Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/466321
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER MARCH 1, 2015 39 positive toward other means, using natural predators like falcons, kestrels, and barn owls. In the grower survey, they were asked what kind of bird damage control methods they used and how effec- tive they were. Many of the growers use some method of damage control, and Lindell found that without such efforts, damage is much higher. Growers ranked netting as the most effective method, with 65 percent saying nets were moderately or very effective. But lethal shooting ranked second at 55 percent effective. Growers also used chemical repellents (38 percent effective), trapping (32 percent effective), visual scare devices (25 percent effective), and predator nest boxes (37 percent effective). Auditory scare devices won a high rating (45 percent), but only a few found them highly effective, apparently reflecting growers' finding that noise works for a while, but then birds become used to it. As part of the study, one researcher made video record- ings of 16 nesting pairs of American kestrels to see what they brought to the nesting boxes to feed their young. She estimated that the 16 pairs consumed 30,000 large insects such as grasshoppers, 1,300 rodents including voles, and 760 birds during the season. "Making orchards and vineyards raptor-friendly seems like a promising addition to integrated pest man- agement of insects and rodents, as well as fruit-eating birds," Lindell said. "The nest boxes for kestrels are easy to maintain, the kestrels are readily attracted to them, and predator birds like kestrels, owls, and falcons scare away many more birds than they actually attack and kill." She thinks, in fact, that a promising method would be to use unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs, or drones) that would mimic the role now played by falcons. Other high-tech approaches, like lights and lasers, have not been consistently effective deterrents, although lasers used at night seem effective against geese. The use of air dancers, those inflatable tube men that whip and flap, also did well. One grower in Maryland, Nathan Milburn, reported during the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Convention that he used them effectively to ward off robins and starlings. The birds will become accustomed to them, he said, but moving them about and changing the color kept them effective all season. The effect of moderate wind accen- tuated the random flapping and made them even more effective, he said. Losses One key part of the project was to quantify fruit damage and quantify the effectiveness of management practices. In the survey of growers, they found that sweet cherry growers believe that, on average, they lost 13 percent of their crop to birds in 2011, the year studied, varying by state from 5 percent to 32 percent of the crop. California growers reported spending $2,328 per acre a year for bird management to keep damage down to 5 per- cent, and believe losses would be three times that without management. In Michigan, growers spent less ($380 per acre) and suffered more (13 percent losses). New York growers spent $692 per acre, but still estimated losses at 31 percent, by far the highest anywhere. Oregon growers said they spent $1,069 per acre to keep damage down to 5 percent, and Washington growers said they spend $2,056 to keep damage to 9 percent. Results were similar for tart cherries. On average, growers said birds destroyed 8.5 percent of their crop, but that varied by state. Michigan and Oregon were low at 5 to 10 percent respectively, while Washington was high at 27 percent. Growers spent from $200 per acre in Washington to $500 in New York to lessen damage. Overall, growers lose a lot of money to birds. The study estimated that it cost Honeycrisp apple growers nearly $1.5 million per year in Michigan, $1.4 million in New York, and $26.8 million in Washington. Tart cherry growers lost $2.3 million per year in Michigan and $1.8 million in Washington, according to the survey. Sweet cherry growers were the big losers: $12.4 million per year in California, $32 million in Washington State, $2.1 million in Michigan, $3.3 million in Oregon. Growers estimated that bird control measures saved cherries worth between $113 million and $143 million, as losses would have been much higher without them. • Reducing Losses on Wine Grape Sales: Tools for Success for Growers and Wineries A workshop focused on how wine grape growers and wineries can work together to defi ne and document terms of sales and perfect fi rst priority statutory liens: defi ning and documenting terms, protecting price, assuring delivery, using liens, fi ling UCC fi nancial statements, what they are and how they ensure a healthy and long term relationship between buyer and seller. Topics will include: • Knowing your buyer • Available resources • Addressing your banker's concerns • How do liens work and why would I use them • Using UCC and why is it important • What a good contract looks like • Considering a grower's license • Using PACA VALUABLE WORKSHOP For Wine Grape Growers and Wineries Presented by the Washington Wine Industry Foundation in par tnership with the USDA Risk Management Agency WEDNESDAY - MARCH 18 WALLA WALLA - Port of Walla Walla, 310 A Street 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. PASCO - Red Lion Hotel, 2525 North 20th Avenue 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. THURSDAY - MARCH 19 PROSSER - Walter Clore Center, 2140 Wine Country Rd. 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. YAKIMA - Yakima Convention Center, 10 North 8th St. 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. To Register . . . Call the Washington Wine Industry Foundation (509) 782-1108 Cost of attendance is $30.00.