Hey, my name is Nick Volesky
with the Utah State University Extension Integrated Pest Management Program.
And we're here at the IPM Demonstration Farm.
Integrated Pest Management or IPM, promotes
the use of non-chemical options over pesticides.
A high level of IPM implementation uses multiple
non-chemical practices resulting in decreased plant losses,
improved profits and protection of human health and environment.
Rapid development in Utah has resulted in an increased interest
in small scale urban farming and non-chemical pest management options.
Although Utah has lost 16,792
acres of farmland between 2012 and 2017,
the total farm operations has increased,
where 34% of these farms are between one in nine acres
and about 44% of these farmers have less than five years of experience.
our program.
Put together this demonstration farm to meet the needs of the growers in Utah
by kind of replicating what they might have at their own operations.
So here we're demonstrated a variety of different IPM
techniques that growers can implement on their own farm.
Let's check some of them out.
So one of the big problems on farms is obviously weed control.
So a few organic options that we use as weed barriers.
So here we're using straw mulch, plastic molds
and then a weed barrier fabric
so comparing planning is the use of inter
planning different crops together for some mutual benefit.
It's a really common practice in small urban farms and home gardens.
So in this trial we're looking at the use of different herbs
like basil, parsley and chives.
Enter planted amongst five different varieties of tomatoes.
So we have our variable group right here, and we're going to compare
that to our control plot where there's no companion plant.
So we're going to look at things like the amount of pests overall plant health
and then yield Road covers are a really effective way
to physically exclude different paths from accessing our crops.
Brassicas are one of the most susceptible crops to different pest plague,
cabbage, aphids, cabbage, loopers, cabbage, whites, a lot of different pest.
So in this trial we're looking at using insect netting
to exclude those types of pests from our brussel sprouts
kohlrabi, kale, broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage.
So we have half of our those covered and then half of them exposed.
So we're going to look at different pest
counts and just overall quality and yield of our plants Tomato spotter.
Well, virus is very problematic throughout Utah, especially in our tomato
and peppers crops.
It's spread by different thrips species.
So in this trial, we're looking at using silver plastic mulch as a way
to deter thrips away from the plants, to reduce the spread of the virus.
So here we're comparing the silver mulch versus
the standard black mulch with an production.
So throughout the season,
we'll monitor for the amount of thrips using these blue sticky cards.
And then, of course, we will test for the tomato spot.
It will virus within these pepper plants later on.
The silver mold is effective because it reflects and shines bright lights
that deter the thrips and a lot of other species away from the plant.
We're also using silver mulch over here with our brassica
crops to exclude the cabbage aphid and other various pests.
So we're comparing the silver to the black malts
Many Native American nations use the three sisters Intercropping
practice based on the knowledge of the three cultivated groups.
Corn bean and squash, taking care of one another when planted together.
Three sisters, intercropping likely enhanced soil health.
But little research has examined why this might be true.
The reasons may include the same biophysical mechanisms
in modern intercropping that result in nutrient cycling in soil,
biological activity and the accumulation of soil organic matter.
We want to try out the three scissors technique on our farm site.
So we set up two plots, one where we have the corn, beans and squash plants
planted separately in three rows compared to the squash being acquired.
Intercropping together for the three Sisters method.
So obviously we don't have any weed control here because we want to allow
that to be a part of this study to see if weeds have an effect
and if there's a lot of weed control with the Intercropping method.
So we're excited to see how this goes.
We're going to compare the different yield and overall plant health along with
maybe some plant nutrient analysis and soil test to see what's going on here.
The demonstration farm also allows us to monitor for different pests.
So we set up a variety of pheromone traps which use a synthetic lure
that has the same pheromone of different specific species.
So that will attract them.
So they'll come into these orange delta traps
and they will get caught on our sticky cards.
So pheromone traps are a great way for farmers to monitor different pests
that might be present in the area and also allow us to look for new paths
that may or may not be present in the state.
here's the word we use for the cabbage loopers.
So it was in the Delta tribe, the cabbage Looper,
adult Mars sandstorms.
They came and they got tribe.
So this can be used as a monitoring tool for large farms to know
kind of what the population levels are at.
So yellow sticky traps are a common tool that are used in home
gardens and farms just to catch pests.
And it can help you monitor for what might be around
any of your crops and give you an idea of how you need to manage.
pollinators play a vital role in our agricultural industry,
local economies, and overall health of our ecosystem.
Unfortunately, many pollinator
populations have experienced a drastic decline in recent years.
Population loss can be linked
to several contributing factors, such as loss of habitat changing climate
associated with weather patterns and disease and pesticides.
With collaboration with the Utah Department
of the AG and Food who are participating in the Pollinator Habitat Program.
The goal of this program is to increase the amount available pollinator habitat
throughout Utah, with particular focus on native bee habitats,
and expand the existing landscape to improve resources
like pollen and nectar available for pollinators.
Provide better connectivity between habitats to better support
beneficial species,
increase access and availability of native seed resources across the state,
and of course, increase public awareness and involvement to improve pollinator
habitats statewide
We're excited to have this pollinator garden right here adjacent
to our vegetable production so we can see the benefits of having
different pollinators and beneficial insects
right alongside our commercial vegetable production
If you have more questions about integrated pest management,
check out our website and all our resources on the Horseshoe
Extension website and also check out this and other videos about IPM.
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