Expanding opportunities of season-long row covers in cucurbit production using native pollinators

Commodities

Practices

Pest management and pollinator conservation are two perennial concerns in many specialty crop systems that are challenging to balance. Cucurbit crops such as squash, melons, and pumpkin are impacted by several severe insect pests, yet rely on insect pollination. A management system involving the use of full-season row covers used in concert with the behavior of native cucurbit bees, Peponapis pruinosa, has been explored experimentally and demonstrated as an effective way to produce yields with little to no insecticide usage (Minter and Bessin 2014). While the impact would provide economic, environmental, and societal benefits from reduction of chemical inputs, adoption by producers has not yet occurred. While the results have been published in academic writing and described in limited audience presentation settings, on-farm demonstrations under various conditions would be key to expanded adoption.

This project aims to increase adoption of season-long row covers in diverse cucurbit production farms by partnering with Ohio farmers to explore ways to adapt the approach on a variety of farm settings and management considerations. This will allow for expanded communication as well through field events, printed extension literature, and electronic media to be produced with input and direct involvement of agriculture professionals and partner farmers.

The specific aims of this project are to investigate and demonstrate the applicability of management tactics of using season-long row covers in cucurbit production through active partnership of agricultural professionals and production growers by:

1. Providing active involvement and direct observation opportunities to farmers on their operations.
2. Collecting economic return data from production farms in Appalachian and northwestern Ohio to extrapolate to the North Central region.
3. Highlighting yield and input savings to interested parties though various modes of active and passive communication.
4. Dissemination of knowledge through demonstration and direct education, print, and digital media.