IPM Insights

An integrated pest management (IPM) plan is an essential part of many growers’ overall growing approach. This has become especially true in recent years as more greenhouse operations are embracing environmental-consensus strategies to combat pest issues.

This, however, doesn’t mean that growers are turning away from chemistry altogether. In fact, the opposite is true: many successful IPM programs utilize new chemistry that only works to enhance an IPM program and help plants grow better.

Two highly effective options

SePRO has a comprehensive line of economic solutions that fit into any IPM program: Hachi-Hachi® SC, Rycar®, Akari® and Talus® to name a few.

Each of those products is part of SePRO’s still-growing line of non-neonicotinoid insecticides. With an improved formulation, Hachi-Hachi SC is an insecticide that offers growers broad-spectrum insect control that is highly efficacious on thrips, aphids, leafhoppers, lepidopteran insects, scale, mealybugs, whiteflies and coleopteran insects, including red-headed flea beetle. The product targets insects at all stages of life and demonstrates fungistatic activity against both powdery and downy mildew.

As part of an IPM program, Hachi-Hachi SC’s unique chemistry strengthens every IPM program by reducing the risk of resistance development over time. It can be used both in greenhouses and nurseries.

The product label, application information and more can be found at: bit.ly/hachi-hachi-sc-label

Rycar is another effective tool for growers to combat insect pests. It provides high-level control over both B- and Q-biotypes of whiteflies in addition to aphids, mealybugs, chili thrips and leafhoppers.

When Rycar acts via contact or ingestion, it stops insects from feeding within two hours before the pest — be it whiteflies or another species — succumbs to starvation in the next 48 hours.

And like Hachi-Hachi SC, it has unique chemistry that reduces the risk of resistance development. It also is “soft” on beneficial insects, making it a great tool to incorporate into a IPM program. It can be used both in greenhouses and nurseries.

The product label, application information and more can be found at: bit.ly/rycar-label

Proper integration

At Minnesota-based Dan and Jerry’s Greenhouse, grower Dan Tschirhart has been using Hachi-Hachi SC dating back to its original formulation. Now, with the updated formula, Tschirhart has made it a staple of his summer production, specifically on mums and asters.

According to Tschirhart, he mostly uses Topflor® — another SePRO product — and biologicals during the busy spring season. When summer rolls around, and temperatures rise, the biologicals have to take a back seat and Hachi-Hachi SC steps in.

“[In the spring], I try to be on the softer side and use a lot of biologicals,” he says. “Once it warms up, I can’t get the same level of effectiveness out of that approach.”

However, Tschirhart says that using biologicals in the spring before transitioning to Hachi-Hachi SC in the summer works hand-in-hand as part of an IPM strategy. He says that because he uses biologicals all spring, it lessens the amount of resistance that pests will develop to chemicals heading into the summer — thus helping Hachi-Hachi SC hit maximum effectiveness.

“That’s the beauty of using a lot of biologicals going into the summer,” he adds. “I don’t have a lot of resistance to manage, so then everything works better. And Hachi-Hachi SC has some fungicidal properties and that’s helpful as well, especially with mums and asters.”

He adds that Hachi-Hachi SC is great for him and the rest of the Dan and Jerry’s grower team because it’s great as part of a rotation and in helping suppress whitefly population.

Added benefits

According to Tschirhart, Dan and Jerry’s has been a neonicotinoid-free facility for four-plus years. As a result, he says that the number of products available to use is limited. That can make production tougher than it already is.

“It’s tough, especially for whiteflies if you’re neonic free,” he says. “When it comes to the Q-biotype and such, you’re pretty limited for what you’ve got available. It gets dicey, so it’s helpful to have other options.”

Both Hachi-Hachi SC and Rycar, however, are neonicotinoid-free. This makes it a key product for Tschirhart to use not just now, but for the foreseeable future. He also notes that it is more affordable than some of the other products on the market and that it’s helpful to not have to identify the specific whitefly type before beginning treatment.

“I don’t have any problem with rotating through with it,” he says. “And this is a no neonicotinoid facility, so anything that I can get for additional whitefly suppression is absolutely hopefully.”

Another grower calls Hachi-Hachi SC essential. In hundreds of acres of greenhouse and nursery space, the grower uses it to combat thrips, aphids, red-headed flea beetle and mealybug control in addition to using it in a fungicide rotation for plants susceptible to downy and powdery mildew.

As for Rycar, the grower says it is his preferred “first shot fired” when aphids, mealybug or whitefly are out of control.

“Growers who aren’t using Hachi-Hachi SC or Rycar are missing two important tools in the crop protection toolbox,” the grower says. “If these products are new to you, congratulations.  You’re in for a treat.”