© 2000 Wendy Dager

Agricultural Crops Protected By
Insect Army

An alternative to chemical crop protection is, paradoxically, much less expensive, bordering on what may be termed benign neglect. Biological pest control reestablishes the orchard and vineyard ecosystem. The use of pesticides not only wiped out the crop-destroying insects, but also the bugs that were the farmer's allies.

A system that is gaining increased support is utilizing predatory insects, that given the opportunity, will control the bad bugs and protect the crops. This is not a new concept, there is simply increased pressure to implement it.

Good Guys Need A Base Camp

The introduction of beneficial insects in agriculture requires some significant changes to farming methods. The practice of disking or herbiciding the medians to bare earth has to be abandoned. Instead, the dirt tracks are planted with cover crops that provide among many other benefits, a habitat - nectar and pollen that will sustain beneficial arthropods when the pests are dormant or have been reduced in numbers. Bare dirt surrounding a crop leaves nothing for the pests to eat except the crop. Dust from bare medians settles on leaves inviting damaging mites to move in.

Insecta - Flora contains legumes and brilliant wildflower varieties chosen for there varying flowering times and floral arrangements, we have also included Gopher-Stopper to discourage gophers from attacking cover crops as well as the cash crop.

Insecta - Flora creates a natural insectory that attracts and supports the beneficials and provides an alternate target for crop destroyers, drawing them into an insect ambush.

Available in as little as pound-and-a-quarter bags that will cover 5,000 square feet. Larger quantities can be special ordered. But S&S Seeds doesn't stop with this fine mix .our companion crop support services will create site-specific custom blends to meet any cover crop need to help you recruit an insect army.

SEED: 11 pounds/acre

Read more on InsectaFlora.

Insecta-Flora A Wildflower seed mix, beneficial insect attractant and alternative food source. Use for chemical-free biological control of crop-destroying insects with the beauty of spring wildflowers. Call (805) 684-0436 to order or order online.

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