Wales Farmer June 2013 HORTICULTURE 15


Naturalpestcontrol proves to be fruitful


■ Soft fruit growers learn more at event


WALES’ soft fruit grow- ers are turning to natural mechanisms to protect their crops in the face of rising pesticide costs and


tighter regulations. At Nicholaston Farm,over-


looking the Gowercoastline, soft fruit producer TomBeynon is adapting his growing tech- niques as chemical pesticides become moreexpensive and their usage restricted. Businesses need to manage


costs to be sustainableand the correct use of pesticides is a means of achieving this,hesays. During aFarming Connect


knowledge transfer event at Nicholaston Farm,Penmaen, visitors were told thatinsome cases the Beynons achievedbet- ter results from biological con- trols. Foryears,they had used chemical pesticides to control vine weevils,but it wasonly when they turned to nematodes thatthe battle wasfinallywon. Phytophthra, asoil-bourne


disease thataffects raspberries in particular,has also been a problem at Nicholaston Farm. Although restrictions on pes-


By Debbie James


ticide usage have influenced the change of approach to treat- ment, biological measures have also improved significantlyin the last 15 years. “They aredefinitelynow a


viablealternative to pesticides,” said Tom. “Wehavealwaysbeen pesti-


cide aware, we arenot going to pour on expensive products that aren’t necessarilygoing to work. We onlyuse products out of necessity.” Choosing disease resistant


plant varieties has also been an important tool to preventing crop damage. The soft fruit business at Nicholaston Farm wasestab- lished 40 years agoand thereare now20acres devoted to pick- your-own strawberries,raspber- ries and other fruit and vegeta- bles.


The Beynons get advice and


support from Chris Creed, a senior horticultural consultant at ADAS,who led the discus- sions at the Farming Connect event. Visitors were givenpractical


advice on weed and pest control and in choosing varieties resist- ant to disease.Therewas also guidance on howanalysing soils can help growers ensurethat plants get the correct nutrition needed to maximise production. Weather has been the biggest challenge forsoft fruit produc- ers in recent years and it has hit


ADVICE BEARS FRUIT: Soft fruit producer Tom Beynon inspects raspberry canes with Chris Creed of ADAS.


PICTURE: Debbie James.


the pick your ownmarketpar- ticularly hardbecause when the rain deters customers,thereisno marketfor the fruit. But when the weather is good


the Beynons arenevershort of customers. “People get aconsiderable


amount of enjoyment from for- aging fortheir ownfood and


showing their children where food comes from,”said Tom. Forfurther information and a


fact sheet on integrated pest control and safe use of pesti-


cides forhorticultural growers contact Farming Connect on 01970 636565 or visit www. menterabusnes.co.uk/farming connect.


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