Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
that will allow you to predict what pest and disease problems you are likely
to see and when and under what weather conditions you are likely to see
them. This knowledge will allow you to take planned and timely preventative
actions, rather than reacting to crises. Remember to record observations for
Know what to look for. Have photos and written descriptions of the com-
mon pests and diseases in your area and be able to compare them with your
trees. Given the abundance of high-quality information and photos avail-
able almost instantly via the Internet, developing a good portfolio of pest
and disease information for your area should be easy. Many land grant (Co-
operative Extension) universities in the United States and provincial minis-
tries of agriculture in Canada publish paper and online guides for identifying
fruit pests and diseases. If you cannot find what you need in your state or
province, look for the information in nearby or otherwise similar growing re-
gions. The British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Oregon State University,
Pennsylvania State University, the University of Kentucky, and the Kearney-
sville Tree Fruit Research and Education Center in West Virginia, for ex-
ample, have excellent online guides, many with detailed color photographs
showing pest and disease symptoms.
