The end result of the careful monitoring is often reduced spraying levels.Ĭomputers and answering machine recording aren’t actually what makes IPM work, though “Part of the IMP process is for a grower to get a good feel for what’s in the orchard,” John says. Since the development of post infection sprays, John has decided to wait to spray until moisture and temperature conditions are right for an actual infection. Protection is good for five to seven days, according to John. Some orchardists spray a pre-infection protective fungicide when the 5% threshold is reached. The pathologist posts the level of spore maturity onto a telephone answering machine recording that farmers can call. If we have it that means we only have the potential for infection.” The action threshold that we work with is five percent. She’ll look for a percentage that are ready to mature. In late April, I’ll collect seven leaves from each site, send them to a plant pathologist friend of mine and she’ll look at them under a microscope. “We have three sites around Minnesota that have leaves in corrals on the orchard floor. “The Apple Grower’s Association funds a program where we monitor for spore development,” John says. The first part of John’s new thinking on scab has to do with scab spore maturity. Scab is the primary disease needing control at Pine Tree’s White Bear Lake orchard. One of the diseases that IPM has caused John to look at differently is apple scab. Dad was a real nervous guy when I started to get into IPM (integrated pest management) and once we started to look at spore maturity tests it was hard for him to watch it rain for three or four hours and not spray right away.” At first, I did the same and then people started to look at using less inputs. “He’d spray eight cover sprays of insecticide and four or five disease sprays and he’d do it every two weeks. “When I sprayed with my Dad in the mid-70s, he would spray as a form of cheap insurance,” John remembers.
Spraying techniques have changed since John was a boy. The farm is now run by the second generation of Jacobsons with some assistance from the senior Jacobsons. All told, Pine Tree markets apples and apple products from approximately 150 acres of productive apple orchard. In 1963 John’s father, looking for a different microclimate to spread his risk and expand his apple variety options, purchased a 90 acre orchard near Preston in southeastern Minnesota. In 1957, when the owner retired, John’s parents bought the orchard and expanded the farm which now includes 400 acres of apples, strawberries, alfalfa, and fallow fields. John Jacobson’s father came to work as a foreman for the orchard’s owners in 1950. The orchard was originally planted in 1904. Note: We reserve the right to make policy changes at any time.Pine Tree Apple Orchard is on the shores of Pine Tree Lake near the town of White Bear Lake in Washington County. Also, our expanded Orchard Walk and Hayloft of Seasonal orchard procedures is open daily starting in Sept. Our fall entertainment will be returning in September 2021.Please check our activity calendar for more details. Activities that are happening this fall: Corn Maze Opening Sept.We value your cooperation and understanding during these new conditions.The above policies may change at anytime.We will continuously monitor our policies.If it becomes necessary, access to the building and outdoor venues will be metered.Cleaning and sanitizing will be done continuously throughout the day by employees.Disinfectant and wipes is available for all customers and employees.Directional signs for one way customer flow and social distancing reminders have been posted inside the building and outside.Preferred credit cards, Visa or Mastercard, for contact-less payments with our employees.Sneeze-guard barriers have been installed at our cash registers.We have adapted these protective measures for the safety of our customers and employees: For food safety regulations pets are not allowed.Masks will continue to be strongly recommended for customers and employees who are not fully vaccinated.Please use social distancing practices while shopping and anywhere on our property.If you or any one in your household, does not feel well or have any symptoms compatible with COVID-19 please stay at home: We respectfully ask you to adhere to the following recommendations and look forward to seeing everyone soon.
We will continue to follow all state and local government mandates. We have carefully planned our 2021 season by incorporating guidelines from the CDC and the Minnesota Department of Health.
COVID-19 Updates and Store Policy Changes Our top priority is to keep both our customers and employees safe.
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