Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

​Claussen's uses an Integrated Pest Management program using natural predators to fight pest bugs, to reduce the use of chemicals and emphasizes natural and low toxic chemicals making it safer for the environment, customers and our employees. in place of chemical pesticides. We are taking these steps for our future, because our top priority is you, our employees and our environment.

How do we achieve this?

Scouting

The inspection of plants for pest and diseases. This requires going through the greenhouses randomly inspecting plants. This locates and identifies any pest or disease problems. These pests must be correctly identified in order to use the correct predator. Scouting is done on a regular weekly basis. There are a few tools to help with scouting.

Hand Lens

This process is used to have a better view of the plant parts or insects.

Laminated Light Colored Paper

This process is used for tapping out the plant.  Gently tap the plant over the paper to see what falls out.

Monitoring Cards

These are yellow double sided sticky cards that trap all stages of flying insects.

Indicator Plants

Plants that are attractive to certain pest are put out in the crop to draw out the pest to help with early detection.  More commonly used are Pole beans, marigolds, & eggplants.

Microscope

Many biologicals & pests are microscopic. The Microscope helps to see them better and to correctly identify types of pest. For example: there are several species of Aphids, we must identify which type of aphid in order to get the correct natural predator.

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Biological Controls come in:

Carriers

The material the biological predators are packaged in.  The carrier is organic and provides shelter and food in some cases. The carrier can be sawdust, vermiculite, bran or a combination.

Sachet's

A breeding system that is a slow, controlled release of predatory mites. The sachet contains the predatory mites, feeder mites and bran.  The bran is food for the feeder mites, which are food for the predatory mites when pest populations are low.  There is a small hole located behind the stick of the sachet for the mites to exit.  The mites slowly release from the sachets for 6 weeks searching the crop for pests. These “good” bugs are microscopic making them hard to see by the naked eye and are not harmful to humans or animals.