Disease Modeling and Temporal Precision

Brian Livesay

Disease models can help you make the right decision.

Especially important when you need to prioritize different jobs.

http://uspest.org/risk/models

http://www.caf.wvu.edu/kearneysville/disease_descriptions/ombactsp.html

In 2010, we forgot to keep the pumpkin row middles worked.

We had other jobs to do – I was busy spraying peaches, apples, and soybeans, while my dad was hauling fruit.

Simple tools can sometimes save big money.

Inversion maps/graphs are simple, but effective.

http://www.mesonet.org/index.php/weather/map/current_inversion_map

The Critical Temperature is the temperature that buds, flowers, or fruits will tolerate for 30 minutes or less.

Most of our damage is Post Bloom, small window between light and heavy damage.

We have used helicopters to reduce freeze damage in peaches several times.

In 2009, we spent $9,720 to have 4 helicopters fly over trees – and our gross income on peaches that year was $1.1 million.

Without the helicopters, we would not

have had any peaches!

http://goo.gl/KJSfH

Measuring inversion is actually quite simple – 2 thermometers on a pole.

This is a great example of how simple tools can be used to precisely manage a crop and greatly increase profits.