Got Bugs in Your Hemp Crop? There’s a New ID Tool for That
September 30, 2021 No matter the crop, pests are a problem for growers. The line between crop protection success and failure can be blurry, especially with newer growth ventures like industrial hemp. The University of Florida has a new hemp pest identification tool to help take the guesswork out of spotting some of the potential critters of concern.
Field Guide to Hemp Arthropod Pests, available for purchase through the UF/IFAS Extension Bookstore, includes 20 of the most common hemp pests found in Florida.
“Scouting for pests is the foundation for managing them economically and effectively,” says Lance Osborne, UF/IFAS Entomologist. “Each pest species requires different management inputs, especially if we are using biological controls. Knowing which pests are present dictates the control measures to help mitigate any damage they could cause.”
Hemp material is often shipped in from other states and identifying any pests upon receipt of the plant material is critical to prevent a major outbreak. The most noteworthy pests might be the cannabis aphid and the hemp russet mite. Both of these species are not formally established in Florida, which means they are actionable pests and would require a quarantine period and certified approval to move them until pests are eliminated.
“Unfortunately, a pest management strategy is often not established until it is too late,” adds Osborne. “If the plants are transplants and infested with cannabis aphid or hemp russet mite, they are not allowed to be moved outside your facility or harvested. Avoiding pests in the first place is your best bet.”
Hemp is still a relatively new crop for Florida, so growers and scientists are on the lookout for new pests to emerge, says Zachary Brym, UF/IFAS Hemp Project lead scientist and Assistant Agronomy Professor. “There are not many pesticides approved for use on hemp, so techniques for managing these pests requires early detection.”
For more information, visit the UF/IFAS Industrial Hemp Pilot Project website.