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Ask other growers about sprayers, mowers, scythes, pruning tools, tractors, row-mulchers, wood chippers, cider presses, fermenting vats, and more.
Re: curculio progress - 3 days ago
Thanks Jason, so much, for the kind words. After having spent so many years working with commercial growers, I've come to realize - as we all have to some degree - that allopathic farming is the wrong approach, relatively speaking. Not that we as farmers don't have a role to play, we do. But we're basically conductors in a large orchestra and that good land stewardship is really about ecosystems,by Mike Biltonen - Bug by Bug
Re: curculio progress - 11 days ago
Brian, Do you have any evidence of what susceptible non-target species may be affected? I find it difficult to believe the parasitic nematodes will affect "all" SNT species. I always start Surround apps at tight cluster->pink, so you're rec of early is spot on. Lastly, my understanding is that soil moisture is critical to nema-activity. If the soil dries out, they go dormant. Not surby Mike Biltonen - Bug by Bug
Re: curculio progress - 12 days ago
Biodynamic ashing is essentially where you collect the adult females while they are actively laying eggs (this is where the pyramid traps can serve a valuable purpose). You don't have to catch them in the process, though - LOL. Then slowly burn (ash) the insects and collect the ash. This ash is then homeopathically diluted to an appropriate dilution (d9 seems a good place to start) and spray overby Mike Biltonen - Bug by Bug
Re: curculio progress - 18 days ago
Hi Jason, I hear you. PC sucks, for sure. And in total transparency, I spent years on the commercial side of things. I still work with some growers, but only those willing to transition to a more sustainable model. And you make a very good point - the real cost of Surround or any other organic approach vs powerful synthetics. Look, Imidan works, so does Avaunt, Actara, Besiege, etc. One spray aby Mike Biltonen - Bug by Bug
Re: GPS mapping the orchard - 18 days ago
I'm sorry but I haven't worked with it enough to know all the ins and outs, so I am not going to be any help with your question.by Mike Biltonen - Orchard Systems
Re: curculio progress - 19 days ago
Absolutely not! Mine is Miller Vapor Gard . Also not organic but less egregious, I guess. And just so we're clear I wasn't trying to push a non-organic alternative, just present it since someone also suggested Imidan (hmm...). The best approach is irrigation or compost or some other cover that can keep the soil moist. Miller does make another organic product called NuFilm P, though it is not an aby Mike Biltonen - Bug by Bug
Re: curculio progress - 19 days ago
In between rains is good as long as the soil doesn't dry out which means that any irrigation is better than no irrigation. The row middles (aisles) are not as critical since you aren't (or are you?) applying the nematodes there. You can also hang the drip tubing above the mower height to avoid having the install/uninstall each time you need to use it - or maybe I misunderstand the issue. But dripby Mike Biltonen - Bug by Bug
Re: curculio progress - 20 days ago
Vaporgard is normally used on the foliage, so I am extrapolating usages here. But it is an anti-transpirant, so it will likely have some effect, but probably not lasting. If I had a mountain top to shout from I'd shout, "if you're going to plant fruit trees, you need to have a way to bring water to them in appropriate quantities." Water relations is the single most important element ofby Mike Biltonen - Bug by Bug
Re: curculio progress - 20 days ago
Hi Liz, I guess I can't argue strongly enough against applying Barricade fire retardant gel. The SDS sheet doesn't indicate what it actually is and apart from the fact it says its not harmful, I have to assume that it is. I am not sure what each person's individual situation is, but I would suggest making sure you get some sort of irrigation system. The other options would be a barrier of woodby Mike Biltonen - Bug by Bug
Re: curculio progress - 20 days ago
Hi Peter, My understanding the reason that Sr (Steinernema riobrava) isn't used in more northerly climates is that it doesn't survive well in the cold weather. It is however the most effective of the three main species. Sf and Sc (Steinernerma feltiae and S. carpocapsae) are hardier but less effective. It is the Sf that is more mobile in a soil environment, and that's why it is more effective.by Mike Biltonen - Bug by Bug
Re: curculio progress - 20 days ago
Hi Jason, Yes, PC damage can be disheartening and difficult to assess "what the next step" is. So to start let say these two things: 1) Entrust is not even registered for PC and 2) I've found Surround by itself of limited value, so it must be tank mixed. With Surround, start application 25 lbs/acre at tight cluster. Make two application before bloom (but not during) and the third at Pby Mike Biltonen - Bug by Bug
Re: bitter pit - 25 days ago
the way I have approached this is not with more calcium as long as your soil levels AND tissue levels are adequate. A reduction in the application of any potassium in soil or tissue helps. As does the addition of foliar manganese - which somehow helps regulate the preference for calcium OVER K in the tissue. This seems to be the problem - or part of it - Potassium movement at the expense of calciby Mike Biltonen - Tree Fruit Nutrition
Re: Borer repellent - 26 days ago
Very timely message, Laura. I've been getting a bunch of questions about this as it seems there is much damage this from borers, rodents, deer, sheep, weed whackers, etc. In the case of damage, I will just apply (well mixed) pure neem straight on a cleaned up wound and wrap it with a medical grade gauze (i.e., neem poultice). I have never mixed straight neem with anything else (except water) as Iby Mike Biltonen - Bug by Bug
Re: Spraying with freezing temps forecast at night - 2 months ago
Peter, My answer is no, it is not a bad thing to spray during the day (with above freezing temps) or if the night time temps will be <0C. In fact, depending on what you are spraying, and how it really gets, the additional sprays could i) increase the brix levels of cell cytoplasm and lower freezing point and/ or ii) reduce ice nucleation on the surface of the plant. You will not cause the plby Mike Biltonen - Spray Nuance
Re: Conventional Ag and Orchards coexisting? - 2 months ago
Ooh, baby. This is right up my alley. First of all, there is precedence for farmers suing farmers for improper use of chemicals. Even farmers killing one another over the use of chemicals. So if there is a neighboring farmer I would gently remind him that the responsibility for safe use (including drift) lies with his/her use of any chemical. This is not an opinion, it is the law. And there are fby Mike Biltonen - Just Talk
Re: Jim Martins Original Microbes from the 50's - 3 months ago
How very biodynamic of him - "manure from milking cows" indeed!! Yes, keep us posted.by Mike Biltonen - Arboreal Microbes
Re: Sprayer pressure impact on microbes? - 3 months ago
Microbes come in various sizes and shapes, and I will assume physical resiliencies. There are so many factors that go into the ability of a substance - inert or ert - to survive a modern sprayer are immense. However, in terms of mere physical construct we have the following VERY basic guidelines. 1. Bacteria - generally less than 2 microns in diameters and up to 10 microns in length. 2. Fungby Mike Biltonen - Arboreal Microbes
Re: Jim Martins Original Microbes from the 50's - 3 months ago
That's probably the longest list of organisms I have ever seen for microbial product! Anyway, there were a few that jumped out at me: Glomerella (Bitter rot is a common fruit rotting disease of apple (and pear) that occurs in all states where apples and pears are grown (Figure 1). ... Glomerella cingulata can also cause a leaf spot and canker on apple, although these forms of the disease are notby Mike Biltonen - Arboreal Microbes
Re: Microarthropod grazers? - 3 months ago
Funny that we both commented on leaf litter and fermentation at about the same time. I believe all life are generalists when it comes to feeding - within reason. Almost no organisms benefit from a singular diet. That I know of anyway. Specific associations for sure, but not a singular diet. I suspect the collembola are benefits from the leaf litter as food source, immune boosting fungi, and theby Mike Biltonen - Ecosystem Connections
Re: Microarthropod grazers? - 3 months ago
This hearkens back to what my PhD thesis would have been all about had I followed through. More importantly it speaks to importance and power of a biodiverse orchard ecosystem and especially the soil food web. The soil food web of course is not fungi and bacteria, but nematodes, protozoa, a whole slew of microarthropods, macroarthorpods, and higher order animals. They all depend on each other (inby Mike Biltonen - Ecosystem Connections
Re: Ripening mystery - 5 months ago
Brian, did you happen to take any brix, starch, seed color, tissue samples, etc. metrics or other observations on the fruit? It'd be interesting to know where those metrics were at the time they dropped. "Usually" green skin or unripened fruit is a result of higher than normal nitrogen levels. But that may not be case. You can send in fruit samples for a tissue analysis to see where theby Mike Biltonen - Tree Fruit Nutrition
Re: Marssonina 2019 - 5 months ago
Lots of interesting stuff here. Thanks for posting. I have to disagree though with the approach "treat it like scab." It is the same fungal class - ascomycete - but the timing and life cycles are different. The infection period starts later and lasts longer - more like European scab. The time from infection to symptom is 45 days compared to 16 days (all estimated and can vary slightly).by Mike Biltonen - Fungal Pathogens
Re: Marssonina 2019 - 5 months ago
Hi Glenn, Apart from the fact that Ecoswing is not labeled for Marssonina, I plan on using it for Cedar Apple Rust and Scab in apples to a limited degree this year. I suspect - with no proof - that it will be mildly successful against Marssonina given that both scab and M are ascomycete fungal pathogens, albeit with different life cycle timings. Again, there is not any data I am aware of, but uby Mike Biltonen - Fungal Pathogens
Re: MM106a hardiness - 7 months ago
Like Claude, I am not sure what the "a" is for, though it usually means a "cleaned up" version of the original, as Claude suggested. In any case, 106 has been touted as a great rootstock if you want trees within M7 and MM111 sizes. It's downfall is susceptibility to collar rot and low chill requirements. Meaning, don't plant it in replant or wet sites and it likes to "wakby Mike Biltonen - Orchard Systems
Re: Powdery Mildew - 9 months ago
Just remember that there are different species of "mildews" out there. Not all react the same to "milky" sprays. That said, I know that veg growers have had success spraying a yogurt or whey spray rather than just milk. Its the probiotics that works. In some cases mildews can be superficial, while others can be more invasive meaning that they infiltrate the cuticle of the fruiby Mike Biltonen - Fungal Pathogens
Re: Rootstock Advice - EMLA 7 vs 111 - 11 months ago
Hi Adam, I think you're spot in with your initial thoughts. MM111 and anything larger (B118, P18, Antonovka, etc) will be very hard to keep at 10-12' when planted at more traditional spacings. That said, myself and some others are playing with planting these larger rootstocks at tighter spacings in order to get some dwarfing through inter-tree competition. It looks to be working, but none of thby Mike Biltonen - Orchard Systems
Looking for (mostly) French Cider variety scionwood for this budding season - 11 months ago
I am trying to track down some specific budwood for budding season coming up. Although the qtys vary, I am seeking about 750 viable buds for each. I have some or all of a few of the varieties already covered, but would like to learn of additional sources. Averolles, Douce Moen, Guillevic, Petite Jaune, Rambault, Michelin, Domaines, Medaille D’Or, Muscadet de Dieppe, NW Greening. I appreciby Mike Biltonen - Orchard Classifieds
Re: tree bark considered - 11 months ago
Gloria, Where are you located geographically? I assume the orchard you're tending to is in the same region? Also, could you please update your profile to include a little more about yourself and orchard? Any advice could be and probably is very specific to location and pest pressures. Thanks, mikeby Mike Biltonen - Biodynamic Orcharding
Re: Oddly staggered bloom sequence - 1 year ago
Not sure what everyone's talking about, we're right on par here in nirvana.by Mike Biltonen - Pollination