Bug Knowledge

Tis the season of bugs… We spray against them, slap at them, swat them and generally hate them. But wait, bugs have value. Over in Oregon there is a pervasive question that all of us in agriculture should have an answer for. How can beneficial insects boost your vegetable farm or garden?  What can beetles, bugs and bees do for you? Whether you farm vegetables commercially, or if you just like to dabble in your backyard garden, beneficial insects can help maximize the health of your soil and boost crop productivity.

 

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) with support from other conservation partners, invite you to learn more about this topic during a two-day workshop Aug. 23 and 24 at the NRCS Plant Materials Center in Corvallis, Oregon.

 

The workshop, called Integrated Biological Pest Management Practices for Oregon Farms, offers a combination of classroom-based activities and on-farm field trips. Topics include identifying native plants and insects, designing plant communities to promote beneficial insect habitat, and hearing tips and best-practices from farmers.

 

“Beneficial insects are essential to a healthy, productive vegetable farm or garden,” said Teresa Matteson, Benton Soil and Water Conservation District. “They pollinate fruits, flowers, and vegetables; they control insect pests; and they can prevent the spread of plant disease. This workshop will help folks learn how to create or enhance beneficial insect habitat to improve ecosystem health and crop production.” Okay so that is just a tiny bit of information but it is really good to know and as a farmer or just someone who’s interested in gardening it would obviously be to your benefit to get information such as this.