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Insect Management

Insect management is a significant challenge to sustainable production of specialty crops like apples, potatoes and leafy greens. Concerns about the toxicity of many synthetic insecticides, increasing resistance of insects to available chemical controls, and the elimination of natural enemies to many crop pests has led to a significant changes in the way that insect management research is now conducted. CSANR has supported research on novel, biologically and ecologically-based insect management practices for both organic and integrated cropping systems.

Featured Publications

Insect Management Strategies

Eigenbrode, S., E. Bechinski, N. Bosque-Pérez, D. Crowder, A. Rashed, S. Rondon, B. Stokes. 2017. Chapter 11 In Yorgey, G. and C. Kruger, eds. Advances in Dryland Production Systems in the Pacific Northwest. Washington State University Extension, Pullman, WA.

High Residue Farming Under Irrigation: Pest Management Considerations (series 4 of 5)

McGuire, A. This publication is the fourth in a series on high residue farming (HRF), for farmers who are interested in HRF. This publication gives an overview of the effects of adopting HRF on the management of weeds, insects, and diseases. EM074E.

Impacts of genetically engineered crops on pesticide use in the U.S. — the first sixteen years

Benbrook, Charles. Oct 1 2012  Environmental Sciences Europe 2012, 24:24 doi:10.1186/2190-4715-24-24.

Additional Publications

WSU Integrated Pest Management

WSU Entomology IPM website. Links to information on statewide IPM activities in Washington including crops, turf, garden, school grounds, and riparian buffers.

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

Material Registration for Organic Production – Winter 2008

Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter

An Organic Pesticide is Still a Pesticide – April 2007

Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter

Chemigation and Fertigation in Washington State – December 2006

Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter

New wireworm Pests in Western Washington – June 2006

Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter

Plants Chatter to Defend Themselves Against Pests and HIPPOs Can Improve the Conversation – March 2005

Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter

Making the Bugs Work for You: Biological Control in Organic Agriculture – December 2004

Article in Sustaining the Pacific Northwest Newsletter

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.

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