New Online Tools to Manage Fire Blight

Scientists at Washington State University are offering two new online tools to help orchards manage fire blight.

Research Extension Specialist Tianna Dupont says one of the sites is a comprehensive look at dealing with the disease while the other is a model.

“You can look at on that site risk factors like tree age, vigor, cultivar, rootstocks and weather and determine your potential severity of fire blight in the area.”

Dupont noted that the model can be tailored to the farmer by the closest weather station to the property.

The two sites are designed to complement each other since the information page has the best methods of fighting off fire blight while, “This model allows us to really gauge when is the most effective time to be using a particular product.”

For a link to the information website and model, visit us at WashingtonAgNetwork.com.If you have a story idea for the Washington Ag Network, call (590) 547-1618, or e-mail krounce@cherrycreekradio.com.