It is clear that much more attention has been given to insects as “pests” than warranted by the evidence. Many species of native bees and flies pollinate crops, a process essential for some fruit formation and seed yield. Beneficial insects may also serve to effectively suppress the development of harmful pest populations. Organic growers require a “whole system approach”– replacing external chemical inputs with an understanding of how biological resources on the farm can be utilized and encouraged to promote insect suppression.

Use the presentations, videos and online resources below to answer questions about increasing soil fertility using organic methods. Visit the Pest Management page for more great resources.

Videos

Controlling Lettuce Aphids in Australia
From the Vegetable Growers Association of Victoria (Australia):

“Two years on, Peter Schreurs & Sons continue to control Lettuce Aphid using IPM approach they have been developing since 2000.

In Europe, IPM is seen as the “way of the future” as it addresses growing public awareness of the health risks from applying strong chemicals to control insect pests on food crops.

Peter, Darren and Paul Horne relate their personal experience with controlling difficult pests using a biological approach.”


Managing Insects and Disease in Vegetable Crops

This video recording of a live presentation covers several topics, with the overall focus of organic pest and disease management. Speakers from Purdue, Ohio State University, and the University of Illinois address concerns specific to vegetable crops, including specific methods for managing existing pests and diseases, as well as prevention methods that may eliminate much of the need for other controls.


One chemical–free way to deal with insect pests is to physically remove them from plants. As is typical of farming in general, organic pest control sometimes requires ingenuity. One practitioner, Ken Waters, has invented a handy tool to help with insect removal: the Super Dooper Beetle Scooper.

This video link comes from the Energy Farms blog from the Kentucky State University Research Farm, which also contains a variety of interesting entries on trials and experiments with techniques, tools and organic inputs.

Powerpoint Presentations
Grasshopper *Please note some Powerpoint Presentations have been converted to Pdf's for easier viewing and faster downloading.

Healthy Soil, Fewer Pests

Michael Bomford, from Kentucky State University’s Organic Agriculture Working Group, makes the connection between supporting soil health and combating insects and weeds. Tillage, crop rotation, and other soil management methods can also help build strong plants and suppress pests.


Insect Management from Cornell

Ecological system approaches, “therapeutic” approaches, and Integrated Pest Management are all described in this presentation by Kim Stoner of Cornell University’s CT Agricultural Experiment Station.


Organic Integrated Pest Management

What is IPM? Kansas State University’s Wendy Stoner explains the basics of Integrated Pest Management, outlines several IPM strategies, and ends with a list of resources for further study.

Website Resources

ATTRA’s document library is an invaluable resource for organic farmers, both new and experienced. The document linked below describes the ins and outs of marketing organic grain:

From the Guide: Insect Pest Management in Vegetable Crops

This report from UC Davis’ Vegetable Research and Information Center, outlines the steps a farmer should take before planting in order to be assured of the least possible pests.


ATTRA-National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service is a rich source of information on all aspects of organic farming.

From the ATTRA's Pest Management site:

“Pest management sometimes seems especially challenging for farmers dedicated to sustainable, low–input practices. If you’re looking to meet the challenge, this series of publications can help. These resources offer a wide array of techniques and controls to effectively reduce or eliminate damage from insects, diseases and weeds without sacrificing the good of the soil, water, or beneficial organisms.”


Penn State’s Field Crop IPM Training and Reference Manual assists both farmers and educators with IPM strategies, field crop calendars, training exercises, resources and more.