Washington State University Extension, with help from the Washington State Department of Agriculture, would like your help in researching changes in pesticide use in apples from 2020 to 2026 for organic and conventional apples. The research team would like to understand how pesticide use has changed in response to pressures such as resistance concerns, economics, or perceived effectiveness of pesticides. This will be done in a focus group setting, led by Chris McCullough (WSDA, Wenatchee), where participants will review the 2020 usage data and make necessary adjustments to products, rates, timings, and estimated percent of acres treated to create an industry average approach. Application timings will be discussed using crop phenology (dormant, delayed dormant, pink, bloom, petal fall, cover sprays, and preharvest).

This information will help inform future WSU research to better meet the needs of the apple industry by identifying what is and isn’t being used in apple crop protection. The information gathered from this study may be used by WSDA to help inform the EPA about pesticide usage at the state-level. Without state-level data, the EPA makes the broadest assumption that all pesticides labeled for specific crops are applied at the maximum rate and number of times to all crop acres. By demonstrating that pesticide usage does not follow these assumptions, we can better inform the process to push for less stringent regulatory outcomes.

There will be four focus groups to discuss pesticide usage in apples. These meetings will not be more than two hours long. Participation is voluntary and all information provided will remain anonymous. You do not need to bring or provide records, but be able to speak knowledgeably on the use of pesticides in 2026 for apple orchards. If you have questions or other comments please contact Chris at Christopher.mccullough@agr.wa.gov or 564-669-3809.

Meeting Dates and Locations

• Tri-Cities: September 22, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
  • Benton County Extension Office, Mission Peak Room, Kennewick
• Yakima: September 24, 2:00-4:00 p.m.
  • Yakima County Extension Office, SunComm Room, Union Gap
• Wenatchee: October 12, 9:00-11:00 a.m.
  • Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center, Wenatchee
• Omak: October 13, 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
  • Community Foundation of NCW, Omak

Tentative Agenda

• Introduction
• Conventional apple production pesticide discussion
• Break
• Organic apple production pesticide discussion