March 7, 2014 –<\/p>\n
As Organic Rules Shift for Fire Blight Control, The Organic Center Releases Essential Suggestions for Apple and Pear Growers<\/p>\n
Organic-Approved Antibiotics Sunsetting \u2013 Report Aims to Help Growers Keep Certification<\/p>\n
WASHINGTON, DC (March 4, 2014) \u2013 With approved antibiotics for fire blight control expiring for organic apple and pear growers
\nthis fall, The Organic Center has released an essential report featuring existing practices and emerging research to help growers control fire blight while maintaining organic certification.<\/p>\n
\u201cGrower Lessons and Emerging Research for Developing an Integrated Non-Antibiotic Fire Blight Control Program in Organic Fruit\u201d \u2013
\navailable here \u2013 collects critical knowledge from U.S. apple and pear growers who already practice fire blight prevention without
\nthe commonly-used antibiotic oxytetracycline that the National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) will begin sunsetting in Oct. 2014.<\/p>\n
Funded by The Organic Center, the 28-page report arrives as up to 70 percent of growers in a surveyed region said they may
\ntransition from organic to conventional management in face of NOSB\u2019s changes if proven alternative organic fire blight control methods are not available.<\/p>\n
Organic Growers Exposed, Supply at Risk as Standards Phase Out Antibiotics<\/p>\n
Unlike some fruit pathogens, fire blight doesn\u2019t just damage or destroy a season\u2019s fruit \u2013 it can kill the entire tree under
\nsevere conditions. It is caused by the bacteria Erwinia amylovora, spreads easily among trees and orchards, and can infect at different points in the growing season.<\/p>\n
For decades, the primary control of fire blight in U.S. organic production has been the antibiotics streptomycin and
\noxytetracycline. But, NOSB has approved a proposal for phasing out their use beginning this Oct. Dr. Ken Johnson, Oregon State
\nUniversity, is leading a three-state USDA-OREI project on non-antibiotic control of fire blight in organic orchards to be completed in 2015.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe interim year between approved antibiotics sunsetting and release of the OREI project findings leaves growers with minimal
\nguidance and experience for non-antibiotic fire blight control,\u201d said Dr. Jessica Shade, Director of Science Programs for The
\nOrganic Center. \u201cIt\u2019s unfortunate timing, as organic apple and pear demand are at all-time highs. If U.S. production declines,
\norganic apple and pear prices could spike, or imports from South America \u2013 where the disease is not present \u2013 could greatly increase.\u201d<\/p>\n
Organic Center Encourages Testing Alternatives Now<\/p>\n
\u201cGrower Lessons and Emerging Research\u201d encourages organic apple and pear growers to begin testing alternatives now with integrated
\nnon-antibiotic fire blight control options that have proven successful for some organic growers.<\/p>\n
The report is based on field experiences from organic growers who have already developed various approaches to non-antibiotic fire
\nblight control \u2013 particularly exporters to Europe, which does not allow antibiotics \u2013 along with preliminary results from a range of research trials on new materials and strategies.<\/p>\n
The study suggests successful non-antibiotic fire blight control combines orchard management practices with an integrated systems
\napproach for prevention. The report features suggestions for fungal control, insect control, bloom thinning, spray coverage, tree
\ntraining, soil and foliar nutrients, and cultivar and root stock selection. And, it provides detailed considerations for each
\nstage of apple and pear production. Some of the research is now validating the grower practices, such as the fire blight control from lime sulfur blossom thinning sprays.<\/p>\n
Shade added once Oregon State\u2019s findings are available in 2015, growers can combine the university\u2019s recommendations with The
\nOrganic Center\u2019s report to give them the benefit of the latest research as well as field-proven strategies.<\/p>\n
The study\u2019s co-authors are Harold Ostenson, a Washington-based tree fruit consultant, and David Granatstein, Sustainable
\nAgriculture Specialist for the Washington State University Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources.<\/p>\n
About The Organic Center<\/p>\n
Established in 2002 and based in Washington DC, The Organic Center is a nonprofit organization that is a trusted source of
\ninformation for scientific research about organic food and farming. We cover up-to-date studies on sustainable agriculture and
\nhealth, and collaborate with academic and governmental institutions to fill gaps in our knowledge.<\/p>\n
# # #<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
March 7, 2014 – As Organic Rules Shift for Fire Blight Control, The Organic Center Releases Essential Suggestions for Apple and Pear Growers Organic-Approved Antibiotics Sunsetting \u2013 Report Aims to Help Growers Keep Certification WASHINGTON, DC (March 4, 2014) \u2013 … Continue reading