Resource available for integrated pest management
Resource available for integrated pest management
Pest management plays a critical role in keeping floriculture businesses operating efficiently. Without effective controls, growers can face reduced crop quality, production losses and increased disease pressure. Integrated Pest Management, or IPM, offers a comprehensive approach to pest control that combines biological, chemical, cultural and physical methods.
Sustainabloom has enlisted the expertise of researchers to help growers implement IPM effectively. Through a detailed guide and supplemental resources, researchers Amanda Solliday and Dr. Melinda Knuth of the Department of Horticultural Sciences at North Carolina State University provide practical guidance on IPM strategies and explain how a well-designed program can improve product quality while supporting more sustainable practices across the industry.
The guide and accompanying resources are part of a broader, easily accessible collection of research-backed educational tools aimed at simplifying sustainability efforts in floriculture.
Beginning steps
Sustainabloom’s guide outlines steps growers can take to develop an IPM strategy, including ways to reduce the use of high-risk and costly pesticides while protecting crop health and quality. These practices support a culture of sustainability and help deliver a stronger product to consumers.
Solliday and Knuth compile information to help growers get started with IPM, including identifying and monitoring pests, a practice known as scouting. Once pests are identified, growers can determine appropriate responses based on pest biology and other factors. The guide also addresses practices that protect beneficial insects and pollinators.
In addition, the researchers provide guidance on preventative strategies to reduce infestations and improve IPM programs over time. They note that growers can implement IPM gradually, building on successful practices and adjusting strategies as needed. The guide also outlines ways to evaluate IPM effectiveness, including reviewing pesticide use.
Real-world examples
The guide includes a case study highlighting how Metrolina Greenhouses, a national ornamental producer, manages pests through sustainable practices. Dr. Mark Yelanich, the company’s director of research, shares insights into Metrolina’s scouting protocols, use of natural predators and reliance on certification programs to track and measure pesticide use.
The IPM guide also includes links to additional resources, such as pesticide product information, certification programs, crop profiles, greenhouse IPM strategies and other educational tools available to growers.
