SARE's new “Ecological Pest Management” animation highlights how farmers can use natural principles to control pests and improve the health and productivity of their production systems. The fifth episode in SARE's "What is Sustainable Agriculture?" series introduces key components of ecological pest management and is intended to complement more detailed training materials.
Ecological pest management strategies that can improve soil health and crop vigor include:
- Using crop rotations, cover crops and flowering species to increase biodiversity
- Scouting fields to identify and track pests
- Encouraging beneficial insects that keep pests in check
- Selecting crop varieties that are appropriate for your site and goals
- Using pesticides as a last resort, starting with the least toxic tactics
- Testing soil to match fertilizer timings and rates to the needs of the crop
“Ecological Pest Management” is now available for viewing and sharing at www.sare.org and on YouTube. Farmers, ranchers, educators and other agricultural professionals may download the video and/or embed it without modification into websites or other fair use educational presentations. This video series was produced through a collaboration of the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program and Pixeldust Studios.