Organic pest management to be showcased at upcoming Lincoln University Field day (June 9th, 2016)

Published: May 25, 2016

Japanese Beatle trapping system

Spotted Wing Drosophila trapping system

On June 9th, 2016, Lincoln University Cooperative Extension and Research will be hosting the annual Alan T. Busby Farm Organic Agriculture Field Day. This year seven workshops, most of which concern organic pest management, will be offered in the morning (cost: $15, with lunch included). The seven workshops are: (1) Managing Internal Parasites of Goats, Sheep, and Cattle, (2) Organic Berry Production, (3) Organic Management of Spotted Wing Drosophila, (4) Predator Control for Small Ruminants, (5) Creating and Protecting Habitat for Native Pollinators, (6) Agroforestry and Mushroom Production, and (7) Disease Management in Organic Fruit and Vegetable Production.

The SWD workshop will emphasize monitoring and management of this invasive insect, and will include hands-on activities. Information about a cost-share program for producers to recover up to 50% of insecticide/exclusion netting costs will be provided. In addition, each participant will receive SWD specimens in vials with alcohol as reference material, fact sheets / guide sheets, and free traps and lures.

While the workshops and field day demonstrations will emphasize organic production, nearly all concepts and techniques that will be discussed can be implemented by non-organic producers.

The keynote presentation by Dr. John Ikerd, Professor Emeritus - University of Missouri, is open to all (no charge) and begins at 1:00 pm.

Field Day tours are from 2:00 to 6:00 pm. Additional information about the field day demonstrations and online registration are available at: http://www.lincolnu.edu/web/cooperative-research/busby-farm-ag-field-day. A printable registration form is also available at the link above.