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Martens Family Farm Honored
for Top IPM Practices
For the past 20 years, the Martens have been utilizing integrated pest management (IPM) in their vegetable production operation. Recently, this father and son team was recognized by the New York State IPM Program for their outstanding efforts in incorporating IPM strategies into their operation. This award is given each year to exceptional practitioners of IPM. A successful farming operation must be both economically viable and environmentally friendly. The Martens have found that IPM is effective in addressing their concerns in both arenas. “We have been using IPM strategies ever since IPM first came out,” says Bob, “and we always leaned in that direction anyway.” As part of their quest for better farming methods, the Martens often participate in field trials with Cornell University. They started working with scouts and crop consultants because they saw IPM as a more efficient way of farming. Indeed, according to Bob, IPM has had a tremendous impact, helping them to reduce their chemical use by as much as 50% since they first started scouting their fields and using more effective chemicals. “It’s all about efficiency,” says Tim. “We’re always on the lookout for a more efficient way of farming.” The Martens make use of a variety of cultural methods in controlling pests. Cultural controls, a cornerstone of IPM, disrupt pest life cycles, reducing the threat of problem pests. “We rarely spray our sweet corn,” says Tim. “We cultivate to control weeds and hang balloons to scare off the birds.” The Martens cultivate their potatoes as well, because it is more cost effective than spraying herbicides. The family has its fields monitored twice a week by a crop consultant and twice a week by a scout - in addition to their own daily monitoring. This intensive scouting schedule keeps the grower informed about the conditions in the fields. In 1998, these efforts paid off. “Late one afternoon, the crop consultant and I were out looking at the fields and we found a patch of late blight; about 1/8 of an acre of potatoes was infected,” says Bob, “It could have been a real disaster.” The next morning the scout also spotted the late blight. “It felt good to know that the scout was really doing a good job,” says Bob. Because it was detected so early, the blight was easily controlled before it could spread and infect other areas. Cover crops also help reduce soil born diseases. Martens Farm is located in a golden nematode area. The golden nematode, a serious pest in the potato industry, is subjected to stringent quarantine regulations because it is so difficult to control. By planting their fields to rye after the harvest, wind erosion is reduced, as is the likelihood that golden nematodes will be blown loose from the soil and infect other areas. One of the most effective ways to control the golden nematode is through crop rotation. The Martens rent nearly 600 acres each year to local farmers who grow corn or soy beans. This rotation limits the persistence of the golden nematode as well as other pests in the soil. This is not the first time Martens Farms has been recognized for their farming practices. The farm was also chosen as a stop for the “Beyond the Big Apple Tour” in 1998. The tour was designed to educate both state and federal officials about crop production and pesticide use. Martens Farms was chosen because of its success in adopting IPM. They have been so successful in demonstrating that IPM practices are safe for the environment, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation allows the Martens to grow potatoes on land that is part of the Montezuma Wildlife Management Area. When asked what winning this award means for them, Tim Martens replied, “It’s a feather in our cap; it just shows that we are conscious of what the consumer wants, what we are doing with our land, and what chemicals we are using.” And Bob Martens said, “It shows we’re on the right track, making our product as safe as possible for the consumer.” The Martens were presented their award at the New York State Vegetable Growers Conference in Syracuse on Feb. 9. |
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