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Orchard insect pests: biology, points of vulnerability, trap thresholds, spray specifics, natural predators, ecosystem balance.
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Results 1 — 30 of 55Re: 2022 Thinning trials - 8 months ago
Yesterday I did my first 'trial'. I sprayed four rows along the street at 10 pounds baking soda in 100 gallons of water with a sticker/spreader called BioLink which is manufactured in Vista, CA. I checked the trees this afternoon, some petals are browning, but not a lot. I have some rows that are going to be removed, I may up the rate and see what happens. Can't hurt them, eh? Bby James Smith - Organic Thinning
Re: 2022 Thinning trials - 9 months ago
Nobody can be forced to spray. But if pests aren't controlled, the offending tree is removed at owner's expense. Your ordinary quidam would have the choice of spraying, removing the tree or all the fruit (no fruit, no CM damage), or having it removed and sent the bill.by James Smith - Organic Thinning
Re: 2022 Thinning trials - 9 months ago
Claude Jolicoeur Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > James Smith Wrote: > ------------------------------------------------------- > Do you mean to say here that there is a "police" > that checks if there are unsprayed apple trees? > What sort of world do we live in... > What would happen to an unmanaged population of > wild appby James Smith - Organic Thinning
Re: 2022 Thinning trials - 9 months ago
I'll add that I use a Rears 'Pull-Tank', very similar to the 'Pak-Tank' Michael used. Only difference is Michael attached his to the tractor by ta three- point hitch, mine is a trailer pulled by the drawbar. Application is the same, pointing a gun from the tractor seat.by James Smith - Organic Thinning
2022 Thinning trials - 9 months ago
So, I had asked about using lime/sulphur in another thread to thin apples. In my case, strip the trees. I have three rows with 85 trees per row that are closest to the road I don't want any fruit on. Last year a 'field man' for one of the packing sheds reported to the Pest Sheriff that I had CM stings on my fruit. The Sheriff came by to check and said I had a few stings, nothing maby James Smith - Organic Thinning
Re: squirrels eating apples - 10 months ago
I wish it were the apples the squirrels wanted, with 1500 trees there are plenty for them and myself. But i only have one walnut. But it was more than the walnut losses that wore a hole in the welcome mat. They were chewing holes in the poly pipe that irrigates the orchard. Very annoying and really unnecessary considering I have a tenant on the property that supplied them with food and water. Andby James Smith - Mammalian Tales
Re: squirrels eating apples - 10 months ago
Oh, they are so cute and fun to watch. Then they took out over 90% of my walnuts, so it was game on. I tried a trap, didn't catch any. I just found a video and it says 'ground squirrels', so that may be the problem. After a couple of years I decided no more Mr. Nice Guy. My dogs will alert me when one is in a tree. The .22 gets it out of it. Permanently. Here's the video of thby James Smith - Mammalian Tales
Re: Freeze Protection - 11 months ago
Actually, wind machines are part and parcel here, just about every orchard has at least one. Some put sprinklers on tall risers to shoot water over the trees. Nelson makes a nice low volume sprinkler, I'll post a link later. I don't believe you need to worry about your sprayer as long as it is running. Got to run, neighbour on his way to help out on a chore.by James Smith - Grower Research
Re: Freeze Protection - 11 months ago
My orchard came with a wind machine. No time for you to obtain one of those, and they are a big expense. I did see some portable ones though, I'll try to find them again if you are interested. As for using water for freeze protection it is my understanding (which could very well be wrong) that it isn't the ice that protects the plant, it is the freezing of the water. Therefore, the wby James Smith - Grower Research
Re: The Future of HON and the Forum - 11 months ago
Obviously, you type faster than me. I'd also say great minds think alike, but I don't want to insult you. ;-)by James Smith - Just Talk
Moving forward, the future of the forum - 11 months ago
I have not posted since Michael's passing, it and the passing of an esteemed member of another forum I participate in a few days prior to Michael took the wind out of my sails, so to speak. I read how some of you suggested keeping the 'Michael' thread for memorialising and start a new thread for discussing how to keep the forum going, yet nobody has. So, I decided to come out of myby James Smith - Just Talk
Using lime sulphur - 1 year ago
So here is my dilemma, I have too many trees for one old bugger to care for, yet I value having the trees for the privacy they provide. It appears my relationship with the pest control board is going to be a long-term romance. Therefore, I've been pondering the idea of how to keep the rows along the road as ornamentals without any fruit on them. I came across this article about using lime suby James Smith - Organic Thinning
Re: Miniature Chainsaws - 1 year ago
Hello Brittany, I'm glad you are enjoying your new Hatchett and I appreciate your enthusiastic reviews. I still can't get out in my orchard without sinking up to the top of my boots in snow. We haven't seen the sun in over a week, and the cold just goes right through one. I'm hoping the sunny days forecast this week will at least make it tolerable and I can get out and useby James Smith - Sensible Equipment
Re: Miniature Chainsaws - 1 year ago
How about a link to that 'arm-oil'? I could use some! I'm afraid my manual days are in the rear-view mirror. Arthritis in the hands and tendonitis in the elbows force me to look for more mechanical help these days. I used to love splitting firewood with a maul, now it's a slow, loud, and petrol hungry power splitter. Also, I have more than a few 3" limbs to cut in aby James Smith - Sensible Equipment
Re: Miniature Chainsaws - 1 year ago
I neglected to mention that there is an alternative. It is the Milwaukie Hackzall, basically a one handed sawzall. There are pruning blades available, so you can use it for one handed sawing. It is slower than the Hatchett, but it does have a narrower kerf. It also can be fitted with any blade that fits a sawzall, making it more versatile, for example I have used it to saw a PVC mainline in the gby James Smith - Sensible Equipment
Re: Miniature Chainsaws - 1 year ago
Indeed, I may. I recently purchased a Milwaukie Hatchet. All of my chainsaws are Stihl, and I highly recommend the brand. However, after watching this comparison video, I chose the Milwaukie Hatched over the Sthil G26. As stated in the video, the Stihl is a one trick pony with the battery, the Milwaukie will power countless tools. However not a great advantage to me yet as all my cordless Milwaukby James Smith - Sensible Equipment
Re: formulating assist - 1 year ago
It may very well indeed be the nut this blind squirrel finds will come in the form of a question, Mike. But for now, I'm Googling 'plant sap analysis', Agri-Dynamics, and Tainio Biologicals to get an idea of what is being discussed. Perhaps at some time I'll ask a dumb question that will cause you scholarly types to pause and look at the subject from another direction and inspby James Smith - Tree Fruit Nutrition
Re: formulating assist - 1 year ago
I'm listening, so you aren't just talking to yourself. However, I'm too much of a noob to offer any insights to the subject. About the only thing I can say is that I went to Tainio Biologicals website and saw they are located in Spokane, WA, which is not far from the Okanogan Valley. I'm sorry, it's not much, but it is all I have. For now, all I can do is absorb what youby James Smith - Tree Fruit Nutrition
Re: do you care? - 1 year ago
I do care, and I do check in on a daily basis. I've started a few threads, and commented on a few, but responses are sparse. I am active on another forum, not related to orcharding, and it gets scores of posts daily. It does have a fee to participate to aid in the costs of running the site, which includes a 'free' side. The 'free' side is similar to your HON site. It is sby James Smith - Just Talk
Re: hammer mill for crushing apples - 1 year ago
And extremely expensive, especially if made of stainless steel. Also a bit of a chore to clean, I'm sure. I have a Wallenstein BXM32 that uses a hammermill. I used it to crush apples that were stung by codling moth, but it is primarily for leaves and brush up to 3cm/1" For cider I have a Speidel press. Crushes as fast as you can drop them in the hopper, and a breeze to clean.by James Smith - Just Talk
Re: Winterizing Rears Pac Tank - antifreeze? - 1 year ago
I picked up a Rears 200 gallon pull tank this season. My former orchardist lost a pump on one of his last year even though he had put antifreeze in it, obviously did something wrong. My Rears manual said to pump antifreeze through the pump, however as I was doing that I looked at how the pump was hooked up. Four bolts hold the plate it is mounted on to the frame. The inlet and outlet are threadby James Smith - Sensible Equipment
Re: Bouy! Was I wrong. The schism will be the death of us... - 1 year ago
Were they vegan? I can't otherwise imagine why anybody, conventional, organic, or holistic would object.by James Smith - Good Fruit Marketing
Where have all the apples gone? - 1 year ago
I came across this article and thought it would be of interest to some: Where Have All the Apples Gone? An Investigation into the Disappearance of Apple Varieties and the Detectives Who Are Out to Find Themby James Smith - Just Talk
Bottom of the seventh, the score is Holistic 2 - Conventional 0 - 1 year ago
Earlier I had posted how my conventional neighbour had filed a complaint with the 'Pest Sheriff' (Pest Control Board) and I was under investigation. Even though I explained what I was doing and let him take a picture of my drum of neem, he said he had to put up a couple of traps and monitor my orchard. If CM population was acceptable at the end of the season he would sign me off. If notby James Smith - Just Talk
Re: The Lost Apple Project - 1 year ago
Couldn't find the story in the link you provided, bur here is the direct link to LAP. Being local, I may have to purchase some trees.by James Smith - Just Talk
Re: Drum options for pure neem oil - 1 year ago
I had forgotten about this thread. To bring it to a closure I found a pneumatic pump for less than $100 at Harbor Freight that did a stellar job.by James Smith - Sensible Equipment
Re: Small scale apple washer - 1 year ago
I pick door number three, but in full disclosure I have yet to market any fruit. I was able to tour one of Bluebird's packing operations in Wenatchee, WA and took several pictures. The bin is lifted and placed into a pool of water, then the apples float downstream in sanitiser to dryers. They are then moved onto rollers where watchful eyes look for and discard blemished fruit. Then they fby James Smith - Sensible Equipment
Re: scythe recommendations - 1 year ago
Hello Martin, and welcome to the forum. There are two suppliers that both specialise in European scythes. I got mine from Scythe Works A US based, and sponsor of the forum, is Scythe Supply Fit of the snath (the handle) is important, both sites have instructions on how to get the proper fit. Mine has adjustable handles, so I can fine tune it. I have not ever dealt with Scythe Supply, butby James Smith - Understory Management
Re: Who is that noob asking dumb questions? - 1 year ago
Hello Craig, Welcome to the forum. I would be glad to share what I have with you. I did a lot of research and first and foremost decided that cranking the mill was not for me. I finally settled on a Spiegel mill, and am thoroughly pleased with it. It grinds as fast as I can dump the apples in. As for the press, I had to get what the CFO would allow. I opted for the Maximizer with the stby James Smith - Just Talk
Re: Silage for mulch? - 1 year ago
I can't speak with authority, however I did do a search and came across this webpage:by James Smith - Ecosystem Connections
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