New application method cuts labor, fungus gnat problem

Problem: Fungus gnats on holiday crops upset interiorscape customers.

Solution: Application of Nemasys, a biopesticide for fungus gnat control, through an injection system.

Details: Weatherford Farms and Greenhouses in Stafford, Texas, retains a large roster of interiorscape customers for holiday crops such as poinsettias and Easter lilies.

“Interiorscapers don’t like fungus gnats,” said Jack Weatherford, company president. “They’re a nuisance pest, and we wanted a control option that didn’t interfere with water discharge regulations.”

Weatherford Farms is monitored by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for its water discharge. Texas regulations prohibit discharging certain chemicals, so the grower needed an alternative to chemical control.

Scott Dunham, south central territory manager at Becker Underwood, asked Weatherford Farms to try Nemasys, a biopesticide for fungus gnat control, which contains Steinernema feltiae. Instead of using it as a sprench, the growers tried it in the injection system. In early November, they applied Nemasys to about 7,000 6-inch poinsettias and left the rest untreated.

The sticky card count in the treated area dropped from 19 on Nov. 17 to nine on Dec 1, while the untreated went from 25 on Nov 17 to 22 on Dec 1.

“It worked really well and now it’s a given that we treat our holiday crops with it. We don’t wait for the fungus gnats to show up,” Weatherford said.

Nemasys also has a zero re-entry interval, so it’s safe for Weatherford’s employees.

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For more: Weatherford Farms and Greenhouses, (281) 498-7261; jack@weatherfordfarms.com. Scott Dunham, Becker Underwood, (979) 255-3980; scott.dunham@beckerunderwood.com.