50 Ways - 13. Conserve Beneficial Insects

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50 Ways Farmers Can Protect Their Groundwater

Nitrogen

1. Set realistic yield goals
2. Test the soil
3. Credit other nitrogen sources
4. Apply nitrogen in the spring
5. Use nitrification inhibitors when effective

Scouting

6. Scout fields

Insecticides

7. Know the economic thresholds for insects
8. Consider insect-resistant crop varieties
9. Spot-treat insect infestations when possible
10. Know how tillage affects insects
11. Know how crop rotation affects insects
12. Adjust planting & harvesting dates to control insects
13. Conserve beneficial insects
14. Consider using biological insecticides

Herbicides

15. Know the economic thresholds for weeds
16. Fine-tune your weed program to reduce rates
17. Manage crops to compete aggressively with weeds
18. Don't increase herbicide rates with conservation tillage
19. Band herbicides and cultivate
20. Control weeds with cover crops

Pesticide Selection

21. Determine the organic-matter of your soil
22. Determine your soil's potential for leaching
23. Determine your pesticide's potential for leaching
24. Determine the soil-pesticide interaction rating
25. Consider other critical pesticide qualities

Pesticide application

26. Select the proper nozzle tips
27. Calibrate your sprayer
28. Consider direct injection
29. SPrevent backsiphoning

Pesticide disposal and storage

30. Rinse chemical containers thoroughly
31. Dispose of rinsed containers safely
32. Dispose of excess chemicals safely
33. Store agrichemicals safely
34. Prevent and clean up chemical spills
35. Construct a rinse pad

Site conditions, wells, and septic systems

36. Know your well site conditions
37. Locate your well away from contamination sources
38. Make sure your well is constructed properly
39. Seal abandoned wells
40. Make sure your septic system operates correctly

Water testing & treatment

41. Test your water routinely
42. Test your water for coliform bacteria & nitrate
43. Test you water for pesticides
44. Know the signs of contaminants in drinking water
45. Select effective water-treatment methods

46. Store livestock waste properly
47. Have old, underground fuel storage tanks removed
48. Dispose of other hazardous waste safely
49. Take precautions when irrigating
50. Take precautions when chemigating

13. Conserve Beneficial Insects
	Beneficial insects fall into a variety of categories, two of which are predators and parasites. Predators hunt and feed on pests, while parasites hatch inside or on a pest, and then they eat the pest as they grow. Some companies sell predators or parasites for release in the field, but often they are expensive and ineffective. Your best bet is to conserve the beneficial insects already in your field. Keeping these bugs alive may help to keep pest problems at an acceptable level so you can reduce insecticide use.
	First, learn to recognize the difference between pests and beneficial insects. Then try to minimize insecticide applications, because many insecticides will kill the beneficials with the pests. Try to use selective insecticides that target a particular pest and use spot-treatment if possible.
	Maintain the habitat of beneficial insects by leaving crop residue on the ground and preserving woodlots, windbreaks, fencerows, and unmowed grassy ditch banks and waterways. Finally, provide pollen, nectar sources, or artificial food.
	Keep in mind, however, that maintaining habitats and providing artificial food do more than just attract beneficial insects. These strategies can attract pests as well. So carefully examine your yield goals and farming methods to determine whether you can afford a wide range of insects competing in your field.
	Also, predators and parasites work slowly. And when pests become few and far between, the beneficial insects leave the field in search of more prey. So you are always left with a moderate number of pests still in the field.