Commentary: Sprays are a part of spring

The timing of each spray is critical, as it is dependent on many factors: Weather, fruit growth stage, and insect life cycle. The required weather conditions are very specific: Dry before and after spraying so the trees can absorb everything properly; low wind so the plant protection products are not carried elsewhere; and temperatures that are not too cold or too hot. If it is too cold, it will take longer for the protection products to dry, and slow drying increases the chance of marking the fruit. If it’s too hot, the spray will dry too quickly before it’s fully absorbed into the tissue. This is true for both conventional (non-organic) and organic orchards.

One common myth believed by many is that organically-grown fruit is not sprayed at all. Organic does not mean pesticide-free; it means that growers are limited to products that have been certified for use on organic crops, while conventional orchards use both organic and non-organic products.

Pest management is essential for the health of our own orchards as well as those located nearby. When commercial orchards do not follow best practices for pest management, the number of harmful insects increases exponentially, and these pests spread to neighboring orchards. This causes all orchards in the area to spray many more times than usual each year; one orchard with poor pest management creates a domino-effect for many others. There is no guarantee that additional spraying can stop the damage; even with the additional spraying, the likelihood of economic loss is high.        

The same is true of backyard fruit trees; a single unmanaged fruit tree in someone’s yard can create the need for additional sprays in large orchards nearby. Backyard trees that are not treated for pests regularly breed codling moths, pear psylla, spotted wing drosophila and many others, and these pests can multiply and spread rapidly to commercial orchards. This increase in pests due to unmanaged fruit trees is why Hood River and Wasco counties and the state of Oregon have ordinances requiring property owners to practice regular pest management. 

While we are grateful that we have resources to address pests and disease in our orchards, we only want to use these methods when necessary. Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers Association, OSU Extension, and Hood River Soil and Water Conservation District are collaborating in an effort to reduce the amount of spraying that occurs in Hood River and Wasco counties. By providing education and outreach services to commercial orchards and backyard tree owners in need of pest management support, we hope to reduce the need for spraying plant protection products as much as possible.

If you are in need of pest management support for your commercial orchard, please contact Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers (541-387-4769); for pest management support for backyard fruit trees, please contact Hood River Soil and Water Conservation District (541-386-4588). 

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Lesley Tamura is a local orchardist and board chair of Columbia Gorge Fruit Growers Association.