Progress 09/15/07 to 09/14/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Seven management methods for the crucifer flea beetle were tested in 2008 and 2009. In 2008, treatments were tested on 5 farms in Whatcom County and 3 farms in King County; in 2009, methods were tested at 5 farms in Whatcom County, 3 farms in Snohomish County, and WSU Mt. Vernon Research and Extension Center. Crops used for testing management methods were all crucifers: broccoli, arugula, mizuna, mustard greens, bok choi, and tatsoi. Treatments were: floating row cover (row cover put over crop immediately following planting or sowing), straw mulch between rows (1" thick straw mulch was filled in alleyway), cover crop between rows (cover crop of buckwheat or a mix of bell beans, field peas common vetch, and cayuse oats), living barrier (cash crucifer crop planted between established asparagus or peas), fabric wall (row cover material attached to stakes to make a wall around cash crop), trap crop (Chinese Southern Giant Mustard, tatsoi, or mizuna planted either on border or every 4th row in broccoli planting), and a flea beetle trolley (4 wheeled trolley to disturb beetles in the crop and trap them on underside). At least two treatments were tested per farm and compared against a control plot near the treatment area, set up at the same time as the treatment plot. The experiment at the Mt. Vernon Research Center was set up as a Randomized Complete Block Design with five treatments tested. Plots were managed agronomically on-farm by participating growers. The Mt. Vernon plots were managed by the vegetable field crew. Efficacy of treatment was measured in two ways. Feeding damage was determined by examining leaves and subjectively measuring damage on a scale of 1-5. Two yellow sticky cards were placed in each plot and were used to monitor the number of beetles. Each was measured by the same person once per week for four weeks for each crop cycle. Analysis of Variance was used to evaluate differences in the number of beetles trapped or qualitative feeding rating at each trial location. Differences among the means were analyzed with the Tukey Method. Two field events were held in Whatcom County and two were held in King County in 2008 and in Whatcom County and Snohomish County in 2009 to disseminate the information to growers. A total of 35 farmers attended the Whatcom County events, 55 attended the King County events and 3 farmers attended the Snohomish County event. A handout describing the project and interim results was distributed at each event and the project and results were described. Farmers interested in the project but unable to attend the field days were sent the handout electronically. Information from this project was disseminated at the Tilth Producers in Washington Annual Conference in Fort Worden in November 2010, with over 40 farmers attending this talk. A web page is available on the WSU Whatcom County Extension website (whatcom.wsu.edu/ipm/fleabeetle) explaining the pest identification, life cycle, and cultural control methods that were tested along with results. PARTICIPANTS: Craig MacConnell (Project Investigator) Mr. MacConnell participated as an advisor to the project. Colleen Burrows (co-PI) Ms. Burrows was the project manager. She set up farm locations and field trials and directed the project assistant in tasks such as data collection. She analyzed data, led field days, and produced reports. Daniel Coyne (Project Assistant) Mr. Coyne helped to set-up the field trials and collected the data. Mellissa Volk Mrs. Volk helped to set-up the field trials and collected the data. Collaborators: Andrew Corbin Mr. Corbin helped coordinate farm trials in Snohomish County. Farmer Collaborators: Alm Hill Farms, Whatcom County Hopewell Farm, Whatcom County Rabbit Fields Farm, Whatcom County Holistic Homestead Farm, Whatcom County Terra Verde Farm, Whatcom County Full Circle Farm, King County Rent's Due Farm, Snohomish County Garden Treasures Farm, Snohomish County TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience of this project is small, diversified organic farms in Western Washington. These farmers participated in the research and attended field days to receive information. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Results from the research performed on flea beetle treatments indicated some treatments more effective than others in controlling the flea beetle on crucifer crops, and efficacy and integration into farm system differed in time of year, type of crop, farm size, and farming type. Row cover was very effective in most cases, except where beetles were trapped under the row cover or the sides were not adequately pinned down. Other treatments with beetle damage less than the control were the living wall of asparagus or trellised peas, the fabric wall, and the trap crop. Treatments not effective in our trials were straw mulch and the cover crop in the alleyways. The Flea Beetle Trolley as designed was not effective and cumbersome to use. Most treatments worked best early in the season before the flea beetles became established in the crop. Growers who attended the field days learned how different methods of flea beetle control need to be worked into a specific system of farming. Not all treatments will work with all farmers. Some of the treatments require planning where and how crops will be grown. Others require managing a crop differently so that it can be harvested earlier or later. The farmers who attended the field days started to appreciate the holistic approach to pest management that this takes and started to develop thoughts of how aspects might fit into their own systems. One farmer has begun using the row cover walls on her farm for salad greens. Several growers have committed to using living walls for growing some crops. Growers of different sizes and crop planning skills expressed interest in different management techniques.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 09/15/08 to 09/14/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Six treatments for the crucifer flea beetle were tested on five farms in Whatcom County, three farms in Snohomish County, and at the WSU Mt. Vernon Research Center. Treatments were: floating row cover, straw mulch between rows, cover crop between rows, living barrier (asparagus or peas) between rows, fabric wall, and trap crop. At least two treatments were tested per farm and compared against a control plot near the treatment area, set up at the same time as the treatment plot. The experiment at the Mt. Vernon Research Center was set up as a Randomized Complete Block Design with five treatments tested. Efficacy of treatment was measured in two ways. Feeding damage was determined by examining leaves and subjectively measuring damage on a scale of 1-5. Two yellow sticky cards were placed in each plot and were used to monitor the number of beetles. Each was measured by the same person once per week for four weeks. Two field events were held in Whatcom County and two were held in King County to disseminate the information to growers. A total of 14 farmers attended the Whatcom County events. One Snohomish County event was attended by 3 local farmers. A handout describing the project and interim results was distributed at each event and the project and results were described. Farmers interested in the project but unable to attend the field days were sent the handout electronically. Results will be analyzed statistically in the winter of 2009-2010 and these results will be posted on the WSU Whatcom and Snohomish County Extension websites for greater access. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Craig MacConnell (Project Investigator) Mr. MacConnell participated as an advisor to the project. Colleen Burrows (Senior Research Associate) Ms. Burrows was the project manager. She set up farm locations and field trials and directed the project assistant in tasks such as data collection. She analyzed data, led field days, and produced reports. Daniel Coyne (Project Assistant) Mr. Coyne helped to set-up the field trials and collected the data. Mellissa Volk Mrs. Volk helped to set-up the field trials and collected the data. Collaborators: Andrew Corbin Mr. Corbin helped coordinate farm trials in Snohomish County. Farmer Collaborators: Alm Hill Farms, Whatcom County Hopewell Farm, Whatcom County Rabbit Fields Farm, Whatcom County Holistic Homestead Farm, Whatcom County Terra Verde Farm, Whatcom County Full Circle Farm, King County Rent's Due Farm, Snohomish County Garden Treasures Farm, Snohomish County TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience of this project is small, diversified organic farms in Western Washington. These farmers participated in the research and attended field days to receive information. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Results from the research performed on flea beetle treatments indicated that some treatments were more effective than others in controlling the flea beetle on brassica crops. The row cover was very effective in most cases. Other treatments showing promise were the living wall of asparagus or trellised peas, the fabric wall, and the trap crop. Treatments that did not show as much promise were the straw mulch and the cover crop. These were slightly different results than in 2008; some methods for using treatments were worked out in this situation. Efficacy of treatments varied depending on time of the growing season when they were applied. Most treatments worked best early in the season before the flea beetles became established in the crop. Growers who attended the field days learned how different methods of flea beetle control need to be worked into a specific system of farming. Not all treatments will work with all farmers. Some of the treatments require planning where and how crops will be grown. Others require managing a crop differently so that it can be harvested earlier or later. The farmers who attended the field days started to appreciate the holistic approach to pest management that this takes and started to develop thoughts of how aspects might fit into their own systems.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
Progress 09/15/07 to 09/14/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Seven treatments for the crucifer flea beetle were tested on 5 farms in Whatcom County and 3 farms in King County. Treatments were: floating row cover, straw mulch between rows, cover crop between rows, living barrier (asparagus), between rows, fabric wall, and a flea beetle trolley. At least two treatments were tested per farm and compared against a control plot near the treatment area, set up at the same time as the treatment plot. Efficacy of treatment was measured in two ways. Feeding damage was determined by examining leaves and subjectively measuring damage on a scale of 1-5. Nine yellow sticky cards were placed in each plot and were used to get a picture of the number of beetles in each plot. Each was measured by the same person once per week for four weeks. One farm site in Whatcom County was the Hovander Homestead Park, owned by Whatcom County Parks. This site was planted and maintained by WSU Whatcom County Extension employees and 5 treatments were used at this site. A descriptive poster was posted at this site to educate farmers and the general public about this research. Hovander Homestead Park is visited by hundreds of people daily. Two field events were held in Whatcom County and two were held in King County to disseminate the information to growers. A total of 16 farmers attended the Whatcom County events. One King County event was attended by 3 Hmong farmers and was videotaped to be shown to others. The other King County event was a part of a larger farm walk, where approximately 60 people attended. A handout describing the project and interim results was distributed at each event and the project and results were described. At one of the Whatcom County events, a new treatment (the fabric wall) was suggested by a farmer and tried later in the season with good results. A similar handout was provided at the Washington Tilth Conference in November. Results will be analyzed statistically in the winter of 2008-2009 and these results will be posted on the WSU Whatcom and King County Extension websites for greater access. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Craig MacConnell. WSU Whatcom County Extension (Project Investigator) participated as an advisor to the project. Colleen Burrows, WSU Whatcom County Extension,(Senior Research Associate) set up farm locations and field trials and directed the project assistant in tasks such as data collection. She analyzed data, led field days, and produced reports. Warren Hellman (Project Assistant)helped to set-up the field trials and collected the data. Collaborators: Todd Murray, WSU King County Extension, helped coordinate farm trials in King County. Farmer Collaborators:Alm Hill Farms, Whatcom County;Hopewell Farm, Whatcom County;Rabbit Fields Farm, Whatcom County;Holistic Homestead Farm, Whatcom County;Hovander Homestead Park, Whatcom County;21 Acres, King County;Song Ger Cha, King County;South 47 Farm, King County TARGET AUDIENCES: The target audience of this project is small, diversified organic farms in Western Washington. These farmers participated in the research and attended field days to receive information. One on-farm trial site was owned by a Hmong family. One of the field days was catered to this minority population which included a translator. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Results from the research performed on flea beetle treatments indicated that some treatments were more effective than others in controlling the flea beetle on brassica crops. The row cover was very effective in most cases. Other promising treatments were the living wall (asparagus), the fabric wall, and the cover crop between rows. Treatments that did not show as much promise were the straw mulch and the trap crop. The flea beetle trolley ran into some engineering difficulties; it will be re-designed and tested in 2009. One aspect of small organic farming translated into the difficulty of coordinating the cover crops or trap crops. Timing planting of cover crops and trap crops is very difficult in a small organic farm system. The cover crops and trap crops must be established before the main crop is at a stage that is desired by the flea beetle. This is often not achievable considering tilling and ground preparation timing. A perennial cover crop will be integrated into the design in 2009 to avoid the intricacies of the timing of annual cover crops. Farmers present at the field days were eager to try some of the new methods on their farms. Three new farmers volunteered to work with the project in 2009 as they were interested in learning the efficacy of treatments on their farm.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
|