We have been battling the Colorado potato beetle. This beetle eats the leaves of potato plants. It is orange/red with black stripes and dots across it’s back. This beetle has the capability to destroy an entire crop of potatoes. The cost to put insecticides, which are cleared for organic certified farms, is almost 100 times that of the non-organic options. Another option, which can be used on organic farms, is the use of a flamethrower. The flamethrower is used to kill bugs during the early growth of the plant. This option is significantly more cost effective than organic treatments and is used on the farm.
Update: July 19 - We have begun to pull potatoes. Although we have seen many bugs, it appears as if the crop is doing well.
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