Almond Industry Continues to Encourage Mating Disruption for Navel Orangeworm: 4 Key Considerations for Choosing the Right Approach

The 2024 Almond Conference provided a wealth of insights for growers, orchard managers, and PCAs. Among the standout sessions was Design, Analyze, and Refine Your Pest Management Plan, which emphasized the pivotal role of mating disruption to control navel orangeworm.

Some key takeaways from this session which featured orchard managers and their PCAs highlighted the importance of year-round communication, continuous evaluation of the program, and even healthy disagreements. The one thing that all panelists did agree on was that mating disruption has emerged as the core element of every integrated pest management (IPM) program for navel orangeworm. When drafting budget inputs for the season, mating disruption is treated as its own distinct and non-negotiable line item, separate from the more reactionary insecticide inputs.

Now that mating disruption is universally accepted as a critical tool to protect against navel orangeworm (NOW), how to choose the best approach and product? Below are four key considerations to ensure you are maximizing your return on investment and delivering the highest quality crop.

1. Am I using the highest quality, most effective mating disruption product for my specific needs?

• Not all mating disruption products are created equal. While it is a common misconception that all perform similarly, differences in quality and efficacy will significantly impact your pest management outcomes. Investing in mating disruption means selecting a carefully formulated product that goes beyond just the pheromone active ingredient. Factors such as material quality, chemistry, and engineering play a vital role in ensuring effective and consistent pheromone release in the orchard.
  
• Suterra offers two proven solutions tailored to growers' needs. Puffer^® NOW Ace delivers continuous, season-long protection from early emergence through post-harvest, making it ideal for growers seeking uninterrupted coverage. For targeted applications, CheckMate^® NOW-F uses microencapsulation technology to align with specific pest flights and vulnerable crop stages. As the inventors of aerosol mating disruption and the only to develop a sprayable formulation, Suterra leverages unmatched expertise in chemistry, engineering, and entomology to deliver unrivaled performance. Backed by decades of expertise and rigorous quality control, Suterra’s USA-made products provide growers with reliable tools to optimize their mating disruption program.

2. Is my mating disruption protecting my crops consistently?

• Consistency is essential for maintaining effective mating disruption. Uneven or variable pheromone release will create gaps in coverage, allowing pests to mate and damage your crops. This is why mating disruption products must be meticulously engineered for reliable, consistent performance.
• Developed by USA-based chemical engineers, CheckMate^® NOW-F uses advanced microencapsulation technology to deliver consistent pheromone release over 30 to 60 days per application. This even coverage ensures that your mating disruption program is working at maximum effectiveness during critical pest periods.
• Similarly, Puffer^® NOW Ace upholds the highest quality standards by delivering precisely metered pheromone doses at regular intervals throughout the season. This eliminates the variability of other methods, ensuring uninterrupted coverage and reducing the risk of gaps that compromise efficacy. By prioritizing consistency with these advanced technologies, you can protect your orchard investment with confidence, knowing your crops are covered without interruption.

3. Is my mating disruption protecting my crops at the right time?

• Early-season deployment of mating disruption is the key to suppressing pest populations before they can multiply, reducing the pressure in all subsequent generations. By targeting key pest flights with long-lasting protection, growers can effectively reduce damage, protect their investment, and maximize returns.
• Puffer^® NOW Ace simplifies this process with season-long coverage from initial emergence through post-harvest, minimizing overwintering populations and ensuring uninterrupted protection throughout the entire season.
• For growers looking for a precision timing approach, CheckMate^® NOW-F offers targeted flexibility. Applied as the standard spring mummy spray, NOW-F addresses the extended initial NOW emergence, delivering up to eight weeks of disruption during this critical early-season window when NOW populations begin to establish. Subsequent application(s) timed to later stages (hull split and beyond) further safeguard crops during their most vulnerable stages, ensuring control over pest populations when it matters most. This strategic approach allows growers to align their mating disruption programs with pest lifecycles while maintaining cost efficiency.

4. Does my mating disruption last long enough for my needs?

• Choosing a reliable and long-lasting mating disruption product is paramount, especially when dealing with navel orangeworm’s early spring flights, late fall flights, and post-harvest activity. This reduces the need for frequent reapplications, saving time and labor while maintaining consistent protection and setting growers up for a successful mating disruption outcome.
• Puffer^® NOW Ace offers this unmatched season-long protection, extending well into post-harvest to minimize mummy infestations and overwintering populations.
• For growers looking for a sprayable option, CheckMate^® NOW-F delivers the longest residual activity of any NOW sprayable product – lasting up to 60 days during spring mummy sprays and 30 days when applied hull split or later.
• By choosing a product option that offers extended and reliable efficacy, growers will maximize their return on investment and be confident that their crops are consistently protected at the most critical times.

The Almond Conference reinforced what has become common knowledge: mating disruption is vital to protecting the industry from navel orangeworm. As you design your IPM and mating disruption strategy, asking the right questions will maximize your ROI and give you peace of mind knowing you have chosen the best option for your crop.

Curious about how Suterra can help you optimize your pest management plan? Please feel free to contact us today or explore our product range to find the perfect fit for your orchard.