The Organic Farming Research Foundation of Santa Cruz, CA generously provided a grant of $3,479 in 1999 to initiate this study at the Southwest Research Center, Mt. Vernon, MO. The 2000 growing season was completed September 28, 2000, and I am pleased to submit this final summary of our results. A proposal for the funding of the second year’s research has been submitted to OFRF. The particle film technology tested in this study appears to offer tremendous potential in safely suppressing both insects and disease in Midwestern apple production.

Objective

The objective of the study was to evaluate and document the efficacy and potential of a kaolinbased particle film coating in suppressing plum curculio, codling moth, red-banded leafroller, oriental fruit moth, and certain bacterial and fungal pathogens in apples, while fine tuning application recommendations for Midwestern growers.