APPLE BULLETIN

EFFECTIVE BIRD CONTROL FOR APPLES

Ten blocks of Fuji Apples within a commercial orchard in Orondo, Washington were used for the test. All of the blocks were sampled at the same time; once the day before the trials began and 14 days later at the end of the test period. Two of the blocks were not treated. Three of the blocks were sprayed once with a 0.25% solution of BIRD SHIELD®

(1 quart of BIRD SHIELD® in 99 gallons of water), a 0.50% application rate was applied once to 3 additional blocks, while a 1% rate was applied once to the remaining 2 blocks; all with an air blast sprayer. Pre-trial bird damage was estimated to be between one and fourteen percent (1-14%). Post trial results indicated that 35% to 43% of the apples in the unprotected blocks were damaged - a 5 fold increase in 2 weeks. In the treated blocks there were no significant differences in damage between the different application rates. Less than 1% of the Fuji Apples in the treated blocks showed any signs of damage.



FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

HOW DO I KNOW WHEN I CAN HARVEST THE CROP?
Generally the crop is ready to be harvested six to eight days after the last application, however, sunlight and temperature can effect BIRD SHIELD®'s longevity and more time may be needed before all taste and odor cannot be detected prior to harvest.

CAN BIRD SHIELD® BE WASHED OFF?
BIRD SHIELD® is rain fast and is gradually broken down by sunlight and air movement.

HOW MUCH DO I USE?
The effective application rate for apples is 1 pint of BIRD SHIELD™ with 5 gallons of water to 1/2 gallon of BIRD SHIELD® with 99 gallons of water depending on foliage density and application equipment. Re-apply every six to eight days if birds return to the crop. See label for specific application instructions. Label and MSDS can be found on BIRD SHIELD® 's website.

CAN BIRD SHIELD® BE APPLIED WITH OTHER AGRICULTURAL CHEMICALS?
BIRD SHIELD® may be mixed with EPA approved bacillus, insecticides and fungicides. Check for compatibility and refer to individual product labels prior to use. Do not add surfactants, stickers or spreaders to the BIRD SHIELD® tank mix.

HOW DO I USE BIRD SHIELD®?
BIRD SHIELD® works best when applied to crops early in the morning or late in the afternoon when temperatures are lowest and winds are calm. Extremely hard water that contains high amounts of iron and calcium can affect the tank solution so compatibility tests are suggested prior to tank mixing.



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