2013 Midwest Small Fruit and Grape Spray Guide (2013)

Abstract

Commercial fruit production has become a highly skilled, technical profession. Concerns about pesticide residues, operator risks, and the environment dictate that all fruit growers exercise extreme caution in the use of all pesticides, and indeed, all chemicals. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has designated a number of fruit pesticides as "restricted use." Growers who plan to use these restricted materials must be certified as private applicators. Certification requires that applicators understand the following: labels and labeling, safety factors, potential environmental concerns, identification of common pests encountered, pesticides and their use, proper equipment use, application techniques, and applicable state and federal regulations. The pest management recommendations in this guide have been formulated to provide you up-to-date information on pesticides and their applicability to your problem. It is suggested that you use this information to set up your own spray program.