Beneficial insects and other biological controls: how to source and release them with Suzanne Wainwright-Evans of Buglady Consulting

Over 25 years of running Buglady Consulting, entomologist Suzanne Wainwright-Evans has helped a lot of farmers with biological controls. This conversation is both a wealth of information and a hoot, as Suzanne tells us why beneficial insects are like sushi (you don’t want them old) while discussing how to source beneficial insects. We also talk about other biological controls, like soil drenches and dips, that work well in conjunction with beneficial insects to keep pest populations down. We talk about which beneficials to use for which pests, and the most thorough way of scouting. Suzanne tells us when dipping can be better than spraying, and how to keep pest eggs from coming onto your farm on plants. We also discuss how the species of beneficials needed may vary depending on season and temperature, and so much more in this week’s podcast interview. Podcast Sponsors: Huge thanks to our podcast sponsors as they make this podcast FREE to everyone with their generous support: Nifty Hoops builds complete gothic high tunnels that are easy to install and built to last. Their bolt-together construction makes setup straightforward and efficient, whether it's a small backyard hoophouse, or a dozen large production-scale high tunnels- especially through their community build option, where professional builders work alongside your crew, family, or neighbors to build each structure -- usually in a single day. Visit niftyhoops.com to learn more. If you grow for market, you know performance is everything. That’s why so many farmers are turning to Burpee’s Farmers Market . Dedicated to professional growers, Burpee is now offering non-GMO seeds in larger quantities – bred and selected for standout flavor, strong yields, and the kind of visual appeal your customers crave. Burpee’s been doing this for 150 years, and they’re still creating new varieties with growers like you in mind. You can check out the full lineup at Burpee.com/FarmersMarket . Farmhand is the all-in-one platform built for direct-market farms — CSA, farmers market, and farmstand growers who'd rather be in the field than juggling five different apps. Online store and subscriptions, delivery and pickup routing, SMS and email marketing, waitlist management, and now farm events: sell tickets to u-picks, tours, dinners, and workshops in minutes, with capacity caps, QR check-in, and SMS/email confirmations built in. Every ticket also puts a name, email, and phone on a list you keep. See how farmers are growing direct-to-consumer sales and set up a free account at farmhand.partners/gfm . Tilth Soil makes living soils for organic growers. The base for all our mixes is NOP-compliant compost, made from the 4,000 tons of food scraps we divert from landfills each year. And the results speak for themselves. Get excellent germination, strong transplants, and help us turn these resources back into food. Try a free bag and learn more at tilthsoil.com/gfm. For more on veg and flower market farming, subscribe to Growing for Market Magazine!