60 Ways - 42. Use Crop Rotation and Plant Diversity To Control Insects

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60 Ways Farmers Can Protect Surface Water

50 ways

57 ways

60 ways

Managing Surface Cover

1. Distribute residue evenly at harvest
2. Avoid fall tillage
3. Determine how your operations will affect residue cover
4. Estimate residue cover in the field
5. Adjust equipment to preserve residue
6. Plant a cover crop
7. Rotate crops
8. Select vigorous perennial pasture species
9. Protect the soil with special-use annual forage crops
10. Protect the soil with rotational grazing
11. Use no-till when renovating pasture
12. Manage timberland to protect soil

Controlling the Flow of Water

13. Reduce soil compaction and increase infiltration
14. Install grassed waterways
15. Plant vegetative filter strips or make critical area plantings
16. Farm on the contour
17. Use contour stripcropping and contour buffer strips
18. Install terraces
19. Install grade control structures
20. Install water and sediment control basin
21. Use diversions
22. Install a farm pond
23. Maintain your dtrainage system to protect surface water
24. Control streambank erosion with the willow-post method
25. Avoid channelization of streams and creeks

Managing Nutrients Effectively

26. Set realistic yield goals
27. Monitor the level of nutrients
28. Credit other nitrogen sources
29. Select nitrogen fertilizers wisely
30. Apply nitrogen in the spring
31. Apply fertilizer with a global positioning system

Managing Livestock Waste Effectively

32. Keep livestock out of water
33. Divert runoff water
34. Collect and store contaminated runoff
35. Install a vegetative filter - in appropriate
36. Determine accurate manure application equipment
37. Calibrate manure application equipment
38. Apply manure wisely

Reducing Insecticide Use

39. Scout fields for insects
40. Base decisions on the economic thresholds for insects
41. Use insect-resistant crop varieties
42. Use crop rotation and plant diversity to control insects
43. Spot-treat insect infestations when possible
44. Conserve beneficial insects

Reducing Herbicide Use

45. Scout for weeds and know their economic thresholds
46. Fine-tune your weed-control program to cut back on herbicides
47. Manage crops to compete aggressively with weeds
48. Don't assume that no-till requires more herbicide
49. Band herbicides and cultivate
50. Control weeds with cover crops

Selecting Pesticides

51. Select the leat-toxic pesticide
52. Determine your soil's potential for runoff
53. Determine your pesticide's potential for runoff
54. Determine the soil-pesticide interaction rating

Handling Pesticides Safely & Efficiently

55. Calibrate your sprayer
56. Consider direct injection and closed handling systems
57. Observe setback zones
58. Rinse and dispose of chemical containers safely
59. Dispose of excess chemical safely
60. Dispose of other farm waste safely

42. Use Crop Rotation and Plant Diversity To Control Insects
	Crop rotations can work well for pests that are relatively nonmobile, that feed on specific crops, and that overwinter in the soil as eggs or partially grown larvae. By rotating to a different crop, you prepare a surprise for these insects when they become active in spring. They discover that their food source is gone. Crop rotations cannot solve all insect problems, but they help manage some of the worst pests, such as northern and western corn rootworm. Insecticide use for rootworms is greater than for any other insect pest in the Corn Belt. Therefore, by managing corn rootworms culturally, you reduce insecticide use, save money, and protect the environment.
	Another way to increase plant diversity is through intercropping, the practice of growing two or more crops simultaneously in one field. Intercropping comes in many forms, but for field crops in the Midwest, the most practical form is stripcropping—alternating multiple rows of crops (usually four or more rows per strip).
	Stripcropping can result in a more balanced insect population with an increase in beneficial insects. Mixed crop stands can also make it more difficult for pests to locate their host plants. However, exactly how much impact these diversified systems have on insect populations and yields is still the subject of debate.