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Pest & Disease Management

Managing common pests (including insects, diseases and weeds) requires a proactive management approach in organic farming. To minimize potential pest problems, organic farmers must determine how to grow crops working with the environmental conditions present on the farm, both above and within the soil. When pests are present, as they often will be at some point in the growing season, reactive methods can be used. It is one of the goals of organic farming, however, to minimize the need for reactive measures and reduce outside inputs. Research and planning before the season begins is the basis of pest management.

Careful Crop Selection and Growing Methods is the First Defense Against Pests

To grow healthy plants that will naturally have pest resistance, it is necessary to determine the crops, the planting times and the methods that will be best suited for the environmental conditions of a particular farm. A survey of environmental conditions would include:

  • existing soil conditions (texture, structure, nutrients, biological activity, temperature)
  • amount of sunlight at different times of the year
  • what pests and pest predators are already present
  • ability to get water to crops, either by rain or irrigation
  • average temperatures, especially nighttime temperatures, at different times of the year
  • typical humidity levels at different times of the year

Once these conditions are identified, it will be possible to identify well-suited crops and specific varieties of those crops appropriate for the environment. Some varieties of tomatoes, for example, are particularly well suited for hot, humid climates while others do better in milder, low humidity areas.

Create Habitat for Pest Predators

Creating habitat for pest predators requires knowledge of what pests and predators exist in the farm’s environment. Observation and monitoring of pests is key. A good insect and disease identification guide will identify pests, list their predators, and recommend protective measures. Creating habitat for pest predators living above ground might include planting strips of certain plants as permanent habitat areas on the farm, rotating crops, and planting cover crops that attract beneficial organisms. Creating habitat below ground might include mulching around plants, applying beneficial bacteria and/or fungi to the soil in the form of compost, compost tea or other means, and reducing tillage.

Determine Thresholds Before Reactive Measures are Used

For every pest/crop interaction there exists an economic injury level (EIL), the level at which the damage done to a crop by a pest warrants an intervention. Although data exists to help determine this level, each situation will require individual evaluation to determine when an intervention is appropriate. A grower who sells tomatoes to a retail outlet that expects blemish-free fruits would have a different EIL for his or her crop than a grower who is able to get a premium for a crop even with some blemishes. Marketing strategies, therefore, can play an important role in determining what pest management measures are used for a crop.

Other Pest Management Strategies for Organic Growing in Georgia

In the Piedmont region of the Southeast in particular, farming organically presents especially demanding challenges, including erratic temperature fluctuations, high humidity levels, and a wide variety of noxious weeds and aggressive insect pests. Succeeding at growing a variety of crops with consistent quality under these conditions often entails using one or more of the following methods:

  • using row covers to protect against insects and erratic frosts
  • planting at wide spacing to allow for greater air movement to counteract humidity
  • using plastic mulches to suppress noxious weeds and increase soil temperatures in the spring,
    thereby increasing plant health and ability to resist disease and insects
  • utilizing traps to lure problem insects and/or removal of insect pests by hand
  • using transplants to get a head start on weed competition or to use in a reduced
    tillage system
  • using natural pest controls (considered a last resort) that have pesticide qualities but are safer
    for the user and the environment

Key Resources for Managing Common Pests Organically
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