Getting Into the Weeds: Farming in a Humid Year

Every year, Perennia's Horticulture Team sits down to discuss what major issues, questions and themes came up throughout the growing season. While there are differences between the crops grown here, we are typically able to identify pain points that are applicable to all producers. Last year, with the unexpected hot weather and lack of rainfall, we decided to tackle the basics surrounding irrigation. We wanted to make sure that everyone was on the same page on how to design and implement an irrigation system, for both soil and substrate based systems. For those of you who missed it, or are interested in a refresher...you can find all of these sessions here.

So what were the major challenges of 2021 you ask? 

Most producers can agree that there was significantly more rainfall and a higher humidity measured throughout the growing season than what we would typically experience. So, with that, enter our theme for the upcoming 'Getting Into the Weeds' Webinar series...Farming in a Humid Year!

November 23 - Understanding the Infection Cycle: Targeting Effective Disease Management

November 30 - Year in Review: A Disease Summary of 2021 - What Did We Learn?

January 12 - The Fundamentals of Fungicides

February 3 - Why Herbicides Fail: Targeting Effective Herbicide Application

If you are interested in learning more and/or registering for these free webinars, check out our list of upcoming online sessions. 

Posted by: Talia Plaskett

What's New with Biological Control?

 2021 has seen a lot of new and exciting things in the world of IPM with some of the tools available to producers for managing pest populations. Please find a quick summary of some of these new developments below with their corresponding contact information – this is a list of curated material from various sources, credit must be given where credit is due!

1)Introducing Anystis, the new generalist predator in our toolbox

 Anystis is a new generalist predator which was discovered and trialed by Vineland Research and Innovation Centre. This predator has shown control over thrips and spider mites as well as suppression of aphid populations. Not only that, but it also preys on Echinothrips and mealybugs, which currently do not have effective options when it comes to biological control agents! Not only that, but Anystis is compatible with other commonly used biocontrol agents, meaning less stress about adjusting your current regimes and more success overall when it comes to targeting your problematic pests. 

The use of Anystis has been validated in commercial greenhouse trials on gerbera and sweet pepper in Ontario, and further supported by promising results generated through recent trials at Niagara College for use in cannabis to control aphids. The predator has been transferred to Applied Bio-nomics Ltd for scaling up the rearing system and commercialization, and have a limited number of mites available for growers to try.

For more information on Anystis, contact Rose Buitenhuis, PhD Senior Research Scientist, Biological Control at Vineland Research.

 

2)Slow-release method of nematodes

The current application of beneficial nematodes is limited to sprenches, or drenches, across the surface of the growing media. The biggest targets for beneficial nematodes are the larvae of fungus gnats and western flower thrips, as well as onion thrips pupae. While the product is quite effective, the current application method to the crop sees a few technical difficulties. These drenches/sprenches are not the most effective when it comes to penetrating deeper into the growing mix, and they must be applied on a weekly basis. Not only that, but the current methods of distribution sees a very poor storage capacity – all must be distributed at once, which leaves the small producers in a bit of a financial pinch!

E-Nema is a new tech company based in Germany. They have come out with a slow-release method for these beneficial nematodes which tackles some of the difficulties associated with the existing system. These look similar to tapioca pearls, and are designed to be incorporated into the growing mix before planting. Then, over time, they will slowly release nematodes through the entirety of your growing container. These pearls are very safe, and do not contain any harmful chemicals. In addition to that, they store quite well, which is a win for smaller producers who may not need massive volumes to be distributed all at once. The reintroduction and inoculation of low doses of nematodes has proven to be more effective than coming in hot and heavy with one dose during the cycle, and this technology allows just that! 

BioBee will be the distributer for this new product, so be sure to keep your eyes peeled for that! I want to give a huge shoutout to the Cannabis Cultivation & Science Podcast for keeping up with the biocontrol world and spreading the word on cool innovations like this one!

3)New rearing methodology for Phytoseiulus persimilus

Our old reliable predatory mite is coming at us new and improved! BioBee has re-evaluated their current rearing methods for persimilis and has landed on a product that addresses some of the downfalls to the original release system. The original system sees that the predators are reared on spider mites, meaning they come out of their sachets starved and ready to tackle some serious spider mites. While that works well in heavily infested crops, it doesn’t bode well for the low pest pressure grow room, or the preventative release strategy either. This new product raises the predators on mite eggs, meaning that each sachet will come with a variety of life stages, and each sachet will have a long-life span overall as these different stages progress towards adulthood. These sachets can see up to 12 days to release the contents, giving you almost 2 weeks of release from one purchase. The new food source sees that these mites are not as hungry as they would be when raised on spider mites. This means they have time to establish in the crop, as well as hunt down those low density mites that are scattered through the room. Not only that, but there is no carrier mixed in with these predators. This is a huge win for producers of heavily-trichomed crops, as their plants will no longer be littered with pesky lingering carrier bits.

Figure 1. An image of persimilis predating on a two-spotted spider mite. Photo credit: Biotactics Inc. 

This new persimilis can also be purchased in bottle form. But grower be warned! It was interestingly noted that these predators are not their characteristic red colour when you receive them from the insectary. That colour develops on the persimilis as they start feeding on spider mites. This acts as an added bonus when it comes to your scouting efforts. If you note which predators have transitioned from milky to red, you can get a sense of the pest pressure in the space and how effective your release was at managing the spider mite population.

I want to give a huge shoutout to the Cannabis Cultivation & Science Podcast for keeping up with the biocontrol world and spreading the word on cool innovations like this one!

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Posted by: Talia Plaskett

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