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| Pear with Convergent Ladybird Beetle Eggs |
Biological control is a complex, knowledge‐intensive practice that
requires growers and pest management consultants to learn natural enemy
and pest life cycles, toxicity and effectiveness of insecticides at
different life cycle stages, strategies for managing insecticide
resistance, and maintenance of long‐term ecological balance while
controlling pests and maximizing production. As part of a large USDA
Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) project, researchers at
Washington State University, University of California‐Berkeley, and
Oregon State University are seeking to better understand apple, pear,
and walnut growers’ experiences and perspectives related to pest
management, in general, and biological control, in particular. This
report presents results from a 2011 survey of Oregon and Washington pear
growers. Survey results will inform future educational and outreach
efforts.
To read the full results of this survey visit:
http://enhancedbiocontrol.org
