Handbook Of Pest Management In Organic Farming
This book is an up-to-date and comprehensive reference covering pest management in organic farming in major crops of the world. General introductory chapters explore the management of crops to prevent pest outbreaks, plant protection tools in organic farming, and natural enemies and pest control. The remaining chapters are crop-based and discuss geographic distribution, economic importance and key pests. For each pest the fundamental aspects of its bio-ecology and the various methods of control are presented. Understanding of the scientific content is facilitated with practical advice, tables and diagrams, helping users to apply the theories and recommendations. Handbook of Pest Management in Organic Farming:- Consists of rational approaches and advice.- Is authored by a team of international specialists in pest control.- Represents the only available comprehensive review of insect pest management in organic systems.This is an essential resource for researchers and extension workers in crop protection, integrated pest management and biocontrol, and organic farming systems.
Handbook of pest management in organic farming
Crop rotation strategies that can be applied under various field conditions for conventional or organic crops to improve soil quality and health, and manage pests, diseases, and weedsDownload File (1.97 MB) Online Text Version
FARMDATA is an online system for tracking and reporting crop production data, particularly for organic vegetable growers. The system can be used for keeping records on seeding, transplanting, harvest, cover crops, compost, fertilization, irrigation, pest scouting and spraying activities, packing, distribution and customer invoicing. FARMDATA uses smart forms that help with calculations and remember key data.
Transitioning to Organic Production lays out many promising conversion strategies, covering typical organic farming production practices, innovative marketing ideas and federal standards for certified organic crop production.Download File (1.27 MB) Online Text Version
Both IPM and organic approaches seek to minimize the environmental impacts of pest management practices. NYSIPM, in collaboration with research and extension colleagues, has developed and promotes many pest management practices that are allowed for organic production, including crop rotation, the use of pest-resistant varieties, biological control, pest forecasting and monitoring. Many NOP crop production practices used by organic farmers and land care professionals to prevent pests are the same IPM practices used by practitioners who are not certified organic.
Organic agriculture is a set of production practices regulated by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP). The NOP regulations cover all aspects of crop production, from soil management, crop rotation, seed selection, and pest management to harvest records, post-harvest handling, and labeling. Materials, such as pesticides and fertilizers, allowed for organic production must also meet NOP standards. When marketing crops or products labeled as organic, farmers must be certified by a NOP accredited certification program for that crop or product.
NYSIPM works with all producers and managers, and the IPM approach works for all types of production systems, conventional, sustainable, and organic, to achieve successful pest management, while at the same time minimizing environmental, health, and economic risks.
OMRI ( ) supports organic integrity by developing clear information and guidance about materials, so that producers know which products are appropriate for organic operations. OMRI is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides an independent review of products, such as fertilizers, pest controls, livestock health care products, and numerous other inputs that are intended for use in certified organic production and processing. When companies apply, OMRI reviews their products against the organic standards. Acceptable products are OMRI Listed and appear on the OMRI Products Lists. OMRI also provides technical support and training for professionals in the organic industry.
NRCS can also help transitioning producers with a Conservation Activity Plan that evaluates resource concerns such as erosion, soil quality/organic matter, water quality, plant health, soil fertility, pest management, biodiversity status and others.
The USDA National Agricultural Library's Alternative Farming Systems Information Center also includes organic production resources and the "Organic Roots" digital collection, an archive of historic USDA publications related to organic agriculture. Librarians are available to search and compile literature and information resources on all aspects of organic farming.
USDA also supports the National Center for Appropriate Technology, a non-profit organization that offers a broad range of training and publications on organic farming, ranching, and food processing. ATTRA also offers toll-free phone support at 1-800-346-9140.
Pest management in organic farming systems is based on the practice of using fundamental components and natural processes of ecosystems, such as soil organism activities, nutrient cycling, and species distribution and competition, to prevent pest populations from reaching economically-damaging levels. For example, crops are rotated, planting and harvesting dates are carefully planned, and habitats that supply resources for beneficial organisms are provided. Soil fertility and crop nutrients are managed through tillage and cultivation practices, crop rotations, cover crops, and supplemented with manure, composts, crop waste material, and other allowed substances.
Pacific Northwest insect management handbook [Online]. Available at: (verified 20 Jan 2009). This publication is updated each year and includes information on chemical and nonchemical management of insects in many crops.
Resource guide for organic insect and disease management [Online]. E. Brown Rosen, E. Sideman, A. M. Shelton, B. Caldwell, and C. Smart. 2006. Cornell University. New York State Agricultural Experiment Station. Available at: (verified 20 Jan 2009).
This guide provides an introduction to the National Organic Program Standards, discusses maintaining organic integrity and how to budget for and market organic crops, and details organic farming practices. Organic farming information includes soil properties, health, and fertility; cover crops and crop rotations; grain crops and forages; and weed, insect, and disease pest management. Examples of successful practices used by organic crop farmers in the Mid-Atlantic region are highlighted.
The National Organic Program (NOP) standards; steps to certification; the roles of the certifier and the organic producer; keys to maintaining organic integrity; record keeping; soil physical properties, erosion, tillage, drainage, and management; soil health, biological properties, and fertility; the role of soil organisms; nutrient management in organic systems; cover crop purposes, mixtures, selection, management, use, and establishment; weed, insect, and disease management in organic systems; marketing organic crops; planning crop rotations; grain crops and their adaptations and uses, seed types and sources, management, harvesting, fertility, marketing, and pest management; forages and their management; and budgets for organic field crops
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an effective and environmentally sensitive approach to pest management that relies on a combination of common-sense practices. IPM programs use current, comprehensive information on the life cycles of pests and their interaction with the environment. This information, in combination with available pest control methods, is used to manage pest damage by the most economical means, and with the least possible hazard to people, property, and the environment.
The IPM approach can be applied to both agricultural and non-agricultural settings, such as the home, garden, and workplace. IPM takes advantage of all appropriate pest management options including, but not limited to, the judicious use of pesticides. In contrast, organic food production applies many of the same concepts as IPM but limits the use of pesticides to those that are produced from natural sources, as opposed to synthetic chemicals.
IPM is not a single pest control method but, rather, a series of pest management evaluations, decisions and controls. In practicing IPM, growers who are aware of the potential for pest infestation follow a four-tiered approach. The four steps include:
In most cases, food grown using IPM practices is not identified in the marketplace like organic food. There is no national certification for growers using IPM, as the United States Department of Agriculture has developed for organic foods. Since IPM is a complex pest control process, not merely a series of practices, it is impossible to use one IPM definition for all foods and all areas of the country. Many individual commodity growers, for such crops as potatoes and strawberries, are working to define what IPM means for their crop and region, and IPM-labeled foods are available in limited areas. With definitions, growers could begin to market more of their products as IPM-Grown, giving consumers another choice in their food purchases. 041b061a72