Organic Pest Control Helping Farmers

Organic pest control is helping farmers deliver clean, healthy, pesticide free produce to market. Environmental awareness has played a big role in developing natural farming techniques, with organic farmers and consumers now benefiting from this niche market.

Natural systems are used to prevent extreme pest infestations and minimise damage to crops, ensuring farms remain organic and satisfy the needs of consumers. Grass verges and mass plantings of perennial shrubs around the edges of organic fields provide habitats for predator species in close proximity to the pests that destroy crops.

Companion planting methods can be an effective method in organic pest control, the principle being that companion plants are either more attractive to pests, reducing their impact on crops. Some companion plants are known to repel pests because of taste or smell, and at the same time may even be attractive to predators, further reducing the impact of pests.

Organic certified hardy crop varieties are stronger with better resistance to pest and diseases. Pest resistant organic plants are more similar to their wild cousins, with stronger plant walls that because of their density are harder for chewing and sucking pests to feed on.

Soft soap sprays are used to protect crops from aphids and small insects because they contain only natural ingredients that break down quickly and are safer for humans, animals and the environment. Protecting crops from larger pests such a rabbits, hedgehogs, deer using organic sprays is also possible, they are harmless and do not poison the animal, they simply taste or smell terrible. Mixtures that include pepper or garlic are proving very effective.

As human populations increase and the impact that farming has on the environment comes under the spotlight, organic pest control and organic farming looks better every day.

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