IPM In Hemp: Managing Pests A Work In Progress

New research published in the Journal of Integrated Pest Management highlights arthropod pests that have been observed on hemp during various research trials. Led by Whitney Cranshaw, Ph.D., professor and Extension specialist at Colorado State University, with colleagues at CSU, Virginia Tech, the University of Vermont, and the University of Tennessee.

Reasons for hemp production can be separated into three different categories: grain, fiber and the compound cannabidiol (CBD). Each production system needs to be evaluated to decide which pests will require management strategies to keep damage below economic thresholds. With the help of pest control des moines one can take precautions and keep pests away. In particular, one important need is to determine if insect feeding can increase tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) production, which is a very real concern, because the THC content in a hemp crop must remain below a threshold set at 0.3 percent on a dry-weight basis.

The research team has identified corn earworm (pictured above) as a pest species that has demonstrated greatest potential for crop injury, being particularly damaging to flower buds.

Other pests highlighted in the report include:

• Hemp russet mite and cannabis aphid are the two species observed most damaging among those that suck plant fluids.
• Eurasian hemp borer is widely present east of the Rocky Mountains and appears to have potential to significantly damage both flower buds and developing seeds.
• Numerous species of caterpillars, grasshoppers, and beetles chew hemp foliage. The severity of these defoliation injuries appears to be minimal, but needs further study.

While key pest species have been identified, additional research on control strategies is still needed. The findings note that some pests would not require any management considerations. For pests that do require it, control options include natural enemies, removing volunteer hemp plants and rotating hemp with other crops.

However, a major confounding issue involves the use of pesticides on hemp. Federal agencies have not yet provided clear direction on this issue, and regulatory decisions have subsequently devolved to the states.

Source: Entomology Today; Journal of Integrated Pest Management