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Project Leader: Brian Caldwell,
Farm Educator, Northeast Organic Farming Association, New York Chapter
Cooperator: Marvin Pritts, Horticulture
Department, Cornell University
Type of Grant: Pheromones; biorationals;
microbials; conventional pesticides
Project Location: Throughout
the northeast
Abstract: "Sluggo" is a new low-toxicity
slug control product formulated with the active ingredient ferric phosphate
and a proprietary bait. Strawberry slug damage was measured in 2000
to compare treatments of Sluggo and the standard material, "Deadline
Mini Pellets" (active ingredient, metaldehyde, plus bait) to untreated
control plots. Metaldehyde is a fairly toxic material. If ferric phosphate
bait can be shown to provide adequate control of slug damage, growers
could use it with confidence and reduce environmental and consumer hazards
in comparison with current practice. In particular, growers are concerned
that use of metaldehyde in a U-pick situation where young children are
present can present a hazard. Yet, if slug damage is heavy, they have
had to make the choice between accepting the damage or using the potentially
hazardous metaldehyde. Having a viable low-toxicity option would be
welcome.
Research plots were laid out at two
U-pick strawberry farm and at the Cornell Orchards. After rainy weather
induced slug damage in the crop, a consistent rend was found. Plots
treated with Sluggo showed reductions of about 50% in slug damage compared
to the control, statistically significant at two of three locations.
Damage in the metaldehyde-treated plots was intermediate.
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