Almost 40 years ago, IR-4 (Interregional Research Project Number 4) began serving the ornamental horticulture industry, helping to facilitate the registration of pest management tools. IR-4 does this primarily by surveying growers about their pest management issues and then hosting workshops to review survey results and set priorities for the coming years. Most recently, IR-4 coordinated a meeting of researchers and industry members on pollinator health and neonicotinoid chemistries to start a discussion on the needed research. The next step will be to get the outcomes from that workshop out to the public.
A journey just over the United States’ border led Cascade Cuts of Bellingham, Wash., to begin using biocontrols. Alison Kutz, owner of Cascade Cuts greenhouses, explains the challenges and opportunities brought about with biocontrol implementation.
