DEMONSTRATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INTEGRATED FRUIT PRODUCTION (IFP) ON PEARS IN NORTHERN OREGON: INTRODUCTION

Oregon is a major producer of pears in the United States.
Pear growers have come to rely on the intensive use of agricultural chemicals to maximize yields of high-quality unblemished fruit.
The high input of agricultural chemicals has not been without problems.
It is questionable whether chemically intensive production programs can be continued due to pest and disease resistance development, a shrinking supply of pesticides, secondary pest outbreaks, concerns about health effects to applicators and consumers, environmental concerns, excessive fertilizer and water use leading to nitrogen leaching and overly vigorous trees.
Efforts to demonstrate and implement an integrated fruit production program for pears as an alternative to chemically intensive program are presented.
Major aims of the multi-year project are to optimize the input of agricultural chemicals, integrate the various production activities (pest, disease, orchard floor management, and horticultural practices) into a unified program and demonstrate its short- as well as long-term economic benefits.
The implementation of this IFP program is being promoted through intensive grower training, demonstration orchards, development of new educational materials, and the development of IFP standards and guidelines for the eventual adoption by the pear industry.

VII International Symposium on Pear Growing

F. Niederholzer, C.F. Seavert, H. Riedl

IPM, Pyrus, biological control, beneficial insects, economics

https://doi.org/10.17660/ActaHortic.1998.475.5