Transition to IPM: Part 1

Should You Keep Your Pesticide License?

Often I’m asked by biocontrol/IPM practitioners, new and old, if they should consider letting their chemical applicators’ permits expire. An emphatic no is always my answer (though if you’re getting married you should get rid of your little black book). Pest control is a war of sorts. In my opinion you should keep your options open. Why practice disarmament if you don’t have to?

Why practice disarmament if you don’t have to? Pest control is a war of sorts. Keep your options open.

Certification requires education, so that’s a good thing. Of course you’ll have to show restraint so you don’t make uncalculated midnight forays into the pesticide locker. Many military groups in the world possess nuclear weapons technology, but it doesn’t mean this technology or these weapons should ever be used. Restraint, too, is a good thing.

To spot-treat problem areas is also a good reason to keep your options up to date — though this will be discussed in greater detail later. If a grower tries to stay as green as possible in their growing practices, they are doing some good. And some good adds up and is infinitely better than no good. Just because, for business survival reasons, an individual needs to use a little chemical technology to get through a low moment of localized high pest pressure, it doesn’t turn them into some sort of demon. This is especially true if the chemical used is as soft as possible given the circumstances, the applicator uses it responsibly, and it is used when, how and where it needs to be used. No more, no less.

Should You Pursue Organic Certification?

Another question often asked is whether organic certification is a good idea. Sure, organic certification is great. But I do not recommend it unless the person asking has a really good reason for doing so — and, in my eyes, a marketing reason is the only good reason. Plus, their commitment to these Green Methods has to be true.

In other words, you should really have a strong organic-goods market at your disposal and be well-versed in ways to cope without standby chemicals. If you don’t and aren’t, why bother? An uncertified grower can grow just as organically as their certified counterparts — without the hassle, expense and binding obligation. So unless you can sell premium goods which are “certified organic” to a customer base willing to pay for the power of that “O” word, again, why bother?

Your options will be wide open, and you can still be as green as you want. Unless, of course, you cannot show restraint. Then, perhaps, you may need a binding obligation to keep you on the straight and narrow. But then, again, if that’s who you are, you probably shouldn’t be doing this at all.

Cleaning Up Before Biocontrol — The Finer Points

Back to the finer points of transition. You’ll need to have a clean operation before taking on the biocontrol part of the Green Methods. Meanwhile, IPM might just be the ticket. This is because you’ll have to clean things up, and you’ll need to do this in a way that lets you seamlessly proceed to the next step: biocontrol. You’ll want to start the integrated part of IPM right away.

To do this you’ll want to choose tactics that allow a cleanup without closing the door on biocontrol agents for great periods of time. If pesticides are the way to do this for you, choose those which are either compatible with the bugs you plan on introducing, or those with a short residual period — this may include insecticidal soaps and horticultural oils as well as many other products.

The Residual Period

The residual period is the amount of time the substance remains toxic to the biocontrol agents of choice. Other techniques may include emptying the structure and treating it to periods of extreme heating and freezing for as long as several weeks. Or you may simply choose one or more manual options — hand picking, trapping, etc. All these techniques are discussed in greater detail on the next page.

If You Can, Wait for a Crop-Free Window

If it is an option, wait until the crop is cleared from the structure, thoroughly clean things up (steam- or heat-sterilize the structure, if possible), and incorporate biocontrols and other IPM methods upon the germination or introduction of a new crop. Beware: if you’re bringing in plant material from outside sources, be sure the material has been treated in a way that’s compatible with the critters you’re planning to use. If your operation consists of several independent structures, perhaps it is best to learn the Green Methods one structure at a time. Usually this will facilitate a smoother transition and the entire process can be less stressful.

You’re Not Alone — Finding Support

One thing to remember: you’re not alone. I can’t say for sure there are support groups hosting meetings every Tuesday night in your area. (“Hi, my name is John P. and I spray pesticides?”) And transition probably has more than twelve steps anyway. Nor can I say there are chat rooms on the internet devoted to transition, though the latter is very likely. But I can emphatically state you are not alone.

If you attend any growers’ meetings, garden club teas, education-based meetings and seminars — including those offering pesticide applicators’ recertification credits — trade events, university cooperative extension get-togethers, etc., you’ll find people doing it just as you are. Some will be ahead of you in the learning curve. Some will be behind. But talk to them all. Share notes and experiences. There’s a reason many chemical companies tout their sprays as “compatible with beneficials.” It is because biocontrol and IPM are real — a driving force in horticulture and agriculture. A force to be reckoned with. And many people are doing this.

Your Biocontrol Distributor Is an Ally

Don’t forget one of your most important allies: your biocontrol distributor. The distributor has a huge advantage over many other avenues of assistance — they’re directly involved with hundreds, perhaps thousands, of grower-individuals with different experiences and results. A good distributor will be asking a lot of questions, taking a lot of notes, and helping a lot of neophytes make the best of it.

You may think your biocontrol distributor is in it only for the money (which is partly true because money helps businesses succeed and is fundamental to life on earth as we know it) and you will, therefore, be unable to get straight, unbiased help. But a good distributor will help with every ounce of integrity they can muster. You see, if you are successful in this challenging endeavor, they may keep you as a paying customer for life. If they don’t do a good enough job helping you out, you may fail and go back to chemical pesticides, or worse, suffer a business collapse. In either case, they’ve lost you and will have to begin anew with someone else.

And Moving Along

Now you’re ready to make a transition. You’re starting in an environment which will not hamper the effectiveness of your good bugs and you’re as clean as a whistle. You’ve read up and brushed up, found yourself a good distributor and are just itching to get started.

Don’t for a moment, though, get complacent — for the rough stuff follows. Don’t expect miracles and don’t expect the road to success with the Green Methods to be smooth. I’m not saying it’s going to be hell on earth, but there’s still a learning curve before you’ve got ninety-eight percent of it down pat. A hundred percent? Well, I don’t know if that’s possible with anything.

Now let’s get into more details. It’s where I’ll start to trim the meat from the bone, so to speak. Continue to Part 2 of transitioning →