Fruit growers and other fruit industry professionals in the Great Lakes region are invited to participate in a short survey designed to gauge the current use and necessary improvements for the Fruit Pest and Beneficial Search Tool.
The search tool can be used to identify diseases, insect and mite pests, and beneficial organisms on fruit farms, a critical step in any integrated pest management plan. This search tool covers tree fruit and grape pests and is based on the publications “Tree Fruit Field Guide to Insect, Mite, and Disease Pests and Natural Enemies of Eastern North America” and “A Pocket Guide for Grape IPM Scouting in the North Central and Eastern United States.”
Researchers and extension professionals are now working to understand the current use of this tool and how it can be improved to better suit fruit grower’s needs. The goal of this search tool is to provide a digital resource to help growers identify unknown fruit damage, pests, diseases and beneficials on their farm, coupled with easy to find information on best practices for scouting and management for each respective organism. Completing this survey will help guide future efforts to provide improvements to this tool so we can better serve the fruit growers of the Great Lakes region.
Source: msu.edu
Photo Credit: Michigan State University Extension
Categories: Michigan, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables