April 2019 - 11

perspectives
BY JENNIE SMITH
Plant Health - The Journey and the Reward
For the past 10 years, I have owned an Iowa heirloom tomato
farm called Butcher Crick Farms (and sometimes referred to as
" my bad habit " ). Today, my full-time career is the biologicals
team lead at BASF, focused on nurturing our biologicals
offerings and working with growers across the United
States. When GPN asked me to provide a 40 under
40 perspective, I knew I wanted to talk about plant
health: what is it, where are we as an industry,
and where are we headed? As both a grower and a
manufacturer (isn't life funny?), I will share a few
viewpoints that I believe drive a successful plant
health program.
Jennie Smith is
biologicals team
lead with BASF and
a member of GPN's
40 Under 40 Class
of 2018. She can be
reached at jennie.
smith@basf.com.
DEFINITION OF PLANT HEALTH
When we think of the term " plant health, " what
exactly does this mean? Is it a marketing term,
like the one we see in our grocery store that says
" natural, " or is it more formal, like the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) authorized label language
for BASF's Intrinsic brand fungicide portfolio? The formal
definition of plant heath for BASF supported by research
includes disease control and specific benefits in the plant, like
dense root growth and greater tolerance to stressors. Yes, you
read that right - plant health is on the EPA label!
Plant health management is both science and practice;
understanding and managing the biotic and abiotic factors that
can prevent plants from achieving their full potential. On my
farm, this means elements like water and sun all while managing
Manduca quinquemaculata (aka the tomato hornworm, a pest
that shares lineage with the devil himself).
Though the system is familiar to me in the practice of
agriculture, approaching plant health management from a
scientific standpoint was relatively new. To me, the definition of
plant health relates to a process: from planning to cultivation
to delivering healthy, high-quality plants to the consumer or
end-user.
FAIL TO PLAN, PLAN TO FAIL
Does anyone have that person who comes to a meeting and
doesn't bring a notebook? (Dog must have eaten it.) When they
walk in the room, I think: " How can you remember all of this?! "
I want to capture ideas and actions to implement and avoid the
need to meet again - logical, no?
Documentation and information exchange are two key
elements for success in planning and execution. The same
is true for monitoring plant health. Collecting, analyzing and
managing your plant health documentation annually, and
perhaps even generationally, might feel like you are next to the
tortoise at times, but remember what happened to the hare.
IT TAKES A VILLAGE
Sometimes we as farmers and growers appreciate the quiet,
peaceful moments walking the crop. There is something about
the simple act of observing growth that is empowering and
fulfilling. When it comes to plant health on a commercial scale,
we rely heavily on others to help us achieve the best crops to
send to the market. The success of my farm is attributed to my
family, friends and customers who all provide insights to grow
the business. Success with a manufacturer relies on a similar
structure: the growers, colleagues in the field and a network of
professionals who support this industry. The village is there to
support and to offer a scaffold for new tools to help you manage
plant health. Research. Ask questions. Implement. Repeat.
SCOUTING NOT POUTING
Put another way, preventive measures are more cost effective
than reactions. You know the drill: get a dedicated person for
this role (and no, watering at the same time doesn't count).
Give them the tools they need: they can call our reps, their
distributor rep or others in the industry to obtain a lens, sticky
cards or a solid recommendation. Meet with your team on a
regular basis to discuss results, thresholds and strategies. This
is a key part of your pest management program, unless " spray
and pray " is still working for you. [Note: if you think it is, please
call me.]
KNOWING YOUR AUDIENCE
Who is our consumer? Knowing the drivers for the audience is
critical to defining a plant health management plan. As growers,
we have unique perspectives on production methods for specific
situations. With a passion for genetic diversity, I chose to raise
heirloom tomatoes knowing they would require me to have a
different production plan and a different standard for plant
health. Someone who manages a public or city garden would
need an advanced weed management program. Another grower
may have zero tolerance for certain insect pests. We customize
our programs to meet our goals.
I want to leave you with a thought. When the sweat is in
my eyes, there is another acre of heirloom tomatoes to be
harvested by hand, and the email notifications on my computer
look like a slot machine on the strip, I remind myself: " Comfort
is the enemy of progress. " (P.T. Barnum). Our approach to
growing evolves, so we can capture the best of plant health -
that progress is worth the effort.
GREENHOUSE PRODUCT NEWS 11
April 2019

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2019
