PEST CONTROL PROCEDURES

Chemical Pest Control

Most diseases, insects, nematodes, and weeds can be controlled chemically. However, the use of chemicals for control can render fruit less desirable in the marketplace. In addition, pest chemicals vary widely in their effectiveness, method and time of application. State and federal law require that pest control chemicals be applied by those licensed to do so, Today, both federal and state laws require registration of most pest chemicals which regulate their use. Therefore, the user of these chemicals needs to be aware of these regulations by following label instructions.

Chemicals that are approved for specific use are constantly changing as older products are removed from the market and new ones introduced. A pest chemical label can be changed, removing its use for a particular crop or pest, although it still may be suitable for use on other crops or pests. Therefore, before selecting and using any pest chemical, its use must conform to label requirements. Use and restriction information concerning pest chemicals can be found in various state agency publications. Growers need to have access to the latest versions of these pest control publications for their region to ensure that the label is still applicable for its intended use.

In all forms of pest control, the timing of applied control measures can determine the success of an applied treatment. Strategies for dealing with insects and diseases need to be formulated and carefully followed. For example, it is important to know the life cycle of a plant-damaging insect in order to apply control measures that will prevent the development of that form of the insect that harms the crop or when the applied chemical will be most effective. Each stage of insect development is different, and a particular control measure may be effective against one stage of development but not another. Professional assistance is important in order to correctly identifying the disease and insect in question and then selecting those control measures that will be provide the desired con trol.

Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

Integrated pest management (IPM) involves the use of a combination of procedures, cultural, chemical and non-chemical, in order to control both insects and diseases. An IPM program is normally for a specific crop, such as tomato, or for a system of growing, such as hydroponic.

Carefully maintaining the plant environment and the health of the plant itself is as important as non-chemical means of disease and insect control. Air and rooting temperature, relative humidity, airflow in the plant canopy, soil moisture, and plant nutrition, for example, are factors that contribute to the well being of plants. A vigorously growing healthy plant is less likely to be disease prone. Stressed plants are more likely to be affected by the presence of disease and insects than a healthy plant

Prophylactic Procedures

As with any infestation, prophylactic procedures are essential to prevent disease organism and insect introduction since most disease and insect problems are difficult to control after the fact. The environment, such as air and root temperature, soil moisture, relative humidity, air movement within the plant canopy, the presence of host plants, and cultural practices will influence the initiation or control of diseases and insects. The use of insect traps and frequent monitoring of the tomato plant can warn of a developing insect or disease infestation in order that control measures can be taken before the infestation reaches plant-damaging levels.

For the greenhouse grower, controlling access to the greenhouse, screening to keep insects from being drawn into the greenhouse through the ventilation system, and the sterilization of clothes and tools are important measures. Only disease- and insect-free plant material should be brought into the greenhouse. By combining chemical, non-chemical, and prophylactic procedures, a grower should be able to produce a tomato crop free from damaging pests.