Good Fruit Grower

July 1

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Summer Fruits CANADIANS WILL REDUCE PRESSURE to eliminate plum pox I n the "usual" journalistic process, reporters find expert sources and ask questions, then ask additional questions as the answers dictate. This process did not work in developing this article. On both sides of the U.S.-Canadian border, phone calls directed to knowledgeable horticulturists involved in the plum pox programs were shunted to media relations people, who agreed to provide answers to specific questions. Efforts to bypass "the system" resulted in intercepted e-mail messages. In response to Good Fruit Grower's questions, the office of media relations for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) sent this by e-mail: "The plum pox virus (PPV) eradication effort has "New York is been replaced with a monitoring and management program. The intent of the program is to mitigate the spread of PPV and to provide information to assist in managing the impacts of the virus. "The Plum Pox Virus Monitoring and Management Program's the only state with an active eradication program in place." —APHIS e-mail (PPMMP) focus is to mitigate the spread of PPV beyond the cur- rent plum pox quarantine area in the Niagara area. The CFIA will collect samples around the periphery of the quarantine area to determine if PPV is spreading. "Since PPV is known to spread via infected material, a Ministe- rial Order (Plum Pox Virus Infested Order, 2008) is in place to pro- hibit moving regulated material of PPV-host fruit and ornamental trees outside of the quarantine area. To reduce the rise in PPV inci- dence, a propagation ban is in place within the quarantine area for PPV-host material. Propagation includes the production of new plants from seed, cuttings, grafting or any other method. The CFIA encourages that Best Management Practices, devel- oped by the Ontario Ministry of Agri- culture, Food and Rural Affairs, are adopted to reduce the impact of PPV." The response from APHIS, which has relocated its plum pox program headquarters to New York, was this: "The PPV program is continuing to survey for the presence of PPV in northwestern New York. The last time a positive was found was in 2011. Until a new positive is found, there will be no eradication activity. PPV remains a priority pest for APHIS. Congress pro- vided appropriated funds for PPV in 2012 as it has done for past years. "New York is the only state with an active eradication pro- gram in place. Last positive was identified in 2011 (1 positive tree in Niagara County). Other states continue to survey for PPV. "The PPV program will continue to follow the current erad- ication protocol. No change has been instituted. APHIS and CFIA have ongoing bilateral discussions on PPV. U.S. and Canadian scientists participate on each other's Science Panels and Technical Working Groups." —R. Lehnert Plum pox-infected trees will ultimately produce low yields of deformed, mottled fruit. The virus is detected through testing, so symptomatic fruit is seldom seen. When big isn't big enough! 0-0-24, AGRO-K's foliar nutrient fruit sizing program , Agro-K's foliar cherry sizer! Get the results you want with KDL® BIG cherries with great color and high sugar offer growers the best returns. This year's large bloom and heavy crop set increases the risk of small fruit and uneven maturity. Maximize your returns by maximizing your fruit size and uniform maturity at harvest with KDL® Peak demand timing for potassium in cherries begins at color break and should be supported by foliar potassium, in the right chemical form, to maximize cherry size, color and sugar and to encourage uniform fruit maturity at harvest. Agro-K's unique sugar-based potassium formulation, KDL® 0-0-24, applied beginning at color break, can dramatically improve cherry size, color and sugar, while encouraging uniform fruit maturity. KDL links potassium to a sugar complex that quickly penetrates fruit and leaf tissue – encouraging the sugar development process within the leaf and aiding in transport into the fruit – leading to increased sugar levels and improved color. KDL also maximizes cell bulking leading to larger, firmer cherries that ship better and store longer. Bulking, sugar content and color are all indicators of ripening fruit. By influencing these quality factors, KDL also promotes greater uniform maturity at harvest for less small green fruit. KDL is compatible with most pesticides used for powdery mildew and fruit fly. For more information on how KDL® can influence your cherry crop, contact Agro-K today. www.goodfruit.com AGRO-K CORPORATION Science-Driven Nutrition SM GOOD FRUIT GROWER JULY 2012 27 Photos courtesy of ralPh scorza and kenneth d. hickey

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