Organic Pest Management: Strategies

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Organic Pest ManagementStrategies Products
for the Small Farm

• Richard Boylan
• Area Agent,
• Alternative Agriculture
• New River Headwaters

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EPM6Least Toxic Control Strategies and
components OMRI certified products

• Richard Boylan, NC Cooperative Extension,
  Ashe/Watauga Counties

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Successful Organic Growing Requires

• Sustainable soil management through
  cover-cropping composting
• Diversification of production over space time
• Farmscaping for beneficial insect habitat
• Organic pest control inputs when necessary
  (Rescue Chemistry)

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or to put it more simply

• Be good to your soil it will be good to you.
  Healthy plants have more inherent pest
  resistance.
• Keep something flowering throughout the season
• Know your organic pest control products, so you
  can obtain them at the right time.

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Cover Crops

• Cover crops enrich protect soils.
• Their blooms can be part of a farmscaping
  strategy.

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Compost!

• Whether small or large, start a compost pile.

• Soil biology needs organic matter to sustain
  itself.

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Soil Biology

• Once soil has adequate levels of organic matter,
  it can also be amended with beneficial organisms,
  such as Trichoderma (Rootshield, Plantshield,
  etc.) to help reduce soil-borne diseases.

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Diversification of production

• Companion Planting mixes different species in a
  bed or field to confuse pests and maximize
  yields.
• Different strategies include mixing herbs
  vegetables (i.e.- tomatoes basil), and
  combining tall/skinny plants with broad/leafy
  ones (i.e.- leeks rainbow chard, shown _at_ right)

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Crop Rotation

• Diversity over time
• Breaks disease cycles by removing host plants
• Appropriate at all scales of production

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Diversification contd

• If you already grow vegetables, consider adding

flowers, herbs, and animals to your garden for
enhanced pest resistance.
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Farmscaping

• Farmscaping is the strategic cultivation and
  placement of flowering plants, hedgerows, etc. to
  attract beneficial predatory insects.

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Farmscaping contd.

• Plants that attract beneficials generally have
  exposed simple flowers. Also, some farmscaping
  plants have additional nectar sources (i.e.-
  extrafloral nectaries).
• Plant families that are important for farmscaping
  include the composites (Compositae), the umbels
  (Apiaceae), clovers, many other flowers.

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Farmscaping means Diversity

• A diversity of flowering plants is more important
  that any single magic bullet.

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Farmscaping contd.

• Many beneficial insects utilize flower nectars
  for food in addition to their prey.
• Beneficial insects will not stay in your garden
  unless they have good habitat a consistent food
  supply.

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Farmscaping will attract beneficial insects

• Once your farmscaping gets going, look for
  ladybugs, lacewings, and pirate bugs, plus
  parasitic wasps, syrphid flies, and other
  beneficials.

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Organic Sprays

• Sometimes, disease or insect pressure will build
  to a level that requires intervention.
• To remain within organic parameters, look for
  Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI)
  approval, or acceptance in the National Organic
  Program (NOP).
• Even organic sprays can be hazardous read
  follow the label, and use caution common sense.

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Look for these symbols
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Organic Materials Research Institute (OMRI)

• The Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI) is
  a national nonprofit organization that determines
  which input products are allowed for use in
  organic production and processing.
• OMRI Listedor approvedproducts may be used on
  operations that are certified organic under the
  USDA National Organic Program.
• There are three OMRI Review Panels Crops,
  Livestock, and Processing and Handling. They make
  decisions on product applications for the OMRI
  Review Program.

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OMRI Review Program

• OMRI accepts applications for products intended
  to be used in organic production or processing to
  determine whether are in fact allowed under the
  National Organic Program. Some typical examples
  of the types of OMRI reviews are fertilizers for
  organic farming and feed supplements for organic
  animal production.
• After staff review, applications are submitted to
  the Review Panel. When the Review Panel votes to
  accept an application, the product becomes OMRI
  Listed. This means that the company is permitted
  to say 'OMRI Listed' on the product's label and
  any promotional literature. OMRI Listed products
  are suitable for use in organic production or
  food processing. Also, OMRI Listed are included
  on the OMRI Products List.

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OMRI Review Program

• OMRI has 3 categories of products
• 1) Crop Protection products.
• 2) Livestock Production products.
• 3) Post Harvest Processing products.
• A and R Codes in the OMRI Products List are
  designated with an OMRI Status that indicates
  whether they are A for Allowed or R for
  Restricted.

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How current is the OMRI Products List?

• Subscribers receive quarterly hardcopy addenda to
  the OMRI Products List in March, June, September,
  and December. Bimonthly updates of the OMRI
  Products List are made to the web version. Users
  may periodically check the web version to ensure
  that they have the most up-to-date information
  and status regarding OMRI Listed products. No
  password or login is needed to access this free
  service.

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Organic Disease Controls

• Neem products include Neem oils, Neem-based
  insecticidal soaps, and Neem-extracts
  (azadiracthin).
• Each of these have its own mode of action, and
  particular strengths.
• Neem extracts have shown some evidence of
  systemic activity.

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More About Neem

• A broad spectrum activity against fungus,
  insects, and bacteria.
• From neem tree Azadiracta indica
• Shown to be effective against powdery mildew,
  grey mold, white mold (beans), and somewhat
  effective against early blight on tomatoes.

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Neem Application Guidelines

• Apply before disease pressure is high, and/or
  when insects are young.
• Most effective _at_ warm temperatures
• Must cover undersides and tops of leaves,
  although some systemic action has been reported
  when used as a soil drench.
• Multiple applications usually necessary for
  effective control

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Sulfur

• Inexpensive
• Effective against powdery mildew apple scab.

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Sulfur formulations

• Can be part of a spray program for Alternaria
  (early blight) in tomatoes
• Useful in spray-rotations against powdery mildew
• Indiscriminate
• use can cause
• mite problems
• on some crops

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Potassium Bicarbonate - KHCO2

• Reasonably good control of Powdery Mildew on
  Cucurbits
• Works best when tank-mixed with a summer oil

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Organic Disease Controls

• Biofungicides PlantShield Serenade
• Trichoderma Bacillus subtilis

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Biofungicides PlantShield

• Trichoderma beneficial fungus
• Showed good control of early blight when used as
  a seedling drench.
• Also labeled for botrytis, powdery mildew, and
  root pathogens such as Pythium, Rhizoctonia,
  Fusarium, etc.
• Soil drench foliar applications

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Biofungicides Serenade

• Bacillus subtilis - bacteria
• Labeled for bean anthracnose, bean rust, downy
  mildews (brassica, onions), powdery mildews
  (cucurbits, tomatoes), etc.
• Some studies have showed poor control, but good
  results have been noted locally.

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Contans Coniothyrium minitans

• Studies in NE found good control for lettuce drop
  (sclerotinia)
• Not sold through
• major suppliers
• yet

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Biofungicides General

• Serenade, Contans, Plantshield are all living
  organisms.
• Each product has a limited shelf life.
• Hypothesis Effectiveness can be increased via
  tank-mixes of fish emulsion, soluble seaweed,
  molasses, and other catalysts (needs to be tested
  to be proven, but worth a try)

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Copper-based Fungicides Add Potency

• Copper Sulfate Copper Hydroxide
• Be sure to regularly soil-test to avoid Copper
  build-up

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Copper Hydroxide

• Best sprayed in solutions where pH gt6.0
• Copper remains the best control of tomato early
  blight
• Consider tank mixes and/or rotations with other
  fungicides

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Organic Fireblight Controls
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Organic Insect Management

• Farmscaping beneficial insects cant always
  control all pests
• Pheromone bait traps are allowed as long
  as they do not contain prohibited
  insecticides or other synthetic materials

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Barriers

• Flea Beetles can be managed via low tunnels of
  row-cover material.
• All edges of the cover should be buried for
  effective control.
• Remember that flea beetles overwinter in soil.

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Trap Crops

• Planting a trap crop of mustard, radish, or
  canola can also be useful in diverting flea
  beetles away from your cash crop. Nasturtiums are
  a good trap for aphids.
• Spraying of trap crop is optional.

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Organic Insecticides - Bt

• Cabbage Looper, Leaf-roller, other larvae
  Control
• Bacillus thuringiensis, i.e.- B.t.
• Must be ingested (eaten) by target insect to
  work.
• Avoid any GMO formulations not all Bts are OK
  for organic production!

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Horticultural Oils

• Particularly good for scale soft-bodied insects
  (mites, aphids, thrips whiteflies, mealybugs, and
  psyllids).
• Also has good effect as a fungicide (powdery
  mildew), and virus control.
• Must be used only when temperature is lt90F and
  RH is lt65. Leaves should be dry but not
  drought-stressed.

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Insecticidal Soap

• Best on soft-bodied insects in greenhouse
  settings. Also used outdoors for adelgids,
  leafminers, mealybugs, and scale.
• Also fungicidal against powdery mildew.
• Do not spray more than 1x-weekly. Do not spray
  with sulfur.
• Can be tank-mixed with many neem formulations

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Insect Pathogens

• Naturalis HG Beauveria bassiana fungal pathogen,
  OMRI listed - whitefly, aphid, thrips, plant bug,
  mealybug, soft bodied sucking insects
• Naturalis O, L - Naturalis L is the veg. label.
  Naturalis O is for ornamentals.
• Available from Rincon-Vitova

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Feeding Deterrents

• Garlic, Surround, Hot Pepper Wax, Neem dont
  kill, but can deter feeding.

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Surround

• In our (rainy) climate, Surround would have to be
  sprayed 2x/week to be effective.
• Tank-mix with Pyrethrum?
• Useful to deter Striped cucumber beetle.
• Some consumers worry about residues they are
  safe, but you may have a hard time convincing
  them.

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• Some insects will not be deterred by these. The
  Colorado Potato beetle is one such pest. Bean
  beetles and squash beetles are others.

• Biological controls and predator management
  should always be the first line of defense
  against these insects.

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More-powerful Insecticides

• These are the big guns. Effective, but overuse
  can harm populations of beneficial insects. Use
  with caution.

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Pyrethrum-based Insecticides

• Pyganic is the only liquid (EC) formulation of
  pyrethrum with OMRI approval (restricted use).
• Effective against glassy winged sharpshooter,
  Colorado potato beetle, stink bug, and loopers.
• Not effective against thrips, japanese beetles.
• Probably not worth it against aphids,
  leafhoppers, or caterpillars.

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More about Pyrethrum

• Broad Spectrum
• Toxic to bees other beneficials dont spray
  on blooming plants.
• Breaks down rapidly in sunlight soils
• Cannot be mixed with lime, sulfur, or soap will
  break down.
• Diatect-V also OMRI-listed. Used as dust or WP

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Spinosad - Entrust

• Derived from actinomycetes
• Fast-acting broad spectrum
• Effective against caterpillars, Colorado Potato
  Beetle, Cabbage flea beetle (lab)
• To avoid resistance, use lt4x per year, and rotate
  with other controls.
• Fresh spray is toxic to bees, beneficials. Use
  caution!

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Other Insecticides

• Older publications on organics will list Rotenone
  as an option. Unfortunately, there are presently
  NO OMRI-listed rotenone formulations.
• Some certifiers still allow Rotenone dusts.

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Repelling Four-legged Pests

• Extensive testing of deer-control products has
  been conducted by Christmas tree researchers in
  our area.
• Plantskydd was found to be effective, is
  OMRI-listed, and is labeled for use on fruits
  vegetables as well as ornamentals.

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Least Toxic Control Strategies

• 1) Hold Your Fire if possible. Spray as last
  resort.
• 2) If you dont know if you have a pest or not,
  find out before killing it.
• IF YOU HAVE TO SPRAY - use the least toxic, most
  biorational option available to protect
  beneficials (Use Bt before soap).
• Remember that soaps, oils and botanical
  pesticides are broad spectrum and kill the good
  bugs along with the bad.
• Use OMRI certified products in Ecological/
  Organic Production.

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For Further Information

• http//www.cals.ncsu.edu/sustainable/peet/IPM/inse
  cts/co4biolo.html
• http//www.attra.org/attra-pub/farmscape.html
• http//www.7springsfarm.com/
• http//www.groworganic.com/
• http//www.johnnyseeds.com/
• http//www.fedcoseeds.com/ogs.htm

Organic Product Vendors