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New, Full-Color Greenhouse IPM Manual Focuses on Biocontrol - February 2005
February 1, 2005
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - Now greenhouse growers can better manage their pest problems while reducing their pesticide use, thanks to a new manual produced by the Pennsylvania IPM Program.
The manual, "Greenhouse IPM with an Emphasis on Biocontrol", was developed in response to the need for practical information on greenhouse integrated pest management (IPM) and biological control also known as biocontrol. Biological control is the use of a beneficial organism to control pests. Since most pests have various parasites, diseases and predators that can kill them, these beneficial organisms can be purchased and released into greenhouses as a means of control. This results in good crop yield and quality and greatly reduces (and sometimes eliminates) the need for pesticides.
The manual was designed to help greenhouse growers implement biocontrol and IPM, says PA IPM Coordinator Cathy Thomas. "Greenhouse production is rapidly growing in Pennsylvania and surrounding states, while at the same time, the public is demanding greenhouse-grown food be produced with less pesticides. IPM provides an avenue to meet these demands by heavily relying on alternatives to pesticides such as biocontrol and good horticultural practices, and turning to pesticides only when absolutely necessary," Thomas explains.
Based on Thomas' "Bug vs. Bug" article series, the 108-page manual begins with an introduction to IPM and its principles, information on starting an IPM/biocontrol program and using compatible pesticides, and addresses many of the most common greenhouse pests and their biocontrols. "The manual will educate commercial greenhouse operators, crop consultants, and IPM scouts to develop biocontrol systems for greenhouses that will maximize yields while reducing pesticide usage," says Thomas.
In addition, the manual contains more than 90 full-color images as well as descriptions of the most common pests in the greenhouse industry and the biocontrols used to manage them. Based on more than 10 years of experience in implementing biocontrol and IPM in working, commercial greenhouses in Pennsylvania, information in the manual is very practical and designed to instruct greenhouse operators through a stepwise process. "We hope that this manual will encourage growers to develop their own IPM programs and train their employees to become familiar with IPM practices," Thomas says.
According to Thomas, the manual should be useful in most parts of the world since greenhouse pests are similar regardless of location. In addition, many vendors of greenhouse biological control organisms will ship their products anywhere, making biocontrols easily obtainable for any grower.
Thomas has over 15 years of experience in working in greenhouse IPM and biocontrol programs and has developed and implemented a statewide IPM program for commercial greenhouse potted plants, bedding plants, poinsettias and vegetable production. For more information on greenhouse IPM and biocontrol programs, contact Thomas at (717) 772-5204 or by email at caththomas@state.pa.us. For additional resources, see the PA IPM Program's Greenhouse IPM Web site at http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/13.htm.
"Greenhouse IPM with an Emphasis on Biocontrol" (publication number AGRS-96) is available as a free downloadable PDF file from Web site http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/63.htm. To obtain a hard copy, send a check or money order in U.S. currency, drawn on a U.S. bank, made payable to Penn State for $12.00 plus shipping and handling to the Publications Distribution Center, The Pennsylvania State University, College of Agricultural Sciences, 112 Agricultural Administration Building
University Park, PA 16802-2602. Shipping and handling is $5.00 per order (regardless of the number of copies shipped) for-sale items shipped in the United States, $10.00 to Canada and Mexico, and $20.00 for all other international orders. Visa and MasterCard orders will be accepted by calling toll free 1-877-345-0691.
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 nonagricultural situations. For more information, contact the program at (814) 865-2839, or Web site http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/. To view our archived news releases, see Web site http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/10.htm.