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 chemicals. These applications are used to mitigate damage from plant diseases and insects, or to impact plant growth. Chemicals 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. When 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.

Participants from this program were surveyed 12 months later to assess the knowledge retention and implementation of new practices. Participants rated their knowledge of orchard spray methods and new application technologies at 4 out of 5. Survey respondents indicated that they implemented several techniques from the training including reduction of water usage, lowered pressure, reduced RPMs, increased number of calibrations, adjusted spray nozzles, invested in new equipment, and established spray schedules. Participants stated that due to the practices implemented from the training, the cost of pesticides was down from previous years, with one individual stating that they saved at least 50% per acre.