The invasive brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys, poses significant risk to organic farming systems because they rely on biological control, nonsynthetic inputs, and cultural tactics for pest management. This study evaluated the potential of five crop plants (sorghum, admiral pea, millet, okra, and sunflower) to be used as trap crops under organic production in four mid-Atlantic states. Stink bug (H. halys and endemic species) densities and host plant phenologies were recorded weekly (mid-June through September). Sorghum attracted significantly more H. halys than the other crops evaluated, followed by sunflower and okra. Seasonal average H. halys density was 1.5–4× higher on sorghum than the other crops (P < 0.05), depending on site. Endemic stink bugs were equally attracted to all crops except admiral pea. A significant effect of time was detected (P < 0.0001), with H. halys densities initially higher on sunflower; as the sunflower senesced, sorghum supported significantly higher average H. halys densities. While sunflower and sorghum phenologies differed, these crops together provided a 5-wk attraction period coinciding with peak H. halys activity. The efficacies of pheromone-baited traps, flaming, applying OMRI-approved insecticides (Azera and Venerate), and vacuuming to removing stink bugs were evaluated as a management tactic. Flaming was the most effective treatment against H. halys and endemic stink bugs. Our results suggest that a trap crop composed of sorghum and sunflower may be an effective management tool for the mid-Atlantic stink bug complex, including H. halys. Future research should address the appropriate size and placement of trap crop within the farm.

Reducing tillage has been widely promoted to reduce soil erosion, maintain soil health, and sustain long-term food production. The effects of reducing tillage on crop nutritional quality in organic and conventional systems, however, has not been widely explored. One possible driver of crop nutritional quality might be the changing soil nitrogen (N) availability associated with reduced tillage in various management systems. To test how reducing tillage affects crop nutritional quality under contrasting conventional and organic farming systems with varied N inputs, we measured nutritional quality (protein, fat, starch, ash, net energy, total digestible nutrients, and concentrations of Ca, K, Mg, P, and S) of maize, wheat, oats, and soybeans harvested from a long-term trial comprised of three farming systems under two tillage regimes: a conventional grain system (CNV); a low-input organic grain system (LEG); and an organic, manure-based grain + forage system (MNR) under conventional full-tillage (FT) and reduced-till (RT) management. Although maize and wheat yields were 10–13% lower under RT management, grain quality metrics including protein, fat, starch, energy, and mineral concentrations were not significantly affected by reducing tillage. Differences in nutrient quality were more marked between farming systems: protein levels in maize were highest in the MNR system (8.1%); protein levels in soybeans were highest in the LEG system (40.4%); levels of protein (12.9%), ash (2.0%), and sulfur (1430 ppm) in wheat were highest in the CNV system, and oat quality was largely consistent between the LEG and MNR systems. As grain quality did not significantly respond to reducing tillage, other management decisions that affect nutrient availability appear to have a greater effect on nutrient quality.

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is a widely cultivated crop due to its short production cycle and high market demand. However, powdery mildew (Golovinomyces cichoracearum) poses a significant threat, reducing yields by up to 30% in various lettuce cultivars. This greenhouse study, conducted at the Rodale Institute in Pennsylvania, evaluated the impacts of pre-transplant UV light exposure and post-planting application of an OMRI-certified fungicide, potassium bicarbonate (MilStop), on powdery mildew infestation, yield, and nutritional quality of lettuce. The treatment included three factors: (a) UV-B (280 to 315 nm) exposure: treated vs. non-treated, (b) UV-C (100 to 280 nm) exposure: treated vs. non-treated, and (c) fungicide application: treated vs. non-treated, arranged in a factorial randomized complete block design with four replications. Lettuce seedlings (Salanova cultivar) were exposed to UV light before transplanting and later treated with MilStop. The results indicated that the combination of UV-B and MilStop significantly reduced powdery mildew infestation, while UV-C alone showed no significant effect. MilStop application enhanced lettuce yield, with treated plots showing a 44.8% increase in harvestable weight over control plots. While mineral and monosaccharide content were unaffected, UV-B exposure significantly increased total amino acid concentrations, including essential and non-essential amino acids. Pearson’s correlation analysis revealed a strong negative relationship between powdery mildew severity and harvestable weight, highlighting the importance of disease management. These findings highlight the potential of integrating UV light treatments and fungicide applications as effective, sustainable strategies for managing powdery mildew, improving lettuce yield, and maintaining nutritional quality in regenerative organic systems.