Scientists in Washington State are reassessing fireblight control strategies following the 2006 season, when there were surprisingly few outbreaks. In theory, after widespread fireblight in 2005 that resulted in carryover bacteria in the orchards, the state”s tree fruit industry was set up for another bad fireblight year if the weather was hot and wet during bloom. North central Washington experienced high temperatures in mid-May when there was extensive secondary bloom on Bartlett pears. Then it rained for several days. “The model indicated we had severe infection conditions,” recalled Tim Smith, Washington State University Extension educator for north central Washington. “These […]