Overview and information needed to integrate conservation BC in orchard systems

We are currently at a “teachable moment” for implementation of IPM programs with a greater reliance on conservation biological control in western apple, pear, and walnut orchards. These crop systems are in the midst of the transition from OPs used for the last 50+ years to newer pesticide chemistries, and the use of mating disruption for key lepidopteran pests. The members of this symposia are committed to take advantage of the changes associated with this transition, with the goal of enhancing biological control and preventing the systems from just ending up with “pesticide replacement therapy” based IPM programs that are more costly with a greatly reduced biological control component. However, to successfully enhance biological control, it is clear we need to redirect our research agendas to fill in knowledge gaps in our understanding of how to quickly and simply monitor natural enemies, which ones are most critical to BC, when they occur in orchards, and the effect of the newer pesticide chemistries on natural enemies. In addition to changing our research goals, the group also understands that outreach programs must be revamped to be more efficient, more user friendly, provide time-sensitive management decision support, and show economic returns on the new management tactics.