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BIOAg Topics
Biological Pest Management
Pests have been a part of agriculture throughout its history. Stories of locusts and subsequent famines date back to biblical times. As contemporary agriculture has intensified in recent decades to support a growing population from a shrinking land base, the structure of agriculture has shifted in ways that increase potential pest damage. These shifts include changes in scale (large fields of one crop), loss of biodiversity (continuous corn production), crop breeding for yield without attention to pest resistance, and introduction of exotic insects, diseases, and weeds that cause economic loss. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) was developed as an approach in the mid-20th century to address the emerging problems with excessive use of and reliance on synthetic pesticides for pest management. IPM aims to minimize economic loss and environmental impact by integrating biological, physical, and chemical pest control practices and strategies. Biological pest management starts with an understanding of the pest itself (life cycle, vulnerable stages) and its interaction with crops or livestock (host resistance, economic thresholds, etc.). Resistant varieties, or crop rotation that deprives a pest of its host plant, represent key biological practices for farmers. Increasing biological control by natural enemies is more complex and requires a higher level of knowledge to lead to consistent success. Biocontrol may entail the release of beneficial insects (e.g. lady beetles), adding brassica seed meal to soil to control pathogens, putting bird houses or raptor perches around fields, or increasing overall farm biodiversity through multi-species buffer strips. The published research on biological pest management is extensive and well-known success stories exist. However, much remains to be learned about specific pests, specific pest-crop combinations, the influence of environment, and how to build reliable biological pest management for a given farm.
WSU Websites
WSU Integrated Pest Management
WSU Entomology IPM website. Links to information on statewide IPM activities in Washington including crops, turf, garden, school grouds, and riparian buffers.
BIOAg Conferences and Proceedings
The BIOAg program has hosted or contributed to a number of conferences and symposia. Materials resulting from these events include presentations, posters, and proceedings highlighting research progress and results. Materials prepared for conferences often precede formal publications so browse here for emerging research.
Identifying and Harnessing HIPPOs for Hop and Grape Pest Management
Dr. David James, Department of Entomology, WSU Prosser. Biological control and integrated pest management in irrigated horticultural cropping systems. Using and understanding natural enemies to provide biocontrol and reduce pesticide use in hops and grapes. HIPPO stands for Herbivore-Induced Plant Protection Odor.
Apple Replant Disease - Alternatives to Fumigation
Dr. Mark Mazzola, USDA-ARS Tree Fruit Research Lab, Wenatchee, WA.
WSU Extension Biological Control
Website cataloguing WSU Extension biological pest control resources.
Mating Disruption
Using phermones for management of codling moth in orchards.
Peshastin Creek Areawide Organic Project
The Peshastin Creek Project was created as a joint effort between the Peshastin Creek Growers Association and the Pear Entomology Lab of the WSU Tree Fruit Research and Extension Center in Wenatchee. The research lab provides a monitoring service for the growers in the valley, to support their efforts toward increased use of environmentally-friendly pest management. Bluebird Fruit has created a special "Gently Grown" label for the fruit produced by the PCG Association. The project compares insect pest management under conventional, 'soft', and organic management regimes.
WSU Publication
Controlling Leafy Spurge by Goat Grazing - April 2010
Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter
Spotted Wing Drosophila - Monitoring with Traps - June 2010
Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter
The Potential of Marigolds to Control Insect Pests and Plant Parasitic Nematodes - August 2009
Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter
Effect of Mustard Seed Meal on Early Weed Emergence in Peppermint and Potato - Summer 2007
Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter
Apple orchard productivity and fruit quality under organic, conventional, and integrated management.
Peck GM, Andrews PK, Reganold JP, Fellman JK. 2006. HortScience 41:99-107.
Plants Chatter to Defend Themselves Against Pests and HIPPOs Can Improve the Conversation - March 2005
Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter
Organic Control of Cherry Fruit Fly
The active ingredient spinosad, a microbial insecticide, was tested for efficacy against cherry fruit fly. Several formulations were tested. The GF-120 product, a combination of spinosyn and a feeding attractant, proved very effective. A new system of control using point sources versus complete canopy cover was developed. The use of GF-120, an organically approved material, for cherry fruit fly control has become widespread among cherry producers in the region, both conventional and organic. It is very effective, non-toxic to humans, low impact to beneficials, and low cost due to the low volume used and quick application.
Making the Bugs Work for You: Biological Control in Organic Agriculture - December 2004
Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter
Getting the Bugs to Work for You: Biological Control in Organic Agriculture
Symposium proceedings from Portland, Oregon November 2004.
Green Manuring with Mustard: Improving an Old Technology
Green manure summary article in Agrichemical & Environmental News, June 2003.
Mustard Green Manures Replace Fumigant and Improve Infiltration in Potato Cropping System
Published in Plant Management Network; August 2003.
Using Green Manures in Potato Cropping Systems
WSU Extension Bulletin EB1951E.
Mustard Green Manures
WSU Extension Bulletin EB1952E.
Bat Houses for IPM: Benefits for Bats and Organic Farmers - March 2003
Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter
Tracking and Managing the Cherry Bark Tortrix - June 2003
Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter
Final Report: Alternative Pest Management Strategies for Integrated Pest Management
Implementing Noxious Weed Control through Multispecies Grazing
Don Nelson, WSU, led a 3-year SARE funded project looking at using sequences of different grazing animals to control noxious weeds, especially useful for non-cropland where other options are not feasible.
WSU Presentations
Healing the Land through Multi-Species Grazing
A noxious weed invasion is underway on the rangelands of the western United States that is causing significant problems in the form of ecosystem and bio-diversity damage resulting in a reduction in the carrying capacity of grazing animals. The expenditure of millions of dollars on control measures has not been successful; these measures have had negative impacts on livestock producers' profitability and, in some cases, have caused environmental problems. This DVD is about the use of multi-species grazing (cattle, sheep, goats) as a tool in an integrated approach to the control of noxious weeds. It depicts the activities of a 2-year regional project funded by the USDA Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Professional Development program. Thirty participants from four states (Washington, Idaho, Oregon, and California) took part in this project. They represented state/federal agencies, extension, county weed boards and ranchers. The first year was devoted primarily to a series of workshops that taught the principles of holistic decision-making, grazing planning, low-cost cow-calf production and monitoring. The second year emphasized the collaborative design and implementation of on-the-ground projects that integrated the principles learned. Three of these projects are described in this DVD. 37 minutes. (available for purchase or free online viewing)
Controlling Codling Moth in Organic Pear Orchards
WSU Entomology. 2003.
Resources
Some WSU Extension websites provide links to external sites for the convenience of users. These external sites are not managed by WSU Extension. Furthermore, WSU Extension does not review, control or take responsibility for the content of these sites, nor do these sites implicitly or explicitly represent official positions and policies of WSU Extension.
National resource links
The following online resources contain a wealth of information on a number of BIOAg topics. Use search fields to narrow results:eXtension, USDA Alternative Farming Systems Information Center, National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA) Master Publications List, Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Project Reports, & Natural Resource, Agriculture and Engineering Service (NRAES) Publications.
Advances in Brassica seed meal formulation and application protocol for control of apple replant disease.
M. Mazzola poster, December 2010, Wash. St. Hort. Assoc. meeting. A summary of the most recent field results using brassica seed meal mixtures.
Role of native soil biology in Brassicaceous seed meal-induced weed suppression.
L. Hoagland, L. Carpenter-Boggs, J.P. Reganold, M. Mazzola. 2008. Soil Biology Biochemistry 40:1689-1697.
Ecological Management of Agricultural Weeds
This volume provides principles and practices for ecologically based weed management in a wide range of temperate and tropical farming systems. The authors describe how tillage and cultivation practices, manipulations of soil conditions, competitive cultivars, crop diversification, grazing livestock, arthropod and microbial biocontrol agents, and other factors can be used to reduce weed germination, growth, competitive ability, reproduction, and dispersal. Special attention is given to the evolutionary challenges that weeds pose and the roles that farmers can play in the development of new weed management strategies.
An Online Guide to Plant Disease Control
This is a series of 3 handbooks: Weed Management, Insect Management, and Plant Disease Management. Published by Oregon State University Extension.
Rose Gardens Make Fruit Orchards More Inviting to Friendly Wasps
Apple, pear, and cherry growers in parts of Washington and Oregon are planting wild rose gardens next to their orchards as part of an areawide study conducted by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) and Washington State University (WSU) scientists to bolster spring populations of tiny, parasitic wasps that attack several leafroller moths in tree fruits.
Naturalize Your Farming System: A Whole-Farm Approach to Managing Pests
Publication produced by USDA - SARE.
Alternatives to Fumigation for Control of Apple Replant Disease in Washington State Orchards
BIFS/BIOS
University of California at Davis and California Alliance for Family Farms. The original BIOS (Biologically Integrated Orchard Systems) focused on almonds and walnuts, and let to dramatic changes in management that reduced pesticide use, improved soil, and cut costs. Additional crops are now included in this applied research and demonstration project.