Biocontrols 2016 Conference Offers Insights And Learning Opportunities For Greenhouse Growers
February 4, 2016 
Biocontrols Conference and Expo 2016
The Biocontrols 2016 Conference & Expo, which takes place March 3-4, 2016, in Monterey, CA, brings together growers, pest control advisers, suppliers, researchers, and other segments of the ornamental, fruit, and vegetable industries to share the latest information on biochemicals, microbial pesticides, and beneficials, and help you put biocontrols to work in your operation.
Here’s a quick look at some of the highlights you can expect.
Thursday, March 3, 2016
The Next Generation Of Growers On The Next Generation Of Pest Control
Growers are beginning to more readily adopt biochemicals, macroorganisms, and microbial pesticides because they make good business sense in addition to more traditional benefits. Panelists include Travis Higginbotham, Battlefield Farms, and Dr. Erica Kistner, University of California, Riverside
What’s Coming Next
Experts from EPA and the biocontrols industry share an insider’s perspective on what you can expect in the coming months on regulatory issues and the products and technologies coming in the pipeline.
Putting Biopesticides To Work
From understanding how they pencil out on the business side to how to evaluate a new material to how biopesticides and beneficials work together, we’ll review the hands-on aspects of incorporating biocontrol technology into your operation.
Friday, March 4, 2016
Breakouts: Experts Go In-Depth In Ornamental Or Fruit Crops
- Rearing Entomopathogenic Nematode For Control of Fungus Gnat, Shore Fly and Thrips Nematodes are one of the easiest microorganisms to handle and can be part of a truly sustainable IPM strategy that can be implemented in operations of any scale. In this session, you will learn the life cycles and functions of nematodes, how to use the right species of nematode for the right pest, proper application, compatible pesticides and bio-pesticides, and how you can establish an in-house nematode rearing program. Speaker: Travis Higginbotham, Research and Development Manager, Battlefield Farms Inc./Heritage Greenhouse Products, Rapidan, VA
- Forensic biocontrol: How do you know your biocontrol program is really working? Many growers apply beneficials, but many do not really know what to look for when scouting. Come see images of what you can expect to find when assessing whether your program is working. Learn what a dead pest looks like and who killed it. Was it done in by a parasite? A predator? Or a disease? Knowing these differences will help you assess how well your program is working and who is really doing the killing. Refine your program, save some time and money. Speaker: Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, Owner, Buglady Consulting, Slatington, PA
Biocontrol And IPM
Biocontrols are a critical option for today’s growers, but in a larger sense, they’re just one tool of many. We’ll take a look at how biocontrols fit as a significant part of the future of pest control and plant health.
Optional Event For Friday Afternoon_ Field and Greenhouse Biocontrols Tour
Following the conclusion of the Biocontrols USA 2016 Conference & Expo, growers and PCAs will have an opportunity to attend an optional field and greenhouse tour to see biocontrol programs in action.
The tour will kick off with a first-hand view of how biocontrol is being used with regard to key pest complexes present in the Salinas Valley in high-value produce crops, including soil-borne pathogens including verticillium, fusarium, and sclerotinia foliar diseases including mildews, botrytis, and insect-borne viruses, and insect problems including aphids and thrips.
Bryan Huffman, Salinas Valley Area Manager at Pacific Ag Research will address current and future opportunities for biopesticides for both conventional and organic growers. Pest Control Advisers and growers will learn about best practices for optimal spray applications of biopesticides, including attention to worker exposure issues, re-entry intervals, pre-harvest intervals, environmental impact, and spray equipment.
Next, you’ll head north to Watsonville to visit Pacific Plug & Liner, one of the nation’s leading greenhouse operations with a reputation for producing high-quality young plants. Pacific Plug & Liner is a Certified Sustainable Grower through the MPS certification program and has been engaged in biocontrol for a number of years. At this tour stop, pest control attendees will see first-hand how this grower has incorporated macroorganisms into its production system. In addition to the pest control applications, attendees will learn about some of the other benefits of the technology, including a reduced risk of exposure for the people working inside the greenhouse, allowing work to continue around the clock without having to worry about a re-entry interval (REI). Attendees will also learn about how to use banker plants to attract and help keep populations of beneficials available and to serve as a multiplication site.
Biocontrols Workshop
Suzanne Wainwright Evans of Buglady Consulting offers an afternoon of hands-on education to help you get the most out of using biocontrols in your operation.
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