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Swirski-Mite LD keeps pests under control effectively


The Netherlands
March 11, 2014

Swirski-Mite LD keeps pests under control effectively

In 2008, the Haghedooren family bought a farm covering 3.0 hectares. The entrepreneurs started cultivating their crop - cucumbers - using biological crop protection. Swirski-Mite LD is important for the farm: it keeps thrips and whitefly under control very effectively. The cucumber farm, located in Westrozebeke in Belgium, a few kilometres from the auction market in Roeselaere, is owned by Rudi and Marleen Haghedooren and their son Jasper. They expanded the farm in 2010, adding a further 3.8 hectares. They sell the product - the standard long cucumber, traditionally cultivated with three plantings per year - via the auction clock.

 

Right from the start in 2008, the entrepreneurs made use of biological crop protection. Jasper explains the decision: ‘It is important that we have a healthy crop with as low a level of infestation as possible. We do not want any damage or contamination of the fruits caused by pests.’

Greater certainty

From the very beginning, Swirski-Mite Plus - a.k.a. the predatory mite Amblyseius swirskii - was released to combat thrips and whitefly. ‘The beneficial worked very well. Sometimes, however, its population turned out not to be strong enough at the end of the cultivation period. We therefore decided to switch to Swirski-Mite LD.’ With this product, the predatory mites are released over a longer period (LD: Long Duration). At the cucumber farm, Swirski-Mite LD is released each time that new plants are brought into the greenhouse.

The dose used is one sachet per 3 or 4 plants, depending on the level of infestation. The beneficials are released over a period of six or more weeks, giving the three entrepreneurs greater certainty. Cucumber plants do not produce any pollen on which Amblyseius swirskii can survive in the absence of prey, but new beneficials continually emerge from the sachets, even if the level of infestation drops or is zero. The predatory mite therefore remains effective when the level of thrips or whitefly infestation increases again.

 

Level of infestation declined, situation improved

‘At our farm, we saw how Swirski-Mite LD reduced the level of infestation and keeps it under control. The situation improved in the most susceptible spots in the greenhouse in particular as we were able to release slightly more beneficials,’ explains Jasper.

‘Swirski-Mite is a good product,’ he concludes. Nevertheless, he and his parents continue to monitor the developments of both pests and predatory mites. If necessary, they release more beneficials, or they apply a corrective chemical spray if there is no other option. Every two or three weeks, consultant Kurt De Rodder of Koppert Belgium visits the farm. He checks for the presence and development of pests and benefi cials in the crop. ‘That way, we always know if the biology is working effectively, and we are warned if the level of infestation gets too high,’ Jasper adds. ‘If necessary, we can then take measures swiftly and prevent the infestation getting worse.’



More news from: Koppert Biological Systems


Website: http://www.koppert.com

Published: March 11, 2014

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