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Most Popular Pests on the Farm

Last month I asked several questions about what are the most serious pests in organic crops, and I would still like to hear from you if you have not responded.

Here are some of the responses that I received so far. For insects, the most popular problems were: Colorado potato beetle in potatoes; striped cucumber beetles in cucumbers and squash; and flea beetles in brassica crops such mustard and oriental greens. Other responses were for: Swede midge in brassica crops such as broccoli; potato leaf hoppers in potatoes; corn earworm in sweet corn; carrot rust fly in carrots; tarnished plant bug in strawberries; cabbage loopers in brassica crops; and soybean aphid.

Potato beetles can be controlled by handpicking for small lots or by using products such as Entrust on larger fields. Later plantings can also help to reduce the problem.

For striped cucumber beetles a suggestion was to use to use transplants and a good mulch. Hand picking or vacuum methods can also help.

For flea beetles, row covers seem to be the best option.

Swede midge was only reported by one person but it has become such a problem that it is convincing some growers to stop growing crops like broccoli. There are no good solutions at this time. It is more of a problem in the GTA and Kitchener areas but will soon be found in all parts of the province.

For diseases, late blight in tomatoes and potatoes was the worst disease, followed by downy mildew in cucumbers. Cucumber mosaic virus in cucumbers and powdery mildew in cereals were also mentioned.

Late blight has become a serious issue in the past two seasons and we have had several articles about it in this newsletter. Growing tomatoes in the hoophouse has delayed the infection on some farms. Some have found some varieties more tolerant than others but most varieties are susceptible. Crop rotation and maintaining good nutrients levels were also cited as being useful. Destroying the culls at harvest and eliminating volunteer tomato and potato plants as well as nightshade weeds are also essential strategies.

Downy mildew in cucumbers was seen as a very serious disease. Some people grow them in hoophouses to delay infection. Some use mulches to keep plant stress to a minimum.

So what are your worst insects, diseases and weeds and what to you do about them. I look forward to hearing from you - hugh.martin@ontario.ca