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Spring is just around the corner and preparations for the growing season are well underway. Songbird nest boxes have been cleaned and are awaiting their first residents of the year and some parts of the country are seeing the first stirrings of new plant growth and insect activity. This month, we are excited to release our newest video resource about using insectary plants in lettuce production for pest control. We also share two upcoming events, our field day at King & King Ranch in Ventura County and a BioSolutions Conference in Visalia, CA where we will be presenting about beneficial birds. Finally, we share a new study about the impacts of climate change and pesticides on butterflies in California and ask for your support in reaching more growers with our resources in 2024. Enjoy this month’s News from the Wild! Managing Lettuce Pests with Natural Enemy Habitat King & King Ranch Field Day in Ventura County BioSolutions Conference and Expo |
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Managing Lettuce Pests with Natural Enemy HabitatAttract beneficial hoverflies to eat aphid pests by using insectary plants and hedgerows! WFA is excited to release our latest video resource, featuring Eric Morgan of Braga Fresh Farm and Eric Brennan, USDA Research Horticulturist. Eric Morgan discusses how Braga Fresh uses insectary plants to increase biodiversity and pest control. Eric Brennan shares results from his research using sweet alyssum plants in lettuce crops to attract hoverflies to manage aphid pests. Read Our Farmer Profile About Eric Morgan and Braga Fresh Farm Here
King & King Ranch Field Day in Ventura County February 29, 2024 from 8:00 am to 1:00 pm We only have a few spots left - get your ticket today! Join King & King Ranch and WFA out in the field in Fillmore, CA! The event will feature a bird walk, a series of talks given by growers, researchers and agricultural professionals, and a tour of a newly planted hedgerow, followed by lunch. Tickets are $22 each, which includes lunch. Sliding scale options are available. Click Here to Learn More and Register
BioSolutions Conference and ExpoJoin WFA at the BioSolutions Conference & Expo on March 4-6, 2024 in Visalia, CA. WFA's Jo Ann Baumgartner will give a presentation on March 5th called "Unleashing the Power of Beneficial Birds” about how birds can help with production in the same way as beneficial insects. Now in its 9th year, the Expo is the only production-focused event offering North American growers, advisers, and researchers the latest information and real-world guidance on implementing biological solutions and technology tools in specialty crop production. If you are a grower, Save $200 off registration with promo code CAFF at check out!
Butterflies Fly Away: Insect Decline in CaliforniaA new study explores how climate change and pesticides are causing butterfly and other insect declines in CA. Reports of insect decline have become common across the world. While some patterns have emerged, such as a 2% annual rate of decline in temperate terrestrial insects, many questions remain. The dissertation suggests that climate change impacts on insects have the potential to be considerable, even when compared with changes in land use.
Support Wild FarmingYour support helps provide farmers and agricultural professionals resources and inspiration to plan and install hedgerows, attract and support beneficial birds and insects for pest control and build wild and resilient farms. Help us reach more growers in 2024 with our videos, publications, and direct assistance by making a donation today! We will put your contribution to work right away - hosting more field days, producing additional videos and working directly with growers to plan for and install more native habitat. |
