While the enjoyment of good louse and other biocontrols for agricultural blighter management has n’t gained widespread usage in open field production , some Georgia farmers are using natural control method acting in greenhouse and high - tunnel production .
“ The make-up of our farms and the perception of our granger determine what biological controls we can use , if any , ” said Tim Coolong , University of Georgia associate prof of gardening , at a daylong go on Department of Education session for green producers on beneficial insects at the Georgia Green Industry Association ’s Wintergreen 2019 conference held Jan. 23 - 25 in Duluth , Georgia . “ We are very mindful of the role of beneficials and predators out there . Many fresh pesticide chemistries are very specific in what they are place , which is authoritative as there is continuing concern about pollinator wellness and seek to manage insecticides carefully . ”
The musical scale and the potential for incidental damage to craw limit the usefulness of beneficial insect in the production of some vegetable crops , however .
“ Introducing biologic agent to the farm is playing a larger role in the vegetable diligence , but stringently using beneficials in orotund - scale outdoor fields is n’t common , ” Coolong added . “ There is zero tolerance from vendee for ( insect ) damage in many of our vegetable crop , and because of these tolerance , we ’ve been limited in using good worm on a large undefendable - field scale . ”
Professor and UGA Extension Entomologist Will Hudson figure images of a beneficial predator from his microscope during a intro on good insects .
While many commercial-grade growers use biopesticides in conjunction with traditional synthetic chemistries in outside field of study production , the use of beneficial insects for pest ascendancy is rising among producer using high tunnels and greenhouses .
“ We ’ve realize a lot more success in protected structures , ” Coolong pronounce . “ For outdoor yield it is much more about contend the farmscape in a way that brings in more natural good insects by providing the right home ground for natural predatory animal . At this time , the focus has not been so much about releasing biologicals , but on how to ameliorate your farm with cover cropping and rotational crops that enhance the habitat for good insects . ”
practice such as strip - tillage uphold the habitat for good insect and natural predators , as does planting cover or rotational crops like clovers , buckwheat , cereals and wildflowers , which also benefit pollinators .
For more about controlling industrial plant pests through biologic restraint , meet your local UGA Cooperative Extension agent at 1 - 800 - ASK - UGA1 .
Source : University of Georgia ( Maria M. Lameiras )
