By J. Chandler

The agricultural industry has been using pest management techniques for centuries to increase yields for a growing world population. From tomatoes to broccoli, most crops have clear guidance from the federal government on which pest management tools they can utilize and how these tools can be used.

However, the burgeoning Cannabis industry is forced to play from a totally different rule book. Since marijuana does not have legal status on a federal level, there is currently no federal oversight on how to manage pests, leaving the need to define regulations in the hands of the 25 states (and the District of Columbia) that have legalized the cash crop either for medical and/or adult-use markets. This patchwork of regulations has left cultivators scratching their heads, and the uncertainty adds even more red tape in an already complicated industry, further overburdened by confusing regulations that vary state by state.

Cultivators must go the extra mile to ensure they are using pest management products that are, above all, safe for the consumer and legal in their jurisdiction. It is a matter of public health and safety. What a farmer might use on a tomato or broccoli may not make the cut for Cannabis flower, since flower must be heated to activate THC and achieve some of the plant’s medicinal qualities.

Every Cannabis cultivator can benefit by implementing Integrated Pest Management techniques, which consist of four specific pillars and can ensure healthy plants, and consumer and crop worker safety.

Pillar One: Biological Controls

Biological controls are a cultivator’s first line of defense in pest prevention. Biological controls, also known as biocontrols, are living organisms that are used as a method of controlling pests. Beneficial mites or species that are released into a garden can kill pests naturally and combat plant diseases. Some top performers include mites such as A. californicus, often used to control the two-spotted spider mite; A. swirskii, used to control thrips and whiteflies; and P. persimilis, a voracious predatory mite that feeds on all stages of the two-spotted spider mite. Biologicals harness the power of nature, letting beneficial species do the dirty work of getting rid of pests in a safe, chemical-free way.

Pillar Two: Cultural Controls

Cultural controls are a critical part of pest management. I’ve never seen a garden that has climate problems and doesn’t also struggle with a pest problem. These methods include climate management, such as creating uniform airflow and maintaining proper temperature and humidity. Airflow, filters and purifying air can keep a garden disease-free. Proper pruning under the canopy supports airflow and pest control.

Many states require commercial Cannabis to undergo microbial testing for live mold and mildew spores and a successful harvest is dependent on achieving “clean results.” Producing Cannabis crops free of live fungus and mold spores can be a challenge. In addition to highly prevalent powdery mildew, there are hundreds of natural fungus spores in the air at all times. Air sanitizers are one of the most effective methods of reducing the spread of fungus spores. The most advanced air sanitizers can be freestanding or are installed in your HVAC system and produce gaseous hydrogen peroxides that are distributed throughout the production facility and sterilize fungus spores that are encountered both in the air and on the surface of the plant. Air sanitizers coupled with standard cleanliness can eliminate microbial testing failures.

Pillar Three: Physical Controls

Physical control is the mechanical mode of Integrated Pest Management, and should be considered as a cultivator is initially designing the grow facility. Ideally, grow facilities should be designed with a logical and strategic flow, new plants entering from one end, and finished product exiting from the other end. Quarantine, a type of physical control, isolates new varieties to ensure new plants are free of invertebrate pests and disease before introduction to the rest of the garden. Quarantining new genetics eliminates the potential of contaminating the entire garden. In addition, it is essential to monitor these plants and spray them with approved pesticides or apply beneficial insects. New plants should be held in a quarantine room, with limited employee interaction, and lack of contact with the rest of the crop. Employees, visitors and regulators should be required to wear uniforms to limit the possibility of bringing pests from home gardens or other grows. Air filtration, positive air pressures, employee uniforms and decontamination vestibules are additional examples of physical controls.

Pillar Four: Chemical Controls

Chemical controls, which should be used only as a last resort, involve the use of organic pesticides like neem oil, a naturally derived pesticide that has been used for hundreds of years to control pests and disease; mineral oil, which kills insects by suffocating them or by penetrating the shells and interfering with metabolic and respiratory processes; azadirachtin, a neem derivative, which kills insects by interfering with a stage in their metamorphosis; and spinosad, a natural substance made by a soil bacterium that can be toxic to insects.

Since the Cannabis industry currently lacks federal oversight, there are no uniform guidelines for pesticide use. Each state has its own specific pesticide regulations, so knowing what each specific state allows or bans is critical before utilizing any specific chemical pesticide on a crop. Growers should also be aware of the pesticide’s mode of action. This way, chemistries can be used in a complementary way; knowing how they work and what each chemistry treats is essential, so as not to create adverse effects or make the pesticides ineffective.

Many Cannabis cultivators have grown from small operations. As they have grown, they have kept application processes that are out-of-date and inefficient for larger-scale operations. For example, some cultivators may be using a paint sprayer or a series of backpack sprayers to apply pesticides. What they do not realize is that they are wasting time and product, while not achieving complete coverage. It is critical that Cannabis cultivators are using the right tool for the job. Commercial pesticide applicators built by farmers are a must-have to get under the leaves where pests like to hide. Moreover, these applicators will save time and money, freeing up staff to conduct facility maintenance, cleaning and scouting.

The 80-20 Rule

A solid Integrated Pest Management plan can ensure a grower remains compliant and keeps employees and consumers safe while protecting against losses, even if a couple sprays or beneficial applications are missed. We call this the 80/20 rule: if cultivators are timely with implementing 80+% of their scheduled pesticide sprays and beneficial releases on healthy Cannabis crops grown in well managed climates, they should be completely pest damage free. It’s a testament to robust, science-based IPM plans. We are a part of an exciting burgeoning industry, and it is up to us to keep our patients and employees healthy and safe. Ensure a healthy crop by leveraging the tenets of Integrated Pest Management.