Methods

1. Post-harvest Clean Up Crew: Flash-grazed Hogs in Organic Fruit OrchardsKrista Buehrer1 and Dr. Matthew Grieshop11 Michigan State University Entomology Department

2. Methods • Three crops: cherry, pear, apple • Two replicates • 3 grazed plots/rep • 3 ungrazed plots/rep • Three 20m transects/plot • Ground cover measured every meter • All fruit collected from 4 random quadrats • Fruit weighed and insect presence evaluated

3. Methods • 12 Yorkshire hogs • Hogs relatively large, all but one over 140lbs • Hogs rotated through plots every ~ 2 days

4. Plot Layout • Plots 81 x 81 ft (0.15 acres) • Electric rope fencing with step-in posts and t-posts at the corners

6. Ground Cover Results • Grass ground cover statistically the same in grazed and ungrazed plots before the hogs (p=0.67) • Hogs significantly decreased grass ground cover (p=0.000002)

7. Ground Cover Results • Bare ground statistically the same in grazed and ungrazed plots before hogs (p=0.16) • Hogs significantly increased bare ground cover (p=0.000005)

8. Ground Cover Results • Fruit ground cover statistically the same before hogs (p=0.58) • Hogs significantly decreased fruit ground cover (p=0.000000002)

9. Ground Cover Results Ungrazed Grazed

10. Fruit Biomass • Fruit biomass statistically the same before hogs in grazed and ungrazed plots (p=0.28) • Hogs significantly reduced fruit biomass (t=26.92, d.f.=4, p=0.000001)

11. Fruit Biomass

12. Conclusions • Hogs significantly impact ground cover • Hog are a potentially effective tool to reduce fruit biomass leftover from harvest • Hogs may impact a few pest insects, but more in depth study is required

13. Conclusions • Large hogs most likely not suitable for high density orchards or trees with shallow root systems due to heavy rooting behavior

14. Acknowledgements • Gene Garthe • Jess Piskor • Phil Kavouriaris • Emily Pochubay