Found 853 Articles

Although the season for primary scab infection is winding down, this cool, wet weather is making for an excellent infection period for juniper rusts (Gymnosporangium spp). John Obermeyer and I created this time-lapse video to help explain the complicated lifecycle of this fascinating pathogen: http://tinyurl.com/j3s3t92 The juniper rusts standout due to the conspicuous nature of…Read more about Juniper Rusts[Read More]


I have seen some pretty impressive infestations of overwintering San Jose scale this spring. These infestations re-emphasize the importance of putting on a dormant oil spray each spring, as scales are one of the pests controlled by that application. SJS overwinters as an immature and is now at the point of maturing. Shortly after, they…Read more about San Jose Scale[Read More]


Grapes are at the 4 to 8 inch stage in Lafayette. Blackberries are just starting to bloom. Raspberries have a few flower buds starting to show. Strawberry bloom continues. Blueberries are at petal fall. Fruit set for apples and peaches has generally been adequate and thinning will be necessary. Cloudy weather during early fruit development…Read more about Crop Conditions[Read More]


I achieved biofix today (May 9) in our orchard at the Meigs Farm near Lafayette. I have also talked to other growers who had also caught 3-5 moths or more in their pheromone traps. For me, I had caught one moth last week and caught three more over the weekend. This constitutes a sustained flight and…Read more about Codling Moth[Read More]


Grapes in the southern half of the state will soon be reaching the critical pre-bloom stage, which is a key time to control important diseases such as black rot, downy mildew, and powdery mildew. The next three or four sprays will be critical in controlling fruit infections. Growers should pay extra attention to getting thorough…Read more about Important Pre-bloom Sprays for Grape Disease Management[Read More]


Callisto (a.i. mesotrione) has been labeled for blueberries for the past five years, but the label was expanded to include brambles this year. We used it at the 3 fl. oz. per acre rate on our bramble plantings in Lafayette and significant damage occurred on several varieties. Both blackberries and raspberries were affected. The floricanes…Read more about Callisto Herbicide Injury to Brambles[Read More]


Purdue Wine Grape Team’s 2016 Spring Workshop May 4, 9:00 am. Holtkamp Winery, 10868 Woliung Rd, New Alsace, 47041, Rettig Hill Winery & Vineyard, 2679 E State Road 350 Osgood, IN 47037 Due to limited class size, advance registration and fees are required. Registration fee $50 per person and includes lunch.Make checks payable to Purdue…Read more about Upcoming Meetings[Read More]



Fire blight, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, is a devastating disease of apples and pears. Epidemics of the disease develop quickly, particularly in a climate of warm, wet weather, with hail events—like last night’s 0.75” to 1.5” hail! The type of management program developed by each orchard will vary considerably based upon a variety…Read more about Fire Blight[Read More]


We’re getting close to the time when growers need to make chemical thinning decisions – for many the most perplexing and risky decision they will make all year.  This is usually a tricky call to make, even more so when we have had spring frosts. Luckily in most places the spring frosts have not been…Read more about Chemical Thinning[Read More]


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Page last modified: May 11, 2016

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