Cornell Cooperative Extension teamed up with urban farms across New York to find better ways to sustainably handle pests. Together, we found that farmers can protect their crops and prevent crop losses by using methods like protective netting, changing when they plant, choosing hardy plant varieties, and using "natural enemies" (beneficial insects) to keep pests under control.
To make these methods work, you generally need three things:
- Know your enemy: Understand the specific pests and diseases in your garden.
- Start early: Put your plan in place before the pests arrive.
- Stay committed: Stick with the process throughout the season.
We’ve created a series of easy-to-read guides based on real-life examples from New York farms. These are available in English, Arabic, Chinese, and Spanish.
Pest Management on Urban Farms: Row Covers
Pest Management on Urban Farms: Brassica Break
Pest Management on Urban Farms: Disease Resistant Crop Varieties
Guías en español
Liberación de enemigos naturales para el control de plagas en granjas urbanas Pest Management on Urban Farms: Releasing Natural Enemies [Spanish Translation]
Cubiertas de hileras para el manejo de plagas en granjas urbanas Pest Management on Urban Farms: Row Covers [Spanish Translation]
Descanso de bracicáceas para el manejo de plagas en granjas urbanas Pest Management on Urban Farms: Brassica Break [Spanish Translation]
Variedades de cultivos resistentes a enfermedades para el manejo de plagas en granjas urbanas Pest Management on Urban Farms: Disease Resistant Crop Varieties [Spanish Translation]
中文指南
用于城市农场的病虫害治理 释放天敌 Pest Management on Urban Farms: Releasing Natural Enemies [Chinese Translation]
用于城市农场的病虫害治理 小拱棚 Pest Management on Urban Farms: Row Covers [Chinese Translation]
用于城市农场的病虫害治理芥属植物断期 Pest Management on Urban Farms: Brassica Break [Chinese Translation]
的抗病作物品种用于城市农场病虫害治理 Pest Management on Urban Farms: Disease Resistant Crop Varieties [Chinese Translation]
أدلة باللغة العربية
للتعامل مع الآفات في المزارع الحضرية إطلاق الخصوم الطبيعيين Pest Management on Urban Farms: Releasing Natural Enemies [Arabic Translation]
للتعامل مع الآفات في المزارع الحضرية أغطية الصفوف Pest Management on Urban Farms: Row Covers [Arabic Translation]
عطلة نباتات البراسيكا للتعامل مع الآفات في المزارع الحضرية Pest Management on Urban Farms: Brassica Break [Arabic Translation]
سلالات المحاصيل المقاومة للأمراض للتعامل مع الآفات في المزارع الحضرية Pest Management on Urban Farms: Disease Resistant Crop Varieties [Arabic Translation]
Want more information? See the related SARE grant:
This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture through the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. Government determination or policy.