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.