Best Management Practice Considerations
|
Restrict dormant spray applications (except oil alone) to ground applications only.
Do not apply within 100 feet upslope of any sensitive aquatic site that may drain into a river or tributary unless runoff is contain or diverted from the sensitive aquatic site. Waters that are contained or diverted must be held for 72 hours before they can be released into a sensitive aquatic site.
Maintain a vegetative buffer strip a minimum of 10 feet wide from the edge of the field to sensitive aquatic sites.
Spray last three rows upwind of bodies of water using nozzles on one side only, with spray directed away from sensitive aquatic sites.
Do not apply dormant sprays (except oil alone) when soil moisture is at field capacity and a storm is predicted in the next 48 hours.
Do not apply dormant sprays (except oil alone) when surface runoff to sensitive aquatic sites from a rain event could occur within 48 hours after the application.
Make dormant applications only when insect-scouting information indicates pest populations have reached damaging levels. (See University of California Integrated Pest Management Guidelines for almonds.)
Apply only when wind speed is 3-10 mph at the application site as measured by an anemometer outside of the orchard on the upwind side.
When air currents are moving (>3 mph) toward sensitive aquatic sites, commence applications on side nearest the site and proceed spraying away from the water body.
Reduce the maximum rate of application and the number of applications.
Alternate the dormant use of organophosphorous and pyrethroid insecticides with other environmentally reduced risk pesticides or make application in season according to University of California Integrated Pest Management recommendations.
|
