Greenhouse IPM for the Amish and Mennonite community of Lancaster County

Greenhouse IPM for the Amish and Mennonite community of Lancaster County

Summary

Education and training on IPM and biocontrols in greenhouse production has been lacking among the Amish and conservative Mennonites in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Through the use of seminars and weekly one-on-one training of individual greenhouse growers with an IPM/biocontrol specialist, growers will learn pest identification, pest life cycles, and proper control of those pests using IPM and biocontrol techniques. The use of proper crop scouting and record keeping; sanitation; cultural, mechanical, and biological controls; and reduced-risk pesticides will also be taught. Due to the weekly farm visits by the IPM/biocontrol specialist throughout a cropping cycle, growers will develop a good working relationship and trust in not only the specialist, but also in the recommendations that the specialist is making. This relationship and prolonged educational experience will initiate a life-long adaptation of IPM and biocontrol methods by all growers involved in the program.

This hands-on educational program will lead to a decrease in conventional pesticide usage (particularly high risk pesticides) of at least 50 percent as growers learn a whole system approach to pest management. The implementation of IPM and biocontrol techniques in the greenhouse will also lead to: an increase in crop quality and yield; an increase in the profitability and sustainability of local greenhouse operations; and a safer working environment for growers and their families (especially children).

Objectives/Performance Targets

In year two, ten additional 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 bumble bees for pollination leading to increased yield, quality and thereby profitability. In addition, we will serve as an advisor to the original ten growers.

Accomplishments/Milestones

In November and December 2004, a list of perspective greenhouse growers for the project was created from contacts received from Jeff Stoltzfus, local adult farmer educator, and from contacts received from local growers who had gained interest in the program at local meetings and from previously involved growers. In January 2005 interested growers were interviewed and a final list of participants was made.

Weekly visits of thirteen bedding plant and four vegetable growers by Wade Esbenshade, a greenhouse IPM specialist, began in late January. During these visits, growers were taught various IPM techniques including: insect identification on sticky cards; plant inspection for insect damage and disease development; proper use of natural enemies; and proper use of reduced-risk pesticides, such as insect growth regulators, soaps, oils, and target-specific insecticides. Growers were also given information for study and reference on developing an IPM program in their operations and implementing biological controls to replace the use of traditional pesticides.
Biological controls, such as beneficial nematodes (Steinernema feltiae), replaced soil applications of insecticides to control fungus gnat larvae, a very destructive greenhouse pest. Biological fungicides were used to control root diseases such as pythium, and rhizoctonia, as well as several foliar diseases. The use of these products was able to replace and/or reduce the use of chemical fungicides. Growers felt that overall control of pests was better compared to previous crop cycles and losses due to pathogens had decreased significantly.
On October 12, 2005, a greenhouse IPM workshop was held at Black Creek Greenhouse in East Earl, Lancaster County. Pest management specialist from Penn State University, PA Department of Agriculture, and the biocontrol industry gave presentations on a variety of greenhouse pest control topics. The more than 40 local greenhouse growers who attended the all day workshop also had opportunity to receive hands-on training on insect and biological control identification. Due to workshops such as this one, growers can further increase their knowledge and improve their own pest management techniques.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Growers reported numerous benefits to the program and the new techniques that they acquired. Using control tactics only when necessary and controlling pest problems at low levels resulted in a significant reduction in pesticide use and overall control costs. Growers commented on having a safer working environment for themselves, their families, and their employees due to the reduction in pesticide usage. They also enjoyed being able to have quicker access to the greenhouse due to no re-entry interval restrictions when using biological control methods and shorter REI’s when using reduced risk compounds.
The growers participating in this project received the benefit of having one-on-one IPM education in a commercial setting. The success of this educational technique is realized through the reduction of traditional insecticide use in these family operated businesses. Many requests have been made by other growers to be involved in this project. As growers benefit from this program, it increases the potential to develop a Crop Management Association in this greenhouse dense area of Pennsylvania.

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