Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/307101
T he spotted wing drosophila has had a serious impact on California cherry growers. Since cherry fruit fly is not found in California growing regions, growers haven't had to spray regularly in the past. "Typically, the cherry grower in Kern County would spray every few years —maybe one spray for mites," said University of California Cooperative Extension farm advisor David Haviland. "You could go five years without a single insecticide. These same growers are putting on three sprays before harvest. That's a major shift." Because a very high percentage of California cherries is exported, due to their high value there's no tolerance for spotted wing drosophila. Spread Spotted wing drosophila, which originated in Asia, first appeared in the United States on the California coast in 2008. By the following year, it spread inland to Califor- nia's San Joaquin Valley, where Haviland is based, as well as north to Oregon, Washington, and British Columbia, Canada. 32 MAY 15, 2014 GOOD FRUIT GROWER www.goodfruit.com SWD BUGS California growers In California's climate, spotted wing drosophila thrives during the winter. by Geraldine Warner Cherries David Haviland, farm advisor in California's Central Valley, says a new spotted wing drosophila lure is a useful tool for managing the pest. Helicopter Aerial Spraying SERVICES: • Farm Ground / Crop Land "Crop-dusting" • Noxious Weeds in Pastures and Rangeland • Water Ways, Marshes, Lakes, and Ponds • Aerial Seeding and Fertilizing • Fruit Orchards • Timber and Forestry • Cherry Drying Providing excellence in precision aerial applications throughout the Pacific Northwest. CALL FOR A QUOTE! 208-743-5411 Office 208-790-1122 Doug Lohman MORE INFO AT www.LohmanHelicopter.com LOW. SLOW. ACCURATE. Minimize drift, maximize yields and profits. PHOTO COURTESY OF DAVID HAVILAND