Control strategies for swede midge in organic production

Description

The swede midge has been the main pest of crucifers (cabbage family) in Québec since 2003. Its presence throughout the season, the difficulty of detecting the damage it causes, and its cryptic behaviour make controlling this pest very complicated. Organic producers currently rely on pest exclusion nets, which are expensive to use. It is important, therefore, to develop other effective ways of controlling this pest.

Objective(s)

  • Evaluate effective and economically viable control strategies for swede midge that are healthy for both humans and the ecosystem
  • Evaluate swede midge control strategies in organic crucifer production based on data already available in Québec, other Canadian provinces, the U.S., and elsewhere in the world.

From 2014 to 2018

Project duration

Market gardening

Activity areas

Pest, weed, and disease control, Organic farming

Services

This work will lead to the development of a strategy to help control the cauliflower plant’s most formidable insect pest.

Partner

Growing Forward 2

This may interest you

2014-2017 • Market gardening

Assessing the potential of using granulated potato residues to produce animal feed, fertilizers, and energy

Managing potato residues is therefore a big challenge, which will only increase with the enforcement of the Québec Residual Materials Waste Management Policy.

Researcher: Christine Landry

Read more about the project

Christine Landry
2018-2020 • Market gardening

Evaluating the effect of seeds coated with commercial, mycorrhizal fungi inoculum on the yields of nantes carrots grown in mineral soil early in the organic transition process

Test whether or not commercial strains coated on Nantes carrot seeds can compete with native strains in the soil to colonize the host plant and, once symbiosis takes place, whether they succeed in doing a better job than the native strains during the transition to organic farming.

Researcher: Christine Landry

Read more about the project

Christine Landry
F