Professional Documents
Culture Documents
The Integrated Plant Protection Center at Oregon 1. Determine which species are most likely to be Producers who grow dill leaf, mustard greens,
State University houses the state-wide Integrated helpful. Find out which predators and parasites feed arugula, and Asian greens should consider let-
Pest Management program. The Center also runs upon the pests that attack your crops, the time of ting them bloom after harvest. In many cases,
the Farmscaping for Beneficials program, which un- year they are active, and the additional resources it’s a moot point — bloom just happens.
dertakes participatory research and education pro- (food and shelter) that they need. — Elanor O’Brien
grams with farmers. More information about in- Persephone Farm
2. Know and map farm habitats. Identify fields Lebanon, Oregon
creasing habitat for natural enemies of pests and and margins — and the times of year — where plant
weeds can be found at http://ipmnet.org/. resources for these beneficial species are lacking.
3. Manage your farm to attract and retain natu- Getting Started
ral enemies. Use the illustration in this brochure as
Here are two things you can do to improve the sit-
a guide to protect and enhance valuable habitat and
uation for natural enemies of pests and weeds:
to add appropriate plants and other features.
Experiment with one tactic. Establish an insectary
The Xerces Society is a non-profit organization that flower border or block, as illustrated in this bro-
protects biological diversity through conservation chure, in a readily accessible location. Observe this
of invertebrates. It works with farmers and scientists Striking a balance between beneficial organisms
and pests is the key to biological pest manage- habitat regularly to determine whether beneficial
across the country to protect habitats that support species are present when they would be most help-
native bees and natural enemies. More information ment on our farm. We don’t want to kill off all
the bad bugs.We want just enough out there to ful on your farm.
is available at www.xerces.org.
FAR M I N G feed our good ones.
— John Eveland
Avoid a harmful practice. Choose an alternative
pesticide that is not toxic to beneficial species, or
F OR Gathering Together Farm
Philomath, Oregon
experiment with reducing intensive cultivations in
an area of your farm. Watch to see whether preda-
P E S T M ANAG E M E N T tors and parasites are more active in these areas.
Insectary Field Borders and Strips Beetle Banks Bolting Crops Weedy Patches Conservation Cover
Food and Shelter Food and Shelter Food and Shelter Food and Shelter Food and Shelter
A variety of strip plantings — blocks of calendula, alyssum, Creating permanent raised banks near Retaining bolting or flowering Patches of innocuous weeds or other annuals Sowing crop alleys or field roads with a
yarrow, or phacelia, for example — interspersed in and around fields, and densely planting them with crops for a time after harvest may allowed to flower along field edges help to diverse plant cover can add soil nutrients
crops are easily managed to provide resources for benefial bunch grasses, will provide overwintering provide an important nectar source provide an unbroken sequence of nectar and while providing resources for predators
insects at the times and places where they are most valuable. habitat for predatory beetles and spiders. when and where pests are active. pollen during the growing season. and parasites throughout the year.