Good for People, Bad for Worms
While most of the country is still shaking off the effects of winter, down in Central Florida it is perfect weather for Dean Bruschi’s pick your own customers. Watch Now
While some growers across the country are just getting started with their plans for summer “U-pick” crops, Dean Bruschi of D&D Farms has been at it for months.....Read more
Consumers demand good-looking, great-tasting produce, which inevitably puts a lot of pressure on growers – especially those growing organically. Imperfect fruit that used to be accepted simply because it was organic is no longer passing muster with consumers who have become increasingly accustomed to seeing supermarket shelves stocked with flawless fruit. The right balance in an integrated pest management program is paramount for growers’ success and can make all the difference when it comes to the bottom line.....Read more
Consultant Mark Verbeck is counting on careful scouting and timely application to protect Justin Hood's pepper crop. On the eastside of Florida, Dean Bruschi is making sure he'll be set to kill worms and provide "U-pick" field entry.....Read more
In sunny and humid southwest Florida, young plants face a barrage of different worms and sucking insects as they grow and it’s a challenge to protect them.....Read more
"A biorational spray program is a great approach for us, because we do have people in the fields just about every day."....Read more
Three-fourths of growers surveyed in a recent straw poll cited “no human toxicity” as the most valuable benefit of using Bts for insect control.....Read more
Pest control season for California stone fruit producers is fast approaching and many growers are what doing what football coaches might call “pre-game planning.”....Read more
New Year’s resolutions you can use to enhance your Bt program. There are two concepts that critical to the application of Bts: apply them early and apply them thoroughly.
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Perhaps more than anyone else, organic fruit and vegetable growers must rely on an integrated pest management (IPM) program. Certainly one of the most critical components of IPM is building and maintaining beneficial insect populations. This process starts with creating a beneficial habitat, and it is where the use of Bt can fill an important role.....Read more
When it comes to a successful Bt program, there’s no substitute for scouting – scouting early and often. Dale DeShane, a pest control adviser who consults on a wide range of crops in California’s southern San Joaquin Valley, says a crop like lettuce should be checked several times a week. Even with a lower-dollar crop like alfalfa, DeShane scouts at least twice a week.....Read more
