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IPM: A Work in Progress
| Lee Nye
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>> Published Date: 12/15/2008
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 At D. S. Cole Growers, we are working towards a more sustainable future. Like every grower, we analyze our practices and try ways to grow smarter. We have taken several steps to analyze our current practices and apply refined techniques towards this goal.
The use of crop culture and technology aids us. With improved practices of temperature, humidity and sanitation, we can minimize the need for some growth regulators and fungicides. Another method we are applying to certain crops is the use of biological control agents.
Gerberas
With the help of IPM Labs, the first crop we tried biologicals on was our 2008 spring gerbera daisy crop. The target pests were thrips, aphids and spider mites. For the management of aphids, we used a banker plant system. We grew barley plants and colonized them with bird-cherry-oat aphids. Once the population was established, we introduced Aphidius colemani, a parasitic wasp. These wasps will parasitize peach and melon/cotton aphids, which are common pests of gerbera. To attack spider mites, we used two different mites, Neoseiulus fallacis and Neoseiulus californicus. For thrips management, we introduced Neoseiulus cucumeris and Hypoaspis miles. Both are predatory mites. Hypoaspis miles will also feed on fungus gnat larvae.
Control of the target pests was acceptable until the last few weeks. Thrips pressure had increased. We stopped the biological program, applied “soft” insecticides and lowered the thrips population to an acceptable level. With biological control agents, we were able to grow a high-quality gerbera crop and lower our spray applications.
Poinsettias
With one success, we wanted to try for another. We chose whitefly management of this year’s poinsettia crop. We began weekly releases of Eretmocerus eremicus, during propagation. With careful scouting of the crop, we have been able to monitor our whitefly population. Adjustments to the volume of Eretomcerus released were based on area of the crop and pest infestation. At final spacing, we have 30,000 potted poinsettias over 21,600 sq. ft. Our whitefly population is low. We only sprayed twice throughout the crop production. In late September, we sprayed Azatin twice. Our poinsettia bracts have no pesticide residue and look brighter. With one more success, we plan to look for more crops where biological control agents can help us grow smarter and happier.
MPS
One more significant step towards sustainability is our involvement in the MPS program. MPS is a certification program originating in Holland. The program monitors our inputs, such as fertilizer, fuel and pesticides on a monthly basis and gives us a score based on these usages. There are different levels of certification, to reflect our company’s efforts towards sustainability.
This is not an organic certification. Although the terms “organic” and “sustainable” often get confused, we are more focused on the total inputs and waste involved in producing a crop. MPS does restrict certain chemicals, but we’ve found that most, if not all, of those chemicals are illegal to use here anyway. We do get a better score for using softer chemicals, but it is not all-or-nothing. They realize there are times when something stronger must be used. We find this a positive of the program.
MPS certification is an ongoing process. We report our usage of inputs once a month. It makes us think about our processes in a continuous way. We found ourselves realizing that if we challenge ourselves, we can continue to improve our methods.
Lee Nye is a grower at D .S. Cole Growers, Loudon, New Hampshire, and can be reached atgrowers@dscolegrowers.com.
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