Best management practices for pollinator protection in US apple production

Publication date: 19/12/2022
Extent: 18 pages

Contributions by: Julianna K. Wilson, Michigan State University, USA; David Biddinger, Penn State University, USA; David Epstein, Northwest Horticultural Council, USA; Anne Nielsen, Rutgers University, USA; Ngoc Phan, University of Arkansas, USA; Jim Walgenbach, North Carolina State University, USA; and Neelendra K. Joshi, University of Arkansas, USA

Chapter synopsis:

This chapter describes a set of pollinator best management practices (BMPs) for US apple production. The primary goal is to provide guidance for growers, crop consultants and regulators on pollinator protection in apple orchards. This guidance considers practical production needs. In the long term, the aim is to increase understanding within the US apple growing community of the benefits and opportunities around protecting pollinators while also protecting crops from pest damage. This has been done by modifying existing Integrated Pest Management Programs (IPM) for apple to include both conserving the biological control agents of secondary pests such as mites and aphids and conserving wild and managed pollinators to create what has more recently been termed as Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management (IPPM).

DOI: 10.19103/AS.2022.0111.22