Control strategies for swede midge in organic production
Description
The swede midge has been the main pest of crucifers (cabbage family) in Québec since 2003. Its presence throughout the season, the difficulty of detecting the damage it causes, and its cryptic behaviour make controlling this pest very complicated. Organic producers currently rely on pest exclusion nets, which are expensive to use. It is important, therefore, to develop other effective ways of controlling this pest.
Objective(s)
- Evaluate effective and economically viable control strategies for swede midge that are healthy for both humans and the ecosystem
- Evaluate swede midge control strategies in organic crucifer production based on data already available in Québec, other Canadian provinces, the U.S., and elsewhere in the world.
From 2014 to 2018
Project duration
Market gardening
Activity areas
Pest, weed, and disease control, Organic farming
Services
This work will lead to the development of a strategy to help control the cauliflower plant’s most formidable insect pest.
Partner
Growing Forward 2
This may interest you
Potential of a flowering plant mix to encourage natural enemies of caterpillar pests on crucifers (cabbage family)
This three-year project looked at optimal ways to use a mix of flowering plants against caterpillar pests of crucifers.
A status report on the labile carbon to total organic carbon ratio of Saguenay–Lac-St-Jean soils
A labile carbon input would displace some phosphorus into the soil solution, thus making it available again for assimilation into growing plants.
Researcher: Christine Landry
Identifying the causes of strawberry decline disease with a view to developing an integrated control strategy
This project involved an exhaustive survey of viruses, phytoplasma, fungi, and nematodes in nurseries and strawberry fields to determine the exact causes of strawberry decline disease in Québec.
Researcher: Richard Hogue
