Vegetable Growers in Southern Pennsylvania Urged to Make the Switch to IPM - Novermber 2006

November 28, 2006

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The demand for food grown without pesticides is on the rise, but growers and producers are facing challenges entering into this emerging market. Researchers at Penn State and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture are looking to address some of these challenges through a new project set to begin in 2007.

The project will focus on integrated pest management (IPM), biological control and sustainable agriculture practices for vegetable growers, building on the same successful approach adopted by greenhouse vegetable growers over the last several years. Biological control, also known as biocontrol, uses beneficial organisms to control pests. Since most pests have various parasites, diseases and predators that can kill them, beneficial organisms can be purchased and released as a means of control. This results in improved crop yield and quality. It also can greatly reduce and sometimes eliminate the need for pesticides. This practice is part of a grower’s integrated pest management (IPM) program. IPM aims to manage pests -- such as insects, diseases, weeds and animals -- by combining physical, biological and chemical tactics that are safe, profitable and environmentally compatible. In addition, IPM requires that the grower be very knowledgeable about pest organisms and monitor the fields on a frequent basis.

Not only are consumers demanding food grown with less pesticide, so are federal regulators. According to Cathy Thomas, PDA IPM coordinator and project coordinator, the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA) has limited the number of pesticides that are registered for use in food production. Traditionally, vegetable growers in Pennsylvania have relied on using high quantities of chemicals to control pests, with greater than 87 percent of all snap beans, sweet corn, and pumpkins receiving some form of pesticide in 2004. “Because of market demand and new regulations, growers need to develop IPM strategies that reduce risk by using alternatives to pesticides as well as safer pesticides. Reducing  the use of pesticides also creates a safer working environment for farm workers, while reducing the regulatory requirements placed on the grower,” Thomas explains.

The project will involve two groups: conventional farmers in the Amish and Mennonite community, and organic farmers involved in Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). According to Thomas, CSA is a relatively new model of a local, sustainable agricultural system where local residents pay a membership fee in advance to a local farmer to cover the cost of production. Members receive a weekly share of the harvest during the growing season. “The CSA groups are already focused on the production of organic and pesticide-free vegetables. They’ll benefit from the project by receiving assistance in developing IPM methods such as introduction of biocontrols to control pests and preservation of natural enemies,” Thomas explains.

Both groups will also benefit from one-on-one training provided by an IPM specialist making periodic visits to each farm location. They’ll learn about pest identification, pest life cycles, and proper control of pests using IPM and biocontrol techniques. In addition, participants will learn about good record keeping techniques, which is required by the Pennsylvania Pesticide Control Act and is essential in an effective IPM/biocontrol program. Participants will be required to keep weekly scouting records of pest populations as well as records of all control measures taken. “Our goal is to develop a working relationship with the growers over time, which will lead to an increase of long-term implementation of the IPM and biocontrol methods,” says Thomas. “Ultimately, we estimate that growers will be able to reduce their pesticide use by at least 50 percent, provide a safer working environment for growers and their families, reduce crop loss, increase profitability and continue to produce pesticide-free food for the local consumer. The groups will be a model for conventional as well as organic growers to advance the adoption of sustainable pest management practices, promote environmental stewardship and create community bonds,” Thomas explains.
           
For more information on the project, contact Cathy Thomas at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture at 717-772-5204 or e-mail caththomas@state.pa.us.
 
The Pennsylvania IPM program is a collaboration between the Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture aimed at promoting integrated pest management in both agricultural and urban settings. For more information, contact the program at (814) 865-2839, or Web site http://www.paipm.org/. To view our archived news releases, see Web site http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/10.html.