The goals of our Del Monte green bean integrated pest management program are a constant supply of residue and contaminant free (insect, weed, and diseases) raw product for the maximum number of production days. To attain our quality goals, a reliable and repeatable program was developed based on plant growth stage specific treatment windows and adjusted to "bench mark" population levels for dispersal and in-field populations. The thresholds were established by knowing at what harvest population levels our cleaning equipment was unable to "process out" the pest. Initially, we relied on customer reporting of a contamination problem. After determining what constitutes a contamination problem, we reevaluate the field treatment histories, sampling records of commercial fields, and pest monitoring records to compare programs. We employ research trials using European corn borer and corn earworm eggs placed on beans at known growth stages to determine natural mortality and the required treatment windows. The technique allowed the development of a crop stage - insect damage and behavior- and pesticide interaction concept. The application of this information has created a program that has cut our commercial applications in half, virtually eliminated contamination issues, reduced our labor requirement and contained pest management costs below 1975 levels.
Keywords: FQPA, vegetables
Back to IPM For Vegetable Crops Destined For The Processing Market
Back to Formal Conferences
Back to The 2002 ESA Annual Meeting and Exhibition