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From: ComCouncil@aol.com
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 08:59:36 -0400
Subject: Re: Biological control with natural products
How about with compost? I believe that there are some studies out there
looking at compost application and disease suppression.
Martin Simson
The Composting Council
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From: SaaimanP@sabc.co.za (Petrus J. Saaiman)
Subject: Re: Biological control with natural products
Ciao Luca,
It is good to know even Italians are looking into this! I have a book;
"Natural Pest & Disease Control" by Henry Elwell & Anita Maas of Zimbabwe.
If you would like a copy, let me know! I imagine it would cost some US$15
delivered to you.
It really is a great book and very inexpensive as well. Softcover, 190 x=
245
mm, 130 pages, good line-drawings of pests (no colour).
I do not sell these books, but may help you to buy one.
Keep up the good work!
Petrus
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From: JSMO@gnv.ifas.ufl.edu
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 10:08:29 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Re: Biological control with natural products
Ciao Luca,
I have had some experiance with Rotenone, Bacillus thurigensis, and
soaps. The first two work well with vegetable crops infested with
aphids, worms (especially tomato horn worm), some scarabs. I have used
soaps on houseplants to cure "scale". The soap I used was a strong
solution made of "Ivory" brand, sprayed on the foliage.
I hope this can be of some help.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Moscatello
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>From CrisCarusi@aol.com Wed Jul 24 20:05:47 1996
Date: Wed, 24 Jul 1996 14:07:25 -0400
Subject: Re: Biological control with natural products
Dear Luca,
I have used rotenone to control mexican bean beetles and cucumber beetles.=
It
works well on these pests. It will kill other beetles (i.e. potato=
beetles)
too, from what I hear.
Rotenone is toxic to bees, so you need to apply it before the plants start
flowering. (It breaks down in about a week.) Someone once told me that it=
is
also toxic to amphibians.
Good luck,
Cristiana Carusi
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Date: Thu, 25 Jul 1996 07:26:44 -0400 (EDT)
From: Gary Evans <evansg@nal.usda.gov>
You will be pleased to know that one of the largest biological control
research complexes in the world is located in Montpellier, France. This
group includes laboratories of the USA, Canada, Switzerland, France,
Australia and Russia. It is part of the Agropolis Centre. This group is
the closest and best opportunity for you.
I closed my Rome biological control laboratory and moved it to the
Montpellier site about 5 years ago. I have lost contact with the group,
but you should be able to pick up a web site.
good luck
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From: jcb13@cornell.edu (Jennifer Bokaer-Smith)
Subject: Re: Biological control with natural products
Rotenone is a fairly common organic insecticide in the US. This is the
only one on your list that we use on my organic vegetable farm. We try to
limit its use (becuase it is toxic to humans, fish, bees, and earthworms)
but we find that it's the only option we have with flea beetles and
stripped cucumber beetles. The rate depends on whether you're using a 1%
or 5% mixture. Because of its toxcitity, we apply it when the wind is=
low,
in the evening or morning when bees are less active, and not right before
or afer a rain when the chance of killing earthworms is great.
This year we have started using big floating row covers to control these
pests and we are very pleased with the results.
Good luck,
Jen
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>From gfarm@ns.waymark.net Mon Aug 12 15:37:31 1996
Subject: Re: Biological control with natural products
Dear Luca,
I developed a biological product that seems to stop many fungal diseases
and wards off pests. I could send you research if you are interested.
Could you tell me about the extent of fungal diseases with tomatoes in
Italy? Is is a major or minor problem? What is the cost for treatment?
Another source of information is Howard Garrett here in Dallas. He is=
quite
clever and talks about flower, oils, etc on plants.
http://www.wbap.com/
hgarrett@wbap.com
Sincerely,
Michael J. Rankin
Global Farming Systems
gfarm@waymark.net
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Luca Bechini Agronomist
Via Ajaccio, 9
20133 Milano
Italy
tel +39 2 26.144.943 & +39 2 73.85.183
fax +39 2 70.633.243
e-mail L.Bechini@agora.stm.it
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