Plan Now for Greenhouse Pest Control in 2019

Posted by Brian Sparks|February 14, 2019

As spring approaches, now is the time to make sure you’re equipped to deal with pest management issues. For growers in the Midwest, Michigan State University (MSU) Extension Entomology Specialist for ornamentals David Smitley has released his “2019 Greenhouse Insect Management” recommendations. These are the recommended products to control thrips, aphids, whiteflies, spider mites, broad and cyclamen mites, fungus gnats, mealybugs, and Florida fern caterpillar.

MSU Extension Plant Pathologist Mary Hausbeck has also released her new “Greenhouse Disease Management 2019 Season” recommendations. The products are classified as either “A” or “B” team products. The “A” team products provide the best control for the diseases, and “B” team products are those that provide control and are good to include in a spray rotation.

In addition, Hausbeck and her team have also released a new guide for disease management specifically for greenhouse vegetable and herb crops. The new guide provides information about each registered product for vegetable transplants and herbs in the following areas:
• Active ingredient
• Trade name of the product
• FRAC code (numbers based on the mode of action of the active ingredient)
• Re-entry interval

The disease recommendations are grouped by crop groups: brassica, cucurbit, leafy, fruiting, and herbs. Within each crop grouping, the table lists whether it is registered for use for control of bacterial blight, downy mildew, leaf spot, powdery mildew, Phytophthora, Rhizoctonia, or Sclerotinia.