Join us for the latest research-based information. 3 WSDA and ODA pesticide update credits. In person event with hybrid virtual option.

North Central Washington Tree Fruit Days

Join us for WSU Tree Fruit Extension Programs in North Central Washington. Co-sponsored by Northwest Cherries, Pear Bureau Northwest, NCW Fieldmen’s Association, Chelan Future Farmers of America and the Okanogan Horticultural Association. These events provide the latest research-based information on horticulture, pest and disease management. We hope you will join us to network and learn this winter. Apple, Pear and Cherry Day will be held in Wenatchee, WA January 16-18, 2024 with a virtual webinar option. Okanogan Horticultural Day Feb 7.

Format

NCW Tree Fruit Days events in 2024 will be held in person with a virtual option through zoom webinars for Apple, Pear and Stone Fruit Days.

Apple Day Topics

• Woolly Apple Aphid
• Codling Moth
• Natural Enemies Releases
• Earwigs
• Mechanical Harvest Technology
• Smart Sprayers and Automated Irrigation
• AND MORE

Credits

3 pesticide update credits will be available. Approved for WSDA and ODA.

Registration

Registration is required for virtual webinar attendance. Walk-ins okay for in person participation. Register for virtual attendance. In person event is free (sponsored, a $60 value). Virtual attendee registration fee ($20 per event) covers cost of audio visual technician/live streaming for event.

Networking Lunch

Join us for the sponsored networking lunch which provides an opportunity to learn and network with your peers and visiting speakers. Sponsored lunch limited to the first 100 attendees per day. Apple Day Networking Lunch Sponsored by GS Long and Orchard Robotics. Register here.

Agenda

NCW Apple Day
January 18, 2024 @ 9:00am-3:30 pm
Wenatchee Convention Center
3 WSDA and ODA pesticide update credits (with approval).
Hybrid In-person and Virtual event

Session 1: Pest and Disease Management

9:00 AM Woolly Apple Aphid
Robert Orpet, WSU Entomology
Woolly apple aphid is tricky to manage, but knowledge of biology, biocontrol, insecticide timing, and the weather can help.

9:25 AM Codling Moth Mating Disruption
Don Thomson, Pacific BioControl Emeritus
Point sources matter. Weather impacts risk. Common mistakes. Is there resistance?

9:55 AM New Products and Approaches for Codling Moth Management
Factors influencing trap catch and two years of new product efficacy data.
Betsy Beers, WSU Entomology

10:20 AM Break

Session 2: BioControl

10:40 AM Potential and BMPs for Natural Enemy Releases
Rebecca Schmidt-Jeffris, USDA-ARS
This talk will cover what natural enemies are commercially available for aphids and thrips, best practices for conducting releases, and
release efficacy. Lacewings, lady beetles, and minute pirate bug natural enemies discussed.

11:10 AM Conserving Natural Enemies – Pesticide Impacts
Toriani Kent, Rob Curtiss, WSU Entomology
Results from recent screening of pesticide impacts on natural enemies.

11:30 AM Earwig Trapping, Releases and Pesticide Impacts
Aldo Hanel, WSU Entomology PHD candidate
Moving earwigs from stone fruit to pome fruit can improve control of woolly apple aphids and pear psylla, but conservation of earwigs is
key.

11:50 PM Lunch Sponsored first 100 registrants. Sponsored by Orchard Robotics and SymAgro.

Session 3: Technology and Mechanization

1:20 PM Technology Roadmap
Ines Hanrahan, Washington State Tree Fruit Research Commission

1:30 PM Mechanical Harvest – Current Status of Development
Ines Hanrahan, Washington State Tree Fruit Research Commission

1:50 PM Precision Spray Application
Gwen Hoheisel, WSU Extension
Choosing the right sensor. Agronomic decisions. Integration with the machine. Two examples of current practices Smart Apply and
Waatic.

2:15 PM Smart orchard: soil mapping and testing methods
Bernardita Sallato, WSU Extension
Managing variability in orchards is key in precision agriculture to reduce crop losses and improve profitability. Soil mapping is an
important component in understanding that variability, but what tools would work best for my orchard?

3:30 PM Closing and Pesticide Credits

Vendors

To join the tradeshow please contact the NCW Fieldmen’s association at ncwfieldman@nwi.net

Speakers

Robert Orpet has been a pear entomologist at WSU TFREC since 2019. He manages experiments and talks with people to create and share knowledge on how to integrate biocontrol, cultural tactics, and chemicals for pest management.

Betsy Beers, Professor and Entomologist, WSU Department of Entomology, Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center. Beers has worked for 30+ years on integrated pest management of apple and cherry pests.

Rebecca Schmidt-Jeffris, Research Entomologist USDA ARS. Her lab focuses on biological control of arthropod pests of tree fruit, including apples, pears, and cherries.

Aldo Hanel is a Ph.D. Candidate at WSU in collaboration with the USDA-ARS and OSU, currently working on the role of earwigs in temperate tree fruit orchards.

Ines Hanrahan is the Executive Director of the Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission (WTFRC). She is fostering public-private partnerships with tree fruit scientists and companies worldwide, is highly dedicated to connecting with NextGen industry professionals, and to setting a positive example for an increasingly diverse global work force. Her interest in farming is not only part of her roots, education, and work. Her family owns and operates a commercial tree fruit orchard in the Yakima valley.

Gwen-Alyn Hoheisel is an Extension Specialist with WSU Extension working in commercial tree fruit and grapes. Hoheisel’s work focuses on sustainable pest management and application technologies.

Bernardita Sallato is a Tree Fruit Extension Specialist and Assistant professor for Washington State University. Her program provides leadership in applied research, extension, and outreach for the PNW tree fruit industry. Her goal is improving orchard efficiency and fruit production through horticultural management practices and technology. Sallato’s main areas of interest are 1) soils and plant nutrition; 2) tree fruit stress management; and 3) general horticultural practices for tree fruit production.

Toriani Kent has a master’s in entomology from the University of Idaho, where she studied forestry entomology . Ms. Kent is currently a laboratory manager and technician at WSU TFREC in Wenatchee WA, where she works on several aspects of major pests and beneficial insects of pears and apples.

Credits Q&A

WSDA and ODA pesticide update credits have been approved for the workshop. To receive credits for online attendance, participants must:

1. Register each participant including pesticide license information. Make sure registrant name matches name on license.
2. Attend the full morning session. The webinar software tracks the number of minutes each attendee has participation. 3 credit sessions require 150 minutes of pesticide related content.
3. Respond to poll questions and check-ins during the workshop.

Common Zoom Problems and Trouble Shooting

• Cannot enter the webinar.
  • Early? If you are early you will receive a message that the meeting has not started yet. Just wait and we will have webinar open soon.
  • Enter the passcode: you can attend the meeting without a zoom account, but you have to enter the passcode to get in. Passcode: 1111.

• All online participants will be required to have a zoom account to sign in due to WSU security policies. Go to https://zoom.us/ to sign up (free) and don’t forget to check your email to confirm. Please make sure to sign in early and check that zoom is working for you and that recent updates have been downloaded.

• No sound
  • Check your audio settings in zoom. Click on the up arrow close to the microphone icon at the bottom of your screen. Choose audio settings and check that you have the correct speaker and microphone checked.
  • Check your audio in your computer settings.

• Still having trouble. Call (509) 293-8792. Note these phone numbers will be forwarded to volunteers during the hour before and after the webinar starts as Tianna will be running the meeting.

Common questions:

• Can I have multiple people watching on one computer? The webinar host can only verify attendance for each logged in participant. If it is not possible for each participant to login separately, please contact Tianna (509) 713-5346 in advance to designate a host for your site who can verify attendance.