By John Wood, Certis Biologicals Regional Manager, CA South Central Valley
Our trees may be approaching their dormant stage, but tree nut growers know that it is not an excuse to become complacent. There is hard work to be done during dormancy to plan, prepare and prevent for the 2020 growing season.
Our trees may be approaching their dormant stage, but tree nut growers know that it is not an excuse to become complacent. There is hard work to be done during dormancy to plan, prepare and prevent for the 2020 growing season.
During this past growing season, I talked very little about the overwhelming power of our Kocide® copper fungicide line of products. For more than half a century, growers across the nation have relied upon Kocide,® the most trusted, proven and reliable copper fungicide products on the market. Kocide® has long been the industry standard for copper fungicides, and even better, they are produced right here in the U.S.
For tree nut growers, unlocking the true potential of our Kocide® line of products means two timely applications during the dormant period—once before fall rains hit and the second in late dormancy, usually around January or February. These applications will reduce inoculum and protect against Bacterial Blast, Bacterial Canker and Coryneum Blight (Shot Hole).
If you are wondering if a dormant spray is necessary for your orchards, I’d suggest that you ask yourself these questions:
During the growing season, did you experience instances of foliar or insect damage?
Even if you’d classify your damage as moderate or low, a dormant spray is often a cost-effective way for you to get an added layer of protection going into the next growing season.
What is our winter weather looking like?
We may never know what Mother Nature has in store for us, but we all have trusted weather sources that can help shed some light on what to expect. If those sources call for an especially harsh weather period that can add stress to our trees or a climate that can breed disease, a dormant spray of Kocide® can be just the shield you need.
What does my sample look like?
It’s a bit early now, but regular, diligent sampling is still important in dormancy. Use these samples to determine if there is Bacterial Blast or Bacterial Canker lingering in your orchards. These diseases were especially prevalent in the 2019 growing season and might still be hanging around. You can kick them for good with a dormant application of Kocide.®
Are my trees strong enough to fight back against disease and pests?
There are many factors that can stress your trees. High levels of damage from disease or pests can cause your trees distress, as can drought or too wet conditions. The more stress your trees face, the less likely they are to be able to fight off attacks by pests or instances of disease. A dormant spray of Kocide® can be the answer you need to help get your trees back to top shape.
Pound for pound, Certis Biologicals' Kocide® products have more disease-fighting copper than many other products in the marketplace and they are, in my opinion, a no-brainer for protection during your dormant period and for added security going into the next growing season. There are countless coppers, but there’s only one Kocide.®
This series is part of a partnership with Tree Nut Farm Press. You can read the original here.
