Greenhouse IPM for the Amish and Mennonite community of Lancaster County

Greenhouse IPM for the Amish and Mennonite community of Lancaster County

Summary

This is an Integrated Pest Management/biological control project that will concentrate on greenhouse growers in the Amish and Mennonite communities in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Amish and Mennonite farmers operations involve the whole family and can include intensive use of pesticides. The farmers require unconventional educations methods that do not employ powerpoint slides, videos or overheads. To affect a change in attitude often requires working one on one with the grower. An IPM consultant will work with growers to design and implement and IPM/biocontrol system that will replace traditional pesticides with biologically compatible pesticides, slow resistance in target pests and create a safer working environment for the family.

Amish and Mennonite growers have been shifting toward greenhouse production as tobacco and dairy prices have fallen. Barefoot children, working with their parents in pesticide application areas, have become a resulting growing concern. The project leader will deliver an educational program, tailored to the culture, that will show farmers how to replace traditional pesticides with integrated pest management and biocontrol systems. The goals are to slow resistance in target pests, create a safer working environment for farm families, and improve profitability by marketing the crops as pesticide free. An IPM consultant, trained alongside the growers, will continue and expand the program once the grant period is over.

Objectives/Performance Targets

By the end of Year 1, ten growers will have learned techniques for identification of major greenhouse pests, and will have also learned their life cycles. Traditional pesticide use will be reduced by at least 50 percent and be replaced with IPM techniques, emphasizing biological control. Growers will also learn to integrate compatible pesticides with biocontrol agents. In vegetable houses, growers will be encouraged to use bumblebees for pollination leading to increased yield, quality and thereby profitability.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Milestone 1

From contacts from Jeff Stoltzfus, will interview and recruit 5 growers to participate in the greenhouse IPM program for the winter/spring growing cycle.

Growers of both vegetable and ornamental greenhouse crops were interviewed in November and December, 2003. Interviews were also conducted for an IPM consultant to work with growers.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

There are no specific results to date. Grower visits will be initiated in February, 2004. This is the month that most greenhouse operators begin their crop cycles.

Collaborators: