Elements of Organic Farming
George Kuepper & Kate AtchleyKerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Pest Insect,& Disease
Management
OKBFRP Horticulture Program, July 2013
Regarding Weeds Pest Insects & Diseases
ü Well-designed organic systems have higher ecological stability and lower pest pressure overall. “1000 tiny hammers”
Organic System Effects On Pests
• Systemic Practices: rotation, cover cropping, organic fertilization, adapted and resistant cultivars, composting and basic sanitation
practices. “Nurturing the soil food web plus…”
• Systemic Effects:Ø innate and induced resistance/toleranceØ biocontrol of pests and diseases in the soilØ biocontrol of above ground pestsØ life cycles of weeds and pests disruptedØ weed seedbank reducedØ beneficial shift in weed populations
Putting It Together:Setting the Foundation
Biologically Healthy Soil
A Sound Organic SystemRotations,Cover Crops
Compost, Manure
Organic Cultural Practices
Off-Farm InputsFertilizers—Pesticides
GoodOrganic
Crop
ü Well-designed organic systems have higher ecological stability and lower pest pressure overall.
ü However, many pests require additional management (i.e. cultural practices) to ensure that they don’t get out of control. “More tiny hammers…”
Regarding Weeds Pest Insects & Diseases
Traditional Organic Pest Control Practices
Weeds
Ø cultivationØ organic mulchesØ mowingØ grazingØ weeder geeseØ handweedingØ flame weedingØ plastic mulch
Insects & Disease
Ø beneficial habitatsØ augmentation of beneficialsØ physical barriersØ nonsynthetic lures, traps, repellentsØ adjusting timingØ trap cropsØ Hand-picking
Putting It Together:Second Level of Mgt.
Biologically Healthy Soil
A Sound Organic SystemRotations,Cover Crops
Compost, Manure
Organic Cultural Practices
Off-Farm InputsFertilizers—Pesticides
GoodOrganic
Crop
ü Well-designed organic systems have higher ecological stability and lower pest pressure overall.
ü However, many pests require additional management (i.e. cultural practices) to ensure that they don’t get out of control.
ü While organic management precludes most pesticides, many allowable materials are available.
Regarding Weeds Pest Insects & Diseases
Organic-Allowed Pesticides(Insecticides, Miticides, Fungicides, Herbicides, etc.)
Mineral-basedØ CoppersØ SulfurØ DEØ Baking soda
BiologicalsØ Bt (Dipel®, etc.)Ø B. bassiana (Mycotrol®, etc.)Ø Bacillus subtilis (Serenade®, etc.)Ø Spinosad (Fire Ant bait, etc.)
BotanicalsØ Pyrethrum (Pyganic®, etc.)Ø Neem (Bioneem®, neem oil, etc.)Ø Garlic
Refined oilsØ Dormant oilØ Superior oil
SoapsØ Insecticidal soapØ Herbicidal soap
Putting It Together:Third Level of Mgt.
Biologically Healthy Soil
A Sound Organic SystemRotations,Cover Crops
Compost, Manure
Organic Cultural Practices
Off-Farm InputsPesticides
GoodOrganic
Crop
Organic Strategy For Weed & Pest Management
I. Organic System Effects
II. Traditional Organic Practices
III. Allowed Pesticides
Integrated Pest Management (IPM)
IPM is a systematic strategy for managing pests which considers
prevention, avoidance, monitoring and suppression. Where chemical pesticides are necessary, a preference is given to
materials and methods which maximize public safety and reduce
environmental risk. MASSACHUSETTS IPM COUNCIL'S
DEFINITION OF IPMhttp://massnrc.org/ipm/what-is-ipm.html
Traditional Organic Insect/Arthropod Control Practices
Ø beneficial habitatsØ augmentation of beneficialsØ physical barriersØ trapsØ adjusting timingØ trap cropsØ hand-picking/
vacuumsØ flaming/fire
Squash Bug§ Timed planting§ Sanitation§ Barriers§ Resistance/tolerance§ Allowed chemicals??§ Biological control
Corn Earworm/Tomato Fruitworm
v Resistant varietiesv Natural oil ear treatmentv Bt spraysv Biological control
Corn Earworm/Tomato Fruitworm
v Resistant varietiesv Natural oil ear treatmentv Bt spraysv Biological control
Aphids aka: plant lice
v Avoid excess nitrogen fertilizationv Allowed pesticidesv Biological control
Reality Check!
• Some diseases are wind-borne or carried by mobile insect vectors. Rotation has little to no effect on such diseases.
Asters yellows, on Black-eyed susan.Vectored by leaf-hoppers.
Powdery MildewProblem on many crops
“Use of Baking Soda as a Fungicide”https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/summaries/summary.php?pub=126
George KuepperThe Kerr CenterP.O. Box 588Poteau, OK [email protected]