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BASIC farmers grow CLEANER COTTON™
In 1996, the California-based Sustainable Cotton Project (SCP) launched a program to increase cotton farmers' knowledge and use of alternatives to chemically intensive cotton farming practices. The Biological Agricultural Systems in Cotton (BASIC) program helps farmers improve the ecological outcomes of growing cotton through information and technical support for Bio-Intensive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices on their farms.
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Bio-Intensive, Integrated Pest Management
Our growers practice bio-intensive (IPM) which looks at the farm as a whole system. Bio-intensive IPM offers an alternative to conventional growing practices that relies on biological controls as the first line of defense. Growers choose reduced-risk chemicals to keep pest outbreaks below economically damaging levels.
Monitoring
Cotton growers traditionally rely on chemically intensive pest control. Our program combats pests with a variety of biological controls including providing beneficial insect habitat and releases. SCP provides free, professional, weekly field monitoring of pest and beneficial insect populations through a licensed Pest Control Advisor (PCA). Careful monitoring of pest populations helps our growers understand the role of biological practices in crop protection.
Farmer-to-Farmer
Farmers gain confidence through the success of their peers. BASIC facilitates information sharing among farmers who produce and market cotton using bio-intensive IPM practices.
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| Integrated pest management (IPM) is an ecosystem-based strategy that focuses on long-term prevention of pests or their damage through a combination of techniques such as biological control, habitat manipulation, modification of cultural practices, and use of resistant varieties. Pesticides are used only after monitoring indicates they are needed according to established guidelines, and treatments are made with the goal of removing only the target organism. Pest control materials are selected and applied in a manner that minimizes risks to human health, beneficial and non-target organisms, and the environment. |
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| Pest Control Advisers (PCAs) are production consultants who serve California agricultural and horticultural producers. PCAs specialize in pest management and are an important resource to producers on a wide range of production concerns related to plant health. PCAs are licensed by the state of California to make pesticide recommendations, hold themselves as an authority on pest control, and solicit sales and services of pesticides. SCP’s PCA is trained in bio-intensive IPM, and makes reduced-risk chemical recommendations only when pests are not controlled with biological methods. |
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Field Demonstrations
Through regular field days and farmer mentor programs, SCP’s outreach activities guide and educate growers through the transition from chemically intensive to bio-intensive practices. Our field days demonstrate methods that improve soil quality and plant health, and pest-management strategies to control insect pests in cotton fields.
Proven Methods
SCP collaborates with University of California Integrated Pest Management (UC IPM) and University of California Cooperative Extension (UCCE) to implement practical, scientifically proven pest management strategies and continually improve methods in sustainable and organic cotton farming.
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