New York Farm Viability Institute Website Press Releases 

PRESS RELEASE: November 27, 2006
Contacts: Stephanie Mallozzi, Cornell Cooperative Extension: Dutchess County,
845-677-8223, x104, sdm10@cornell.edu;  Gary Couch, NYS IPM Program,
845-344-1234


NYFVI-Funded Christmas Tree Projects Help Protect Crop & Profitability

Families across New York will soon buy their Christmas tree for 2006. The trees take seven to ten years to grow and are sold to consumers during the short holiday season. Protecting their crop from pests and diseases is crucial to the profitability of tree farming. Two New York Farm Viability Institute-funded projects New York’s Christmas tree growers are helping growers use Integrated Pest Management techniques to give consumers top quality natural trees this holiday season.

Stephanie Mallozzi of Cornell Cooperative Extension of Dutchess County has developed a Christmas Tree Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Field Guide to help the growers of spruce, Douglas fir, balsam, and Fraser, concolor and Canaan firs cost-effectively manage their tree production.

Mallozzi says, “Each tree may represent up to ten years of investment so losses to pests and diseases as well as the cost of pest management impacts profitability. IPM is a key tool to help growers sustainably grow Christmas trees and at the same time practice for environmental stewardship.”

The easy-to-use guide identifies pests, pest damage and optimal treatment practices for dealing with 17 insect pests, nine diseases, abiotic disorders, and damage by deer and voles. The guide, with photo illustrations and life cycle information, emphasizes the use of scouting, monitoring and growing degree day calculations to support best management practices for controlling pest problems.

Some of Dutchess County’s 30-plus growers producing Christmas trees valued at $5 million evaluated the guide that will help growers statewide. For more information about the new Christmas Tree IPM Field Guide, contact Stephanie Mallozzi, Cornell Cooperative Extension: Dutchess County, 845-677-8223 x104, sdm10@cornell.edu.

Wayne and Monroe Christmas Tree Growers Test Douglas Fir Disease Treatments
A project separately funded by the New York Farm Viability Institute provided Christmas tree growers in Wayne and Monroe counties with IPM practices specifically for reducing Rhabdocline Needle-cast disease in Douglas firs. Growers estimate damages in the thousands of dollars from the disease.

Of the methods tested for disease control, the least costly treatment applied potassium bicarbonate with unacceptable protection rates. The most costly product cost came with the use of compost tea, which also did not produce acceptable results. The application of a lime-sulfur mix gave excellent protection, but at a cost of $1.28 per tree per season plus a labor investment to make five applications per season may make the treatment economically unviable. Further research may bring costs down.

Project co-leader Gary Couch, an IPM specialist with Cornell University’s NYS Integrated Pest Management Program, says, the growers who consistently apply IPM practices will see the best results.

The New York Farm Viability Institute, Inc. is a farmer-led, nonprofit corporation that invests in innovative research, education and technical assistance for NY’s agricultural producers. Projects emphasize direct producers involvement and focus on practical business goals. Contact: NYFVI, Inc., 159 Dwight Park Circle Suite 104, Syracuse, NY 13209, 315-453-3823, www.nyfarmviability.org.  # # #