D3465: Development of a commercial celery IPM program as part of sustainable agriculture

Tuesday, November 12, 2024

9:00 AM – 5:00 PM MST

Location: Phoenix Convention Center, Exhibit Hall 6, PCC

Presenting Author(s)

GK

Gregory S. Kund

Staff Research Associate
University of California
Riverside, California

Co-Author(s)

Chow-Yang Lee, BCE

Professor & Endowed Presidential Chair in Urban Entomology
University of California
Riverside, California

Economical decisions often dictate pesticide application selections when it comes to establishing an IPM program. If commercial operations can realize a profit using a particular IPM program, then they are more willing to accept a change from conventional protocol and move toward a more sustainable production model. Our goal was to make a comparison between a conventional application program and a low input IPM program in order to identify the best economically viable approach for the commercial production of celery that complies with the Food Quality Protection Act, maximizes worker safety, reduces resistance development, and is better for consumers. New bio-rational insecticides were tested to determine if they were effective in controlling celery pests. The better performing compounds were utilized in a comprehensive IPM program. Commercial scale replicated field trials were conducted in a randomized complete block design at the Agricultural Operations field station of UC Riverside. Upon completion of the trials, the celery was harvested and analyzed for insect damage. These data were then subjected to a simple, partial budget economic analysis, to determine the economic potential of the low input program. The results and the continuing development of economical and sustainable commercial celery programs are discussed.