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Pest and Disease Management

Last updated on September 24, 2019

Good monitoring is the basis of pest and disease management in organic growing. As a general rule, sanitation and clean orchard practices are recommended in hazelnut orchards. Plant blight resistant and insect and pathogen-free nursery stock.

Long-term field trials with blight resistant hazelnuts have not happened in B.C. It remains to be seen whether i) Eastern Filbert Blight will still need to be managed to some degree, or ii) other diseases not previously an issue will present in the new varieties.  Products used to control blight are limited to cultural practices (removing infected branches) and copper. Copper must be re-applied after rain, requiring multiple applications during the storm season. Too many applications can result in toxic levels of copper build up in the soil so caution is required.

Biological control focuses on increasing populations of natural enemies. For example, mating disruption is being used to control Filbertworm:

Pest Management in organic hazelnut Production. Available from:

Check out the disease and pest section of the guide (for conventional and organic). The major issues are the same for conventional and organic, and although there are less products available for organic there are still some products available. Organic growers must verify product acceptability with their Certification Body (CB) before use. Some certifying bodies have published approved lists. There is an industry driven initiative attempting to collate a national list of approved pest/disease/plant control and plant nutrient products. Interested growers should contact the Certified Organic Associations of BC (COABC) in Vernon.

This guide does not provide a full listing of service contacts for the industry.  The B.C. Hazelnut Growers Association may be able to assist you to find the information or services required.

References provided within the body of the guide and summarized in the appendix provide sources deemed useful by industry associations, government agencies or universities. Not all information provided may be applicable to the specific growing conditions of your farm.