Healthy living, healthy growing

Photo courtesy of OHP

Produce Grower: Are there any plant health concerns that pop up this time of year with cold weather? What can growers do about those concerns?

Carlos E. Bográn: Yes. As temperatures and daylight drop, some pest issues become more relevant. Aphids, for example, like to show up again in the fall, requiring closer monitoring. Fungus gnats may also become an issue as irrigation water does not evaporate as quickly. Diseases like botrytis and some powdery mildew diseases also like cooler temperatures. The best growers can do is to keep up strict pest/disease monitoring programs going to detect issues before they lead to economic losses.

PG: What’s new in the plant health space?

CB: With the increased number of available biological products, there are more and more questions about what the difference is between products based on the same species of fungi or bacteria. In many cases, the differences are in tolerance to weather conditions and growing temperatures. It may be a good time to evaluate new products or older products that may not perform as well in the high heat and dry conditions during the summer. For example, there are several Beauveria strains that are currently used in different bioinsecticide formulations. Some of these strains may be better adapted to cooler temperatures and may be best used in the fall or spring.

PG: What can growers do to get the most out of their fungicides and insecticides?

CB: The best applications are the ones done correctly, using the right product for the actual pest or disease. It’s also important to use the correct amount of water to evenly distribute the active ingredients through the crop without costly runoff, but with great application coverage to make sure all plant tissues are protected. Most of the new and low-risk products have contact activity only and may benefit from the addition of an appropriate spray adjuvant.

PG: What customer support resources are available to growers who go with OHP for their fungicide and insecticide needs?

CB: We continually renew and update a series of pest and disease guides, recipes for success and spray rotation suggestions which are all posted on our website OHP.com. We have a full line of conventional and biological products designed for high value crops. We are also very proud of the close relationships we have with our distributor partners and countless grower-collaborators. Do not hesitate to reach out to your local sales representative and inquire about our products and services or to reach out directly to one of our technical sales managers throughout the country. Our best resources are our time and expertise, and we encourage customers to take advantage and consider OHP for any and all crop health needs.