hoophouse ipm workshop - epes 2011
DESCRIPTION
This presentation was delivered by Dr. Majumdar to over 40 hoop house (organic) farmers at a meeting organized by the Federation of Southern Cooperatives (Epes, AL). Future workshops will have more indepth information about insects lifecycles and organic control methods suitable for hoop house agriculture.TRANSCRIPT
Integrated Pest Management in the Hoop House
Dr. Ayanava MajumdarExtension Entomologist (Peanuts, Vegetables)
State SARE Coordinator (Auburn U)Alabama Cooperative Extension System
Cell phone: 251-331-8416Email: [email protected]
Epes, AL, November 4, 2011
• What is IPM?• Insect management challenges• Basic insect identification skills• Management techniques – botanicals,
natural enemies (predators, parasitoids)• Product sources (handouts)• Extension resources for farmers
After this presentation, you will know…
Reminder: SARE Producer Grants close November 15th, 2011
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Alabama Cooperative Extension System (ACES)
• Small size, cryptic in nature• Small food requirement• Rapid and prolific reproduction
– Parthenogenesis• Grows by molting (control over
growth rate)• Life stages feed on different
substrate
Why are INSECTS so abundant?
Pest: Organism that harm human beings or their property. Loss is economic & measurable.
Integrated Pest Management or IPM is an economically feasible, environmentally friendly and socially responsible way of farming.
Goal is to incorporate cultural, mechanical, natural, biological, chemical, microbial, and botanical pest control tactics.
Goal is to apply interventions using decision making tools so less insecticides are used.
What is IPM?
Hoop house (protected agriculture) farmers can use IPM to…
• Diversify pest control options
• Timely pest control
• Account for natural enemy activity
• Increase sustainability of the farming operation
Why use IPM?
Why use IPM?
Ref.: Waldman et al. (2010). Hoophouse farming startup: Economics, efforts, and experiences of 12 novice hoophouse farmers. Extension bulletin 3318. Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI
Be careful on how you interpret IPM reports from other states. Pest pressures
are much higher in Alabama compared to Michigan, so investment in pest management under hoop house may also change!
Passive ventilationWhat it means? • Natural air movement in high
tunnels• Air movement dependent on
structure and plant arrangement
• Pockets of high humidity, temp.
Impact on insect pests:• Aphid & whiteflies prefer
humidity• Hot-spots of insect activity• Heat stressed plants are more
susceptible to pests
Hoop House Microenvironment
Rainfall exclusionWhat it means? • Plastic cover prevents rainfall • Irrigation is a must• Wide soil moisture variations
under canopy
Impact on insect pests:• Rainfall disturbs insects
physically• Various pathogens kill insects• Above phenomena do not
occur!• Soil insects move between
moisture zones
Hoop House Microenvironment
Aphids affected by a fungus (Image: UC IPM Program)
Planting density/Crop diversityWhat it means? • Insects hide well in plant
mixes• Plenty of food (host plants)• Pockets of humidity
Impact on insect pests:• Continuous migration
between plants• Rapid population growth• Limitation on the use of
insecticides (read the label)
Hoop House Microenvironment
Use insect pest monitoring systems – PHEROMONE TRAPS for mothsEasy & fun for the family!Use trap crops for scouting.
First step to IPM adoptionObjectives: Early detection + Identification = Timely control
Pheromone trap in trap crop
Wing pheromone trap
• No standards for hoop house on chemical insecticide labels
• No testing of chemicals in hoop house conditions• Small size of hoop house operators limits expenses
YOU MAY USE HOME GARDEN CHEMICALS, BUT…• Synthetic chemicals would persist longer • Chemicals could harm the structure• Drift of chemicals & high temps could injure plants• May discourage buildup of beneficial insects
USE ALTERNATIVE INSECTICIDES & BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS!
Can synthetic chemical insecticides be used under hoop house?
KEY PESTS IN HOOP HOUSE VEGETABLE PRODUCTION
Aphids (insects with tailpipes)• First invaders of crop in hoop house
• Have piercing-sucking mouthparts
• Parthenogenetic reproduction
• Transmit viruses (CMV), sooty mold
• Monitor using stick yellow cards
• Use indicator plants (trap crops)
Melon aphid, Aphis gossypiiImage: UFL
Green peach aphid, Myzus persicaeImage: UFL
Potato aphid, Myzus persicaeImage: UFL
Sooty mold
• Predators: – Lady beetles ($17 for 1500 adults)– Lacewings ($13 for 1000 eggs)– Syrphid larvae
• Greenhouses: Predatory midges (Aphidoletes aphidimyza) – inundative approach, $67 for 1000 pupae
• Host-specific parasitoids: Parasitic wasp, Aphelinus ($69 for 250 mummies) – augment each year
• Organic: insecticidal soap, oils, Mycotrol-O (Beauveria)
• Treat lower leaf surfaces!
Aphid Control under Hoop Houses
Lacewing larva
Predatory midge
Parasitic wasp (Aphelinus)
Whiteflies (insects without tailpipes)
• Have piercing-sucking mouthparts
• All life stages feed on plant sap
• All life stages can transmit viruses (lettuce infectious yellow)
• Tough to identify in field unless collected in vials
• Produce honey dew, cause sooty mold (like aphids), leaf distortion
• Monitor using yellow sticky cards
Greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum
Silverleaf whitefly, Bemisia tabaci
• Predators: Lady beetles• Host-specific parasitoids:
– Parasitic wasp, Encarsia formosa - $13-24 for 1000 eggs, 3000 weekly dosage per acre, each adult can kill 100+ WF per week
– Parasitic wasp, Eretmocerus eremicus, $52 for 3000 eggs
– Augmentative release every year
• Organic: insecticidal soap, oils, Mycotrol-O (Beauveria), pyrethrin, neem
Whitefly Control under Hoop Houses
Parasitic wasp, Encarsia formosa
Thrips (insects with bristly wings)• Elongate insects, 0.02-0.05 inch
• Have rasping-sucking mouthparts
• All life stages feed on plant sap
• All life stages can transmit viruses (spotted wilt virus)
• Cause leaf distortion & bronzing, scratch marks
• Monitor using blue sticky cards>>>
Greenhouse thrips, Heliothrips haemorrhoidalis
Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis
• Predators:
– Lady beetles, $8 for 1500
– Minute pirate bugs, 1000-2000 per acre, $127 for 1000…VERY EFFECTIVE!!
• Trap and kill using sticky cards
• Organic: insecticidal soap, Mycotrol-O (Beauveria), sulfur, diatomeous earth, spinosyn (ENTRUST)
Thrips Control under Hoop Houses
Lady beetles, Hippodamia convergence
Minute pirate bug,
Orius sp.
Mites (not insects)• Closely related to spiders, often
microscopic in size
• Produce fine silk webbing underside of leaves
• Damage plant cells during feeding, cause severe structural abnormalities, bronzing of leaves
• Worse in dry years (starts from a hot-spot)
• Dry leaves & high temps under hoop house ideal conditions for outbreak
• Watch for early signs of crop injury, reduce plant stress.
Two spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae
Mite Control under Hoop Houses• Reduce plant stress, do not mow grass close
to crops
• Predatory mites:
• Galendromus occidentalis: feed on two spotted spider mites, eriophid mites (eggs, nymphs); prefers warm weather (80F) and moderate humidity (40-50%); 5000 mites/acre or higher. $29 for 1000 mites.
• Mesoseiulus longipes: feed on all stages of pest mites and prefers low moisture conditions. Can survive high temps (100F) if humidity is high. $53 for 1000 mites.
• Organic management: Spot treatment with insecticidal oil or soap, neem-based products (azadirachtin), sulfur (watch for leaf burn)
Managing soil insect pests• Larvae in soil: Japanese beetle, squash
vine borer, cutworms, maggots, Colorado potato beetle,
• Use raised bed and replace soil
• Solarize soil with plastic
• Sample soil in beds before, during and after season; identify insects correctly
• Control:
• Nematode products: Nemaseek (Heterorhabtidis) for untilled soil; $20-50 depending on garden or farm size
• Steinernema for disturbed soils
ROTATE – ROTATE – ROTATE
Use Extension IPM publications to find different pesticide classes and rotate
application.
Organic insecticide research
– Insecticide rotation for resistance management
Good rotation partners
Organic pesticide/natural
enemies/traps suppliers
Small purchases:• Arbico Organics• Biocontrol Network• Great Lakes IPM• Amazon.com
Large purchases:• BioWorks, Inc.• Novozymes Biologicals• Koppert Biological Systems• Syngenta – Bioline
Integrated Pest Management in the Hoop House
Dr. Ayanava Majumdar (Dr. A)
QUESTIONS?