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Bird Control in Table Grapes Field trials, at the Washington State University Prosser Irrigated Agriculture Research and Extension Center, show that Bird Shield™ repellent is effective in reducing bird damage to table grapes. In these trials, conducted over more than five years, bird damage was reduced up to 98% to all grapes. Damage to untreated grapes ranged from 15% to 78% while damage to the same varieties ranged from a little under 1% to less than 5%. Trials were conducted using rates of 1/4 gallon of concentrate per acre to 1 gallon of concentrate per acre. All were diluted in water to form a 100 gallon tank mix prior to application. All were effective however application rates at 1/2 gallon of concentrate were more efficient by reducing bird damage more than the 1/4 gallon rate and as efficient as the 3/4 and 1.0 gallon rates. Initial applications were made with gasoline-powered back pack sprayers to test the initial efficacy of the product on the crop. Applications to larger areas, from which the data from the graph were derived, were made with ground sprayers. The most efficient application timing was found to be 15 days pre-harvest when sugar content accumulation was at its peak. Quality Post harvest handling of the crop treated with Bird Shield™ repellent was reduced by about 98%. Fewer than 5% of the harvested clusters had to be trimmed prior to packing. Almost all of the untreated clusters required inspection and trimming. No adverse effects of the repellent were found on the treated crop. No quality difference, including taste, were found when the treated crop was compared with the untreated crop when picked 15 days post-application. Environmental Effects Bird Shield™ breaks down when exposed to sunlight and elevated temperatures. The active ingredient is insoluble in water and once applied can not be removed by rain or water baths. The length of time the product is efficacious depends on the amount of sunlight reaching the crop. Crops under heavy canopies will be protected longer than those exposed to direct sunlight. |
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