Leaves & Labels: Leaf Drop & Pesticide Intervals Explained

In the Season 2 premiere of Between Two Rows, Erika and Kristy tackle two orchard questions that just won't drop:1) Why are there still leaves on the tree?2) How do intervals on pest control product labels get set?First, Erika investigates why some trees hold onto their leaves longer than expected, breaking down the physiology of leaf drop, the role of the abscission layer, and whether marcescence really applies to apples. Then we shift gears to the regulatory world where Kristy explains how restricted entry intervals (REIs) and preharvest intervals (PHIs) are determined on pest control product labels - and why those numbers don't always line up the way you might expect.Featured cider this episode: Spy Cider House & Distillery (Spy Estate), The Blue Mountains ONHave a question for another episode? Leave it in the comments, or message us @fruitwithespurs or @appleofmyipm.For timely apple pest and production updates, check out onfruit.ca. Additional pest management information can be found at Ontario Crop IPM and the Ontario Crop Protection Hub.