I m a grower and owner with a few ideas about my biocontrol experience and passionate about our industry.

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Elisabeth Eaton
5 years ago
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2 NOT an Entomologist Nor a product specialist I m a grower and owner with a few ideas about my biocontrol experience and passionate about our industry. I know just enough to be dangerous!

3 Where in the WORLD is Thiel s Greenhouses? 3452 km to NIAGARA FALLS! Plane = 6.6 hr Automobile = 33 hr Bike = 22 days Hike = 80 days However you get there... It s a teeny bit NORTH!

Thiel s Greenhouses Est 1958 50,000 ft2 = one acre = half hectare

wholesale - 2 locations Basic hardgoods seeds, garden focus, very

4 Thiel s Greenhouses Est ,000 ft2 = one acre = half hectare Location, location, location Seasonal ornamentals retail and wholesale - 2 locations Basic hardgoods seeds, garden focus, very little décor Team - 2 fulltime, 15 seasonal Growth strategy hydroponic veggies

5 Bug-Eyed about Biocontrol A Grower s Perspective Nadine Stielow Thiel s Greenhouses

6 WELCOME I LOVE this industry.. I have no special talent, I am only passionately curious. -Albert Einstein

7 Truth! The only thing constant is change -Heraclitus 1 Shift in how pest management is done 2 Public. Very interested in what we do. How it affects them 3 Responsible to my team, customers and family The obvious choice biocontrol!

8 Why SO bug-eyed ZERO pre-conceived ideas Priority: current best practice methods Start anywhere, just START! My GO button - The chem shed purge Fast forward: a defined IPM program Constantly evolving/learning Good bugs are COOL!

Hit it hard. OUT of the park! 6. Be a leader. BE known as THE BUG GEEK 7.

9 Seven habits of highly successful bug-geeks 1. Commit to the process 2. Learn everything 3. Train others. Teach everyone 4. Share the story 5. Hit it hard. OUT of the park! 6. Be a leader. BE known as THE BUG GEEK 7. Know your program. Understand biocontrol Bugs are not curative. You need to be proactive SWE Line it UP

10 Success using biocontrol is a journey? More like backpacking! Commitment Dedicated attention to detail On-going process for long term gain One step at time! A biocontrol program is multi-faceted. Production tool Marketing tool Sales tool Education tool

11 Embrace biocontrol so it simply becomes part of your business identity. Be known as much for your phenomenal plants as for your healthy #growclean practices. Convey the #goodbugs message as your own gold standard and your team, your customers and the world will listen.

12 Things We Like a LOT

Resources: Websites, consultants, academia, specialists,

Cornell University Purdue University Canadian GH Conference

13 Resources: Websites, consultants, academia, specialists, colleagues. Develop a rapport with industry leaders. Take their advice! Buglady Consulting Vineland Research Station Greenhouse Canada Cornell University Purdue University Canadian GH Conference Cultivate 18 Suppliers: reliable and professional Biobest Bioline Koppert

14 You can t build resistance to being EATEN!

15 Insect ID: Get up close and personal! Know what you re looking at orders to application Get to know the good guys from the bad Posters, websites and your Bug Geek Use sticky traps and look at them! Keep a hand lens with you Take PICTURES. Lots of them

Preventative Nematodes + Asperello/Rootshield + Bioceres/Botaniguard Aphids Banker plants and

16 Pick Your Battles Hesitating? Pick ONE and GO for IT! Scale up later and use the experts for advice. Started with The Dip cocktail Dip everything. Preventative Nematodes + Asperello/Rootshield + Bioceres/Botaniguard Aphids Banker plants and colemani parasitic wasps Bankers: start in January We use 2 to 3 times recommended HIT em HARD! Fungus gnats hypoaspis Thrips cucumeris Spider mites persimillis

17 Aphid Banker Plants

18 The key to banker plants is to have enough systems built up early in the season, as to overwhelm the pests. Build up the beneficials population, before the pests can establish. Hit em HARD! Right off the bat home run.

19 Aphidius Colemani We-wease the secwet weapon - Gussie Mausheiner An American Tail

20 Scouting: The KEY to success Tools - lenses, camera, light, notepad Dynolite magnifies, view on your device BioQuip - add TO cart Specialists on speed dial!

21 Training: Knowledge is Power A team approach: increased engagement = successful program Dedicated IPM manager. Train staff Host events: industry and community Hand lenses think OPRAH! Show your team how to scout Sticky cards emphasize why and how

22 Classes. Events. Team training. Industry Workshops.

social media Adult classes and tours anyone with a pulse!

23 Own it! - Boost your brand Everyone LOVES a good clean story #liveit What s THE best BIO thing you DO? Speaking engagements Community advocate Teach EVERYONE social media Adult classes and tours anyone with a pulse! Mainstream media Define your biocontrol PASSION! #growclean #IPM #biocontrol #teachit #buggeeks #learnit #goodbugs #shareit

24 Content Tips Be authentic. Imperfect is PERFECT Consistent message Have FUN Be the expert AND relate to your audience Your website Photos of everything Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn Hashtags # # # z

25 Get REAL

26 THIS!

27 Some pretty awesome HACKS... Small scale application - grass spreader Paper cups - persimilis PLUS Banker plants - rock wool cubes + aquarium Tool box gone walkabout Live product analysis Order forms in January Videos candid social media DynoLite super cool tool! Hand sprayers from Stihl Apply early am/later pm/under shade. Priority MINDSET: hard chemistry is OTD