Hello everyone! It seems like April has come out of nowhere, but we are ready right?!? The newsletter has not officially begun but I have a few comments to share before we are fully underway. The Orchard Outlook Committee is set to meet beginning next week on April 15 and then the newsletter will begin.
Before we dive into this post, I want to start by saying thank you for all that you do! Please never hesitate to reach out if you need support or have an idea for a resource. No question is too small and if there is some way I can make your decision-making easier, please let me know.Tree Fruit Pest Management Guides are All Complete
Printable Copies can be downloaded from the following links.
New: Stone Fruit Pest Management Guide 2025
Key summary of updates to registered stone fruit pesticides in the Stone Fruit Pest Management Guide:
- Matador, Warrior, Silencer and Labamba were immediately cancelled for use on peaches and may not be used in the 2025 season. There was no phase out period. Contact your supplier for recall.
- Added locally-relevant comments and implemented changes suggested by product registrants.
- Added a list of all pesticides in the guide.
New: Tree Fruit Weed Management Guide 2025
Key summary of updates to registered herbicides in the Tree Fruit Weed Management Guide:
- Poast Ultra is being phased out. Last sale by retail October 9, 2026. Expiry date of registration and final use by October 9, 2027.
- Added locally-relevant comments and implemented changes suggested by product registrants.
- Added a list of all herbicides in the guide.
Reminder about previously posted tree fruit guides:
Online pest guides are available without login (https://www.perennia.ca/pest-guides/) and with login on your Perennia account (https://www.farmdatatools.perennia.ca/).
Early Season Reminders
Logistics
- Check the expiry date on your pesticide license. In order to renew you must fill out the application form, have receipts totalling 15 Pesticide Continuing Education Points, and pay the fee as a cheque to the Minister of Finance. The cheque and paperwork can be delivered to a local office of the Department of Environment.
Scale Insects
- The timing for oil application to target scale insects is when trees are ideally dormant or by green tip at the latest (complicated by the risk of freezing temperatures damaging green tissue).
- The timing for targeting scale is not similarly effective for mites. The timing for mites is geared toward egg hatch after bud break and closer to tight cluster. Target your oil application for the more important pest issue.
Pear Psylla
- The first line of defence against pear psylla is the use of dormant oil to delay egg laying and synchronize control of pear psylla with later insecticide applications. Dormant oil application should be made before green tissue when conditions allow.
Peach Leaf Curl
- A protectant fungicide is needed for peach leaf curl in spring if one was not applied in fall, or if you applied a fall fungicide but disease pressure is generally high. The fungicide can be applied when buds are dormant and up until bud swell. Delayed applications prior to green tip will still provide some but not complete control. If applying a fungicide during both fall and spring, do not repeat the use of chlorothalonil products (Bravo ZN or Echo 90 WSP) because they can be applied only once for peach leaf curl either as a fall or spring dormant spray.
Apple Scab
- If bud development is not yet at the green tip stage, it is not at risk of apple scab infection.
- This year our pathologist is doing weekly monitoring for spore release for the first time. On April 4, the spores were not mature yet. On April 9, the spores are mature and have not been released yet. However, this means that as soon as green tissue becomes exposed the apple scab spores will be ready to infect as they usually are.
Pruning
- With bud break just around the corner, ensure that the youngest blocks are pruned first to ensure growth is directed into desirable leader and terminal extension. Prioritize high value trees and then return to low value areas. Also consider how pesticide re-entry intervals will affect your pruning schedule once the spray season begins.
Early Season Weed Control
- Think about residual/pre-emergent herbicides as filling windows of time. Most residual products will give about 4-6 weeks of weed control. Some products have longer-lasting control like Alion (trees >3 yrs old) and Sinbar. Use residual herbicides through periods of high weed germination like in spring.
- For young orchard, consider using Chateau for broadleaf control with a combination of Prowl H2O for grass control. Later in the program could include Ignite with Sandea.
- Stay tuned because we are planning a Growing Good Growers meeting for next week on April 17 at 11 AM for weed management.
NSDA Programs
Provincial funding programs have been released on the NSDA Programs website.
Marbicon Training for Pesticide Certification
Marbicon Inc. / Jim Jotcham is offering another round of in-person exam-preparation courses (T2523). 5 recertification points are available at each course (you can only get credit for each T number once).Exam preparation courses (with 5.0 points available for T2523):
Apr 17 Thurs – Berwick – Berwick Legion Hall, 232 Main St.
Apr 22 Tues – Amherst – Amherst Legion Hall, 47 Laplanche St.
Apr 23 Weds – Truro – Colchester Legion Stadium Lounge, 14 Lorne St.
Apr 29 Tues – Little Brook - Fire Hall, 361 Little Brook Rd (off Exit 29, Hwy 101).
Week of May 5th – New Germany – Anglican Hall - Contact Jim to confirm the date.
Email/call Jim ( marbicon@eastlink.ca ) or 902-538-7101 to pre-register.
Pre-exam courses are $113.04 + HST 16.96 = $130.
Recertification folks (5 pts) pay $104.35 + HST 15.65 = $120.
Instruction starts at 9:00. Expect to be done around 4:00-4:30.
Points people can expect to be done around 3:15.
Doors open at 8:30 am for registration & settling in.
Pay at the door or by corporate/government purchase order.
If paying by e-Transfer ( marbicon@eastlink.ca ), please add for whom and for which date.
Sorry, no Visa, MasterCard, or Debit.
Food & drink is on your own.
A course manual is provided in the pre-exam courses. Bring a pen.
NOTE: Pesticide exams are normally written online, NOT at this course.
Contact NS Environment for further details on writing the exam.
A course is not required before challenging the pesticide exam, but it usually helps.
Cash or cheques (payable to Marbicon Inc.) or e-transfer (marbicon@eastlink.ca).
Contact Jim Jotcham at marbicon@eastlink.ca or at 902-538-7101 for more details and/or to pre-register.
Nova Scotia Loyal Resources
The Nova Scotia Loyal Buy Local program is picking up momentum, working to connect Nova Scotia producers with consumers and making it easier for retailers to highlight locally grown and made products on their shelves.If you're a producer or retailer and want to be part of this growing community, it's easy to get involved. Just follow the links below to register:
Nova Scotia Producers ⮕ Register here
Nova Scotia Retailers ⮕ Register here
Right now, there's a major campaign underway, including in-store tastings of monthly featured products, local food and beverage event activations, and a growing presence across all media channels. Plus, the Nova Scotia Loyal Product Directory is expanding with more businesses joining each day.
Let’s keep the momentum going and continue to support Nova Scotia products. Register today and be sure to look for the Nova Scotia Loyal badge when you shop!
Nova Scotia Producers ⮕ Register here
Nova Scotia Retailers ⮕ Register here
Right now, there's a major campaign underway, including in-store tastings of monthly featured products, local food and beverage event activations, and a growing presence across all media channels. Plus, the Nova Scotia Loyal Product Directory is expanding with more businesses joining each day.
Let’s keep the momentum going and continue to support Nova Scotia products. Register today and be sure to look for the Nova Scotia Loyal badge when you shop!
