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OSU
Extension Darke County
Controlling
Pests on the Farm
By Sam Custer
Modern
seed genetics help stave off insect
problems in crops. Farmers also use Integrated Pest Management
techniques which
involve inspecting crops and monitoring crops for damage, and using
mechanical
trapping devices, natural predators (e.g., insects that eat other
insects),
insect growth regulators, mating disruption substances (pheromones),
and if
necessary, chemical pesticides. The use of biological pesticides is an
important component of IPM. In technical terms, Integrated Pest
Management
(IPM) is the coordinated use of pest and environmental information with
available pest control methods to prevent unacceptable levels of pest
damage by
the most economical means and with the least possible hazard to people,
property, and the environment.
Technology
has also assisted in controlling
weeds in crops also. Several
years ago
Round-Up Ready Soybeans and then Round-Up Ready Corn were introduced to
the
market. This
allowed farmers to plant
the seed and then come in later with Round-Up and kills all vegetation
except
the desired crop. This
transformed how
we controlled weeds in our crops for several years.
But just like human viruses have
developed
resistance to some antibiotics we began to see weeds that developed a
resistance to the herbicide active ingredient in Round-Up, glyphosate. If you see a field heavily
invested with a
weed you have probably found a resistant weed like marestail
(horseweed), giant
ragweed or pigweed.
Farmers
now must return to multiple modes of
action to control these resistant weeds, including pre and post
emergent
herbicides and tillage.
When applying pesticides farmers also have the precision technology to
apply
directly where needed and are also required to be certified before
doing so.
Remember, farm products cost the farmer money and they do not want any
more
resistant weeds, so they are used in as small amounts as possible. A farmer will spend almost
$50 per acre for
pesticides and $110 per acre for today’s modern seed.
For
more information, visit the Darke County
OSU Extension web site at www.darke.osu.edu,
the OSU Extension Darke County Facebook page or contact Sam
Custer, at 937.548.5215.
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