Every year, specialty crop growers face the same question: "Can we justify the cost of spray software?" The real cost calculation is simpler if you flip the equation.

What does a failed PHI check cost?

What does an auditor finding issues in your spray records cost?

What does a week of scrambling for paper logs during audit season cost?

Harvest is likely the single largest expense on your specialty crop operation. Labor accounts for 40 to 60 percent of total production costs, depending on your crop and region. When that much money and effort rides on every bin, how you record the harvest determines your inventory accuracy, traceability, labor costs, and compliance readiness through the rest of the year.

Harvest is likely the single largest expense on your farm. Labor accounts for roughly 40 to 42 percent of production expenses for specialty crops, according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture and USDA ERS data, depending on your crop and region. When that kind of money is riding on every bucket, every bin, and every bushel, you need a clear line of sight into what each picker is doing and what it costs.

Specialty crop growers are in the midst of a long transition period, moving from a historic reliance on synthetic agrochemicals, towards more dynamic approaches like Integrated Pest Management (IPM). Orchardists and apple growers in particular have been at the forefront of this shift, being some of the first to adopt biological treatments like pheromone sprays.

In the apple industry, the move towards biologicals is not just a response to environmental advocacy, but is a calculated adaptation due to an evolving regulatory landscape; a growing consumer demand for “residue free”produce; and increasing agrochemical and fertilizer costs. When used well, IPM strategies, including biological treatments, can help growers reduce traditional treatment costs and increase yield and quality.

This article will detail the types of biologicals most commonly used in apple orchards, the regulations covering their use in Canada, and how Croptracker can help growers make the most of their biological applications.