Grants and Contracts Details
Description
Metastorm Orchard 2024
Abstract (348 words)
Kentucky has approximately 550 farms (US rank 13th) and nearly 1,000 acres in apple
production. The average yield varies from 450,000 to 750,000 bushels per year with cash
values ranging from $24.M to $40.6M per year.
In addition to being a site for local food production, Kentucky''s orchards are tremendously
popular as venues for playgrounds, concerts, festivals, school tours, corn mazes, and weddings.
Orchards as sites of agritourism are estimated to contribute $10B to Kentucky''s tourism
industry.
Many apple orchards also grow peaches, although this is not as large of a commodity in
Kentucky, with 203 farms growing 371 acres of peaches (USDA National Agricultural Statistics
Service). The list of pests in this survey reflect the fact that many orchards, particularly the
larger growers, grow both of these commodities.
This survey will allow us to trap for 4 insect pests of concern to the orchard industry and
conduct a visual survey for an additional pest, Spotted Lanternfly. This survey program will
pinpoint potential problems so they may be quickly eradicated before they become infestations
that require the expenditure of large amounts of time and money to eradicate.
To ensure excellent coverage statewide, six University of Kentucky employees and one
independent contractor will conduct this survey. We will conduct a trapping survey in 10-11
orchards designed to detect four insect pests: Summer Fruit Tortrix, False Codling Moth, Asian
Spongy Moth, and an Ambrosia Beetle (Megaplatypus mutatus). We will follow the trap and
lure guidelines on the CAPS Resource and Collaboration website. Surveyors will visit each
orchard 5 times to set the traps, change the lures according to protocol, take insect samples,
and remove the traps. Trap placement from spring to fall 2024 will encompass the life cycles of
the target insects. Surveyors will also conduct a visual survey for Spotted Lanternfly during
each visit to the orchard. The establishment of any of these pests would have large negative
impacts on the state’s valuable orchard industry.
Accomplishment reports will be completed and submitted in the timeframe specified in the
agreement and data will be uploaded to the NAPIS database.
Prior Experience:
We received Farm Bill/PPA funding to conduct surveys in orchards each year from FY13 to FY21
and in FY23. No target pests have been found. Below is a short summary from each year.
? FY13: 10 orchards (9 counties, central and western KY), 153 samples
? FY14: reduced funding, 6 orchards (5 counties, western KY), 79 samples
? FY15: 10 orchards (10 counties, central and western KY), 127 samples
? FY16: 10 orchards (10 counties, central and western KY), 136 samples
? FY17: 8 orchards (8 counties, central and western KY), 87 samples
? FY18: 10 orchards (10 counties, central and western KY), 155 samples
? FY19: 10 orchards (10 counties, central, western, northern, and eastern KY), 130
samples
? FY20: 11 orchards (10 counties, central, western, northern, and eastern KY), 184
samples
? FY21: 11 orchards (10 counties, central, western, and eastern KY), 146 samples
? FY23: 10 orchards (10 counties, central, western, and eastern KY), survey began in May
2023
The midyear accomplishment report for FY23 is not due until December 1, 2023. Since we did
not receive funding for the Orchard Commodity Survey in FY22, I uploaded the FY21 final
accomplishment report for the Orchard Commodity Survey.
For every year of funding, we have submitted a midyear and final report outlining our
accomplishments, demonstrating how much of the state was impacted by this survey and the
number of samples collected. The State Survey Coordinator enters all survey data into NAPIS at
the end of each survey season and updates survey results on the KY CAPS webpage
(www.UnluckyForKentucky.com).
Milestones
May – September/October 2024: contact property owners for permission to conduct survey,
obtain supplies to conduct survey, survey activities conducted: traps set in May, traps
monitored and lures changed monthly, visual surveys for SLF conducted during each site visit,
traps removed in the fall, approval and payment of invoices submitted by independent
contractor, SSC will enter any positive survey results into NAPIS as soon as possible when
detected
November 2024: submit any remaining samples from the survey season, final payments to
independent contractor, SSC prepares and submits midyear accomplishment report
December 2024: final survey results received from Mississippi Entomological Museum, SSC
enters all negative survey results into NAPIS
January-April 2025: SSC prepares final accomplishment report, SSC updates survey results on
the KY CAPS webpage (www.unluckyforkentucky.com).
Weekly: The SSC will maintain a budget spreadsheet and will compare it to the University of
Kentucky accounting system to ensure that funds are being allocated appropriately and time is
charged correctly. The SSC will update an account list accessible to all employees working on
this project to show funds remaining to be spent on supplies and travel.
Frequently During Field Season: The SSC will be in constant communication with field and
laboratory staff to ensure that the survey is progressing during the season and that samples are
transported and received at the proper laboratory for further analysis.
Throughout the Project: The SPHD, PSS, and SPRO will be notified immediately if any problems
are encountered or if target insects are found during the survey.
Status | Active |
---|---|
Effective start/end date | 5/1/24 → 4/30/25 |
Funding
- Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service: $19,684.00
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