Horticulture Week Podcast
Navigating the reduction in chemical controls - with ICL
For an insight into the overarching pest and disease challenges facing the horticultural industry and how these can be addressed employing IPM principles and tools, listen in to February’s Horticulture Week podcast with editor Matthew Appleby talking to ICL’s Technical Manager - Andrew Wilson - and Technical Area Sales Manager - Sam Rivers.
With fewer chemical options available to ornamentals growers, Andrew believes our sector is poised to follow in the footsteps of the glasshouse edibles - where traditional chemicals have been all but eliminated, replaced by cultural, biological and physical controls. He therefore urges ornamental growers to become more pest and disease savvy in regard to detection and prevention.
Using vine weevil as an example, Sam says before Exemptor was withdrawn many growers pre-incorporated it into growing media and didn’t have to really worry about this potential devastating pest. “Growers must now learn to forward plan - to keep the pest at bay they must think carefully about its life cycle, monitor carefully and target the windows of opportunity with the available natural controls,” he says.
To find out more about how to control vine weevil post-Exemptor and the role biostimulants can play in helping plants remain healthy - and less susceptible to pests and diseases - listen in to this short podcast.