PEAR GROWERS SURVEY - Winter 1996
Sponsored by:
OSU Integrated Plant Protection Center, OSU Extension Service
Directions: Use index at left to find survey questions of interest, click button for
either statewide or regional results, view results in frame below.
Contact Len Coop for more information.
1. How many acres, altogether, do you farm.
________ TOTAL ACRES FARMED 
2. Please indicate how many acres of each of the following crops you
grow.
ACRES
a. Pear . . . . . . . . . _________
b. Apple. . . . . . . . . _________
c. Cherry . . . . . . . . _________
d. Other fruit (________) _________
__acres__
e. Other fruit (________) _________
__acres__
3. List the total number of acres for each pear variety that you farm.
ACRES
a. D'Anjou. . . . . . . . __________
b. Red D'Anjou. . . . . . __________
c. Bartlett . . . . . . . __________
d. Red Bartlett . . . . . __________
e. Bosc . . . . . . . . . __________
f. Cascade. . . . . . . . __________
g. Other (Specify ______
___________________) ___name___
___acres__
h. (___________________) ___name___
___acres__
i. (___________________) ___name___
___acres__
4. Below is a list of weed management practices. Please indicate
whether or not you used each practice during the 1995 growing season on none of your
pear acreage, on less than half, or on half or more of your pear acreage?
(Circle one number for each)
And, for each practice you used, rate its effectiveness on a scale of 0 to 5 where
0 is not at all effective and 5 is very effective. (Enter one number from 0 to 5)
LESS AT
THAN LEAST RATING
NONE HALF HALF (0-5)
a. Keep a herbicide strip with grass between
rows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
b. Use a different ground cover management system
(Describe________________________________)
(_____________________________________) 1 2 3 _______
c. Use princep and or simazine
soil sterilants. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
d. Use roundup to burn down weeds . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
e. Use gramoxone to burn down weeds . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
f. Use companion grass hybrids
as cover crops to reduce
the number of mowings? . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
5. What other weed management strategies, if any, do you either use or
would like to learn more about?
6. Given currently available herbicides and cultural practices, please list the three
most difficult weed problems to control in pears.
__________________________a. MOST DIFFICULT TO CONTROL
__________________________b. SECOND MOST DIFFICULT
__________________________c. THIRD MOST DIFFICULT
OVERALL COMBINED RESULTS
7. Below is a list of common insect pests that attack pears. Please indicate if
you consider each to be a major pest problem, a minor pest problem, or not a
problem using existing control practices. (Circle one number for each)
Major Minor Not a
problem problem problem
a. Codling moth . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
b. Pear psylla . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
c. Pear slug (pear sawfly). . . . . . . 1 2 3
d. Apple maggot . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
e. Obliquebanded leafroller . . . . . . 1 2 3
f. Pandemis leafroller. . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
g. Campylomma bug . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
h. Lygus. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
i. Aphids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
j. Stink bug. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
k. San Jose scale . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
l. Grape mealybug . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
m. 2-spot spider mite . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
n. European red mite. . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
o. Pear rust mite . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
p. McDaniel spider mite . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
q. Any others?
(____________________) . . . . . . 1 2 3
r. (____________________) . . . . . . 1 2 3
-3-
8. If key insecticide registrations were lost, please indicate which
insect problems you feel would be the most, second most and third
most difficult to control.
___________________________a. MOST DIFFICULT TO CONTROL
___________________________b. SECOND MOST DIFFICULT
___________________________c. THIRD MOST DIFFICULT
OVERALL COMBINED RESULTS
9. Below is a list of some common diseases of pears. Please
indicate if you consider each to be a major disease problem,
a minor problem, or not a problem using existing control practices.
(Circle one number for each)
Major Minor Not a
problem problem problem
a. Powdery mildew . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
b. Phytophthora . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
c. Replant complex. . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
d. Pear scab. . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
e. Fire blight. . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
f. Pear decline . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
g. Pseudomonas blight . . . . . . . 1 2 3
h. Viruses. . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3
i. Other (Specify_________________) 1 2 3
j. (____________________________) 1 2 3
10. If key fungicide registrations were lost, which three disease problems
do you feel would be the most difficult to control in pears?
___________________________a. MOST DIFFICULT TO CONTROL
___________________________b. SECOND MOST DIFFICULT
___________________________c. THIRD MOST DIFFICULT
OVERALL COMBINED RESULTS
-4-
11. Below is a list of disease management practices. Please indicate whether
or not you used each practice during the 1995 growing season on none of
your pear acreage, on less than half, or on at least half of your pear acreage.
(Circle one number for each)
And, for each practice you used, rate its effectiveness as a disease management
tool on a scale of 0 to 5 where 0 is not at all effective and 5 is very effective.
(Enter one number from 0 to 5)
LESS AT
THAN LEAST RATING
NONE HALF HALF (0-5)
a. Use scab forecasts to schedule
treatments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
b. Use undertree irrigation to
reduce scab infections . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
c. Use fire blight forecasts
to reduce infections . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
d. Use beleton for mildew
control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
e. Use Rally for mildew
control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
f. Use sulfur for mildew
control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
g. Use disease resistant root-
stock in new orchards. . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
12. What other disease management strategies, if any, do you use
or would like to learn more about?
-5-
13. Do you use pheromone traps for monitoring codling moth?
(Circle one number)
1 NO, DON'T USE (SKIP TO QUESTION 14)
2 YES, USE
13a. What is the average number of acres covered for each
codling moth pheromone trap?
________________ACRES PER TRAP
13b. About how many times per week are the traps checked for
moths?
_______TIMES PER WEEK
13c. About how high are the traps placed in the trees?
(Circle one number)
1 UPPER 1/3 OF CANOPY
2 MIDDLE 1/3 OF CANOPY
3 LOWER 1/3 OF CANOPY
4 HEIGHT OF (Specify ft____)
5 DON'T KNOW
14. Do you use the degree-day method (Codling Moth Model) to time
your applications of codling moth sprays?
1 NO, DON'T USE (SKIP TO QUESTION 15)
2 YES, USE
14a. Below is a list of possible sources for information
about the degree-day method. Please indicate whether
or not each is or has been a source of information for
you in using the degree-day method. (Circle one number
for each)
YES NO
a. Extension service . . . . . . 1 2
b. Private consultant. . . . . . 1 2
c. Packing house field personnel 1 2
d. Chemical sales field personnel 1 2
e. Self/other growers. . . . . . 1 2
f. Radio/other media . . . . . . 1 2
g. Any other?(_________________) 1 2
-6-
14b. From where are temperature data collected that are used
to run the codling moth degree-day model? (Circle one number)
1 WITHIN ONE OR MORE OF OWN ORCHARDS
2 OTHER LOCATION (WITHIN 1 MILE)
3 OTHER LOCATION (MORE THAN 1 MILE AWAY)
4 DON'T KNOW
14c. Please indicate whether or not you use degree-day
predictions to control codling moth in each of the
following situations. (Circle one number for each)
YES NO
a. 1st hatch, 1st cover. . . . . . . 1 2
b. 1st hatch, 2nd cover. . . . . . . 1 2
c. 2nd hatch, 1st cover (3rd cover). 1 2
d. 2nd hatch, 2nd cover.(4th cover). 1 2
e. Indicate potential 3rd hatch. . . 1 2
f. Other pattern of use (Describe____
__________________________________) 1 2
15. Did you use OP's (organo-phosphates) such as Guthion (azinphos-methyl)
or Imidan (phosmet) as your primary control against codling moth
within at least one block of pear last year? (Circle one number)
1 NO, NOT USED (SKIP TO QUESTION 16, PAGE 9)
2 YES, USE OP's
15a. There are a number of factors that might influence how
many codling moth cover sprays you apply. Please
indicate whether or not each is a factor for you
deciding the number of cover sprays you apply. (Circle
one number for each)
YES NO
a. Past history of orchard . . 1 2
b. Pheromone trap catch. . . . 1 2
c. Degree-day models . . . . . 1 2
d. Residual activity of sprays 1 2
e. Level of fruit injury . . . 1 2
f. Irrigation type . . . . . . 1 2
g. Advice from field persons . 1 2
h. Any other?(_______________) 1 2
-7-
15b. Farmers often base the number of OP sprays on the seriousness of
codling moth pressure. How many OP sprays would you apply in an
individual orchard where you felt:
NUMBER OF
APPLICATIONS
a. the seriousness of codling moth pressure
was light? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ____________
b. the seriousness of codling moth pressure
was normal (or average)? . . . . . . . ____________
c. the codling moth pressure was severe? . . . ____________
MAXIMUM NO. OF TREATMENTS IF SEVERE PRESSURE
15c. Has the amount of pesticide use for codling moth increased,
decreased, or stayed about the same over the last five years?
(Circle one number)
1 INCREASED
2 STAYED SAME
3 DECREASED
15d. Has the average codling moth pest pressure increased
significantly, increased slightly, stayed about the same,
or decreased over the last 5 years? (Circle one number)
1 INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY
2 INCREASED SLIGHTLY
3 STAYED SAME
4 DECREASED
15e. Would you say that the current level of codling moth resistance
to Guthion or Imidan in your orchards is severe, moderate, light,
or nonexistent? (Circle one number)
1 SEVERE
2 MODERATE
3 LIGHT
4 NONEXISTENT
-8-
16. Below is a list of other codling moth management practices. Please indicate whether or not
you used each practice during the 1995 growing season on none of your pear acreage, on less
than half, or on half or more of your pear acreage. (Circle one number for each)
And, for each practice you used, please rate its effectiveness on a scale of 0 to 5
where 0 is not at all effective and 5 is very effective. (Enter one number from 0 to 5)
LESS AT
THAN LEAST RATING
NONE HALF HALF (0-5)
a. Oils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
b. Soaps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
c. Selective or "soft" sprays
Please list sprays(____________________
_________________________________________) 1 2 3 _______
d. Mating disruption . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
e. Sterile male release. . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
f. Release Trichogramma or other parasites 1 2 3 _______
Please list (______________________________)
g. Destroy local unmanaged host
trees when possible . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
h. Any other? (Specify_______________________
_________________________________________) 1 2 3 _______
-9-
17. Below is a list of pear psylla management practices. Please indicate
whether or not you used each practice during the 1995 growing season
on none of your pear acreage, on less than half, or on half or more
of your pear acreage. (Circle one number for each)
And, for each practice you used rate its effectiveness on a
scale of 0 to 5 where 0 is not at all effective and 5 is very
effective. (Enter one number from 0 to 5)
LESS AT
THAN LEAST RATING
NONE HALF HALF (0-5)
a. Oils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
b. Pyrethroids. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
c. Insecticidal soaps . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
d. Lime sulfur. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
e. Morestan (exythioquinox) . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
f. Thiodan (Endosulfan) . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
g. Fenoxycarb (Comply). . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
h. Agrimeck (abamectin) . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
i. Other chemical controls
(_______________________________________) 1 2 3 _______
j. Sample psylla levels regularly . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
k. Sample psylla predator levels regularly. . 1 2 3 _______
l. Avoid broad-spectrum pesticides for
conservation of pear psylla natural
enemies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
m. Use diatomaceous earth to dry up
honey-dew from psylla or mealybug. . . . 1 2 3 _______
n. Any other? (________________________ ____
_______________________________________) 1 2 3 _______
-10-
18. Do you do anything to monitor or control leafrollers in your pear orchards?
(Circle one number)
1 NO (SKIP TO QUESTION 19)
2 YES
18a. Below is a list of leafroller management practices. Please indicate
whether or not you used each practice during the 1995 growing season on
none of your pear acreage, on less than half, or on half or more of your
pear acreage. (Circle one number for each)
And, for each practice you used rate its effectiveness on a
scale of 0 to 5 where 0 is not at all effective and 5 is very
effective. (Enter one number from 0 to 5)
LESS AT
THAN LEAST RATING
NONE HALF HALF (0-5)
a. Pheromone traps to determine
need for treatment or
timing of sprays . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
b. Degree-day models to improve
timing of sprays . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
c. Use organo-phosphate insect-
icides. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
d. Use low impact or soft sprays
(list__________________________________
______________________________________) 1 2 3 _______
e. Release parasites or
predators (list__________________________
______________________________________) 1 2 3 _______
f. Attract beneficials using
flowering cover crops
(e.g. Yarrow, Umbellifers) . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
g. Other (describe__________________________
_______________________________________) 1 2 3 _______
19. Do you do anything to monitor or control spider mites in your pear orchards?
1 NO (SKIP TO QUESTION 20, PAGE 13)
2 YES
-11-
19a. Below is a list of spider mite management practices. Please indicate
whether or not you used each practice during the 1995 growing
season on none of your pear acreage, on less than half, or on
half or more of your pear acreage. (Circle one number for each)
And, for each practice you used rate its effectiveness on a
scale of 0 to 5 where 0 is not at all effective and 5 is very
effective. (Enter one number from 0 to 5)
LESS AT
THAN LEAST RATING
NONE HALF HALF (0-5)
a. Carzol (formetanate) . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
b. Agrimeck (abamectin) . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
c. Omite (propargite) . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
d. Thiodan (Endosulfan) . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
e. Oils . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
f. Sulfur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
g. Other (__________________________________) 1 2 3 _______
h. Sample pest mite levels regularly. . . . . 1 2 3 _______
i. Sample predator mite levels regularly. . . 1 2 3 _______
j. Avoid pyrethroids and other sprays that can
cause mite outbreaks . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
k. Any other? (_____________________________
_______________________________________) 1 2 3 _______
-12-
20. Do you generally use treatment thresholds for pear pests when
available? (Circle one number)
1 NO, NOT USED (SKIP TO Q 21)
2 YES, USE
20a. Please indicate whether or not you generally use treatment thresholds
for each of the following pests. (Circle one number for each)
YES, NOT
USED USED
a. Codling moth . . . . . . . 1 2
b. Oriental fruit moth. . . . 1 2
c. Apple maggot . . . . . . . 1 2
d. Leafrollers. . . . . . . . 1 2
e. Aphids . . . . . . . . . . 1 2
f. Leafhoppers. . . . . . . . 1 2
g. Leafminers . . . . . . . . 1 2
h. Campylomma bug . . . . . . 1 2
i. Lygus. . . . . . . . . . . 1 2
j. San Jose scale . . . . . . 1 2
k. Pear Psylla. . . . . . . . 1 2
l. Mite pests . . . . . . . . 1 2
m. Other (Specify____________) 1 2
n. (_________________________) 1 2
21. What are the most important research needs in
PEAR disease and insect pest management?
MOST IMPORTANT RESEARCH____________________________________
SECOND MOST IMPORTANT______________________________________
THIRD MOST IMPORTANT_______________________________________
-13-
22. The next list asks about general orchard management practices.
Please indicate whether or not you used each practice during the 1995 growing
season on none of your pear acreage, on less than half, or on half or more of
your pear acreage. (Circle one number for each)
And, for each practice you used, please rate its effectiveness on a scale
of 0 to 5 where 0 is not at all effective and 5 is very effective.
(Enter one number from 0 to 5)
LESS AT
THAN LEAST RATING
NONE HALF HALF (0-5)
a. Use impact over tree irrigation. . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
b. Use other irrigation delivery system(s). . 1 2 3 _______
(Please list system(s)_____________________
___________________________________________)
c. Time irrigation on a calendar basis . . . 1 2 3 _______
d. Use or hire advisors who use soil moisture
indicators and/or probes . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
e. Spray alternate rows for disease or insect
control. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
f. Orchard edge and spot treat when possible. 1 2 3 _______
g. Rotate pest control strategies to
decrease resistance development . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
h. Provide nesting boxes and perches for owls,
hawks, etc. for rodent control . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
i. Use a computer for record keeping . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
j. Use a computer for pest control decision
making . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 _______
k. Other (Specify_____________________________
___________________________________________) 1 2 3 _______
-14-
23. Below is a list of statements about integrated pest management (IPM).
IPM integrates a wide variety of tactics including biological control,
the use of pest resistant plants, cultural management, pest monitoring,
and use of the least toxic pesticides to keep pest populations below
damaging levels while protecting the environment.
Please read each statement about IPM and indicate if you strongly
agree (SA), agree (A), neither agree nor disagree (N), disagree (D)
or strongly disagree (SD). (Circle one number for each)
(SA) (A) (N) (D) (SD)
a. In pear production, quality standards
are flexible enough that I am willing
to try new pest management methods
without fear of dockage. . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 4 5
b. The lack of time to learn and implement
IPM is a major obstacle to adoption . . 1 2 3 4 5
c. The consumer has shown little demand for
food grown with fewer chemicals, so there
is little economic incentive for IPM . . 1 2 3 4 5
d. I believe that IPM and organic farming
are about the same . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 4 5
e. Knowledge of treatment or economic
thresholds is essential in making insect,
weed, and disease control decisions. . . 1 2 3 4 5
f. If available I would use pesticides that
don't kill beneficial insects even if
they were 10% more expensive than other
non-selective pesticides . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 4 5
g. My commodity group should increase
funding for IPM research . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 4 5
h. Lack of IPM demonstration projects
limits adoption by growers . . . . . . . 1 2 3 4 5
i. Lack of information concerning insect,
disease, and weed economic thresholds
limits adoption of IPM by growers. . . . 1 2 3 4 5
j. Loss of pesticide registrations is
forcing increased use of IPM by growers. 1 2 3 4 5
k. For myself, the pest management program
I have now works fine. . . . . . . . . . 1 2 3 4 5
-15-
24. In general, across your whole farm how often are your PEAR ORCHARDS checked
for weed, disease, insect or other pest problems during the growing season?
(Circle one)
1 NEVER CHECKED (SKIP TO QUESTION 25)
2 CHECKED DAILY
3 ABOUT ONCE A WEEK
4 ABOUT ONCE EVERY TWO WEEKS
5 ON NO PARTICULAR SCHEDULE
24a. A number of individuals may or may not be asked to check the fields.
Please indicate whether or not each of the following is called upon to
check your orchards for weed, disease, insect or other pests during
the growing season. (Circle one number for each)
YES NO
a. Self/family member . . . . . . . . . 1 2
b. Employee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 2
c. Packing house field staff. . . . . . 1 2
d. Chemical sales staff . . . . . . . . 1 2
e. Paid private crop consultant . . . . 1 2
f. Other (________________________) . . 1 2
25. Please list the town nearest your farming operation and, your zip code.
____________________ TOWN NEAREST FARM
____________________ ZIP CODE
26. Are you the sole owner, a partner, or an employee of this farm?
(Circle one number)
1 SOLE OWNER
2 PARTNER
3 EMPLOYEE
4 OTHER (Specify __________________)
27. Are you employed full-time, half-time or less than half-time in
farming? (Circle one number)
1 FULL-TIME
2 HALF-TIME
3 LESS THAN HALF
28. What is your age?
__________AGE
29. Are you male or female?
1 MALE
2 FEMALE
(THANK YOU FOR YOUR COOPERATION!)