Advice on Building a Successful Greenhouse Biologicals Program

By Brian D. Sparks|January 30, 2023

Foertmeyer and Sons; Photo: Brian Sparks

The 2023 Biosolutions Conference and Expo is the only event offering North American specialty crop growers, advisers, and researchers the latest information and real-world guidance on implementing biological solutions and technology tools. The event takes place Feb. 23-24 in Reno, NV.

The agenda for the conference includes a mix of general presentations designed for the collective audience of greenhouse, fruit, and vegetable producers. In addition, a series of crop-specific sessions take place the afternoon of Thursday, Feb. 23.

Here’s a closer look at the greenhouse biologicals sessions you can expect:

The Importance of Scouting in a Biocontrols Program (Andrew Luxon, Integrated Pest Management Supervisor, Four Star Greenhouse Inc.): Controlling pests with a biologicals approach requires preventative rather than curative action. Due to this, a detailed scouting program is critical. Luxom, the IPM Supervisor at one of the nation’s leading floriculture operations, offers tips on how to set up and manage a scouting program.
A Grower Perspective on Keeping Up With an Evolving Biologicals Market (Matt Foertmeyer, Head Grower, Foertmeyer & Sons Greenhouse): Starting a biocontrols program at your greenhouse is one thing; keeping it up to date and evolving it is another. It’s important to build a solid foundation of biocontrol knowledge with your employees to assure that they are set up for the most success as possible before being relied upon to apply and scout within your program. Learn how the team at Foertmeyer & Sons in Ohio stays on top of the latest developments in biologicals, and how the company trains both its current staff and new team members on using biocontrols.
Disease Control in Ornamentals Using Biocontrols (James Faust, Professor of Floriculture Physiology, Clemson University): The use of biocontrols to manage foliar pathogens, such as botrytis, is still in its infancy. Many products demonstrate their potential efficacy in Petri dishes, but often fail in real-world scenarios. This presentation will highlight strategies and products that are proving to work well in horticulture production systems and thus provide alternative approaches to conventional, preventative fungicide applications.