In This Issue:
Calendar
Soft Scald - A Major Problem for Honeycrisp
Ag Groups Unite for Global Trade
Brown Lacewing
Mulicolored Asian Ladybeetle Returns
Terminal Market Wholesale Fruit Prices
Sage Family in American Fruit Grower
Monthly Climatological Data for September
Mary Donnell, Extension Agent, Ohio State University Extension Agricultural Business Enhancement Center and workshop coordinator says that topics will include developing crisis management plans, understanding how to work with media during difficult times, building a food recall system, and exploring options in product liability insurance.
The featured presenter is Gil Meyer, Director, Issues and Program Management, Dupont Agriculture & Nutrition, where one of his roles is serving as crisis coordinator. Meyer also serves on the executive committee of the International Food Information Council, a leading organization of the food industry, and conducts workshops on crisis management.
Additional presenters include Paul Panico, Chief, Division of Food Safety, Ohio Department of Agriculture; Mary Donnell; John Wargowsky, Executive Director, Mid American Ag and Hort Services; Martha Filipic, Technical Editor, Communications and Technology, Ohio State University Extension; Dr. Shari Plimpton, Program Manager, Industry Outreach, Center For Innovative Food Technology; Scott Bell, Loss Control Manager and Christal Leggett, Custom Accounts Underwriter with Farmland Insurance-Nationwide Agribusiness Companies.
The workshop fee of $40 includes a continental breakfast, lunch, workshop notebook, and certificate of attendance. Attendance is limited to 100 participants. Growers, packers, and shippers from Ohio and other states, as well as professionals working with fruit & vegetables are welcome to register. November 1 is the hotel registration deadline; the workshop registration deadline is November 10. Complete workshop information is available by contacting Jennifer Hungerford at 614-246-8289, maahs@ofbf.org, or http://www.midamservices.org, click on "projects."
Soft scald is a "chilling" disorder that is induced in susceptible cultivars when stored below 2.5 to 3C (36.5 to 37.4F). This disorder has been a major problem in Honeycrisp apples throughout Canada and the United States.
Soft scald is not related to superficial scald, although initial stages of development affect the skin in a similar manner. Soft scald is characterized by well-defined, irregularly shaped, smooth brown areas in the apple skin, and may progress into underlying flesh as the lesions continue to develop. Later stages of the disorder are characterized by accelerated softening of affected flesh below the skin lesions, leading to collapse and formation of large depressed areas often invaded by secondary infections of disease.
Soft scald may develop rapidly in storage between mid-November and late December, but will not continue to develop on affected apples after removal from cold storage. Some control can be obtained by harvesting the fruit at the correct maturity and promptly placing it in cold storage, although susceptibility varies with the season. Postharvest delays in cooling accelerate fruit maturation and ripening and promote soft scald development in storage.
'Honeycrisp' apples harvested on September 14, 21, and 28th in the Champlain Valley, New York developed high incidences of soft scald when held at 0 to 1C for 6 or 12 weeks (Watkins et al, 2001). Comparatively, apples harvested on September 14 and 21st developed very little soft scald when held at 3 to 4C for 6 or 12 weeks, whereas those harvested on September 28th developed substantial soft scald at 3 to 4C.
Therefore, it is recommended in New York that 'Honeycrisp' be harvested as soon as the appropriate color and flavor have been obtained, around the second or third week of September. Starch appears to be a useful maturity guide for 'Honeycrisp', and no fruit should be harvested with a starch index higher than 6 (<40% flesh stain). No relationship between internal ethylene concentration and soft scald development has been observed. Storage temperatures of 3 to 4C are recommended for 'Honeycrisp', and thus far no detrimental effects on fruit firmness have been observed.
'Honeycrisp' harvested in Simcoe, Ontario on September 5th, 2001 had a starch index of 5.3 and an internal ethylene concentration of 11.9 ppm (DeEll and Murr). After 3 months of storage at 0 to 1C, there was a substantial amount of soft scald development. However, 1-MCP application tended to reduce the incidence (e.g. 45 down to 18%).
Observational trials with 'Honeycrisp' in Nova Scotia (Prange, 2002) also showed that soft scald was more frequent in 'Honeycrisp' stored below 3C, especially at the beginning of the season. It was also more frequent in CA-stored than air-stored fruit. Soft scald can be reduced or eliminated by storing fruit at 3 to 4C and delaying CA storage for up to 3 to 4 weeks.
Given the above results, it is apparent that the optimum harvest window for 'Honeycrisp' needs to be better defined, as well as the best storage regimes and temperatures for reduced soft scald development.
Editor's Note: The following article appeared before we learned that the World Trade Organization's talks ended without agreement. We have included this article as an indicator of the wide spread support for trade reforms from United States farmers producing many different commodities.
With crucial world trade talks under negotiation, a coalition of U.S. farm groups say their ultimate support of any new trade agreement will depend on the degree to which they can measure meaningful reform in the areas of market access, export competition, and domestic support.
During a joint news conference earlier this
week (September 12th), the groups said that while they
expect compromise, progress on these "three pillars of
agricultural trade" is essential. The message was a
prelude to the World Trade Organization's (WTO)
global trade negotiations, which are taking place
September 10-14 in Cancun, Mexico.
"The Cancun meeting comes at a very critical
stage in the WTO process for this round of
negotiation," said Ken Nye, a horticultural and
forestry specialist who handles trade issues for the
Michigan Farm Bureau (MFB). "At best, we hope to
get a clear consensus on progress toward true,
meaningful reforms. For this reason, it is still difficult
to analyze how the negotiation will affect specific
Michigan-grown commodities."
Currently, the negotiations have the potential
to affect most Michigan commodities, since WTO
agreements help establish trading guidelines for both
imports and exports. It is also likely that the outcome
will affect the operations of U.S. farm programs.
"Hopefully the WTO will reduce trade-distorting export subsidies that compete unfairly with
our agricultural exports," Nye said, explaining that the
European Union (EU) routinely subsidizes its farmers
by paying producers above-market prices for their
crops and then selling those crops in the international
marketplace at market price.
"Another key objective," Nye said, "is to remove import barriers, primarily tariffs, that restrict market access for our farm products. Any agreements must fix the problem areas before we will support lowering our farm program payments."
American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF)
President Bob Stallman told reporters that U.S.
agriculture's support would depend on whether
specific objectives are achieved within and between
the areas of market access, export competition, and
domestic support.
"The degree to which U.S. agricultural producers will
support reductions in trade-distorting domestic
support and greater openness in our markets depends
on the degree to which tariffs are harmonized and
trade-distorting policies are disciplined in their
markets. By that, I mean in the markets of both
developed and developing countries," Stallman said.
In addition, Stallman said America's farmers and ranchers would support reductions in trade-distorting domestic supports only if "developing countries that are major agricultural exporters agree to accept similar disciplines. The elimination of export subsidies by trade entities such as the European Union continues to be a critical element of any final agreement. Progress must be made in all three of these negotiation pillars for open and fair market conditions to prevail in the world."
Other groups in attendance, or signing on to a joint statement, included the American Soybean Association, American Sugar Alliance, National Association of Wheat Growers, National Barley Growers Association, National Corn Growers Association, National Cotton Council, National Milk Producers Federation, National Sunflower Association, U.S. Canola Association, USA Rice Federation, Wheat Export Trade Education Committee and National Grain Sorghum Producers.
The agricultural trade group's core objectives include:
Meanwhile, a broad coalition of 19 statewide, regional, and national agricultural groups, including MFB, has formed to press for the needs of fruit, vegetable, and nut farmers. Horticultural Organizations for Responsible Trade, known as the HORT Alliance, also is seeking "aggressive and meaningful reform" in the areas of market access, domestic support, and export subsidies. In a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman and U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick, the alliance wrote: "U.S. fruit and vegetable exports are not subsidized. However, many of our trading partners still protect their markets by maintaining high tariffs on horticultural imports, while others subsidize the production and/or the export of certain fruits and vegetables."
According to the coalition, most horticultural or specialty crops enter the Untied States duty-free or with only minimal tariffs, yet U.S. farmers trying to sell similar products overseas can face tariffs ranging from 30% to 80%. The group also points out that most countries, including the United States, do not provide any trade-distorting export subsidies for fruits, vegetables or nuts. The EU, on the other hand, budgeted the equivalent of $38 million to subsidize fresh fruit and vegetable exports.
Editor's Note: The following comments were taken from the Buckeye Farm News, September 27, 2003.
OFBF President Terry McClure said the talks reached some tough points. "Developing countries are concerned about our trade coming in," he said. But as an example, he said India has a 116 percent tariff on imported goods and, "It's hard for me to imagine that they can't come down some." After talks ended, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick said, "Whether developed or developing, there were 'can do' and 'won't do' countries here. The rhetoric of the 'won't do' overwhelmed the concerted efforts of the 'can do.' 'Won't do' led to impasse.
Ron Becker, Wayne County IPM Program Assistant, and I have observed large numbers of brown lacewing adults in Multipher III traps during September. As Ron says, "Sometimes the number of brown lacewing exceeds the number of the intended catch" in apple and peach blocks. Finding 15 or 20 in one trap has not been unusual.
Identification:
Host range:
Life cycle:
Other information:
| Apples | ||||
| Cartons cell-pack | Terminal Market | |||
| U.S. ExFcy McIntosh | NY 80s 26-27.00 | Chicago | ||
| U.S. ExFcy McIntosh | MI 96s 20-20.50 | Detroit | ||
| U.S. ExFcy McIntosh | NY 100s 24.00, 120s 21.00 | Detroit | ||
| U.S. ExFcy McIntosh | NY 100s 25.50 | Pittsburgh | ||
| Comb U.S. ExFcy-U.S. Fcy McIntosh | NY 80s 21.00, 100s 16.75, 120s 16.50 | Pittsburgh | ||
| Cartons tray-pack | ||||
| U.S. ExFcy Greening | NY 80s, 88s, & 100s 9-12.00 | Pittsburgh | ||
| U.S. ExFcy Red Delicious | PA 125s & 138s 16.50 | Pittsburgh | ||
| Comb U.S. ExFcy-U.S. Fcy Ginger Gold | MI 125s 15.00, 138s 15.00 | Pittsburgh | ||
| Comb U.S. ExFcy-U.S. Fcy G. Delicious | MI 138s 15.00 | Pittsburgh | ||
| Comb U.S. ExFcy-U.S. Fcy R. Delicious | MI 125s 15.00, 138s 15.00 | Pittsburgh | ||
| U.S. One Paula Red | NY 100s 17.50 | Pittsburgh | ||
| 12 3-lb filmbags | ||||
| U.S. ExFcy Empire | MI 2 ½" min 14-14.50 | Detroit | ||
| U.S. ExFcy Gala | MI 2 ½" min 12-14.50 | Detroit | ||
| U.S. ExFcy Golden Delicious | MI 2 ½" min 12-13.50 | Detroit | ||
| U.S. ExFcy Jonamac | MI 2 ½" min 12-14.50 | Detroit | ||
| U.S. ExFcy Jonathan | MI 2 ½" min 12-14.50 | Detroit | ||
| U.S. ExFcy McIntosh | MI 2 ½" min 12-15.50 | Detroit | ||
| U.S. ExFcy Paula Red | MI 2 ½" min 11-12.50 | Detroit | ||
| U.S. ExFcy Paula Red | MI 2 ½" min 11.00 | Pittsburgh | ||
| U.S. ExFcy R. Delicious | MI 2 ½" min 12-14.50 | Detroit | ||
| Comb U.S. ExFcy-U.S. Fcy Cortland | MI 2 ½" min 14.00 | Pittsburgh | ||
| Comb U.S. ExFcy-U.S. Fcy McIntosh | NY 2 ¼" min 12.00 | Pittsburgh | ||
| Comb U.S. ExFcy-U.S. Fcy R. Delicious | MI 2 ¼" min 14.00 | Pittsburgh | ||
| U.S. Fcy Gala | MI 2 ¼" min/up 12-13.00 | Chicago | ||
| U.S. Fcy Golden Delicious | IL 2 ¼" min/up 11.00 | Chicago | ||
| U.S. Fcy Golden Delicious | MI 2 ¼" min/up 12-13.00 | Chicago | ||
| U.S. Fcy Jonamac | MI 2 ¼" min/up 10.50-11.50 | Chicago | ||
| U.S. Fcy Jonathan | IL 2 ¼" min/up 10.00 | Chicago | ||
| U.S. Fcy McIntosh | IL 2 ¼" min/up 14.00 | Chicago | ||
| U.S. Fcy McIntosh | IL 2 ¼" min/up 12.00 | Detroit | ||
| U.S. Fcy McIntosh | MI 2 ¼" min 21.00 | Pittsburgh | ||
| U.S. Fcy Paula Red | MI 2 ¼" min/up 10.50-11.50 | Chicago | ||
| U.S. Fcy Royal Gala | MI 2 ¼" min 14.00 | Pittsburgh | ||
| U.S. Fcy Red Delicious | IL 2 ¼" min/up 11.00 | Chicago | ||
| U.S. Fcy Red Delicious | MI 2 ¼" min/up 11-12.00 | Chicago | ||
| Bushel cartons loose | Terminal Market | |||
| U.S. Fcy Gala | MI 2 ¾" up 12-14.00 | Detroit | ||
| U.S. Fcy Gold Supreme | MI 2 ¾" up 12.00, | Detroit | ||
| MI 2 ½" up 12.00 | Detroit | |||
| U.S. Fcy Greening | MI 2 ¾" up 15.00 | Detroit | ||
| U.S. Fcy Jonamac | MI 2 ¾" up 12.00 | Detroit | ||
| U.S. McIntosh | MI 3" min 12.00 | Detroit | ||
| No grade marks, No size marks | ||||
| Cortland | MI 14.00 | Pittsburgh | ||
| Golden Delicious | MI 12.00 | Pittsburgh | ||
| McIntosh | MI 12.00 | Pittsburgh | ||
| Paula Red | MI 11.00 | Pittsburgh | ||
| Red Delicious | MI 14.00 | Pittsburgh | ||
| Royal Gala | MI 14.00 | Pittsburgh | ||
| Michigan Processing Apple Price | ||||
| Source: The Fruit Growers News http://www.fruitgrowersnews.com | ||||
| Golden Delicious | (2 ½" up) | $8.75/cwt | ||
| Hard varieties | (2 ½" up including Rome & Empire) | 8.25/cwt | ||
| Ida Red | (2 ½" up) | 9.25/cwt | ||
| Jonathan | (2 ½" up) | 10.25/cwt | ||
| Soft varieties & tablesorts | (2 ½" up) | 7.25/cwt | ||
| Straight loads of juice apples | (under 2 ½" in Peeler Loads) | 4.25/cwt | ||
| Blueberries | ||||
| Flats 12 1-pt cups | MI lge 22-24.00, med 22-23.00 | Chicago | ||
| MI med 20.00-22.00 | Detroit | |||
| Flats 12 6-oz cups | MI sml-med 14-14.50 | Detroit | ||
| MI med 14.50 | Pittsburgh | |||
| Flats 12 ½-pt flmwrpd cups | MI med 12-13.00 | Chicago | ||
| Nectarines | ||||
| ½ bushel loose | ||||
| U.S. One Fantasia | MI 2 ¾" up 12-12.50 | Detroit | ||
| Sunglo | NJ 2 ½" up 17.50, 2 ¼" up 12.75 | Pittsburgh | ||
| Peaches | ||||
| 25 lb cartons loose | ||||
| Various yellow flesh varieties | MI 2 ½" up 9.00 | Chicago | ||
| Various yellow flesh varieties | WV 2 ½" up 10.00, 2 ¼" up 8.00 | Chicago | ||
| No grade marks, var. yellow flesh varieties | NJ 2 ¾" up 9.00, 2 ½" up 7.00 | Chicago | ||
| ½ bushel cartons loose | ||||
| U.S. ExOne Flavorcrest | NJ 2 ½" up 13.00 | Pittsburgh | ||
| ½ bushel cartons | ||||
| U.S. ExOne var. yellow flesh varieties | NJ 2 ¾" up 12.50-13.50 | Detroit | ||
| U.S. One various yellow flesh varieties | MI 2 ¾" up 9.50-13.50 | Detroit | ||
| Pears | ||||
| ½ bu cartons | ||||
| U.S. One Seckel 108s, 10-2 lb bags | NY 1 ¼" min 16.00 | Pittsburgh | ||
| Prune Plums | ||||
| 30 lb cartons | ||||
| U.S. One Italian | MI 1 ¼" min 13.50-14.00 | Chicago | ||
| U.S. One Stanley | MI 1 ¼" min 16.00 | Pittsburgh | ||
The intent of listing terminal market prices is to provide information available in the public domain. It is not intended for price setting, only to assist growers in evaluating the value of their crops. Producers need to remember that the prices listed are gross, and consideration must be given to marketing costs, including commission, handling charge, gate fees, and possible lumper fees.
| Weather Station Location | Monthly Precip | Normal Monthly Precip | Year-to-Date Precip | Normal Year-to-Date Precip | Avg High | Normal High | Avg Low | Normal Low | Mean Temp. | Normal Mean |
| Akron-Canton | 7.48 | 3.43 | 42.54 | 29.92 | 71.0 | 72.8 | 52.6 | 53.1 | 61.8 | 62.9 |
| Cincinnati | 5.07 | 2.82 | 34.61 | 32.90 | 74.6 | 78.0 | 55.0 | 56.8 | 64.8 | 67.4 |
| Cleveland | 6.02 | 3.77 | 32.05 | 29.45 | 72.5 | 72.3 | 54.8 | 54.3 | 63.7 | 63.3 |
| Columbus | 6.86 | 2.92 | 41.50 | 30.07 | 73.9 | 77.1 | 54.9 | 55.9 | 64.4 | 66.5 |
| Dayton | 5.40 | 2.65 | 34.18 | 30.48 | 72.8 | 75.6 | 53.3 | 54.6 | 63.1 | 65.1 |
| Fremont | 4.06 | 3.14 | 29.72 | 26.93 | 74.0 | 75.3 | 47.6 | 52.1 | 60.8 | 63.7 |
| Kingsville | 9.81 | 4.70 | 43.46 | 28.93 | 70.8 | 72.9 | 53.6 | 53.5 | 62.2 | 63.2 |
| Mansfield | 6.54 | 3.44 | 32.85 | 33.53 | 70.9 | 73.0 | 51.2 | 52.1 | 61.0 | 62.5 |
| Norwalk | 6.33 | 3.16 | 34.40 | 27.75 | 71.6 | 74.1 | 53.4 | 52.3 | 62.5 | 63.2 |
| Toledo | 5.27 | 2.84 | 29.29 | 25.44 | 73.6 | 74.0 | 52.1 | 52.9 | 62.9 | 63.4 |
| Wooster | 5.45 | 3.14 | 35.58 | 28.29 | 73.4 | 75.5 | 50.8 | 51.4 | 62.1 | 63.5 |
| Youngstown | 5.62 | 3.89 | 37.34 | 29.53 | 70.2 | 72.1 | 51.4 | 50.9 | 60.6 | 61.5 |
Temperatures in degrees F, Precipitation in inches
Table Created by Ted W. Gastier, OSU Extension from National Weather Service, OARDC & Local Data
Ted W. Gastier
Extension Agent, Agriculture
Tree Fruit Team Coordinator
Ohio State University Extension Huron County
180 Milan Avenue
Norwalk, OH 44857
Phone: (419)668-8210
FAX: (419)663-4233
E-mail: gastier.1@osu.edu
Copyright © The Ohio State University 2003
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Keith L. Smith, Associate Vice President for Ag. Adm. and Director,
OSU Extension.
TDD No. 800-589-8292 (Ohio only) or 614-292-1868