Pollution Threatens Natural Pest Control in Sustainable Farming
When fields of oilseed rape are exposed to diesel exhaust and / or ozone ( both found in emissions from diesel-burning vehicles and industry ) the number of parasitic insects available to control aphids drops significantly , according to recently published research . A team of scientists from the University of Reading used special equipment to deliver controlled amounts of diesel exhaust and ozone to oilseed rape plants . They also added aphids to the plants and measured the reproductive success of parasitic wasps that habitually lay their eggs inside a freshly stung aphid . They found the overall numbers of parasitic insects fell , even though the diesel and ozone levels were lower than the safe maximums set environmental regulators . “ Diesel and ozone appear to make it more difficult for the wasps to find aphids to prey upon and so the wasp population would drop over time ,” says Dr . James Ryalls of the research team .
— sciencedaily . com
High-Tech Greenhouse Opens in Kentucky
AppHarvest opened its Berea , Ky ., 15-acre high-tech indoor salad greens farm featuring a touchless growing system with autonomous harvesting and announced a $ 30-million loan from marketing partner Mastronardi Produce secured by the AppHarvest Berea farm . The hands-off system is automated from preseeding to packaging , including onsite washing to help improve both food safety and efficiency for the “ Queen of Greens ” washed-and-ready-to-eat salad packs . The farm is designed to grow about 35 million lettuce plants at a time , which go from seed to maturity in about three to four weeks , depending on the variety . “ Our top customers increasingly request CEA-grown produce for its reliable quantity and consistent quality — especially in terms of flavor , texture , color , and shelflife — and its more sustainable growing methods ,” says Mastronardi Produce CEO Paul Mastronardi . The greenhouse is the first of four new greenhouses for AppHarvest that were set to open at the end of 2022 .
— hortidaily . com
UK Growers Sell Nurseries Amidst Energy Crisis and Labor Shortage
Another sign of UK growers struggling came up recently when the Lea Valley Growers Association shared that they were putting a few nurseries up for sale . “ We have five nurseries for sale at the moment ,” says Lee Stiles , secretary of the association . “ The energy crisis has hit growers hard , making them unable to make a living based on produce retail price . Even though the UK government has put a price cap on gas until April 1 , 2023 , it won ’ t be enough to encourage growers to plant .” In addition , nurseries are struggling to find workers . Stiles is looking for some policy change from the government . “ There has to be a change in government policy on labor and energy assistance ,” he explains . “ So , whether the energy crisis drops , what really needs to change ultimately is the policy on labor . Robots aren ’ t coming any time soon , and we are going to need labor for quite a while .”
— hortidaily . com
Maximum Yield 15