Deep in the rural mid-west, a group of farmers confronted their most pernicious enemy – an invisible foe so minuscule it was barely visible to the naked eye – Beet Cyst Nematodes or BCN. These root-eating microscopic parasites have been a menace to sugar beets for years and have been resulting in low yield, high losses and income reduction around the region. Even now the war is still on with the BCN but the recent research and biocontrol have offered the farmers a silver lining.
A Farmer’s Story: The fight with beet cyst nematodes
Welcome to the blog of Mark Johnson, a third-generation farmer from Nebraska who grows sugar beets for more than 25 years. As did many other producers of the area, Mark used to tillage, crop sequence and applied chemical control measures where necessary. But a few years ago there was a shift to, you know, something else.
‘Our yields started to drop, and we couldn’t figure out why’, Mark recalls. This is how researchers tell their story: “We analyzed the soil, examined for diseases, no problem was indicated, but later we learned that Beet Cyst Nematodes were the cause. ”
Beet cyst nematodes are not easily diagnosed in the early problems are associated with stunted growth and yellowing of the leaves of sugar beets. Damage usually goes unnoticed until the plant or crop is irretrievably destroyed and this is particularly so since the pest affects the crop in a very discreet manner. For Mark and other farmers in the region, BCN had turned into chronic and pricey issue.
Research Insights: elps to have a handle on beet cyst nematodes.
There have been some studies carried out to indicate among other things what biocontrol measures are most effective in combating Beet Cyst Nematodes. The most optimistic of them is based on the application of the natural nematophagous fungus Paecilomyces lilacinus that can be found in the soil. This fungus now goes by the name Purpureocillium lilacinum and it is used in making a Nema Pro biological nematicide.
Purpureocillium lilacinum treatment has recently been researched by Dr. Sarah Martinez, a nematologist at Iowa State University. In a nutshell, the present study indicates that this fungus may perhaps cut down the numbers of nematodes in the soil to a certain level which may be an effective biological control measure against chemical nematode control.
Nema Pro: Sustaining Livelihoods: A Sustainable Solution for Farmers
To Mark it was tremendously revolutionary to stumble upon Nema Pro. This biological nematicide which is actually a product of Purpureocillium lilacinum brought out a possibility of eradicating Beet Cyst Nematodes without having to use nasty chemicals. Initially, Mark did not believe in Nema Pro supplement until he yield positive result after consuming the supplement to his farmland. ‘The nematode damage was reduced, and my yields rose,’
Nema Pro is convenient to use and the treatment can be incorporated into conventional methods used in farming. Before planting, farmers can apply Nema Pro to the soil, which frustrates the ability of the nematodes to gain a toehold in the root area. Besides, it guards the current crop and, through regular rotations, gradually decreases the deleterious influence of the given type of nematodes on the soil, which keeps many advantages for the farm.
Conclusion: Hope For Beet Farmers
The battle against the beet cyst nematodes is still on but with such advances in biocontrol such as the Nema Pro, farmers such as Mark Johnson are now in a position to defend their products as well as their sources of income. A number of innovations have been depicted in this paper as being employed within the agricultural community through the integration of modern research information as well as the classic conventional practices which are being used to come up with more sustainable ways of managing the everyday pest control.
This is something that the farmers experiencing the same challenges must learn; that early detection is very crucial and that IPM is very useful. With the backing from the research and such products as the Nema Pro, we can enhance the ability of our farms and look to an even brighter future for our agriculture.
These findings are a ray of hope for the regions affected by Beet Cyst Nematodes Control; it gives back control to the farmers to recapture their lost harvests.