BROOKSVILLE, Ky. — For pest and disease management in organic crop production, growers must emphasize cultural and preventative practices before they even consider the use of approved organic crop protection products. USDA organic regulations allow use of certain botanical and natural pesticides only as a last resort. Pest management on all farms, but especially those that are certified organic and transitioning, relies on the “PAMS” strategy: prevention, avoidance, monitoring and suppression, with a strong emphasis on prevention and avoidance.
Join Kelly and Nick Brown at Locust Ridge Organic Farm as they discuss their challenges in high tunnel and open field growing conditions and explore the most effective strategies for control with Emily Pfeufer, UK Extension Plant Pathologist, and Ric Bessin, UK Extension Entomologist, including:
- Scouting, prevention, and accurate identification of pests/diseases
- Simple cultural and sanitation strategies to disrupt pest and disease life cycles
- Crop rotation, cover cropping, cultural practices for crop health
- Habitat for, and introduction of natural predators of pests
This OAK Field Day is open to all; pre-registration is required. Cost is $5 for OAK members; $10 for non-members. Visit oak-ky.org/field-days or call 502-517-9629 for questions or to register.
July 25, 2019 | 9am-noon ET | Locust Ridge Organics, Brooksville KY
— Organic Association of Kentucky
For more news from Kentucky, click here.