Farm Advisor Bill Coates spent his Friday counting subjects he
attracted with pheromones
– but not those purported to attract romantic partners. The
pheromones he uses appeal to promiscuous male codling moths.
Hollister – Farm Advisor Bill Coates spent his Friday counting subjects he attracted with pheromones – but not those purported to attract romantic partners. The pheromones he uses appeal to promiscuous male codling moths.
He’s not doing this for fun, but to collect data for his research, which is vitally important to local fruit and nut growers.
Coates has spent the 29 years working at University of California Extension Program in Hollister. This summer he has braved the heat to conduct a variety of research programs on farms throughout the county.
Yesterday Coates checked codling moth traps, a weekly chore, in a walnut grove as part of his research to determine how local farmers can best protect their walnut trees from worms that result from the eggs deposited by the moths.
Coates’ research involves pheromones, chemicals secreted by organisms usually to attract the opposite sex, which have been shown to be effective at attracting the moths. His research will analyze the effectiveness of a pheromone released by pears and compare it to a pheromone and kairomone mixture, to determine which one is more effective. Kairomones are a flower scent used to attract or repeal other species.
This research is important to organic walnut growers, because pheromones are not toxic and can be used on organic farms.
The moth data he collects will be fed into a computer to provide farmers with codling moth forecasts. Coates said many local farmers use the UC Extension Programs moth forecasts in order to determine the best time to spray pesticides. When the pesticides are sprayed at the right time, they are more effective – which can mean less spraying, less risk to the environment, and higher profits.
“(This research) can help reduce the overall amount of pesticide use,” Coates said. “It will be a great benefit to local growers, especially with the increasing number of organic farms.”
During his years with the UC Extension Program Coates has assisted with dozens of research projects aimed at helping San Benito County farmers. Three years ago, research conducted by Coates and several others helped Dow AgroSciences register two new chemicals that benefit farmers everywhere. Coates helped test the effectiveness of a natural insecticide, Spinosad, which was discovered in the sludge at the bottom of a rum barrel by a Dow chemist vacationing in the West Indies.
Coates is involved in about 20 research projects each year, all of which are designed to benefit the county’s fruit and nut growers. Coates, who has degrees in both plant science and horticulture, worked for several years as an administrator, but now divides his time between research and extension work, such as teaching farmers about pesticides.
“My enjoyment level has gone up because I’m an educator and scientist, not an administrator,” Coates said.
Brett Rowland covers education for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
