Industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa), has been proposed as a new crop that might be of interest to organic farmers in the North Carolina and other states in the United States. However, little is known about how organic farmers view this crop. We conducted a survey among North Carolina certified organic growers to ascertain their knowledge of, and willingness to adopt, industrial hemp. Contact information was obtained from a database of certified organic farmers in North Carolina and the growers were contacted by email and directed to complete an online questionnaire. Growers were asked a wide range of questions about farm characteristics, technology adoption, interest toward industrial hemp, and policy issues regarding hemp adoption. A total of 245 farmers were contacted; 64 started the survey and 35 responded to all questions. Our results indicate that 85% of North Carolina organic growers are interested in growing hemp on their farms and the majority wanted to learn more about the crop production practices, adapted cultivars, and legality of growing it. Seventy-five percent expressed interest in being certified growers while 52% wanted to grow industrial hemp primarily for cannabidiol (CBD) oil. Most (65%) respondents indicate they aspired to be among the first farmers in their area to grow and sell hemp. Growers who have tried new crops or new farming technology in the last three years were more likely to adopt industrial hemp production. These findings will help decision-makers understand the critical concerns of growers who are willing to adopt industrial hemp as an alternative income-generating enterprise.

The German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.) (Blattodea: Blattellidae), is a serious pest in residential housing with control administered mainly through application of pesticides. Integrated pest management (IPM) involves a combination of strategies aimed at reducing pest populations. Over a 27 mo study period, we determined levels of German cockroach populations in rural manufactured residential homes: before IPM implementation (Pre-IPM), the period when residents were educated on IPM strategies (IPM-education), and during education and insecticide application (IPM-education plus bait). Sanitation level in the IPM-education phase (2.8) was significantly different from that in the Pre-IPM phase (3.9) and was accompanied by a decrease in trap catch. Sticky and jar traps were deployed in kitchen areas to assess levels of infestation. Trap catch from all participants during the 3 phases was significantly different. Mean cockroach catch per participant per trap was 20.5 ± 4.1 during Pre-IPM, 13.2 ... Resumen La cucaracha alemana, Blatella germanica (L.) (Blattodea: Blattellidae), es una plaga seria en viviendas residenciales bajo un control administrado principalmente basado en la aplicación de plaguicidas. El manejo integrado de plagas (MIP) implica una combinación de estrategias dirigidas a reducir las poblaciones de plagas. Durante un período de estudio de 27 meses, se determinaron los niveles de las poblaciones de cucarachas alemanas en los hogares residenciales fabricados en áreas rurales: antes de la implementación del MIP (Pre-MIP), el período en que los residentes fueron educados en las estrategias de manejo integrado de plagas (MIP-educación), y durante la educación y la aplicación de insecticida (MIP-educación y cebo). El nivel de sanitación en la fase de MIP-educación (2,8) fue significativamente diferente de la de la fase de pre-MIP (3.9) y fue acompañado por una disminución de la captura trampa. Trampas pegajosas y de envases fueron puestas en las áreas de la cocina para evaluar el nivel ...

Production of pollinator-dependent crops (PDCs) is increasing. However, pollinators are declining partly due to loss of floral resources. There is urgency to mitigate this decline and the potential risks to the production of PDCs and food security. One way is by promoting farming systems that enhance flower-rich habitats. In a two-year study, Pinkeye Purple Hull and Whippoorwill cowpea varieties attractive to pollinators were intercropped with three PDCs (squash, okra, and watermelon). We evaluated whether cowpea intercrop increases the abundance and diversity of pollinators, other beneficial insects, and crop yield, and decreases the abundance of the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB). Diverse pollinators were recorded in both years for a total of 80,379, representing seven pollinator families (Andrenidae, Apidae, Crabronidae, Formicidae, Halictidae, Tachinidae, and Vespidae) captured in pan traps, six families (Apidae, Crabronidae, Halictidae, Pyralidae, Tachinidae, and Vespidae) from sticky traps, and five pollinator types (bumble bees, carpenter bees, honeybees, butterflies and moths, and wasps) through direct visual count. Pollinator abundance and diversity was highest on the cowpea-intercropped treatments than controls. PDCs intercropped with cowpea recorded more beneficial insects than BMSB. Okra, squash, and watermelon intercrops produced 7%, 27%, and 54% more fruits than the control, respectively. Our findings indicate that intercropping cowpeas with PDCs attracted more and diverse pollinators and resulted in increased crop yield. However, to optimize pollination, factors such as planting dates to synchronize the flowering of both cowpeas and PDCs should be taken into consideration.

Pollinators are on the decline and loss of flower resources play a major role. This raises concerns regarding production of insect-pollinated crops and therefore food security. There is urgency to mitigate the decline through creation of farming systems that encourage flower-rich habitats. Cowpea is a crop that produces pollen and nectar attractive to pollinators. Twenty-four cowpea varieties were planted, and the number of pollinators were counted using three sampling methods: pan traps, sticky traps, and direct visual counts. Five pollinator types (honey bees, bumble bees, carpenter bees, wasps, and butterflies and moths), 11 and 16 pollinator families were recorded from direct visual counts, pan and sticky traps, respectively. Pollinator distribution varied significantly among varieties and sampling methods, with highest number on Penny Rile (546.0 ± 38.6) and lowest (214.8 ± 29.2) in Iron and Clay. Sticky traps accounted for 45%, direct visual counts (31%), and pan traps (23%) of pollinators. Pollinators captured by pan traps were more diverse than the other methods. The relationship between number of pollinators and number of flowers was significant (r² = 0.3; p = 0.009). Cowpea can increase resources for pollinators and could be used to improve pollinator abundance and diversity in different farming systems.

Cowpea, Vigna unguiculata (Walp) and beans, Phaseolus vulgaris are attacked by several insect pests worldwide. The pests include economically important borers, the control of which often requires the use of more than one tactic. In Africa, the major borer species of cowpea is Manica vitrata Fab. (syn. M. testulalis [Geyer]); in Southeast Asia and eastern Africa the beanfly or bean stem maggot complex, Ophiomyia spp., is important on beans. The bean borer, Etiella zinckenella (Treitschke), is also of considerable importance in Asia. In South America Epinotia apotema (Wals) and Cydia fabivora (Meyrick) are the most important borers on beans, while Helicoverpa armigera (Hïbner) and M. vitrata to a lesser degree are important on beans in some parts of Africa. Presently, only chemical control provides complete protection against crop borers, but despite its usually favourable cost-to-benefit ratio, insecticide use is not a sustainable option. Other tactics such as cultural control, host plant resistance and the use of beneficial organisms are more dependable in the long-term. They form the core of the new vision for environmentally friendly pest management, or bio-intensive pest management, which minimises the use of synthetic insecticides. In recent times, research efforts directed at these measures have been intensified. This paper discusses the various interventions and presents different IPM models on how they can be combined to optimise the control of borers. Suggestions are made on the future outlook of IPM on cowpea and beans. Le niébé (Vigna unguiculata Walp) et le haricot (Phaseolus vulgaris) sont attaqués par plusieurs insectes ravageurs à travers le monde. Ces ravageurs comprennent des foreurs économiquement importants pour lesquels la lutte exige souvent l'usage de plus d'une méthode. En Afrique, l'espèce foreuse majeure du niébé est Maruca vitrata Fab. (syn. M. testulalis [Geyer]); dans le sud-oeust asiatique et l'Afrique de l'Est la mouche du haricot ou le complexe de l'asticot de la mouche du haricot (Ophiomyia spp.), est un ravageur très important des haricots. La foreuse du haricot, Etiella zinckenella (Treitschke) est aussi d'une importance considérable en Asie. En Amérique du Sud, Epinotia aporema (Wals) et Cydia fabivora (Meyrick) sont de très importantes foreuses des haricots, tandis que Helicoverpa armigera (Hïbner) et M. vitrata sont dans une moindre mesure importantes dans quelques parties d'Afrique. À présent, c'est seulement la lutte chimique qui donne une protection complète contre les foreurs des cultures, mais malgrè le rapport coût/bénéfice favorable, l'usage d'insecticide n'est pas une option durable. D'autres tactiques telles que les méthodes culturales de lutte, la résistance de la plant hôte et l'utilisation d'organismes bénéfiques sont plus recommendables à long terme. Elles constituent le centre d'une nouvelle vision pour une lutte inoffensive pour l'environnement, ou contrôle bio-intensif du ravageur, qui minimise l'usage d'insecticides synthétiques. Récemment, des efforts de recherche dirigés vers ces mesures de lutte ont été intensifiés. La présente publication discute les forces des différentes interventions et présente différentes models de lutte intégrée contre les ravageurs, qui montrent comme des mesures de lutte variées peuvent être utilisées en différentes combinaisons qui pourraient optimaliser la lutte contre les foreurs. Des suggestions ont été faites quant à la perspective de l'application du ‘Contrôle Intégré de Ravageurs’ du niébé et des haricots.

Apart from its economic value, industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) is a prolific pollen producer, serving as a food source for bees. However, little is known regarding the extent to which varietal differences in hemp pollen chemistry influences bee preference. Here, we report the chemical profile of pollen from four hemp varieties (Canda, CFX-2, Henola, and Joey) and bee abundance and diversity, using direct visual counts and pan traps. The number and type of bees on each variety was recorded and the chemical composition (proximate analysis and mineral, amino, and fatty acid profiles) of pollen from each hemp variety was determined. During the entire sampling period, three bee types (bumble bees, honey bees, and sweat bees) were recorded, with a combined total of 1826. Among these, sweat bees and bumble bees were the most prevalent and were highest on the Joey variety. The four varieties expressed protein content ranging from 6.05% to 6.89% and the highest in Henola. Seventeen amino acids were expressed in all varieties, with leucine recording the highest content ranging from 4.00 mg/g in Canda to 4.54 mg/g in Henola. In general, Henola expressed high protein, amino acid, and saturated and monosaturated fatty acid contents and recorded significantly fewer bees compared with Joey, which had a low content of these components and a high content of polyunsaturated fatty acids. Our findings suggest that, while industrial hemp offers abundant and accessible pollen that would promote bee health and sustainability of their ecosystem services, the nutritional quality may not be adequate for bee growth and development as an exclusive pollen source.