03/22/05 The bloom, and the pests?

If meteorologists are correct, the threat of frost, and its effect on the early bloom of fruit trees in the region, should be minimal. However, the early bloom and warmer than normal weather has also raised another concern among field men in the Northwest. SQUIRES: And we're also concerned in regards to insect control in that period too. We're having to ramp up a little earlier than normal and take care of some issues prior time frames that we're use to. That's Nate Squires of Northwest Wholesale. He says complicating matters in preventative pest control is a lack of H20. SQUIRES: Our biggest problem that we faced with an early deal is most of our irrigation ditches and canals do not have that turned in, and probably won't have that turned in in this early time period. But not just from an irrigation standpoint, but also along the lines of having water to fill sprayers to apply needed pesticides. Squires says that is one of many challenges that may force field men to be ready to improvise when it comes to plans to handle pests & or potential frost for that matter & this early in the season. SQUIRES: Some of the early things that we can do developments come on early enough that we have to move away from that idea and have to go to a second alternative plan so that we can continue with the rapid development that we're facing.