By Tom Dayton
With all the talk about runoff from farms polluting the western basin of Lake Erie, the use of pesticides in agriculture has gotten less attention.
Even so, there are exciting demonstration farms found in Ohio that consist of narrow strips of wild flowers in which pollination and beneficial insects can prosper and help with the pollination and destruction of harmful insects in the surrounding crop.
Once it was thought that surrounding of the perimeter of the crop was sufficient to do the above jobs; however, new research in the United Kingdom has revealed that narrow strips of only 3-4 meters through the crop were found to be so much more effective.
Another portion of agriculture concerning nurseries and greenhouses now use beneficial insects inside greenhouses to control pests. One benefit is that no harmful insects are able to build an immunity to the beneficial insects as is the case with traditional pesticides.
An even greater benefit is that the use of beneficial insects is that there is no EPA restriction as to when workers may enter the greenhouse and in fact workers may be present when the insects are applied.
As far as fungicides, calcium chloride is being used in more greenhouses for control of Botrytis or gray mold and powdery mildew. This product has been made possible to use because of the research of Dr. Uttara Samarkoon, an Associates Professor of Ohio State ATI and scientist at OARDC in Wooster, Ohio.
This OMNI rated product can be used while workers are present and anyone can mix and apply it. When sprayed twice weekly using 38 g in a two gallon sprayer and 1900 g or 4.18 lbs. in 100 gallons of water, the Dowflake or Tetraflake brand is highly effective to eliminate the two diseases prevalent in greenhouses. Even homeowners can get in on the act eliminating fungal diseases from squash, cucumbers and any number of flowers or shrubs.
Since calcium chloride solutions do not degrade like traditional fungicides, any unused portion may be sprayed the next time wanted and the cost is minimal compared to traditional fungicides.
Whether or not agriculture in the near future can eliminate chemicals from their operations remains to be seen but the future looks bright.