Rust To Bust

Cedar Rust looks other worldly

Sometimes nature has its way with us!

This is the flip side of being spray-free. We are not equipped with the traditional tool, sulfur to spray, to keep cedar rust in check. Instead we focus on our own “crop insurance” by having multiple sites with distinct and unique weather patterns. This allows us to have a good harvest every year. While some sites may suffer, others will thrive.

What is Cedar Rust?

Cedar rust is a plant disease that affects both cedar trees and certain types of fruit trees, like apple and pear. Imagine it as a sickness that passes back and forth between these trees, causing trouble for both.

Here's how it works:

1. Cedar Trees: The disease starts on cedar trees. In spring, you might see orange, jelly-like growths on the branches. These are the spores that the disease uses to spread.

2. Fruit Trees: The wind blows these spores onto nearby apple or pear trees. Once they land on the leaves or fruit of these trees, they create orange or yellow spots. These spots can make the fruit look bad and can even reduce the amount of fruit the tree produces.

3. Cycle Continues: Later in the summer, the spores from the apple or pear trees blow back onto cedar trees, starting the cycle all over again.