The fruit set is underway! Right now the apples are between the size of a pea and the size of a nickel. The weather has been favorable but we need rain, badly. The orchard is irrigated but rain is always a better option. Pests have been light to this stage and thats a good thing too. Some of our biggest pests are caterpillars and birds. Both of which can be a real pain to deal with. Scab, which is a fungal disease, has been light to this point also. Untreated scab can wipe out an orchard in a few years if left uncontrolled. Several times a week during the summer, these are just a few of the things that I need to be on the lookout for. But as long as none of these issues get out of control, we will have another decent crop in just a few months. The bees are also doing good. Happy bees are another barometer of how things are going in the orchard. Stay tuned!
