Kentucky fruit growers produce specialty crops such as apples, pears, peaches, and berries valued at $7.8 million (2012 US Census of Agriculture). In order to produce high quality, marketable fruit, it is necessary to apply fungicides and insecticides. These applications are used to mitigate damage from plant diseases and insects, or to impact plant growth. Fungicides and insecticides are applied in both conventional and organic production systems. While necessary, chemicals add a large cost to the price of production. Thus growers should be educated on sprayer technologies to minimize costs and environmental impacts.

As a way to educate growers on spray technologies for appropriate applications, a grower field day was organized. This program was coordinated by UK Plant Pathology Extension Specialists and funded by the IPM Fruit Working Group and the Kentucky Horticulture Council. The full-day workshop was led by a specialist on spray technologies from Cornell University. Growers spent a half day learning from a lecture and half day participating in a demonstration in the orchard. The goal of this program was to provide growers with information on sprayer technologies and practical techniques that can be implemented into production practices to reduce costs and improve spray efficiency.

Twenty seven Kentucky fruit growers representing 337 acres of specialty crop production attended the workshop. Participants were surveyed at the end of the program. Growers indicated an increase of knowledge in the areas of orchard spray methods and new application technologies by 60% and 83% respectively. As a result of the workshop, attendees anticipated making the following changes: check spray coverage, replace nozzles, calibrate equipment, and reduce air/fan speed. Growers predicted an average savings of $237.50 per acre per year, as well as an average fruit yield increase of 400 lbs. per acre per year due to participation in the program. Participants also anticipated that fruit quality would increase an average of 28%.  Based on the acres represented by participants, this program will generate an average annual savings of $80,037.50, and an average annual increase in fruit yield of 134,800 pounds. Feedback from attendees was positive with participants stating “Tremendous amount of information presented in a very practical manner.” and that the program “was very information, with change spraying technologies.” Growers expressed interest in additional programs every 2-3 years.