Care now curbs peach problems later

By KARI KRAMER | East Texas Edition

Franklin County peach grower Bob Chattey asked questions of the Extension agent and specialists who visited farms in the area recently. Despite his exceptional care, Chattey’s orchard had problems with Green June Beetles.  -- Staff photos by Kramer

Nov. 24, 2005 - Extension personnel and orchard owners recently took the opportunity to discuss what things should be taken care of now in order to curb problems during next year’s growing season.

Delta and Franklin County Texas Cooperative Extension (TCE) Agent Mike Berry, TCE plant pathologist Dr. Kevin Ong, and TCE entomologist Dr. Allen Knutson traveled to Hilltop Orchard near Mount Vernon to meet with a group of orchard owners, including Bob Chattey, owner of Hilltop Orchard.

The group was able to discuss all aspects of orchard production, and orchard owners had the chance to have questions answered directly by the Extension specialists.

�This is a bit of a slower time of year for the growers,� said Berry. �Most are cleaning in their orchards, catching up on maintenance and getting ready for spring.�

Chattey’s orchard is home to more than 24 varieties of peaches, on 725 trees, that grow on 10 acres. His orchard is one of only four or five orchards left in Franklin County, and he just completed a fairly successful harvest earlier this fall.

The Green June Beetles begins as a worm in pastures, but the adult likes fruit. Chattey said the beetles would devour the meat of the fruit, and leave the pit hanging from the limb. -- Staff photos by Kramer

Chattey’s immaculent orchard impressed the Extension specialists.  The ground under each tree is neat and clean, each tree is marked with a tag, naming its variety, and paths between the neatly trimmed trees are well defined. Still, even he had a few problems that within his orchard.

Earlier this year, even after maintaining a strict spraying schedule, Chattey noticed that some of his trees were covered with green beetles. Months later, piles of dead beetles laid scattered under trees that fell victim to them.

Knutson examined the beetles under one of Chattey’s peach trees and identified the insects (which were about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch in length) as Green June Beetles. 

�We do know they come from pastures and grass, that is where the worm stage is,� explained Knutson. �But the adults like fruit.�

Chattey said the beetles destroyed some of his fruit. In some cases he recalled they had eaten the peach fruit off the tree, and only pits were left hanging from branches.

Chattey, who sprayed an insecticide and fungicide regularly, was surprised by the beetles affect on his property.

Knutson said the beetle population is worse some years compared to others, but added there was really no explanation why. He said he has heard of orchard owners placing rotted fruit in treated trays on the orchard’s boundaries, in order to capture and kill the pests before they enter the orchard and destroy fruit.

Another issue on the minds of producers was mechanical thinning. Ong explained the recent trend towards mechanical thinning of peach trees. Mechanical thinning is one way growers are attempting to lower costs, by down-sizing the need for more, expensive, manual labor.

Each growing season, peach trees must be thinned of excess fruit. This helps keep the branches alive, healthy, and a safe distance from the ground. Ong said that on a pencil-sized branch, one or two fruits is desirable. 

Thinning peaches takes hours of manual labor, which is usually done by temporary workers. Chattey expressed his frustration that he sometimes has trouble finding affordable help because many manual laborers can make more money elsewhere. His concerns echo those of many other growers, and so, in recent years, mechanical thinning options are being considered.

�The lack of affordable labor is the biggest issue facing peach growers. Even with all of our technology, orchards are still very labor intensive. Most of the traditional labor force is now taking construction or other agriculture-related jobs, where they are not forced to move with the harvest,� explained Berry. �This is understandable, but it makes it hard for our local producers to compete.�

Berry said he sees much of the orchard industry following the cost-cutting trend of mechanical thinning. “Many producers will attempt to lower labor cost with more chemical and mechanical pruning, thinning, and harvesting techniques.”

Regardless of how trees are thinned, Ong said it is an important step in orchard production. Thinning, according to Ong, should be done early in the growing season.

�The earlier you do it, the bigger the benefit,� said Ong.�

Knutson said another task that should be performed early in the year is soil maintenance. Because of the acidity of East Texas soils, he said that lime should be added on a regular basis (more than just every few years).

He said, “You have to continue to put lime in the soil.” In addition, the lime should be added to the soil early before the growing season because it takes a “long time” to work its way into the soil.

Already, orchard owners should be contemplating a spraying regimen for next year and how they will trim their trees.

The Extension specialists discussed sprayers and sprays with the orchard owners. Some owners were concerned that products they are currently using are scheduled to be removed from the market. Berry said that is, and will continue to be, a problem for orchard owners.

�This forces the growers to have to purchase newer, but more expensive chemicals,� said Berry.�

Chattey is already considering what chemicals he will use after one of his most effective chemicals is restricted next September.

But, before he begins a regular spraying schedule, he will have to trim his trees, another labor intensive aspect of owning an orchard.

Chattey has a process he goes through when he trims, or prunes,  his trees.

�I cut everything out of the middle of the tree, and give it a flat top,� he said. Smaller sticks in the middle are cut away, and then, each tree is trimmed across the top, allowing for an inch or so of extra growth each year.

Ong said many people do not understand the process of trimming fruit trees.

�You�d think they�re killing the tree,� said Ong.

But Chattey, who removes about 75 percent of the fruit wood from each of his trees, said the trimming increases fruit production and health.

�It certainly doesn�t hurt to cut them,� he said.

Once he is finished pruning, he sprays and will continue to spray approximately once a week throughout the season.

Chattey usually trims his trees by himself, and spends several hours completing the task. 

Berry said pruning marks the beginning of a very busy year for peach growers. “I believe most producers will agree the spring and the few months leading up to harvest are the most critical,” he said. “They are very busy from that time on until the harvest is over. 

�The weather has to cooperate, they have a rigorous spray schedule and very labor intensive pruning and thinning process, not to mention the actual picking of the peaches.�

Chattey, who admitted he knew nothing about growing peaches when he started his orchard four years ago, said he has done well, with the help of others.

�The county Extension agent was my biggest help,� he said. �And the book (Extension) put out - I read it constantly.�

Berry said orchard owners should feel comfortable contacting their county agents for new information and guidance. 

�Orchard growers can call on� their county agent. He may not be able to answer the question immediately, but we have Extension, with all its specialists and resources, available to help producers,� he explained.

Most Extension offices are listed by county name, or under a county heading, in the phone book.

Chattey was able to get some early advice for next year, and will soon be implementing new and old ideas when he starts preparing for a new growing season around February of next year.

If successful, he will be selling peaches, again, next fall at his roadside stand on Farm Road 21 in Franklin County. And despite the fact that peaches can be purchased at a grocery store, Chattey said he feels confident his customer base will be as strong as always.

�I�m glad they sell them at the grocery store,� he said. �They make mine taste even� better.�