Dietrick/Whitehurst: Managing Your “Undercover Agents” — Biological Control by Natural Enemies in Greenhouse and High Tunnels

Jan Dietrick and Ron Whitehurst will discuss how to achieve biological pest control in greenhouses and high tunnels. They teach successful protocols developed and tested for controlling common horticultural pests. They will cover considerations to transition from chemical to biological control. Learn how to monitor pests and beneficials and research products and solutions, including release rates, environmental conditions and comparative costs of control programs. Gain an understanding of ways to boost internal resistance to pests through increased plant health, integrate low-risk pesticides if needed, and obtain and release quality biocontrol agents. Constructing a thoughtful, integrated program pest control management can be both easy to manage and cost effective for the grower. Jan Dietrick continues the life work of her visionary father, legendary entomologist Everett (Deke) Dietrick, through the beneficial insect supplier Rincon-Vitova Insectaries and the non-profit Dietrick Insti