Say Bye-Bye to Pesticides and Hello to Fences
A Newer, Greener and (hopefully) Better Approach to Dealing with the Cabbage Root Maggot (Delia radicum)
Insecticides are becoming more of a pest then the pests they're killing. D. radicum is an annoying bug that has become a major problem for vegetable farmers in Newfoundland and Labrador. The existing insecticides are not fully effective, and are often toxic and more harmful then helpful.
D. radicum are bugs that affect and damage many root vegetables including: cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts and rutabagas. Damage is caused by larval feeding on and in the roots of host plants. High infestations can cause plant wilting, stunting, lodging, reduced flowering and seed set and plant death (Huber & Mason, 2002).They are a severe problem to provincial farmers and many methods have been designed to help decrease their numbers. Such things have included insecticides, crop rotation, and row covers (Dixon).
A rutabaga field (c) Atlantic Cool Crop Research Centre, 2010
Greener alternatives are being explored, and one such method is being researched upon in St. John's, Newfoundland. Originally invented in British Columbia, this device may look deceptively simple but it has taken many years to develop.
Demo of an Exclusion Fence, at the Atlantic Cool Crop Research Centre. St. John's, NL (c) Atlantic Cool Crop Research Centre, 2010
Here's how it works:
Step 1: D. radica fly into the fence
Step 2: They try to crawl up and are subsequently trapped in the folded over fabric at the top of the fence
While this method may not help the pre-existing population present in a farm, it is 90% effective in preventing new bugs from coming in. It is a ecologically friendly tool in controlling a pest issue, rather than resorting to pesticides.
This device is in it's infancy but it is an exciting new possibility for farmers. Those interested in learning more are encouraged to drop by the Atlantic Cool Crop Research Centre, which is located in St. John's on 308 Brookfield Road. Demos are available for ordering through the ACCRC's website.
| Pros of Fence | Cons of Pesticide |
|
-endurable -enviromentally friendly -cost effective |
-environmentally harmful -time consuming -eventually will become ineffective (insect resistance) |
It never hurts to try something new, farmers of Newfoundland & Labrador should make an effort to come and check out this new fence at the Agricultural Site in St John's, and see if this would work for them. This could potentially in future result in a positive change for their crop growth and business. No one knows what will happen today nor what is to come tomorrow, but this shouldn't limit us in trying new endeavours.
References
Large portion of the data above was taken from a live interview with Dr. Peggy Dixon, The Atlantic Cool Crop Research Centre, 308 Brookfield Rd, St John's, NL
Huber, J. T & Mason, P. G. (2002) Biological control programmes in Canada, 1981-2000.Publisher CABI 2002.
