The next era of greenhouse crop protection is here

Added on 29 January 2024

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The next era of greenhouse crop protection is here

Cody Mitchem, IPM Specialist at Beneficial Insectary, uses a loupe to inspect the underside of plants for small pests, such as mites, thrips, and aphids. Photo: Cody Mitchem, Beneficial Insectary

Twenty-seven years ago, less than 10% of commercial greenhouse operators surveyed in the Midwest used biological control agents (BCAs) as part of their pest management programs. This year, only 8% of respondents to Greenhouse Grower’s survey of Top 100 Growers weren’t using bios.

Biologicals are more than lacewings and lady beetles. “When you talk about biologicals, 90% of people will think of BCAs, predators, parasitoids, parasitic nematodes, things like that. When I talk biologicals, I’m talking about our micro-friends, not our macro-friends. I’m talking bacteria and fungi,” says Dr. Chris Hayes, Senior Biological Solutions Advisor at BioWorks.

Why Growers are Shifting to Bios

Shifting to bios isn’t fast — there’s a learning curve. It isn’t less expensive, although growers may find the total cost of chemical control and bios are similar (add up the protective suits, the training, storage requirements, disposal costs, and time lost waiting for the restricted entry interval (REI) to re-enter a bay). Using bios is more complex than the old spray-and-pray methods. So why do growers make the switch?

“One of the main reasons people are starting to adopt it (bios) is due to state regulation, and it varies state by state. At the end of the day, it’s starting to get stricter,” says Cody Mitchem, IPM Specialist at Beneficial Insectary.