Insecticides Create More Insect Pests

Insecticides Create More Insect Pests

Methods are emerging which are saving bees, waterways and farmers incomes. A peer-reviewed study just published challenges many preconceptions about how food production systems are managed (https://peerj.com/articles/4428/) . The research, based in U.S. Northern Plains compared 40 regenerative versus conventional cornfields in terms of pest management, soil quality, yields and profit. Regenerative agriculture focuses on building soil health and fostering biodiversity while profitably producing nutrient dense food. Conventional cornfields were monocultures, with more focus on inputs, as is practiced on most cropping ground.

Key results found that insecticide treated cornfields had 10 times more insect pests than regenerative fields, which replaced insecticides with plant diversity. Regenerative cornfields were nearly twice as profitable as conventional cornfields, even though yields were reduced in the regenerative fields. The researchers found profit was correlated with the organic matter of the soil, not corn yields.

A series of workshops is on offer for land managers and food producers interested in learning tools and methods to adopt profitable regenerative practices in any sector. Following a 5 month workshop circuit in North America and Australia, Agroecologist, Nicole Masters, will be in New Zealand for a tour this April. “You can have your cake, and eat it too!” These practices help build healthy and productive landscapes which are resilient to the effects of a changing climate.

With increasing concerns around climate pressures, water quality and legislation; farmers equipped with soil health practices and reduced inputs put themselves ahead of the game. “As far as I’m concerned” says Masters “the only risk is from not adopting soil health measures”.

Workshops and field trips will be held in Leeston, Canterbury, 5/6 April, Paengaroa, WBOP, 12/13 April, Esk Valley, HB, 19/20 April. The field trips will be held at Simon Osbourne’s Canterbury cropping operation; Te Arawa Farm, dairy operation, WBOP and Glenlands Farm in the HB, profiling long term cover crop and grazing success.

The days seek to target producers involved in food, fibre or forestry who may not be familiar with regenerative practices, demonstrating how achievable and profitable these techniques can be.

The cost for the 2 day workshop is $125. For further information on this event and to register, visit the Integrity Soils website,

www.integritysoils.co.nz/events

If you would like more information about this topic, please email

admin@integritysoils.co.nz.

ENDS

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