Apple crops are looking dismal around the state. Here in Lafayette we probably have about 20% of a crop, and I’m hearing similar things around the state. With a short crop, growers need to decide whether it’s worth protecting the fruit that are present with a full pesticide program, or writing the crop off and reducing their pesticide coverage and expenses. This is a very tricky decision. Think about how many times that growers say at this time of the year that the crop is a complete loss, then come harvest time they wonder where all those apples came from. So don’t be too quick to write off the crop this year. Remember that if 95% of the flowers on a tree don’t set fruit or are frosted, then you’re still looking at a full crop.
There is some advice on other articles in this issue of FFF on how to reduce pesticide costs when the crop is lost.
https://www.extension.purdue.edu/extmedia/bp/bp-179-w.pdf
apple at 12mm