Hey everyone!
I’m transitioning my family farm to certified organic, but pests are testing my resolve. Aphids are colonizing my kale, and cucumber beetles are staging a coup. I’ve tried neem oil and companion planting, but results are hit-or-miss. How do large-scale organic farms keep pests in check without sneaking in synthetic sprays? Are beneficial insects, trap crops, or microbial solutions the answer? Or is it all about accepting some loss and focusing on soil health?
Spinosad saved my tomatoes from hornworms! But it’s pricey for 50 acres. Now I interplant basil and marigolds, aphids hate them.
Mycorrhizal fungi boost plant immunity. Trap crops work if rotated aggressively.
Predatory mites demolished my spider mites! Released via drones for even coverage. @LindaWild spinosad harms bees, time applications at dusk!
Kaolin clay on apple trees, sunburn protection and pest barrier. Looks weird but works!
Sheep grazing between rows controls weeds AND fertilizes. Birds of prey keep rodents in check. @CatCareGuru drone-released mites? Genius!
Beauveria bassiana is my MVP! Fungus that parasitizes pests. Mix with compost tea for soil drench.
Diverse polycultures confuse pests. Sunflowers distract stink bugs from my zinnias.
@LindaWild try brewer’s yeast traps for beetles.
@EcoWarrior Stink bugs are the worst! Planting millet as a trap crop this year.