Study Shows 4 in 5 Cannabis Growers Lose Money to Pests but the Problem Can Be Solved
/Four out of five cannabis cultivators (80%) are losing money to pest problems in 2022 according to the results from the 2022 State of the Pest Control Market Report – a joint research project between Cannabis Business Times and Central Life Sciences.
Unfortunately, growers are still struggling to reduce their pest problems with nearly four out of five cultivators (79%) reporting that they have seen an increase in pest problems or their pest problems haven’t changed in the past 12 months.
In total, only 12% of cannabis cultivators who participated in the 2022 State of Pest Control study reported that their growing operations did not experience pest issues in the past year. Aphids, spider mites, thrips, and fungus gnats were the most often cited pests that caused problems for growers during the past 12 months, and the four most effective ways growers have used to reduce pests include:
Using beneficial insects/biological controls
Integrated pest management (IPM)
Cleaning/sanitation of the facility, mobile equipment, and surrounding areas
Scouting regularly
When asked what growers believe caused pest issues in their growing operations in the past 12 months, the number one cited source was contaminated plant material from offsite (33%), and the second most often cited source was contaminated soil, growing media, and/or pots transported from offsite (28%).
Interestingly, the other four cited sources were all related to internal issues and controls, including pests near the entrance to the grow facility, employees bringing pests into the grow facility, environmental controls that attract pests, and a lack of IPM practices.
Controlled Environment Cannabis Growers Should Only Use a Substrate Made in a Controlled Environment
The data tells us that four out of five cannabis cultivators are struggling to reduce pest problems in their grow facilities, and four out of five are feeling a financial impact from pest problems on their operations. With the second most common source of pests identified as contaminated soil, growing media, or pots transported from offsite, it stands to reason that using uncontaminated growing media made in a controlled environment should be a must for every cannabis cultivator.
Unfortunately, very few substrates are made in a controlled environment. For example, nearly all dehydrated blocks of coco and compressed peat bales are not made in a controlled environment, and no compost is made in a controlled environment.
However, bio365 makes its soil in a controlled environment for controlled environment growers. You’ll decrease your crop risk and the labor and pest control costs your operation has to pay when you use a bio365 soil because your plants will be healthier and more resilient to any pests or pathogens that are brought into your facility by employees and other factors that attract pests.
Here are just some of the ways we ensure all bio365 soil made in a fully controlled environment and is free from pests, pathogens, and contaminants:
Storage and Manufacturing: Everything that goes into making bio365 growing media is manufactured and stored indoors in pest- and disease-controlled spaces.
Worker Hygiene: All workers have to change their clothes and go through a comprehensive hygiene process to enter.
Input Testing: Every input is fully tested and anything that doesn’t meet our high quality standards is thrown out.
Environmental Testing: We use elaborate environmental testing that is monitored in 20 different places for pests, pathogen, and contaminants.
When you use bio365 growing media, you can be 100% confident that it’s clean and pest and pathogen free.
Biology Can Play a Role in Solving Pest Problems
It’s important to point out that choosing a clean soil made in a completely controlled environment is only part of the solution to the pest problem that cannabis growers face. Biology is just as important.
At bio365, we culture our own biology. It’s a wide spectrum biology, made with carefully controlled processes, that enables plant signaling without the downside risk. As a result, you’ll increase chemotype expression and yields.
Bottom-line, bio365 isn’t just made so it’s free of pests, pathogens, and contaminants, but the beneficial biology in our growing media makes plants healthier and more resilient. As a result, they have a better chance of fighting off or thriving in a disease pressured environment, like a grower’s facility where pests were introduced through other sources.
The reality is when you use bio365 growing media, you’ll have less overall disease pressure and can boost the health and resiliency of your plants. Ultimately, you’ll save money on labor and pest control products and reduce the financial impact of pests on your business.
Key Takeaways about Cannabis Pest Control Problems and Solutions
As the data in the 2022 State of the Pest Control Market report shows, most cannabis growers are losing time and money to pest control problems, and those problems aren’t decreasing.
A key piece of the puzzle to solve the problem is to use a substrate made in a controlled environment. Today, bio365 is the only growing media made 100% in a controlled environment with patented beneficial biology that makes your plants more resilient to fight off pests. It’s the best choice to reduce the risks pests present and mitigate the financial impact that pests have on your cannabis grow operation.
Ready to learn more about bio365 growing media and how it can help your plants grow healthier so they’re less susceptible to pests in your environment? Contact us to talk to a soil expert or start a free trial!