John DeCarli, Pest Control Advisor in Salinas, California discusses how a BioRational Approach eliminates one source of stress in his life.
Watch now to see how Bts are helping to meet changing demands
Soybean farmers fighting pests resistant to pyrethroids have found a new weapon. A new tank mix of DiPel ES and pyrethroids is proving to be a real solution for those struggling with increasing pest resistance to pyrethroids and organophosphates alone.....Read more
Jim Reiman, a PCA with AgRx in Oxnard, CA, frequently includes Bts in the IPM programs he recommends to growers. “They have a unique mode of action, so you’ll always be able to manage resistance with them,” he says. He also values the short reentry interval and the advantage it provides at harvest time. They are very helpful with MRLs (maximum residue levels), as well. Asked if the extra monitoring required for using biopesticides is worth it, Reiman says, “Yes, it doesn’t change my monitoring – we’re monitoring frequently anyway. I would believe the growers would agree with that, too.”....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
Years of data from scores of trials support the use of Bt as a partner with conventional pesticides for control of Lepidopteran pests. The efficacy and affordability of Bts combined with their resistance management properties, make it a front line solution for worm control. But is it better to tank mix Bt with other products, or deliver it in rotation? And if rotation, in what order should the rotational partners be applied?....Read more
The return on investment from using Bt products can mean a significant boost to your profits.
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) products offer a wide range of benefits to growers that ultimately impact the bottom line with a significant return on investment.
Wayne Hermenet of Bri-Ton Farms in Sodus, NY, has been using Bt products in his operations since 2000 and believes the investment has been well worth it.....Read more
Insect management is an evolving art form, an evolution driven largely by the regulatory environment and consumer preferences. Older, harder chemistries are being phased out and newer, softer chemistries are being phased in.
As a grower, you’re constantly learning how to use these new tools to their maximum benefit, including keeping good bugs in the field while eradicating their crop-munching counterparts. New research shows that use of Bt in conjunction with these new products can increase the efficacy of your overall insect management program while keeping the good bugs (and new products) around.....Read more
Diamide Working Groups in Southeast Asia, operating under the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC), have reported that growers in the Philippines and Thailand are beginning to observe diamide resistance developing among lepitdopteran pests.....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
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
Helicoverpa armigera is a difficult pest to pin down for a variety of reasons. It goes by numerous common names, including cotton bollworm or ear worm, as well as several others depending on the part of the world and on what crop it is found. H. armigera is also found on all the major continents and has numerous host plants. With all that versatility it’s probably not a huge surprise that it has developed resistance to several insecticides, such as pyrethroids.....Read more
