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A pretty little killer is on the loose, and it looks like your future Christmas tree -- if you celebrate the holiday and indulge in decorative traditions -- could be the beneficiary. In Oregon, insect brokers and grade school children have been hard at work releasing 72,000 ladybugs onto holiday tree farms to kill harmful insects.
Why talk about Christmas trees now? Well, it's that whole “planning ahead” idea that everyone tries to tell you is such a good idea. Sustainability practices start in the production phase, so tree farmers are making decisions right now on whether they use pesticides or organic integrated-pest management measures to grow their holiday crop.
This is the first year these ladybugs have been used in the valley around Newberg, OR, and only time will tell if the ladybugs can kill off pesky mites and aphids that can devastate tree crops. If the ladybugs do their job, and tree farms resist the temptation to use chemical pesticides, those farmers can get certified under the Coalition of Environmentally Conscious Growers as a way to add sustainable -- and, therefore, market -- value to their trees.
Another plus for ladybugs: they only cost a couple hundred dollars in comparison to huge investments that chemicals often require.
Source: Statesman Journal (Oregon)
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