Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/751050
www.goodfruit.com GOOD FRUIT GROWER DECEMBER 2016 85 Laser fence program begins in Europe I n an effort to curb rodenticide use, the European Commission has allocated 1.77 million euros ($1.93 million) to fund a three-year laser fencing program. LIFE Laser Fence is an environmentally friendly solution to keep animals away from farms. In addition to reducing rodenticide use, the effort is aimed at decreasing crop losses by half and creating awareness of the negative impacts on the environment in Europe. "There is a strong European desire to elim- inate poisons entirely," said Alex Mason of Liverpool John Moores University. "Coming up with a solution that fits both national and European policies means massive impact for the European economy and environment." Field trials are set to begin in 2017 in the United Kingdom, Spain and the Netherlands. The total budget for the program is 3.14 million euros ($3.42 million). The project is a collaboration between Liverpool John Moores University, Bird Control Group of the Netherlands, Angel Camacho of Spain, the Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust of the United Kingdom, IRIS UAV Services of Spain and Volterra Ecosystems of Spain. WSU Extension plans 2017 winter tree fruit programs T ree fruit producers and industry professionals are invited to five WSU Tree Fruit Extension Programs in North Central Washington on Jan. 16, 17, 18, 19 and Feb. 7. Co-sponsored by the Washington State Fruit Comission, Pear Bureau Northwest, North Central Washington Fieldmen's Association and the Okanogan Horticultural Association, these events provide the latest research based information on horticulture, pest and disease management. Pesticide update credits will be awarded for program attendance. —Chelan Horticultural Meeting, Jan. 16, Chelan High School. Co-sponsored by WSU Extension and Chelan High School. Topics include tips for successful grafting; economic considerations for orchard renewal; a soil quality survey of Central Washington; brown mar- morated stink bug; best practices for weed management; psylla and mite IPM; sunburn control and more . —North Central Washington Stone Fruit Day, Jan. 17, Wenatchee Convention Center. Co-Sponsored by WSU Extension and the Washington State Fruit Commission. Topics include detecting and managing little cherry disease; cherry powdery mildew; cherry horticultural update and more. —North Central Washington Pear Day, Jan. 18, Wenatchee Convention Center. Co-sponsored by WSU Extension and Pear Bureau Northwest. Topics include integrated management of pear psylla and mites; fire blight management; irrigation water sensors that work and more. —North Central Washington Apple Day, Jan. 19, Wenatchee Convention Center. Co-sponsored by WSU Extension and North Central Washington Fieldmen's Association. Topics include mechanization in apples; choosing the right Geneva rootstock; sunburn manage- ment; brown marmorated stink bug; fire blight; manag- ing post harvest diseases of apples in the field; coddling moth trap counts, timing and what it means. —Okanogan Horticultural Association Meeting, Feb. 7, Okanogan County Agriplex, Omak. Co-Sponsored by WSU Extension and Okanogan County Horticultural Association. Topics include matching your rootstock to your site and your system; choosing a training and pruning system for medium to high density plantings; sunburn management; coddling moth; minor pests; managing post harvest disease in the field; Retain & Harvista. Visit treefruit.wsu.edu for agendas and event information. COURTESY LIFE LASER FENCE Year End Sale! Landini REX Series Orchard / Vineyard Tractors • Engineered for Specialty Applications • Multiple Configurations to Choose From • Last of the Tier 3 - E•cient Perkins © Diesel Engines Limited Time Oers 0% Financing for 60 Months $3,800 Cash Discount www.LandiniNA.com Central Washington Equipment Wenatchee, WA 509-663-8187 (Jim) Vine Tech Equipment Prosser, WA 509-788-0900 (Grant) Yakima Implement Yakima, WA 509-452-5867 (Larry) 800-572-2239 (Bud) Java Farm Supply North Java, NY Batavia, NY Westfield, NY 716-326-4666 (David) Growers Equipment Center Biglerville, PA 717-677-7133 (Jim) Gillison's Variety Fabrication Traverse City, MI Hart, MI Benzonia, MI 800-392-6059 (Craig)