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BASIC farmers grow CLEANER COTTON™
SCP’s BASIC program works directly with farmers providing technical support in the field as growers implement bio-intensive IPM practices on their cotton.
Pest and Beneficial Insect Monitoring
The Sustainable Cotton Project’s Pest Control Advisor monitors all enrolled growers’ fields on a weekly basis, providing growers with a written report on the condition of their cotton crop. Information includes populations of pests and beneficial insects, farmscape observations, the status of beneficial insect habitat, and any areas for concern.
Strip Cutting Alfalfa
Many of the SCP growers have cotton fields adjacent to alfalfa, which is a host to one of the main cotton pests, Lygus (Lygus Hesperus). Leaving uncut strips of alfalfa helps limit Lygus migration from alfalfa into the neighboring cotton because Lygus prefers alfalfa to cotton.
Beneficial Habitat Planting
SCP growers plant beneficial habitat on the edges of their enrolled field. The habitat is intended to attract and hold naturally occurring beneficial insects creating an in-field insectary. This generates a complex population of beneficial insects, which prey on pest insects, helping keep pest populations under control. Habitat can also serve as a trap-crop, reducing pest pressure by keeping them out of cotton fields.
Beneficial Insect Releases
Releases of beneficial insects such as lace-wings and predatory mites augment naturally occurring beneficial insects. The presence of beneficial insects can keep pest infestations below economic thresholds by decreasing the pest pressure while reducing the use of pesticides.
Field Days
SCP holds informational meetings on an enrolled grower’s farm several times during the year. These field days provide support for growers who want to implement bio-intensive IPM practices on their farms. At each field meeting, SCP hosts speakers and provides an update on project activities. BASIC mentor growers also attend to answer questions and provide testimonials about their experiences with biologically based farming.
Field Notes
During the cotton-growing season, SCP compiles weekly monitoring results for all enrolled fields and distributes them in a newsletter called “Field Notes” to all enrolled growers bi-weekly. This allows each grower to see how his field compares with his neighbors’ field, and how conditions vary in the different geographic regions. The newsletter also includes articles about biological control and other topics pertinent to the crop and season. |
