With ornamental growers being under increasing industry and consumer pressure to implement more sustainable practices, biorational crop protection is under the spotlight at Four Oaks this year.
In the context of recent product regulatory changes and the growing issue of resistance to conventional chemistry, Selchuk Kurtev, IPM manager at Certis UK, urges growers to learn more about getting the most out of biorationals.
“Biorationals have become a much more frequently used tool in the ornamental grower’s armoury, but feedback indicates that there is still clarity required on how to get the best possible efficacy from these products.
“It requires a change in mindset and must be brought together as part of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) strategy, with a full understanding of the impact that environmental variation can have on performance.
“Biorationals are proven to help achieve and maintain effective control of pests, as well as playing a key part in the sustainable production of ornamental crops, but you have to understand what you’re dealing with,” he explains.
At Four Oaks, Certis UK will be sharing case studies during a seminar session from the Netherlands and the UK, which demonstrate successful examples of Western Flower Thrip (WFT) control through the use of biorationals as part of an IPM approach.
“The WFT is a notoriously difficult pest to control, with a high reproductive rate, and reported resistance issues, but these case studies show that even in difficult situations, biorationals can achieve real results.
“We hope that through sharing some of our key findings, we’ll empower UK growers with the knowledge to really get the best out of biorationals within individual growing situations.”
Certis UK can be found on stands D124 and D125 at the Four Oaks Trade Show on September 5 and 6 2017. Mr Kurtev will be presenting on day two of the event at 11.00am, where BASIS and NRoSO points will be available for those who attend.
