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Amish and Mennonite Greenhouse Growers Reduce Pesticide Use Through IPM - February 2004
February 2004
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - Amish and Mennonite greenhouse growers in Lancaster County have been able to reduce their use of pesticides through an IPM training program.
Integrated Pest Management, or 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.
The project, headed by Cathy Thomas, Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management Program biocontrol specialist based at the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, is in its third year. Thomas works with many greenhouse growers in the Lancaster area, and she expects that number to increase. "Many farmers in the area are shifting to greenhouse production as a minor crop to replace or supplement income lost from tobacco production and low market prices," says Thomas. It is also a popular choice among Amish and Mennonite growers because a greenhouse operation doesn't require much space and farmland is becoming harder to obtain.
According to Thomas, Amish and Mennonite greenhouse operations usually involve the whole family. In addition, Amish and Mennonites require specialized educational methods that often require working closely with the grower due to travel restrictions. A local adult farmer advisor, Jeff Stoltzfus, has acted as a liaison with the Amish and Mennonite community, making it easier for the program to be a success.
Thomas gives hands-on training to the growers, who are in many cases new to the greenhouse industry and have no prior knowledge of pesticides or IPM methods. Thomas says that when she first started the program, some of the growers were using the same pesticide compounds in the greenhouses that they were using in their fields. "It can be a dangerous situation, since the compounds used in fields are not the same as those used in greenhouses. They are much more toxic, and sometimes don't even target common greenhouse pests," says Thomas.
Thomas is showing growers how a successful IPM/biocontrol system can replace traditional pesticide. Through use of biologically compatible pesticides combined with biological controls, growers can slow resistance in target pests, create a safer working environment for the family, and maintain quality crops while increasing profitability when marketed as "pesticide free." Thomas starts by teaching the growers how to scout for pests and identify them, how to use biocontrols to target the pests and how to apply appropriate pesticides safely and effectively. "Some of the growers were trying to use bumble bees to pollinate their plants, but some of the pesticide compounds they were applying killed the bumblebees. Most of the growers have since eliminated these types of compounds and have cut back their use of pesticides, making the greenhouse environment more friendly for the use of bumblebees and biological controls," says Thomas.
Most of the growers continue to use the new methods after working with Thomas for one growing cycle. "They are a close-knit community and word gets around, so when they see it's working for their neighbors, they are more likely to try it and stick with it," she explains. In addition, Thomas says she is always available if a grower has a problem and needs additional help.
The education program, funded by the Environmental Protection Agency and Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education program, focuses on the Amish and Mennonite community, but is open to any grower in Lancaster County or surrounding counties with an interest in reducing pesticide use. Thomas says the program will be expanding into the Pittsburgh area soon.
Thomas has been a part of numerous IPM/biocontrol related projects working with Penn State and Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture personnel. For the last three years, Thomas has been working on a project funded by the Environmental Protection Agency under the Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program. Thomas has compiled her biocontrol advice into a publication, "Bug vs. Bug." The sixty-six page, full color manual can be found on the PAIPM Web site at http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/317.htm. For more information on biocontrol of plant pests in greenhouses, contact Thomas at (717) 705-5857 or e-mail c-cthomas@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 nonagricultural situations. For more information, contact the program at (814) 865-2839, or Web site http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/.