Insect Management

2015 Greenhouse Growers Expo features sessions on diverse topics

The 2015 Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo, in coordination with the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo, will feature numerous sessions for greenhouse floriculture and vegetable growers. The Greenhouse Growers Expo will be held Dec. 8-9, 2015, at the DeVos Place Convention Center in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Highlights of this year’s conference will include information on production practices, how to become more profitable and reduce inputs, and how to grow niche crops.

Entry-level employees will learn the fundamentals of floriculture crop production from Roberto Lopez of Purdue University. The session will be offered in Spanish and English. Growers and assistant growers will also be interested in:

  • Grower experiences with insect biocontrol for spring crops – a panel presentation
  • Greenhouse disease control update
  • Greenhouse insect control update and the latest neonicotinoid research results
  • Growing leafy greens and herbs in hydroponic systems
  • Keys to successful containerized herb production

Owners or general managers of greenhouse businesses will be interested in sessions on how to boost their profits, cut their input costs and learn how to manage their businesses. Owners or managers will be interested in:

  • How I grew my business: Recent adaptations we’ve made to stay competitive and profitable – a panel presentation
  • Conventional lamps or LEDs? Factors you should consider
  • Boomers or bust? Drawing GenX and GenY to the garden center
  • Marketing strategies for novices, intermediates and experts
  • Best performing annuals from the 2015 Michigan Garden Plant Tour
  • How to reduce your fertilizer use
  • MSU floriculture research update
  • Transitioning your business
  • Are using good bugs a cost-effective strategy for controlling insect pests of spring crops?
  • Labor sessions: Review of seasonal labor supply for Michigan specialty crops, H2A and MIOSHA consultation
  • Family business workshop: The Top Ten Mistakes that Break up a Family Business (Dec. 10)

In addition to the two talks on containerized herbs and leafy greens, greenhouse vegetable growers will be interested in the following sessions in the vegetable and general interests track:

  • Prepare now, sweat less later: Key elements of greenhouse sanitation
  • Cucumber production
  • Pollination in the greenhouse
  • Leafy greens production
  • Food safety: FSMA final rules, environmental sampling in packhouses, sanitizer options for dunk tanks
  • Food safety workshop (three-hour, hands-on workshop on Dec. 10, additional $25)

For an overview of the educational sessions at the Michigan Greenhouse Growers Expo, visit the 2015 Greenhouse Growers Expo website. Visit the Great Lakes Fruit, Vegetable and Farm Market Expo website for additional information, including the large trade show and how to register.

Greenhouse Bioproducts Workshop

The rapid growth of the bioproducts market is outpacing the dissemination of knowledge on how to integrate these different products into a sustainable and profitable greenhouse production system. A coordinated effort is needed to address the research and educational needs of the greenhouse industry relative to bioproducts. This workshop will bring together industry and academic leaders to present research and develop a strategic vision for bioproduct use in the greenhouse industry. Participants will identify perceived obstacles to the adoption of bioproducts by the greenhouse industry and work to resolve these problems with targeted research projects and educational programs.

USE OF BIOPESTICIDES, BIOSTIMULANTS AND BENEFICIAL INSECTS IN ORNAMENTAL AND VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IN CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENTS

January 13-15th 2016
Nationwide & Ohio Farm Bureau 4-H Center
Columbus, OH

Bioproducts workshop flyer

WORKSHOP AGENDA:
January 13th, 2016
Research presentations and stakeholders panel discussion, FREE FOR THE FIRST 75 REGISTRANTS

  • Update on current use of biopesticides, biostimulants, and beneficial insects
  • Application technologies
  • Economic analysis – cost/benefits, consumer preferences
  • Stakeholders panel discussion – greatest benefits and barriers to the use of bioproducts in commercial greenhouses

January 14-15th, 2016
Grant development activities

  • Working groups with breakout sessions
  • SCRI proposal plan

To register, visit: http://go.osu.edu/bioreg

 

The following industry, academic, and greenhouse collaborators have confirmed their attendance to date:
DRAMM Corporation, AmericanHort, Biobest, BioWorks, Chase Agricultural Consulting, University of California Cooperative Extension, OSU Extension, C. Wayne Ellett Plant & Pest Diagnostic Clinic, IR-4 Ornamental Horticulture, USDA-ARS, The Center for Applied Horticulture Research (CA), Altman Plants (CA), C. Rakers & Sons (MI), Metrolina Greenhouses (NC), Green Circle Growers (OH)

For general workshop information contact Eileen Ramsay (ramsay.18@osu.edu).  For information on the SCRI grant development (Jan 14-15) contact Michelle Jones (jones.1968@osu.edu).  This workshop is supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture SCRI Planning Grant – Award # 2015-51181-24284.

Protecting Pollinators in Ornamental Landscapes Conference

The first national Protecting Pollinators in Ornamental Landscapes Conference is being hosted by Michigan State University Extension and North Carolina State University in Hendersonville, North Carolina, Oct. 12-14, 2015. We are pleased to announce the conference will feature seven keynote speakers: Dave Goulson, University of Sussex; Jane Memmott, University of Bristol; Dan Potter, University of Kentucky; Nigel Raine, University of Guelph; Kirsten Traynor, University of Maryland; and Rufus Isaacs and Kristin Getter, Michigan State University. The keynotes and 15 other internationally-recognized speakers will be addressing topics at five sessions of the conference:

  • Function of pollinators in the ornamental landscape
  • Threats to pollinators in the ornamental landscape
  • Pesticides and pollinators
  • Boots on the ground: Efforts, challenges and opportunities for protecting pollinators
  • Educating the public

Useful Links

http://nebula.wsimg.com/cef1e6545fc184063593a39e0061ceee?AccessKeyId=8B3CAFE1FAD9F08C9947&disposition=0&alloworigin=1

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/first_national_conference_on_how_to_protect_pollinators_in_ornamental_lands

http://msue.anr.msu.edu/news/protecting_pollinators_in_ornamental_landscapes_conference_keynote_speakers

Courtesy of Thomas Dudek and Heidi Wollaeger, Michigan State University Extension. Please direct questions about the conference to Heidi Wollaeger (wollaege@anr.msu.edu).

2015 Pest Control Materials for Managing Insect and Mite Pests of Greenhouse-grown Crops

Dr. Raymond A. Cloyd

Department of Entomology

Kansas State University

Greenhouse pest management/plant protection involves using a multitude of strategies in order to minimize the prospect of dealing with arthropod pest (insect and mite) populations. The use of pest control materials (insecticides and miticides) is one component of a pest management/plant protection program that also includes pest identification and monitoring along with cultural, physical, and biological control.

Proper stewardship of pest control materials includes resistance management by rotating products with different modes of action. A system has been developed by the Insecticide Resistance Action Committee (IRAC) to facilitate the implementation of appropriate rotation programs. Pest control materials have been assigned a designated number (sometimes number and letter combinations) based on their mode of action. For more information consult the IRAC website (www.irac.online.org).

The information presented in Table 1 is not a substitute for the label. It is important to read and understand all information presented on the label before using any pest control material. Be sure to check county and state regulations to determine if there are any local restrictions associated with the use of specific pest control materials listed in this chart.

Biological control is a pest management strategy that is gaining favor by greenhouse producers. There are a number of natural enemies such as parasitoids and predators that may be used to regulate populations of the major insect and mite pests of greenhouse production systems. Table 2 provides information on the types of natural enemies that are commercially available. Products are shown in Table 2.

TABLE-1

TABLE-2

For more information contact Dr. Raymond A. Cloyd, Professor and Extension Specialist in Horticultural Entomology/Plant Protection at Kansas State University, Department of Entomology, 123 Waters Hall, Manhattan, KS 66506-4004

Phone: (785) 532-4750; Email: rcloyd@ksu.edu

Take Part in the OSU Greenhouse Bioproducts Survey

The OSU Floriculture Team is interested in hearing from you regarding the use of bioproducts in greenhouse production.  Bioproducts are biologically-based products that can be used to reduce the need for synthetic chemicals during greenhouse crop production.  These products include beneficial insects, biopesticides, and biostimulants. 

Please click the following survey link to participate – or go to http://go.osu.edu/bioproducts.  The survey will take approximately 3 to 5 minutes of time to complete.  Your responses will be used to help plan research projects and deliver programs that are relevant to industry needs.  While your survey responses are anonymous, you may provide contact information if you wish to participate in the planning and implementation of grants, projects and programs in this area.

Thank you for participating during this busy time of year!  Best wishes for a prosperous growing and sales season!