Alan, thank you on several levels for that link.
Somewhat off topic for this particular thread, but the section on Control and Management applied to me and what I tried to describe as my personal problem concerning general disease and pest management in this post.
The following quote which began that paragraph in your linked article is something I wish I’d gleaned years ago.
“One of the first things to understand about agriculture is that it is not natural. Agroecosystems, whether they involve annual or perennial crops, exist only with the continued input of energy by man. Should that input be withdrawn, the system quickly reverts to the prevailing natural ecosystem for the region. Thus, man’s aim in agriculture has really evolved into an approach designed to keep nature in abeyance. Such domination of nature is tenuous at best.”
I was not previously aware that copper even played a role in fireblight management, only of removal and antibiotic treatments. I especially appreciate when statements are backed up by reliable sources and scientific studies.
Thanks.