Clever biological control method acting and new targeted chemicals unite to make blighter management more efficient , but get your team on board makes it even more successful .

Dan Foster , Sigler Site Manager and Product Line Manager , and Andrew Luxon , IPM Supervisor share the particular of Four Star ’s pest management physical process . As a grower of trillion of untested industrial plant , Four Star produces healthy crops through consistent and effective gadfly management .

Changing technologiesSince joining Four Star more than 22 years ago , Dan Foster has take care a lot of changes in pest management technique . “ In my early years , we managed pests with chemical substance that were a bit harsher than the ones today , ” he echo . “ In the last 10 to 15 years , we also discover that the efficacy of many product deteriorated . That ’s when we begin look for new selection and bank more hard on biocontrol proficiency . ”

Andrew Luxon ’s background involved the study of louse neurophysiology and understand how chemical substance touch on them , so his work since fall in Four Star three age ago has focused on coordinate the Integrated Pest Management ( IPM ) unconscious process . “ Today ’s new chemicals are far more targeted to specific look of insect biology , like Insect Growth Regulators , ” he tell . “ These are targeted to specific life stage of certain bugs and are more fine - tune . You necessitate to have knowledge of the chemical you are using and an understanding of how they work to use them efficaciously . ”

Partner up for bio expertiseBut having extensive cognition of every chemical or biocontrol method acting is n’t necessary to be a successful agriculturist with today ’s ascendancy product , both Foster and Luxon point out .

“ We have knead for some years with a full biocontrol supply company — that offer both training for our people and also on - site scouting assist throughout the time of year , ” says Foster . “ When you work with a good supplier , you should not only get the product but also the military service and musical accompaniment . They help us mark off craw to ensure that they ’re making the correct recommendation , and they can teach you a lot . ”

Foster points out that the combination of using biocontrols with chemical substance must be carefully balanced . “ It ’s not just about invest good bugs in a nursery . There are so many thing to regard – picking the right beneficial dirt ball , time of yr , how temperatures and environmental factors regard the crops , how beneficial insects are strike by certain chemical substance , etc . This kind of design is grueling to develop on your own . ”

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