grower on the ground?
Mix herbicides with different modes of action can broaden the weed control spectrum:
Westar: Oust + Velpar pre-mix
Mix your own: glyphosate + Atrazine
Understand the seasons of control by herbicide

18. Herbicides and conifer safety
Conifer safety depends upon the herbicide
Dormant conifers are less likely to be damaged
Directed sprays reduce tree exposure and damage

19. Prevent herbicide resistant weeds!
Rotate your herbicide use
Use different mode of action herbicides
Tank mix with different modes of action herbicides

20. Insecticide & miticide use
Scout often to watch for insects & mites
When do they hatch?
What is the population trend?
What is the best growth stage for good control?
Weather forecast: hot weather can cause a mite population explosion

21. Miticide modes of action
What life stage does the pesticide kill the insect or mite? Egg, larva, adult?
Does the miticide kill the adults or adults and the eggs?
Does the pesticide kill beneficial insects too?

22. Fungicide use
Scout your fields for needle discoloration, fungal fruiting bodies from last year
When will the trees be harvested?
Most fungicide treatments are 2-3 years before harvest. Especially the harvest year!

26. Questions, comments? Bruce Alber, CF Wilbur-Ellis Company