Plan to use biocontrols on spring crops

If you’re planning to use biocontrols for pest management on your spring crops, now is the time to prepare for implementing a pest management program. Tina Smith, ext. floriculture specialist at Univ. of Mass., and Leanne Pundt, greenhouse IPM specialist at Univ. of Conn., said management and employees need to be on-board and involved. Never start a biological control program in the middle of a growing season. Start the program at the start of a new crop cycle. Biocontrols prevent problems, they don’t fix problems. Begin by reviewing pest problems from this past year and avoid pesticide use 3-4 months prior to using biological controls. Implement a consistent monitoring procedure. Set a start date for using biological controls. Start using biological controls in the propagation area, right from the beginning of the crop. If you are starting with vegetative cuttings or plugs from a supplier/broker ask for specific information about what pesticides have been used on the starter material. Pesticide residues either on, in or around the greenhouse or on plant material is one of the main reasons for failure of biocontrols. Phase out the use of control materials in the organophosphate, carbamate, and pyrethroid chemical classes prior to releasing natural enemies since many of these materials can persist for 4 months or longer in the greenhouse. During the transition period, before introducing biocontrols, consider using products that are not necessarily compatible with natural enemies, but have a short residual effect of less than 2 weeks.