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market-farming - Re: [Market-farming] Organic Remedies for Pest Control

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  • From: "Robin Follette" <list AT seasonseatingsfarm.com>
  • To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Organic Remedies for Pest Control
  • Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 09:30:41 -0400

Since your possibilities are limited (if you don't have room for a little buckwheat, then you wouldn't have room for vetch either), it looks like you are limited to using Entrust or some other organic pesticide, if there is such a thing.

I'm not limited to pesticides. They're a last resort. I said, " When there are more larva than the chickens and ducks can control..." Technically, yes, the birds are a pesticide since they're killing pests. A small flock of ducks can do a lot of damage to the number of pests very quickly. I watched two ducklings learn about grasshoppers yesterday. It took a few tries but it wasn't long before they learned how to catch them. They're fawn and white runners, not yet a foot tall and still fluffy.


Using those pesticides is best done in rotation, if possible.

I'm well aware of this.


I am sorry to hear that have no extra space to grow any cover crops along with your edibles.

Covers are part of the crop rotation.


I am concerned that if you don't take even a little bit of space for some beneficial insect attractor (just part of a row, preferably in the middle or along an edge(s) of your spud patch) that you will experience some level of resistance by the potato beetle to the pesticides you use. I understand that there is already some resistance to spinosad by the CPB.

I didn't say I don't use space for beneficial attractors. I said "There isn't any extra place to plant buckwheat." Each section is divided by a buffer of plants that attract beneficials. Some of those buffers are also in place for erosion control because water drains through small section of the field. I live in a water shed so I'm extremely careful of erosion, pollution, etc. Before you assume I don't know how to manage this I'll add that my husband is CoB of our county's Soil & Water Conservation and serves as VP of the Maine Association of Conservation Districts. We're well versed in this too.


I am not familiar with Eliot's field layout plans, but will take look at some time. I believe that incorporating companion plants into a crop plan, such as buckwheat, nasturtium, marigold et al. is an essential part of a longterm sustainable garden or farm.

I didn't say I don't companion plant.


Do as you please,

Gee thanks! <grin> I'm not new at this. I do know what I'm doing.


but I truly believe that pesticides should be a last resort...only in case of emergency.

So do I. I gave a recommendation for an organic pesticide that works on CPB, that's all. I don't know why we got into this conversation.

I've learned a lot in 20something years I've been producing food. The 20something years doesn't include the time I spent in the garden as a child. Back then I had no appreciation for it and disappeared every chance I got.


Robin
Seasons Eatings Farm
Talmadge, Maine

"Without power over our food, any notion of democracy is empty." - Frances Moore Lappe

Kurt Forman
Clearview Farm
Palmyra, NY 14522

--- list AT seasonseatingsfarm.com wrote:

From: "Robin Follette" <list AT seasonseatingsfarm.com>
To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Organic Remedies for Pest Control
Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 06:40:30 -0400


Spraying is okay, but unless you rotate the agents you use, you will quickly see CO potato beetle resistance (so I am told). If you were to back up the calendar, you could plant hairy vetch early the fall before and plow down all of it, as a nitrogen providing cover crop, except for a border around your crop, that should deter the beetle from moving into the spuds.

If I were to be able to stop the snow a month earlier, thaw the ground and control spring rain I could probably also back up the calendar.

Unless you grow alot of taters, you can pick them off and pinch them dead or put them in a can of kerosene or Diesel fuel or maybe gasoline.

We grow more than can be managed by hand picking.


Also, rotating your crop to a distant location the next year will help.

I always rotate. They're here this year, a half mile away next year.

Lastly, work with my Cornell veg specialist has indicated that planting buckwheat next to the spuds attracts beneficial predators of the beetle. I much prefer mechanical and\or cultural controls to pesticides that result in resistance, which CO spud bug seems to have a knack for.

There isn't any extra place to plant buckwheat. Think Eliot Coleman's farm and layout - that's what I do. To control CPB I have to either not grow potatoes and eggplant or use pesticides responsibly. When there are more larva than the chickens and ducks can control I lock the birds up and use an organic pesticide.

Robin
Seasons Eatings Farm
Talmadge, Maine

"Without power over our food, any notion of democracy is empty." - Frances Moore Lappe

Kurt Forman
Clearview Farm
Palmyra, NY 14522

--- list AT seasonseatingsfarm.com wrote:

From: "Robin Follette" <list AT seasonseatingsfarm.com>
To: "Market Farming" <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Organic Remedies for Pest Control
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 10:30:43 -0400


Spinosad. There's info here: http://www.planetnatural.com/site/monterey-garden-insect.html

Robin, in rainy Maine where temps are below average this year.

Robin Follette
Seasons Eatings Farm
Talmadge, Maine

"Without power over our food, any notion of democracy is empty." - Frances Moore Lappe

----- Original Message ----- From: michelle rome
To: Market Farming
Sent: Friday, June 12, 2009 6:20 AM
Subject: [Market-farming] Organic Remedies for Pest Control



Still have potatoes growing in SC middle of June. The beetles have finally made it to my potatoes. I am looking for organic remedies. I have gone more to compost fertilizing my limited crops this year. (The corn I have put some nitrogen to it). So I am organic like. I am looking for cheap & simple pest remedies.

Michelle Hromyak
Romy Farms E&W SC
_______________________________________________ Market-farming mailing list Market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/market-farming



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Robin
Seasons Eatings Farm
Talmadge, Maine

"Without power over our food, any notion of democracy is empty." - Frances Moore Lappe
_______________________________________________ Market-farming mailing list Market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/market-farming



_______________________________________________
Market-farming mailing list
Market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org
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Robin
Seasons Eatings Farm
Talmadge, Maine

"Without power over our food, any notion of democracy is empty." - Frances Moore Lappe




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