Marijuana Business Magazine March 2020

Marijuana Business Magazine | March 2020 18 Not All Products Work Together Just because two products are considered biological controls doesn’t mean they will interact well, according to Valentin. He said many of the oils commonly used in cannabis—such as neem oil, rosemary oil and mineral oil—can end up suffocating beneficial insects and BCAs. That being said, some biocontrols and even conventional pesticides can work in tandem with BCAs and beneficials, but it takes research and working with crop and pest control specialists to find the right mix. According to Charlie McKenzie, chief adviser and partner with Biocul- ture Group in Atlanta, some biological controls used in 2019 on hemp in the Southeastern region were: • Asperello T34 soil application drip • BotaniGard • Cease • Grandevo • MilStop • RootShield • Stargus • Stargus Dipel • Trilogy • Venerate • Wettable sulfur Good Bugs Work Indoors and Outdoors One of the biggest misconceptions about using beneficial insects and BCAs is that they can be used only for indoor production. In fact, farmers of outdoor crops such as almonds, fruit trees, strawberries and vegetables have employed beneficials and BCAs as a first line of defense for years. Outdoor marijuana and hemp producers also are finding pest control relief with applications of BCAs to their fields. Hemp farmers released predatory insects (including specific types of mites and lacewings) in the Southeast last season to help protect their crops, McKenzie said. But they weren’t widely used across the country in outdoor production. Drones have been helpful in dispersing beneficials and BCAs outdoors, reducing the labor it takes to apply them to crops. Oftentimes, it will take several applications to build up a population. Practices such as incorporating a strip of banker plants between or within fields to act as food and shelter for applied insects allows them to thrive along with native beneficials and BCAs. BCAs Aren’t a Reactionary Solution Unlike chemicals, which can be used in reaction to a pest outbreak or to clean up a problem before harvest, beneficials and BCAs must be used preventatively. BCAs need time to work their magic. Once established, they can wipe out a pest population or keep it manageable, but the solution likely won’t be immediate. Monitoring crops, adjusting prevention programs and applying and reapplying beneficials, BCAs and other biocontrols as the crop matures is imperative to maintaining control and harvesting clean plants. More Research Is Needed According to McKenzie, Southeastern hemp farmers saw massive pressure from caterpillars including corn earworm, cabbage looper, tobacco budworm and wireworms. Russet mites, cucumber beetles and Japanese beetles also appeared in the summer as crops began to flower. Cannabis aphids, western flower thrips, whitefly and other pests are causing strife in hemp and marijuana production, according to Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, an entomologist who owns Buglady Consulting in Pennsylvania. There is no silver bullet that will control the many pests and diseases that affect cannabis crops. But developing a biocontrols program is a good place to start. Laura Drotleff is a reporter for Hemp Industry Daily and Marijuana Business Magazine. You can reach her at laurad@ hempindustrydaily.com. Beneficial insects and biological control agents provide outdoor-grown hemp and marijuana with a good defense against pests and disease. Photo by Megan Baker Trends & HotTopics | Laura Drotleff