Minimal Pest Management Program in Organic Apple Production

1. Dormant to Silver Tip

pest	product	comments
Fire blight	copper
European red mite	horticultural oil

2. Green Tip

pest	product	comments
European red mite	horticultural oil

3. Half-Inch Green

pest	product	comments
Apple scab	sulfur

4. Tight Cluster

pest	product	comments
Apple scab	sulfur

5. Pink

pest	product	comments
Apple scab	sulfur
Fire blight	Bacillus subtilis	Should not need to apply unless there is history of the disease.
European apple sawfly	azadirachtin

6. Bloom

pest	product	comments
Apple scab	sulfur
Fire blight	Bacillus subtilis	Depending on fire blight model may need to reapply every 2-7 days.

7. Petal Fall

pest	product	comments
Apple scab	sulfur	If fruit thinning is desired, combine with oil.
Lepidoptera	Bacillus thuringiensis
Plum curculio	kaolin clay	Only necessary if there is plum curculio pressure.

8. Fruit Set (7 to 10 days after Petal Fall)

pest	product	comments
Sooty blotch, flyspeck	Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
Fire blight	Bacillus amyloliquefaciens + copper (low rate product)	Any coppers after green tip should be applied under fast drying conditions in as little water as necessary to cover the canopy.
Apple scab	sulfur	Sulfur is preferrable to copper. Copper is not a good preventative fungicide; must apply immediately before the wetting event.
general insecticide	kaolin clay
Codling moth (Oriental fruit moth)	codling moth granulosis virus	Not all products target OFM. Time with trap captures and degree day models (250 ddB50 after the first catch). Products may be used for management of first generation at this time OR second generation later in summer, not both. Management of first generation is the best recommended use.

9. Summer

pest	product	comments
Sooty blotch, flyspeck	Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
Apple scab	sulfur	Only necessary if lesions are present.
general insecticide	kaolin clay
general miticide	horticultural oil	Be careful to avoid phytotoxicity with summer oil, especially if there is sulfur residue, unless there are mite issues.
Lepidoptera	Bacillus thuringiensis	Including obliquebanded leafroller. Not effective for codling moth.
Codling moth (Oriental fruit moth)	codling moth granulosis virus	Not all products target OFM. Time with trap captures and degree day models (a second application may be necessary to manage first generation). Products may be used for management of first generation at this time OR second generation later in summer, not both. Management of first generation is the best recommended use.
Apple maggot	azadirachtin	Apple maggot should be targeted based on traps and degree models.
Apple maggot, codling moth	spinosad	Apple maggot and codling moth should be targeted based on traps and degree models.
	pyrethrum	Apple maggot and codling moth should be targeted based on traps and degree models.

For additional materials and details, see the New England Tree Fruit Management Guide Apple Spray Table. The table uses the symbol “§” to indicate materials that are considered organic options under at least some state certifying programs.

IMPORTANT: It is the grower’s responsibility to ensure that any crop production practice or material used in the orchard is acceptable in their particular state’s organic certification program. Some materials deemed organically acceptable on the National List may not be acceptable in some states. Contact your certifier to know what is acceptable and to ensure compliance with regulations in your state.