This information, and this vegetable BMP document (click here) come to us from Gene McAvoy, County Extension Director and Regional Vegetable Agent IV in Hendry County, FL:
This report summarizes the discussion and subsequent general Best Management Practice (BMP)recommendations of research and Extension vegetable entomologists and crop consultants from primary vegetable-producing states. During a meeting held in May 2008 in Monterey, California, the group discussed pest-management issues, challenges and opportunities confronting the fresh and process vegetable industry today.
Topics included shifts in pest spectrums; emergence of insect-vectored diseases as significant risks to profitable production; availability of advanced insecticide and acaricide technologies; the need for resistance management in pest control; the challenges of a shrinking agricultural infrastructure; and regulatory trends.
Workshop Goals were to:
• Brainstorm issues, challenges and opportunities in the control of insects and mites in vegetable crops; • Develop contemporary Best Management Practices (BMPs) that optimize the performance of new insecticide technologies for controlling insects and mites; and • Discuss new insecticide technologies available to the vegetable industry and their fit in the BMPs.
This report contains a lot of useful information and ideas to consider and hopefully incorporate into your pest management strategies.