Apple Crop Protection Request for Proposals Grant

Apple Crop Protection Request for Proposals Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission
Last Updated: November 05, 2025

Summary

The Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission is inviting research proposals aimed at apple crop protection, emphasizing organic practices and pollinator protection. Key areas of focus include the management of pests like Codling Moth and Fire Blight, testing new crop protection products, enhancing soil health, and developing efficient monitoring techniques. Collaboration among institutions is encouraged, and projects should aim for practical industry applications to ensure sustainable and profitable tree fruit production.

Overview

Apple Crop Protection Request for Proposals The Washington Tree Fruit Research Commission (WTFRC) is seeking apple crop protection research proposals in the following priority areas. Some of the priorities listed do not specifically ask for organic options or pollinator protection. We are interested in having organic practices and pollinator protection considered in all proposed work, when appropriate. Of special interest are proposals addressing methods assessing labor utilization and/or for the reduction of manual labor needs in orchards. Collaboration of scientists between institutions and across states and agencies is highly encouraged. Also, proposals are expected to include an industry outreach component if the sought-out project outcomes are anticipated to directly translate into management changes. Maintaining profitable and sustainable tree fruit companies is of utmost importance to our industry and economic considerations need to be included in project designs. Research Priorities High Priority:Codling Moth (CM): We are not looking for demonstration trials. We request replicated controlled studies and research that provides statistically significant paths forward for pest management. Projects with an organic emphasis are preferred since control of the insect is currently challenging. Priorities are listed in order of importance.CM Management:Validation of monitoring tools: comprehensive evaluation of all commercially available CM lures (metrics for traps esp. CMDA lure: min. traps/ac., dispersion pattern, catch numbers vs. damage)Crop protection product efficacy testing of current and new materials (i.e. Spear®-Lep, Virosoft CP4, Entrust) especially development, refinement and deployment of new, more cost effective organic control strategies (i.e. trapping, nematodes, new products, relative contribution of oil, EC effects, extended coverage); BMP to ensure efficacy for new modes of action such as peptides. Increase economic options for organic production (limited products, reduced product efficacy, pressure and many sprays)New traps (example: Rapid AIM): how to work with them in real time, and how to best use the informationEconomically feasible hot spot BMP (examples: mass trapping, sterile insects, extra pheromones: how do they work alone or in combination; better timing of Entrust, new variable rate sprayers: make sure CM are controlled, migration patterns from dirty neighbors, depth of border sprays; focus on simple/cheap programs)Resistance bioassays for CM and other pests with suspected resistance evolution to current insecticidesMass trapping and sterile insect release: comprehensive approachesCM management on an area wide basis (education effort, SOP’s, implementation, point person to contact)Fire Blight: Build program options for growers (focus on entire season and weather events, include Cripps Pink on M9-337 for good data, importance of rootstock)Season-long risk assessment in modern orchards including, but not limited to:Secondary bloomSummer infections via overhead coolingRisk in fall when temperatures are 70-80°FProduct efficacy testing of new materials and development of SOP’s for optimized efficacy (especially focus on shoot blight control, getting to the end of the season, orchard sanitation, new materials, organics)Continued product resistance testingNon-tree host plant: ID & controlPostharvest Decay:Projects are sought that connect the field to the warehouse that will result in a SOP between the two:Decay Management:Organic preharvest products to manage postharvest decaySurvey of decays in WAResistance management for blue and grey mold (ex. coordination between field and warehouses to avoid loss of products)Reduce levels coming into the warehouseExpand into new productsReasons for new decay organisms (life cycle vs. commercial practices)Patulin: Build on ongoing work funded by WTFRCDetermine if new strains of blue mold affect patulin productionDevelop SOP for organic apples to minimize patulin productionDevelop updated whole supply chain SOP to manage patulinSoil Health Improvement:Efficacy testing of wide range of new products (i.e. biological inoculants) to increase soil fertility (example: mycorrhizal fungi) including economic feasibility and suitability under Washington state conditions and efficacy testing to verify product ingredients (preferred annual results)Quick test to verify mycorrhizal fungi are present and aliveTest consistency of productsDevelop an SOP to keep ‘biologicals’ aliveReplant best management: steps after fumigation to restore soil health?Develop/adapt a system of standard soil health metrics for WA conditions.Pesticide Residue Management:Continue WTFRC work (include new fungicides)Get new materials on list to test ASAP (living document: new products, new challenges)Determine BMP’s for pesticide efficacy under prolonged evaporative cooling conditions.How do variable rate sprayers affect MRL’s?Weed Management:BMP scenarios utilizing products that are still available to use New products for young trees (< 3 yrs)Develop a regional resistance management programDetermine resistant weeds by regionNew technologies (microwave): determine efficacy and economic feasibilityOrganic tank mix options and what works bestUnderstanding Carbon Footprint of Apple Orchards:Technology projects in apple crop protection or across several different crops are encouraged. Those projects may be moved into the technology committee. Specific interest:Automated insect monitoring and scouting programsAdoption of precision crop protection application methods (needs to include efficacy data; reduced rate spray: how does this work for efficacy?)BMP for variable rate sprayers especially in organic production (amount of active ingredient, resistance mgt., patterns etc.)Plant health monitoring, pest, and disease identification with sensorsMedium High Priority:Thrips: Thrips are becoming more of an issue in other varieties not seen before such as Honeycrisp, Envy, and Cosmic Crisp. Spinosad works great but at the cost of our natural enemies and at the worse time. We need other options.More management options especially for organicAlternative/new material that does not impact pollinators and natural enemiesOptimized timing for products/Spray programWoolly Apple Aphid:Determine which beneficials to use and how to attract them to the trees to feedOrganic materials, increase optionsDevelop alternative treatment options to Diaznon and timing of treatments, comprehensive programs to save beneficialOriental Fruit Moth/Lesser Apple Worm:Determine location and distribution of the insect populations and create awareness and ID (might be mistaken for CM)Efficacy of commercially available pheromones (application method, type of pheromone)Develop/adopt a DD-model for WA and validate accuracyModel relative to temperature (existing table not enough)Economic thresholds, what does trap catch mean, once clean: do we have to treat/use MD forever?How can we stay ahead of the pressure?Medium Priority:Red Mites:Determine alternate hosts: which weeds push mites into trees?Current products are tired: determine optimum timings and rotationsCampylomma/Lygus (Conv.)Pollinator Safety:Refugia for increasing pollinatorsBest management tactics to protect pollinatorsApple Replant:Develop an SOP for mustard seed programBeneficial insects:Determine timing, rates, release techniques of beneficial releaseRearing techniques that are more economically feasible to growersMealybugs:Organic and conventional control strategiesMouse and Rodent Control:Organic control methodsSan Jose Scale (Especially Organic):Develop an effective spray programDetermine which beneficials to useUse of pheromonesApple Leafcurling Midge (Organic):How to manage it in newer plantings/young treesNew tools esp. for organic (i.e. attracts and kill, mass trapping)OBLR (Organic & Conventional): Extension ProjectNew products or good tank mix beyond BtDevelop a detailed spray programAlign model output vs. ground truth (effects of Bt on model)Powdery Mildew (Conv./Organic)Campylomma/Lygus (Conv.)Monitor and tools to manage esp. in Golden, Gala, HoneycrispLow Priority:Brown Marmorated Stink Bug:Pesticides to control populationsSpider Mites, Leafrollers, Apple MaggotExtension:Update the orchard pest monitoring guide (bilingual)

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.