Understanding stakeholder perspectives to increase IPM adoption in pear

Pear psylla (Cacopsylla pyricola) has been a destructive pear pest in the Pacific Northwest for decades. In the Wenatchee Valley, WA, one of the major pear growing regions, pear psylla have historically been managed conventionally, using broad-spectrum insecticides. Pear psylla have evolved resistance to these chemicals, causing management to consist of low efficacy expensive sprays that eliminate biological control and result in high pear psylla pressure every season. Contrastingly, other major pear growing regions have adopted IPM and have seen more success in controlling pear psylla. We aim to understand if the high pear psylla pressure in the Wenatchee Valley is due to a lack of adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) programs, which reduce broad spectrum materials to conserve natural enemies. We also intend to understand the factors that have led to the discrepancy in IPM adoption among regions. We combine quantitative insect monitoring data in conventional and IPM pear orchards to document IPM efficacy, with interviews of pest management decision-makers of those orchards to reveal perceptions of IPM. Results from monitoring data indicate that IPM orchards performed on average the same as conventional orchards throughout the season, but after harvest conventional orchards had vastly more psylla adults. Interviews revealed that many pear stakeholders believe that IPM has potential to be more successful than conventional management, but financial risk and lack of peer support diminish confidence in adoption. Next steps involve interviews with decision-makers in major IPM-focused pear growing regions to elucidate differences in management perceptions.