-Mike Weeks-
Just in time for pest season, we thought it may be a good time to introduce a new product for us that is truly unique in the pest and disease management category: PureCrop 1. We have been working with this product at one of our off site hemp facilities, and we find that it checks a lot of boxes for us.
First off, this product has a zero OSHA rating, and that’s great news for the grower because it means no suiting up before spraying. What that also means is that this product is very safe for your plants. Not only is it certified organic by OMRI, it is also certified NSF for use on food surfaces, it has a zero Re-Entry Interval (REI), and zero post harvest interval (PHI), essentially making it safe anytime during production and after harvesting as a wash, if desired.
We have found this product to be very effective on killing two-spotted spider mites, but testing is happening for other pests as well. It is claimed to be safe around beneficials such as ladybugs, predatory mites, bees, and predatory wasps, making it ideal for farms with those integrated into their management systems.
The product is made up of soybean oil, corn oil, filtered water, glycerin, guar gum, citric acid, soap, and vanillin. Now, you may be thinking that’s going to be an oily product, but it is not, because it only contains the fatty acid molecules from the oils in tiny colloids called micelles. These clusters are so small, they can penetrate the biological membrane of many plants and will also dissolve the membrane of many sap-sucking insects.
Not only is Purecrop1 a unique pest control, it is also an effective fungicide, biostimulant, and surfactant. When applied to the soil, Purecrop1 helps utilize water and nutrients, helps reduce calcium binding in new roots, and also reduces counts of root borne pathogens.
We are excited to get to know this product better as it seems to have a promising future for organic food and hemp production. Give it a try and let us know what you think!
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