Across Alabama many fruit producers are "nearly" done with this season's crop. Little by little we are making that final harvest. Peaches in central Alabama can go into September but, most growers will be ending their season sooner than that. Right now we are finishing up varieties like 'Contender' and 'Cresthaven', 'Redskin', and 'Sunprince' and will soon begin 'Flameprince'.
In some markets demand is slowing up some as consumers are shifting to perhaps a little vacation or getting ready for schools to begin.

Most growers I've talked to are also ready for activities to begin slowing down. The long daily routines required in fruit production and marketing take a toll after a while. It is physically and mentally extremely demanding but, rewarding or they would not continue to farm.

Insect activity is not taking a slow down. Stink bugs have continued moderate to high pressure in orchards. Feeding damage on fruit such as apples and peaches are circular as the tissue dies. Rots often develop at these feeding sites. Control options are limited as we reach fruit maturity.
Plum curculio adult activity is slowing. Harvest of targeted spray evaluation in 'Flameprince' has shown us that eggs were still being deposited within the past 14 days.

Many fruit markets slowed down following the July 4th weekend. Typically growers see this slowing on purchases of fresh fruits and vegetables perhaps as some have filled their freezers and jars or spending their time and money on vactations before the kids return to school. Interstate markets seem to be holding up well as travelers look for a nice place to stop while traveling.

Some local fruit like blackberries have finished up for the season in central and south Alabama. Later blueberry varieties still have some fruit but, this crop will soon be trailing off also. Peach volume and size are picking up some here in central part of the state. Varities like Fireprince, Redglobe, Loring, Bounty. I've seen some very large fruit.

Pest issues seen, increased pressure from brown rot and continued stink bug presence. Fruit cracking has also increased in some varieties. Thunderstorms have moved through at intervals releasing large amounts of water at times. Right at this moment we are getting steady rainfall as a system is moving through our area. Looks like high chances of rainfall most of the week.

Ready to pick fruit, especially fruit held a little longer on the plant for local markets, really took up the water earlier in the week. Coming off a weekend of heavy rainfall beginning last Friday evening with episodes on Saturday and Sunday. This week started off in the 90's and some fruit were "cooking".

By weeks end the temperatures have continued in the mid 90's but, we are back to normal or near normal with fruit ripening, firmness, and flavor.

Received word from my friend Dr. Dan Horton, entomologist with Uiversity of Georgia. Stink bug numbers are jumping, especially orchards next to small grains or in open fields. Stink bug control can be more difficult than other insects. Check out the Southern Region IPM Guides for the different tree fruits and small fruits. Chemical effectiveness rating are provided. Be sure in addition to ratings and chemical rates, check re-entry and pre-harvest intervals.

Peach fruit in central Alabama are coming along. Some growers are experiencing ligher crops than they expected up to this point. Beginning to see some color development in 'Harvester', meaning we are beginning to finish up with varieties like 'Junegold' and 'Surecrop', 'Rubyprince' and picking varieties like 'Juneprince' and 'GaLa', 'Redhaven'.

Seeing some shape issues in some varieties and some fruit are softening on the shoulders and suture somewhat rapidly. I'm hopeful that as we move along, negative fruit quality issues will be less and less. I've seen some very nice looking fruit but, flavor has been mixed. Fruit in the upper portion of the canopy has better flavor in general than some of the fruit produced lower in the tree. With the amount of lower light conditions (cloudy weather) that we have experienced it has affected our early fruit.

Fruit quality related to flavor is beginning to improve. As we move into mid-June varieties we normally see a change but, we are also seeing more sunshine and that makes a big difference.

With the increase in heat and humidity we are seeing an increase in some diseases. Preventative sprays are being made to control pests. Plum curculio emergence has been erractic, however, in the last few days we have been collecting higher numbers in our traps. This new generation of adults are looking for fruit to deposit their eggs so protection is important.

Cooler and much wetter weather has been the norm up to now. Last week showers continued over much of Alabama. In central Alabama we are now seeing sunshine and temperatures in the low 90's.

Growers are harvesting fruit but, some are seeing problems. Fruit with size are maturing and much of the fruit following the first or second harvest is not sizing. This might be a combination of crop load and cold injury from back in April. Some varieties have been slow to mature, however, this might speed up with the sunshine and higher temperatures.

On the pest front we are seeing moderate to high levels of bacterial spot infections. Considerable leaf shed in many varieties not normally affected and also fruit infections, especially more sensitive varieties. Stink bugs and leaffooted bugs are gearing up and numbers in blueberries and last remaining strawberries are high. Likely numbers will be gaining in peach orchards as well.

Plum curculio adult emergence has begun. While low numbers are coming out of the soil at this time I expect the numbers to accelerate during the week. Our third insecticide in research plots will be going out this Friday or next Monday. Remember that from emergence to egg deposition on fruit takes only about 10-14 days. This summer generation will produce larva infested fruit that will not drop, more prone to rot, and will turn away customers. One of the difficulties for plum curculio and stink bug control as we approach harvest is finding an effective material with a short pre-harvest interval.

Examples: Imidan 70W, pre-harvest interval is 14 days and reentry interval is 3 days; Asana 0.66EC has 14 day pre-harvest interval and 12 hr reentry interval; Proaxis 0.5Ec, Lambda-T, Silencer, Warrior, Tiaga Z have 14 day pre-harvest and 24 hr reentry interval; Baythroid XL, Baythroid 2EC, Mustang 1.5EC, Renounce 20WP, Tombstone 2EC are all pyrethroids with a 7 day pre-harvest interval and reentry period of 12 hrs.

ALWAYS CHECK PRODUCT LABEL BEFORE MAKING AN APPLICATION OF ANY INSECTICIDE FOR PROPER RATE AS WELL PRE-HARVEST AND WORKER REENTRY INTERVALS.