15 Are pesticide application decisions and timing based on data from the farm and techniques such as action thresholds, degree-day models and decision-support/ predictive systems? Where available and recommended by Extension or other regional experts, action thresholds are used to determine whether or not and when to take action against pests, e.g., codling moth, apple maggot, plum curculio and apple scab. Where recommended, models are used to estimate when pests or diseases will require treatment, e.g., accumulation of degree days from a codling moth biofix, apple scab infections, or exceeding threshold on traps, e.g., five apple maggots caught on a baited sphere. Orchard and Weed Management 16 Are row middles (drive rows) sod, mulch-covered or cover-cropped year round? 17 Are herbicide strips contained within the canopy drip zone? 18 Does mode of action rotate between each application of an herbicide? Applies during and between seasons. 19 Are herbicide applications limited to three per season on the same application site? If adequate control is not achieved, a fourth herbicide application may be performed on a spot-treatment basis. Application must be supported with documentation identifying weed species that were not controlled during previous applications. Food Safety and Product Quality 20 Is fruit harvested according to guidelines from the packing house? Firmness, brix, starch-iodine testing or accepted measures, may be used.
21 Are toilets and hand-washing facilities available to field, harvest and packing house staff? Practices have been met if farm has passed Good Agricultural Practices (GAP), e.g., USDA-GAP, Global Harmonized GAP, audit and has a valid GAP certificate. 22 Are manure applications limited to outside of bearing orchards? 23 Is livestock kept outside of bearing orchards? 24 Are travel ways between trees and packing and storage facilities inspected for ruts, erosion, bumps or rocks and repaired prior to harvest? 25 Are fruit bins and boxes sound and cleaned of soil, plant or animal debris prior to use? 26 Are filled harvest containers transported immediately to packing and storage facilities? 27 Are packing and storage facilities free from pest and rodent infestations and secured to prevent the intrusion of wildlife and pets, may contaminate harvested crops? 28 Is irrigation tested in accordance with the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act agriculture water requirement? For more information visit: Energy and Waste Management 29 Does open burning comply with local ordinances and is it limited to yard waste, wood, pruning debris and paper-based products? Pesticide containers (including paper), plastics, rubber or industrial products may not be disposed of by burning. 30 Are lead-acid batteries, used oil, industrial chemicals and other hazardous materials disposed of by taking to an approved recycling drop-off location? Approved locations include auto-service centers, municipal or private recycling or hazardous facilities.
Disease Management Badge SC copper hydroxide, copper oxychloride acute toxicity, toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates, toxic to bees Use CAUTION label formulation only. Champ, Kocide copper hydroxide acute toxicity, toxic to fish and aquatic invertebrates, toxic to bees Use CAUTION or WARNING label formulations only. SDHIs Aprovia benzovindiflupyr acute toxicity, resistance Must be tank mixed with a protectant fungicide. May be used alone within 30 days of harvest, however, must be tank mixed with a protectant if active scab lesions are present at time of application. before apple-scab infections to delay resistance. Fontelis penthiopyrad suspected carcinogen, toxin Must be tank mixed with a protectant fungicide. May be used within 30 days of harvest, however, must be tank mixed with a protectant if active scab lesions are present at time of application. Apply before apple-scab infections to delay resistance. Tank of captan and Fontelis have been phytotoxic to foliage. Do not tank mix with thinning agents. Luna Sensation fluopyram, trifloxystrobin possible carcinogen, developmental and reproductive toxin Must be tank mixed with a protectant fungicide. May be used alone within 30 days of harvest, however, must be tank mixed with a protectant if active scab lesions are present at time of application. Apply before apple-scab infections to delay resistance. Recommended to tank mix with captan if bitter rot is evident on some in the orchard. Merivon fluxapyroxad, pyraclostrobin potential groundwater contaminant Must be tank mixed with a protectant fungicide. May be used alone within 30 days of harvest, however, must be tank mixed with a protectant if active scab lesions are present at time of application. Apply before apple-scab infections to delay resistance. Recommended to tank mix with captan if bitter rot is evident on some fruit in the orchard.