Three years of experiments were conducted to help increase profit margins for apple growers, cope with new regulations on pesticide use, and deal with increased pesticide resistance by major apple pests and diseases.

Weed competition and economics are two common barriers to Iowa farmers' investing in tree plantings. This project examined seven weed control strategies and investigated productivity of small grain/forage combinations raised with trees in an effort to suggest management options that would encourage tree planting in the state.

Field trials were conducted to determine if the pawpaw could serve as a successful alternative crop for farmers in the central United States.

Those interested in planting black walnuts have lacked information about the best cultivars available for planting in Iowa. This project initiated long-term studies of several varieties of black walnut trees to determine the best cultivars for Iowa growers.

The goal of this initial three-year project was to establish the pawpaw trees and bring them to fruiting stage. This was part of a long-term effort to evaluate the potential for an Iowa pawpaw tree fruit crop.

The challenges and opportunities, including financial returns, were studied for six different perennial crops that can be used in agroforestry practices. Crops investigated were aronia berry, black walnut, chestnut, Christmas trees, elderberry and hazelnut.

Project investigators tested the potential for production and utilization of the pawpaw as an alternative crop for Iowa fruit growers. Fruit from an ongoing trial was processed and preserved for future marketing.