Whether you are a commercial producer of fruit or just a part-time producer there is a very important upcoming meeting that I strongly encourage you to attend. It is the Berrien County 2006 Spring Fruit IPM Update. It will be held tomorrow, Thursday night March 9^th at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center at 1791 Hillandale Road in Benton Harbor. It will start at 7:00 p.m. There is a $5 cost to attend and it is open to anyone.

The main focus of this meeting will be an update on the currently labeled pesticides for use in fruits. Dr. Bill Shane, Mark Longstroth, and myself, all fruit educators with Michigan State University Extension, will be the featured speakers. A review of fruit insect and disease control materials and strategies for use will occur. There also will be a review of the changes to Extension Bulletin E-154 the Michigan Fruit Management Guide for 2006. By the way, this bulletin will be available for purchase at the meeting at a cost of $14.50.

The main topics covered in this meeting include new fungicides and insecticides and how they fit into orchard IPM strategies and their relative effectiveness; and management strategies. One pesticide applicator re-certification credit will be available for attending this meeting.

Again, I have been talking about the Berrien County 2006 Spring Fruit IPM Update. It will be held tomorrow Thursday evening, March 9^th at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center at 1791 Hillandale Road in Benton Harbor. It will start at 7:00 p.m. and go to 9:00. There is a $5 fee and it is open to anyone.

That is all for today, this has been Al Gaus for Berrien County Michigan State University Extension.