Sustainable Agriculture

Growing sustainable crops holds great potential for achieving a healthy environment and economic profitability. On this page, learn about sustainable production of fruit crops, including integrated pest management (IPM) practices and encouraging native bees to pollinate your orchard. Additionally, find information regarding the Young Grower Alliance and access to a field guide to tree fruit disorders, pests, and beneficials.

Fruit Crops and Sustainable Agriculture

Sustainable agriculture utilizes various farming methods and practices that are environmentally and economically sound. These often involve pest and weed control, as well as nutrition and soil fertility management.

Fruit crop pests are a major concern for many producers. As part of sustainable fruit production, integrated pest management (IPM) can help minimize the use of pesticides and make sustainable use of sprays that are the least disruptive to the environment. Discover more about IPM spray programs and chemical management with the Tree Fruit Production Guide for commercial fruit growers.

Unwanted weeds are another important management practice in tree fruit production. Frequent tilling for weed control, however, deteriorates soil structure and weakens soil aggregates, causing them to be susceptible to decay. By employing a weed management plan and utilizing herbicides, farmers can minimize soil disruption.

Penn State Extension provides further information on orchard nutrition and determining soil fertility needs. Producers also have the opportunity to join one of the Spring Orchard Meetings to discuss current fruit crop issues and trends with fellow growers and Extension specialists.

Encouraging Bees in Your Orchard

Bees, including honeybees and pollen bees, play an essential role in orchard ecosystems and make major contributions to sustainable farming. Along with other pollinators such as butterflies and wasps, they pollinate a wide range of fruit trees, vegetables, nuts, and other crops.

Bee pollination can improve crop yield, increase fruit quality, and enhance nutritional value. What’s more, it promotes a longer shelf life, which, in turn, could contribute to reducing food waste.

In order to maintain high pollination activity during bloom periods, it is crucial to keep hives healthy. It’s important to remember that both honey and wild bees are vulnerable to many of the pesticides used to control insects and weeds.

Recommendations for finding a balance between protecting sustainable fruit crops and protecting pollinators include not using pesticides on blooming crops if bees are present, avoiding pesticide usage pre-bloom, and not applying insecticides until after the bees have left the crop.

Find Resources on Growing Sustainable Crops

In this section, fruit producers can access Penn State Extension resources on managing a sustainable fruit production, such as implementing a bio-renovation strategy to reduce fungal disease and scouting the orchard floor to identify problem weeds.

Information is also available for Pennsylvania fruit producers interested in best practices for pollination in apple and cherry orchards.