Pesticide Impact Assessment News, March 1998
Pesticide Program Home Page | Pest Management Home Page Dr. John
F.Baniecki Report Review: Organic Agriculture and Pest
Management ... Objective information on actual pest management practices currently being used by farmers (use of pesticides and other pest management methods) is needed as a basis for developing informed regulatory decisions on registered pesticides. Therefore, the National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program (NAPIAP) supports state efforts to obtain such information through surveys of agricultural producers. Information from such surveys may also be useful in indicating effective alternative pest management methods and in identifying major pests toward which research and extension could best be directed to develop more effective pest management alternatives and solutions for producer identified problems. Previous surveys of Minnesota fresh market vegetable growers (1992, 1993) had indicated that approximately 30-40% were organic producers. The relatively large percentage of organic growers suggested that these growers were relying on effective production and pest management methods without the use of conventional pesticides. The NAPIAP supported report "Production and pest management practices of Minnesota organic fresh market vegetable growers in 1995" (Locke et al. 1997) summarizes results of a recent survey conducted to obtain further information on Minnesota organic fresh market vegetable grower management practices. Results: Questionnaires for the survey were mailed to 133 Minnesota organic fresh market vegetable growers (growers) and usable responses were received from 32 growers who produced vegetables organically during 1995. Grower acreage certified as organic ranged from 0.9-938 ac of which 0.006-30 ac was used for fresh market vegetable production (remaining certified land was used for cereal crops, fruits, or vegetables for processing). Most growers (60%) had produced vegetables organically for 10 years or more. Thirty-four different vegetable crops were grown with each grower producing an average of four crops. The most commonly produced crops included tomatoes, squash, sweet corn, potatoes, and cabbage. Soil amendments were applied by 86% of the growers and most (71%) applied animal manure. Organic matter content of grower soils ranged from 0.5-7.2%. Mulches were used by most growers (66%). Other cultural practices commonly used by growers included crop rotation (97%) cultivation (82%) and use of row covers (40%). Grower estimates of percentage of crop damage by (losses due to) insects, diseases, and weeds averaged 9, 9, and 17% respectively. Colorado potato beetle, cabbage looper, and cucumber beetle were the most frequently reported insect pests. Removing insects by hand and application of Bacillus thuringiensis insecticide were common methods used for insect control. Blight, mildew, and rust were the most commonly occurring diseases. Methods used for disease control included destruction of infected plants, crop rotation, seed treatments, use of resistant varieties, and use of liquid copper. The most commonly encountered weeds were quackgrass, pigweed, and lambsquarters. Hand weeding, hoeing, and cultivating were the most commonly used methods of weed control. Most growers (86%) scouted/monitored their crops for pests (58% scouted/monitored their crops at least twice each week) and most growers (92%) made pest control decisions based on crop scouting/monitoring information (62% based decisions on pest thresholds). These results indicate the importance of regular crop scouting/monitoring for effective pest management. Related Information: Results of a recent national survey of organic farmers conducted in 1995 by the Organic Farming Research Foundation is available through the Midwest Organic Alliance: Midwest Organic Alliance. 1997. Organic Farming Research Foundation 1995 National Organic Farmers' Survey Results. http://www.midwestorganic.org/4/survey/index2.html . |
