Making the Most of your IPM Programs

    You found out that you have an insect infestation in your crop, and identified the causal agent. What comes next in deciding how to handle it?

1.       You need to consider the life stage of the target pest. Biological controls are skilled at targeting pests, but this can be restricted to certain stages of the life cycle. Those that are specialized at targeting larvae are not going to be able to knock back a population that is mostly comprised of eggs or adults. While interruption of the life cycle is important for combatting pest outbreaks, you won't necessarily limit the feeding damage that is to come as a result of the current population. 
2.       The life stage of the pest is not the only thing to consider. If you are relying on insects to control your pest population, you need to consider the life stage of the biological you are wanting to use. Releasing eggs compared to releasing larvae can result in different levels of control, establishment and active period in the crop. 
3.       Life stage, life stage, life stage! Where is the crop at in terms of its production cycle? Some biologicals are best applied in the early stages compared to the later ones. For example, releasing an agent that is going to lay eggs that hatch and congregate around the flowers is going to render your product unusable. 
4.       What are the growing conditions in the production space? Similar to plants, diseases and insect pests, biological interventions are going to have an optimum set of conditions to maximize performance. This is especially important when you are growing at lower/higher temperatures and abnormal humidity levels. Some biologicals are going to operate better at lower temperatures ( ex. 10C) compared to others, and you don't want to waste your time repeat testing an agent that is not going to thrive in that particular setting.

      Now that we have decided which biological control agents we want to use, there are a few other things to keep in mind. 

1.       How healthy are the predators that I've ordered? It is important to check the viability of your biological control agents upon receiving them from the insectary. There can be issues with rearing, storage/shipping etc, which can result in sub-optimal pest management. By implementing these health checks before releasing into the crop, you can ensure that you are getting the best quality product and setting your IPM program up for success
2.       It is ideal that you are always releasing fresh biological agents. By storing them for long periods of thime, you are running the risk that they will parasitize each other in their storage container. You could also be reducing the activity of the agents, and will need to spend more money in the long run. By purchasing the amount that you will release each time around, you are one step closer to maximizing the effectiveness of your agent. 
3.       Are the agents I've ordered compatible with each other? While it is likely that you will get some overlap of introduced biological control agents targeting each other, you want to make sure that is not the norm
4.       Are the agents I've ordered compatible with the spray activities happening in the grow room? Oil sprays that are used to suppress insects and disease are not always selective when it comes to drowning out pests.

   Maximizing success and implementing a successful IPM strategy can be a long process, but  taking these things into consideration should help get things started. Preventative pest management strategies are crucial in creating and maintaining a healthy and productive grow space, and there is no time like the present to dive in and re-evaluate your current strategy! 

      Posted by: Talia Plaskett

Cannabis Research License Announcement

We are pleased to announce that we recently obtained out research license for cannabis edibles and drinkable. Through the following services and working with our analytical team we can help you with your cannabis edible journey.

Product Development

Whether you’re looking to get a new product to market or perfect an existing one, our skilled and integrated team can help you achieve high-quality results with a competitive edge.

Ensuring Potency

In conjunction with the analytical team, we can help with your formulation to achieve accurate potency and homogenous product. Testing can then be completed to determine how potency will be maintained over time, making sure it is still with in the specific cannabis regulations.

Scale up

You’ve developed a product that you’re proud of, and now it’s time to dive into the most crucial step in the commercialization process: scale up. Our experts can set you on the path to expanded opportunities for revenue growth

Shelf-Life Evaluation

Determining the shelf life of your product is an integral step in getting your product to market. Our team has the know-how and equipment to make it happen, like our stability chambers used to conduct trials in various conditions

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For more information and how to contact us please visit out our website - https://bloomlabs.ca/

What to Spray, What to Spray...

Pest and disease management in cannabis is no walk in the park! Not only are you limited in what you can apply to the crop, there are also a lot of products out there to chose from! 

Never fear, Perennia is here!

Every year, the production specialists take the time to create/update our spray guides. These guides contain a wealth of information on registered products, formulations, application rates, REI, PHI and noteworthy comments on working with that particular product. 

While this is no substitute for the actual product label, it can help narrow down the choices of what works best for your grow. Say, for example, you are having an issue with spider mites. You can scroll down to the 'Mites' portion of the guide (or 'control - Find' for the tech savy), and take a look at all of the products that are registered for use in cannabis against mites. 

Some products are going to be more compatible with your production system than others. Say, for example, you have been applying sulfur to manage powdery mildew. Oil sprays are not going to be your best choice to tackle mites in this case, as these may cause some funky side effects on your canopy. This is a fast way to narrow down your search to a product that will be more suitable. 

From there, double check the label, and ensure that you are applying based on their recommendations. Product registrations can change any time of year, and our guides, updated every March, are not going to capture things that have taken place in April...May...June etc. 

Spray happy my friends!

Posted by: Talia Plaskett

To Prune, or Not to Prune...

 

Pruning is an important cultural practice which helps to control the humidity in the canopy, contributing to lower overall pest and disease pressure. As with anything, however, there is more than meets they eye when it comes to the best ways to prune your plants.

With the unexpected onset of cool and wet conditions in the Valley, it seems to be an appropriate time to cover some best practices when it comes to pruning your crop. These will help manage the risk associated with Botrytis infection and keep your crop growing strong.

Figure 1. An image of a botrytis infestation on raspberry. Photo credit: Amber Dort, Perennia

·         Be sure to remove the entire leaf and leaf stem, cutting right up to the main growing stem. Allowing residual tissue to stay there makes you vulnerable to botrytis infection, which will travel up the stem stub and into your main stem.

·         Try to prune on sunny days. This will ensure that there is less moisture in the growing space, and will dry up the newly created pruning wounds before temperature drops again through the night

·         Prune your plants first thing in the morning – this gives the plant an entire day to mend the pruning wounds, before temperatures drop, and condensation collects inside the production space

·        Try not to prune too heavily at once. The plant will need some time to adjust to the new source/sink ratio (# of leaves to # of buds), and it is best not to shock the system. If you have some ambitious pruning plans, spread them out over time

·         Pruning efforts are typically concentrated on the bottom of the plant, but don’t forget about the rest of the canopy. If you find there are overly dense sections in the middle or top, do not hesitate to remove one or two leaves to create more air space. Look at the overall plant before pulling leaves off and assess where the plant needs it most.

Regular pruning schedules are highly recommended and will help create a more consistent crop production schedule. Consistency from crop to crop is key, and managing air flow through the canopy is going to drastically reduce the amount of botrytis in the crop. 

Posted by: Talia Plaskett

Field Research Services

 

We are excited to share with you the launch of our new Field Research Services webpage! Our new site fully showcases our team and the services available to support agriculture research in Nova Scotia.

Our team's knowledge and skillset ensures we are fully equipped to deliver on-farm extension and small plot research. We pride ourselves on performing quality research to ensure accurate results and client satisfaction.

Learn more about the services we offer and take a look at our projects page to see some of our previous work.

Feel free to reach out to us anytime. We would be happy to discuss your research needs.

Virtual Field Days 2021

Interested in seeing what is happening in agriculture across the province? Perennia's Virtual Field Days are a great way to sample a handful of topics across many different commodities. These 30-minute tours  happen once a week throughout the month of August, and are free to join. Check out the session descriptions and specific topics below!

August 3 - Redefining Horticulture

August 10 - Technology in Agriculture

August 17 - Optimizing Production

August 24 - Livestock Management

 

Posted by: Talia Plaskett

Let's Light It Up!

Cannabis production takes place both indoors and outdoors in Nova Scotia. While both production systems have their pros and cons, there is no denying that indoor production allows for increased consistency in environmental conditions, as well as year-round growing (structure dependent).  

For greenhouse producers, one of the major hiccups in year-round production is the amount of light available during the winter months. In order to maximize growth (and yield), certain inputs are required to create continuity and consistency through the seasons - One of these potential inputs is artificial lighting. 

For strictly indoor producers, artificial lighting is crucial. This is what will fuel your plant growth year round, and will make up a significant portion of your initial investment and monthly energy costs. 

For those of you who are considering protected production, the adoption of indoor lighting is a big investment, and there are a lot of variables to consider in the decision-making process. Check out our newest factsheet on greenhouse lighting, which explores the pros and cons of LED versus traditional light fixtures, defines light and the various units used to describe it, as well as the tools required to measure it.   

Posted by: Talia Plaskett

SUMMARY of BugBites! Session 5: Fungus Gnats and Shore Flies

Review Part 2: Shore Fly Management

While shore files (Ephydridae) are primarily seen as a nuisance in protected production spaces, they can also degrade the quality of your plants. Adults are known to leave 'fly vomit' behind as they make their way through the production space. These small black specks can be found on plant parts and growing surfaces, and are no aesthetic addition to your pristine green canopies. 

The following information is a summary of session 5 of the BugBites Series: Fungus Gnats and Shorefly Suppression with Beneficial Organisms. To watch the full session, click here! 

Pest Description: 

Adult shore flies, although similar in size to a fungus gnat, are comparable to regular house flies in appearance. These insects can be identified by the 5 white spots on their wings. 

Larvae are semi-aquatic, which can be identified by their Y-shaped breathing tubes. The larvae are semi-aquatic in nature, and can range from cream-coloured to brown.  

Monitoring and Scouting: 

Traditional yellow sticky cards are effective for monitoring and catching adult shore flies. These insects are much stronger fliers compared to fungus gnats, so placement of the yellow sticky cards right at the soil line is less critical. 

Biological Control Options: 

The best method for managing shore fly populations is to manage algae build-up around the facility. The larvae, which are semi-aquatic, rely on algae as their food source. By removing a key part of their reproductive cycle, pest population sizes will be limited. The best way to manage algae is to repair any leaky points along the irrigation system, and carefully sloped surfaces to keep water from pooling. 

Next is insect management. By conducting regular scouting checks of the crop, and maintaining populations of biological control agents, you can limit the degree of pest infestation.

Dalotia coriaria; Rove beetle

• Predator to both shoreflies and fungus gnats
• Both adults and larvae are predatory
• Orange larvae are noticeable in the soil
• Adults readily move around via flight
• Ready establish in greenhouses
• Works well in hydroponic systems

Figure 2. A photo of a rove beetle in the adult (left) and larval (right) stages. stuck to a yellow sticky card.  Image taken from the BugBites! Session 5 presentation

The use of rearing boxes allows for a slow-release approach, and will help maintain beetle populations through the season. Rearing boxes can be as basic as media (ex. peat, vermiculite) set inside a Tupperware container, and supplemented with food (ex dog or fish food, artemia). It is crucial to keep this moist, but not wet. These can be placed under benches.

Steinernema feltiae; entemopathogenic nematode

• Target fungus gnats, shoreflies, thrips pupae and many others
• Forage in the top inch or two of the soil
• Water into your growing media lightly- if they get too far in, they will not be able to combat pest populations
• Not highly mobile
• 50-78F are ideal conditions
• Well suited for greenhouse environments
• Susceptible to being washed away in rockwool
• When growing in rockwool, apply after the last irrigation of the day to give them a chance to establish

Steinernema carpocapsae, entemopathogenic nematode

• Target shore flies, and thrips pupae
• Good at finding mobile pests
• No problem working in/establishing on rockwool
• Lives on soil surface (use very little water when applying to prevent from washing them too deep into the growing media)
• Ideal temp is 57-84
• well suited for greenhouse environments

* Both nematodes listed here can be applied together, since they focus on different parts of the soil.

The key for management here is prevention. By adding nematodes and rove beetles into your production routine, and managing algae growth around the facility, shore fly populations should be significantly reduced. 

Posted by: Talia Plaskett