Uncategorized – Page 14 – Texas A&M AgriLife Organic

Composts and Herbicides Don’t Mix

Killer compost

This well written post on the Green Corn Project website details a problem we are having with compost throughout Texas. I have been getting plenty of questioning emails and calls about this and so I am trying to give some context on what is happening. I have tried to be fair but when it happens to you and your crops it is very frustrating and difficult not to lash out.

Topics Covered in This Article

Herbicides involved

Dow AgroSciences now known as Corteva Agriscience makes the Grazon Next herbicide with aminopyralid and 2,4-D in a premix. It has been on the market for years but was generally more expensive than a common pasture and hay field weed control herbicide known as Weedmaster or its generics which is a premix of Banvel (dicamba) and 2,4-D. Grazon Next is a popular herbicide but until the last few years the extra expense did slow its use somewhat.

Corteva Agriscience also has a fairly new pasture weed control product called Duracor which is a mix to aminopyralid and florpyrauxifen. This product is popular because it does not require a Texas Department of Agriculture pesticide license to purchase which helps a lot of landowners who want to spray pastures and hay fields with their own equipment.

How it happens

Grazon Next and Duracor have on their label (below) that it is only to be used on forage intended to be used on the farm and manure is not to be composted and used on vegetables. When a producer buys Grazon Next or Duracor, they are required to be warned about this restriction. I really do believe that most producers who use the product know the danger, whether they abide by it or not.

As a chemical used on hay or pasture crops and then fed to cattle it is really interesting because it does not break down in the animal but instead stays intact as aminopyralid. This is one reason why EPA has less trouble labeling it for animal feed, it is safe for animals and does what it says it will do in a pasture. I am not justifying its use, only trying to understand why it is used.

The older Weedmaster product is not persistent in the environment for more than a couple of weeks and certainly not persistent in manure used for compost. Aminopyralid, on the other hand, can last up to 18 months in the environment. Animals that eat treated grass will then excrete (poop!) manure with aminopyralid and that composted manure will have aminopyralid for about 6-18 months. The label says 18 months which is a chemical treatment at the highest rate of aminopyralid. There are all kinds of conditions that will speed up this breakdown process.

Duracor Label

GrazonNext HL Label

The past several years has been a perfect storm for this problem to get hugely worse. The Weedmaster (or generics like it) has Banvel, and Banvel is now a common herbicide used in cotton because of GMO cotton with Banvel herbicide resistance. This has significantly increased the use of Banvel and caused a shortage which caused the prices to go up. This caused Weedmaster to be in short supply and more expensive than herbicides with aminopyralid in many cases.

So, the cheaper aminopyralid products and lack of supply of Weedmaster or Banvel caused many hay producers to switch and save money. Hay has been in short supply and dairies have been getting it from anyone and anywhere they could, no questions asked. Dairies, and to a smaller extent, feedlots are a big supplier of manure for compost operations all over the state and this perfect storm has opened up the potential for compost or manure to have aminopyralid in it.

Perfect storm!

One last thing that also makes this an issue, the compost industry has had a perfect storm itself. Higher synthetic fertilizer prices have caused all producers to search out cheaper sources of nutrients. Compost suppliers usually have more compost than they can handle on their operations and want to sell it. Along comes field crop producers who are hit with higher fertilizer prices, compost has what they need, and the price is low compared to synthetic fertilizer. Compost yards will push their composting process so that they are sending out compost/manure very fast after receiving it from the farm. I have seen some compost that I think was just really mixed-up manure with no composting time or mixed with some small amount of compost. Usually, the compost process and the time it takes, breaks down aminopyralid somewhat, but many years compost can move fast because of high fertilizer prices. That has left very little time for the compost process to break down the chemical like there had been in years past.

Update! New Study that may Help This Issue

This study titled “Composting Dairy Manure with Biochar: Compost Characteristics, Aminopyralid Residual Concentrations, and Phytotoxicity Effects” examines how biochar affects the composting process of dairy manure contaminated with aminopyralid, a herbicide commonly used to control broadleaf weeds.

Key Findings:

Aminopyralid Contamination:
- Aminopyralid, absorbed into forage, can contaminate compost feedstocks like hay, grass bedding material, and manure. Residual aminopyralid in compost can cause injury to sensitive crops such as tomatoes.
- Even low concentrations (<10 ppb) of aminopyralid in compost can negatively affect broadleaf crops. (I know you have had complaints about this!)
Effectiveness of Biochar:
- Adding biochar (BC) to composting dairy manure reduces aminopyralid residues and enhances the compost’s safety for plants.
- Different levels of biochar (0%, 2%, 4%, and 10%) were tested. Higher biochar levels resulted in greater reductions in aminopyralid concentration.
- Biochar addition decreased organic matter degradation but increased nutrient concentration (N, P, K) in the compost.
Phytotoxicity and Plant Health:
- Composting with biochar reduced the phytotoxic effects of aminopyralid, leading to milder injuries in test plants (tomatoes) compared to compost without biochar.
- Higher levels of biochar (10%) led to the least plant injury and increased plant biomass.

Recommendations for Composters:

To mitigate aminopyralid contamination, incorporate biochar into the composting process. This approach helps immobilize the herbicide, making the compost safer for plant use.
Regularly test compost for aminopyralid residues, especially if sourcing manure from farms using aminopyralid-treated forage.
Educate suppliers about the impact of aminopyralid and encourage practices that reduce herbicide contamination in manure.

Conclusion: Incorporating biochar into dairy manure composting is a practical solution for Texas composters facing aminopyralid-related plant injuries. This method not only reduces residual herbicide levels but also enhances the compost’s nutrient profile, promoting healthier plant growth.

Other Resources

Modifications to Increase Vegetable Earliness and/or Yield

Topics Covered in This Article!

Selection of the Land

Light, sandy soils warm up faster than heavier, poorly drained soils. Of course, we don’t always have a choice, but if you are going to spend money on transplants and fertilizer, choose your best land for vegetables. The heat to warm up wet soil 1 degree will heat up dry soil 15 degrees.

Selection of Variety

Check the days to maturity. There is a big difference between many varieties, and this area needs careful consideration. The early variety may not be the best overall, but it can get you into the market earlier, which can be advantageous.

Use Windbreaks

This is perhaps the most important based on work I have done with melons. Windbreaks can decrease time to maturity by a week. Windbreaks are simply plantings with taller plants done weeks or months before your vegetable crop is planted. For example, a rye crop planting in October will be heading out when you plant melons April 1st. The melon crop is stripped into the standing rye.

Providing Frost Protection

In the past, I have worked with growers who went to the trouble and expense to bring in helicopters when an early morning freeze was predicted. It is not unusual to see vineyards with ‘wind machines’ to circulate air when a frost is predicted. Water sprinklers will coat plants with ice which is a freeze protection – sounds crazy I know! Some orchard owners will have bales of hay they set on fire to generate a smoke layer that holds in heat. The basic message is to be prepared if you plant early.

Use of Row Covers

High-value crops like strawberries really benefit from the use of row covers. These can be expensive, so the crop must generate good income to justify the cost. Floating row covers can protect plants from early-season pests and cold temperatures, allowing for earlier planting and faster growth (4 above). These covers can be removed once the danger of frost has passed or may be left on to protect from insect pests.

Plastic Mulch

These increase earliness by warming the soil, conserving moisture, preventing weed problems, and increasing total plant yields. In our Texas soils, plastic mulch can also help keep the plant row from becoming too wet or too dry.

Transplants

Transplants will greatly increase earliness but only if the transplant is healthy and vigorous. You must use organic sourced transplants! Currently we are working to develop better organic transplants and methods for growing transplants in a TDA supported Specialty Crop Grant. Some transplants that have been grown too long in the greenhouse don’t do well in the field so check your source constantly for when they will be ready so you will be ready.

Drip Irrigation

Providing water in small amounts often is the job of drip irrigation. Used with plastic mulch, drip irrigation increases earliness and yield. Drip irrigation is fairly easy to install and relatively inexpensive. You generally need a pressure regulator, filter, hoses or pipes to carry the water and drip tape to deliver to the crop.

Fertility

High levels of nutrients ensure rapid growth and utilization of water and sunlight. Many growers struggle to provide stored nutrients in soil, provide pop-up nutrients at planting, and fertilize with organic nitrogen sources through harvest. Regular soil testing helps determine nutrient deficiencies and allows for proper soil amendment before planting. Balanced soil fertility is crucial for early and vigorous plant growth.

Use of Growth-Promoting Substances

Effect of fulvic acid on yield performance of organic bell
pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) under open‑field conditions
in Tennessee. 2023

Certain growth-promoting substances, like seaweed extracts or microbial inoculants or even Fulvic Acid, can enhance earliness, plant growth and development, potentially leading to earlier harvests.

Staggered Planting

Planting in staggered intervals (planting tomatoes on a 2-week schedule) can help manage for frost losses and increase the harvest window and ensure a continuous supply of produce, allowing entry into the market over a longer period.

Resources

Spider Mites on Tomato – There are Organic Solutions

It doesn’t take long for spider mites to attack tomatoes and attack with a passion as the weather gets hotter. I usually get a lot of calls this time of year about tomatoes that are turning yellow, and, in most cases, it is spider mites that are the culprit.

Notice the dark spots on either side, hence the name.

The two spotted spider mite is responsible for a lot of our tomato problems. They are very small at 1/32 of an inch or less. If you turn over a tomato leaf you will see the webbing characteristic of spider mites and if you look closer, you may see the actual mite moving around. Spider mites overwinter as adults and even continue to breed on host plants in mild winters. Spider mite adults lay a clear to yellow egg suspended in a fine web of silk. 6-legged nymphs emerge from the eggs and go through 2 molts before they emerge as 8-legged adults. A generation can last from 5 to 20 days depending on the temperature, the hotter the quicker. When the host plant begins to decline, the mites spin silk threads and use these strands to “fly” or “balloon” in wind to disperse to other plants. This is how they get to your tomatoes in the first place. Under ideal conditions (hot, dry weather, lack of natural enemies, and well-fertilized plants), mite populations can increase 10-fold per week!

Spider mites on a tomato stake about to spin a silk thread and take off!

Scouting is essential to control. If you see spider mites early you can wash them off with hard streams of water or use an insecticidal soap. Sulphur has long been used as a preventative for mites as well as a fungicide for diseases. Garlic and other botanicals have been promoted, but my experience has not been good. Organic products that have a good track record are Certis Biologicals – BoteGHA, PFR-97, Sil-Matrix, DES-X and Trilogy. Pro Farm – Grandevo and Venerate. Spinosad made by several companies can be effective. There are a whole host of botanical oils from garlic to thyme to peppermint and can be a preventative or good in light infestations. Another option is beneficial insect releases like Phytoseiulus persimilis or Neoseiulus cucumeris beneficial mites which are known to be very effective.

Severe spider mite infestation – pull out the plant!

Unfortunately, most gardeners do not notice infestations until they are severe, and control by then is difficult. I like to recommend that gardeners remove the plants that are somewhat infested. This may seem drastic but letting populations explode doesn’t seem healthy either.

Lastly let me add that spider mites love plants that are stressed, especially from water. I was recently running a greenhouse experiment with tomatoes and marigolds. I had many pots of each, and I had inadvertently left some of both plants almost outside the area that was sprinkler watered. This meant that 2 tomato plants and 2 marigold plants were getting just enough water to live but not much else. I then went on vacation for a few days and when I came back the only spider mite infested plants were those stressed for water. I have seen this in fields over and over again, water stress brings on insect stress! Tomato plants can use 1.5 gallons of water every day and most gardeners only water once a week.

Organic Grain Storage Insect Control

Properly managing stored grain is essential to maintaining its quality and preventing insect infestations. Below are some strategies for controlling insects in organic grain storage, focusing on beneficial insects, biological sprays, and preventive measures. Just a reminder always, always check with your certifier about using these practices in your OSP and before making grain applications!

Table of Contents (just click on one)

Organic Grain Storage Preventive Measures

Clean Storage Areas: Thoroughly clean and disinfect storage areas before storing new grain. Remove any residual grain, debris, and dust, as these can harbor pests.

Proper Drying: Ensure that grain is properly dried to a moisture content below 14%. High moisture levels can promote mold growth and attract insects.

Sealed Containers: Store grain in airtight containers or silos to prevent insect entry. Use insect-proof storage bags or bins for smaller quantities.

Regular Monitoring: Inspect stored grain regularly for signs of infestation. Use pheromone traps to monitor pest activity and take action if necessary.

Temperature Control: Keep storage areas cool, as high temperatures can encourage insect activity. Aerate grain periodically to maintain uniform temperature and moisture levels.

Predator Insects for Grain Storage

Predatory insects are an innovative and sustainable solution for managing pests in stored grain. These beneficial insects naturally prey on grain pests, helping to keep their populations in check without the need for chemical treatments. To implement the use of predatory insects, it’s crucial to monitor pest populations and introduce the predators at the right time. Maintaining optimal storage conditions, such as proper temperature and humidity, will also enhance the effectiveness of these biological controls.

Predatory Mites (Acarina: Phytoseiidae): These mites’ prey on grain mites and small insect pests, effectively reducing pest populations in stored grain.

Parasitoid Wasps (e.g., Trichogramma spp.): These wasps lay their eggs inside the eggs of pest insects like moths and beetles. The developing wasp larvae consume the pest eggs, preventing the pests from emerging.

Lesser Grain Borer Parasitoids (e.g., Anisopteromalus calandrae): These wasps target larvae of grain borers and weevils, helping to reduce their numbers.

Trichogramma Wasp

Beneficial Insect Companies

Koppert Koppert Biological Systems (koppertus.com)
BioBest Home | Biobest (biobestgroup.com)
Bioline Agrosciences Bioline AgroSciences: Biocontrol & Integrated Crop Management Bioline
Applied Bionomics Welcome – Applied Bio-nomics Ltd.
Beneficial Insectary https://www.insectary.com
Kunafin https://www.kunafin.com
Arbico ARBICO Organics Gardening Supplies and Biological Pest Control Products (arbico-organics.com)
Bugs For Growers – Bugs for Growers
TipTop Biocontrol Tip Top Bio – Beneficial Insects – Tip Top Bio-Control (tiptopbiocontrol.com)

Biological Treatments of Stored Grain Insects

Diatomaceous Earth (DE): DE is a natural powder made from fossilized remains of diatoms. It works by damaging the exoskeletons of insects, causing them to dehydrate and die. It’s a safe and effective method for organic grain storage. Apply DE to the grain before storage to create a protective layer.

General Application: Use DE at a rate of approximately 1-2 pounds per ton of grain. Surface Treatment: For treating the surface of stored grain, apply a layer of DE at about 0.5 to 1 pound per 1,000 square feet.

How to Apply DE: Ensure the grain is clean and dry before applying DE. The moisture content should be below 14%, as DE is more effective in dry conditions.

Mixing with Grain: Add DE to the grain as it is being transferred into the storage bin. This can be done using a grain auger or conveyor belt. The movement will help mix DE uniformly throughout the grain.

Top Dressing: After filling the storage bin, apply DE on the top surface of the grain. This creates a barrier to prevent insects from entering the grain mass. For best results, ensure even distribution. DE should be mixed thoroughly with the grain to cover all kernels. Use personal protective equipment (PPE) such as a dust mask and gloves to avoid inhaling DE dust during application. A hand spreader or scoop can be used for smaller quantities, while larger operations may require mechanized equipment for even distribution.

Benefits of Using DE: DE is a natural, non-toxic substance safe for humans and animals. It leaves no harmful residues, making it suitable for organic storage systems. DE is effective against a wide range of insects, including weevils, beetles, and moths.

Additional Tips for DE: Maintain optimal storage conditions. DE is most effective in dry environments, so keeping grain dry and well-ventilated will enhance its efficacy. In long-term storage situations, periodically check the grain and reapply DE if needed, especially if there is significant handling or movement of grain. Always handle DE with care to avoid inhalation and ensure it does not contact eyes. Use in a well-ventilated area or wear appropriate protective gear.

Neem Oil (Azadirachtin): Extracted from the neem tree, neem oil has insecticidal properties that disrupt the life cycle of insects by interfering with their growth and reproduction. It can be used as a spray in storage areas or directly on grain. Here are some products:

Azadirachtin 1.2%	Aza-Direct, AzaPro
Azadirachtin 3%	AzaGuard, Molt-X
Azadirachtin 4.5%	Neemix 4.5
Azadirachtin: 6.0%	Azasol

Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt): Bt is a soil-dwelling bacterium that produces proteins toxic to certain insects. When ingested by insects, Bt causes them to stop feeding and eventually die. Bt formulations can be sprayed on grain to control pests like moths and beetles. Here are some products:

Bacillus thuringiensis aizawai	Agree, Xentari	Certis, Valent	bacteria
Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis	Gnatrol, AquaBac	Valent, Becker Microbial	bacteria
Bacillus thuringiensis kurstaki	DiPel, Deliver, Javelin, BT Now, Leprotec	NuFarm, Valent, Certis, BioSafe, Vestaron	bacteria

Using Pheromone Traps for Organic Grain Storage Pest Control

Pheromone traps are an effective tool for monitoring and controlling insect pests in organic grain storage. They work by emitting synthetic versions of insect pheromones, which attract pests to the trap, thereby reducing their populations and minimizing damage to stored grain.

Benefits of Pheromone Traps

1. Target Specific Pests: Pheromone traps are designed to attract specific insect species, making them effective in targeting particular pests without affecting non-target organisms.

2. Monitoring Pest Activity: These traps help farmers monitor pest populations and detect early infestations, allowing for timely intervention.

3. Reducing Chemical Use: By using pheromone traps, farmers can reduce or eliminate the need for chemical insecticides, aligning with organic farming principles.

Types of Pheromone Traps

1. Sticky Traps: These traps are coated with a sticky substance that captures insects when they land on them. They are commonly used for moths and beetles.

2. Delta Traps: Reusable plastic traps that are suitable for a variety of pests. They are durable and weather-resistant, making them ideal for outdoor use.

3. Wing Traps: These traps are weather-resistant and feature a grid pattern on the bottom for easy counting of trapped insects. They are effective in orchards and greenhouses.

How to Use Pheromone Traps

1. Placement: Position traps at the top and in the center of the grain mass. Pheromone traps can also be placed around the storage area to monitor incoming pests.

2. Monitoring: Check the traps regularly to monitor pest activity. Replace the pheromone lures as needed, typically every 4-6 weeks.

3. Maintenance: Keep traps clean and ensure they are in good condition to maintain their effectiveness.

Sources for Pheromone Traps

Oklahoma Company that I have used a lot!

STORGARD® WB Probe II® Grain Beetle Trap – Trécé, Inc. (trece.com)

Other Resources

USDA Organic: You are automatically part of a huge family!

The organic label is more than just a marketing term; it is a rigorous standard of quality that reflects sustainable and environmentally friendly practices across the agricultural sector. The USDA’s National Organic Program (NOP) is at the heart of this movement, ensuring that products labeled as organic meet stringent, federally regulated guidelines. This unified regulatory framework is crucial not just for maintaining the integrity of the organic label but also for investing in and supporting a diverse array of stakeholders involved in the organic supply chain—from farmers and researchers to retailers and consumers. Tools such as the USDA Organic Consumer Outreach Toolkit play a vital role in promoting these standards, ensuring that the value of organic products is clearly communicated and understood by the consumer but also by those outside looking in and examining the organic program family!

The Unified Regulatory Framework of Organic Agriculture

Organic agriculture operates under a comprehensive framework established by the NOP, which enforces consistency across the entire supply chain. This uniformity ensures that whether one is dealing with an organic dairy farm in Texas or a producer of organic vegetables in California, or a feed manufacturer in Illinois, all parties are held to the same high standards. This regulation not only supports the integrity of organic products but also helps streamline processes for stakeholders at all levels, including brokers, wholesalers, manufacturers, and retailers. The ability to trust in the label “organic” comes from this rigorous oversight and the commitment to upholding these standards universally.

Collaborative Efforts Across Stakeholders

One of the most remarkable aspects of the NOP’s structure is its collaborative nature, which fosters engagement across a broad spectrum of stakeholders. This collaboration includes:

Educational institutions and specialists: As an organic specialist with a land grant university, my role involves educating and guiding future and current farmers on best organic practices. Even specialists without organic in their title like agronomists, entomologists or plant pathologists contribute to organic knowledge and expertise. More and more these folks are finding ways to work with our natural plant and animal systems advancing organic agriculture.
University researchers are doing tremendous work and through their efforts organic ag is advancing faster and faster. I know, because of the many current organic grant projects just in Texas. Other research bodies, both public and private research, also are a part of this huge collaboration to advance organic agriculture from the farm all the way to the table.
Organizations and associations like the Organic Trade Association (OTA), The Organic Center (TOC), Organic Farm Research Foundation (OFRF) and many other non-profits work tirelessly to promote organic production practices and products, help foster collaborations, and advocate within the halls of government.
Certification entities and even certification inspectors all work together with growers and handlers to ensure that the system is protected from simple mistakes to outright fraud protecting a consumer based and backed program. They are not doing this just for themselves but for the grower and handler who needs the consumer to buy their products because they are certified organic.

Education and Outreach: Tools for Sustaining Organic Integrity

The USDA Organic Consumer Outreach Toolkit exemplifies the educational tools that are crucial for sustaining the integrity of the organic label. This toolkit is designed to educate stakeholders along the supply chain and inform consumers about what the organic label represents. Clear, consistent messaging helps to ensure that the organic label retains its value and significance in the marketplace. For instance, retail employees can use the toolkit to better explain the benefits of organic products to customers, reinforcing trust and understanding.

USDA Organic Consumer Outreach Toolkit

Support Systems and Knowledge Exchange

I will admit this is a tough one! We do not have the support systems and advisory services we need within the organic community. Extension organic specialists and county extension agents and even private advisors and consultants to provide ongoing support and guidance, have been in short supply – but it is improving. This continual knowledge exchange is vital for keeping up with the fast-changing organic systems research, the new and innovative products for organic production, the regulatory environment we work within and of course, any and all emerging trends in organic agriculture.

Traceability and Transparency: Building Consumer Trust

A cornerstone of the NOP’s approach is the emphasis on traceability and transparency. From farm to retail store, every step of the organic product’s journey is documented (and includes a certified entity), ensuring that the products consumers buy are genuinely organic. This traceability not only helps in enforcing compliance with organic standards but also builds consumer confidence in the organic label. According to a recent consumer survey conducted by the Organic Trade Association 88% of all consumers know about the organic label and are willing to pay more because of their trust in the label.

Conclusion

The USDA National Organic Program’s structured approach to regulating and promoting organic agriculture underpins the integrity and trust in the organic label. By fostering a unified and collaborative framework, the NOP ensures that organic standards are not just ideals but practical realities that benefit the environment, producers, and consumers alike. As we look to the future, your continued support and participation in this program will be crucial for advancing sustainable agricultural practices and increasing organic farming, manufacturing, retailing and consumption. How? By realizing you are part of an “organic family” that promotes you and your business along with every other part of the value chain (traceability means you get promoted) all the way to the consumer who picks up your product and knows you are part of that product.

I know that all these rules and regulations and the piles of paperwork get overwhelming but know that this helps the consumer to feel a part of your production and ultimately your farm. Here are a few examples or Case Studies of what things may look like in the future as we try to invite the consumer to be part of this value chain known as Organic Farming.

Some real-world examples of building consumer trust

Case Study 1: Carrefour and Blockchain

Overview:
Carrefour, (big in Europe and the Middle East) a global retail giant, launched a blockchain-based traceability system for several products, including organic fruits and vegetables. The system allows consumers to scan a QR code on the product packaging to access detailed information about the production process.

Key Features:

Farm to Fork Information: Consumers can see details about where and how the organic produce was grown, including the farm’s location, the farming practices used, and the harvest date.
Transparency and Trust: By providing a clear view of the supply chain, Carrefour enhances consumer trust in their organic label.

Case Study 2: IBM Food Trust and Walmart

Overview:
Walmart joined the IBM Food Trust, a blockchain-based system, to improve the traceability of its food products. The initiative initially focused on conventional products but has extended to organic products to ensure their integrity.

Key Features:

Enhanced Traceability: The system tracks every transaction from the supplier to the store, ensuring that organic standards are maintained at every step.
Rapid Response to Issues: If an issue arises, such as a contamination risk, Walmart can quickly trace the product back to its source and manage the situation effectively.

Case Study 3: Ripe.io and Tomato Traceability

Overview:
Ripe.io uses blockchain technology to provide transparency in the tomato supply chain. Although not exclusively organic, the principles applied can directly benefit organic markets by detailing each step of a tomato’s journey from seed to supermarket.

Key Features:

Detailed Product Insights: Information on when and how tomatoes were planted, cared for, harvested, and transported are all recorded.
Consumer Feedback Integration: Consumers can provide feedback on the quality of the product, which can be used to improve farming practices.

Guayule! A West Texas Rubber Tree?

On May 2, 2024, I had the privilege of attending and speaking at the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Center in Uvalde – Vegetable Spring Field Day. The field day featured a morning walking tour of all the research going on at the center and one of the stops was extremely interesting and informative especially since it covered an area of agriculture I had never heard about. Del Craig with Bridgestone Company (maker of many brands of tires) was on hand to talk about their continued research into a plant called “Guayule,” and it was a fascinating introduction!

Guayule is a shrub native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The correct spelling is Parthenium argentatum, and it’s indeed a source of natural rubber. Guayule is particularly interesting because it offers an alternative to the traditional rubber source, the Hevea brasiliensis tree, which is grown primarily in Southeast Asia.

Characteristics of Guayule

Habitat: Guayule thrives in semi-arid climates, making it well-suited for regions where few other economic crops can grow.
Appearance: It’s a woody perennial that can reach up to 3 feet in height. It has a silver-gray appearance due to its hairy leaves, which help minimize water loss.
Rubber Production: Unlike the rubber tree, guayule produces rubber biopolymers in its bark and roots rather than in its sap. This rubber is harvested by grinding the whole plant and using a solvent-extraction process. Del Craig explained that the whole plant is harvested like you would harvest hay and then taken to processing.

Environmental and Economic Benefits

Sustainability: Since guayule grows in semi-arid regions, it requires less water than traditional rubber crops, making it an environmentally friendly alternative.
Hypoallergenic Properties: The rubber from guayule does not contain the proteins responsible for latex allergies, making it safe for use in medical supplies like gloves and catheters.
Economic Potential: It offers economic benefits for arid and semi-arid regions, providing a viable crop option that can support local economies without the extensive use of irrigation.

Research and Applications

Research is ongoing into optimizing the cultivation and processing of guayule for rubber extraction. This includes genetic breeding for traits such as increased rubber yield and disease resistance.
Current applications of guayule rubber include tires, medical products, and even consumer goods like footwear and adhesives.
The Uvalde Center has been a good test site but Del explained on the tour that they are also establishing a project in the Rio Grande Valley and at the Lubbock Research and Extension Center. These multiple sites allow for lots of experimentation on varieties in different eco-zones.

Could it grow in the South Plains?

In the pursuit for sustainable agricultural solutions in regions like the South Plains of Texas with limited water resources, guayule could be a great alternative to consider. Native to arid environments and native to Texas, this drought-resistant shrub is ideally suited to the South Plains of Texas, where traditional water-intensive crops struggle. Mr. Craig told me personally that they are looking into the possibility of the Plains to Brownfield to Seminole area being ideal for production.

One of the most compelling attributes of guayule is its water efficiency. This plant thrives in semi-arid climates, utilizing very deep root systems that tap into lower soil moisture levels and leaves adapted to minimize water loss. These features allow guayule to sustain itself and produce economically valuable rubber with minimal irrigation, aligning perfectly with the water conservation needs of the South Plains.

Moreover, guayule is adaptable to various soil types, increasing its viability across different landscapes within the region. Its introduction could diversify agricultural practices, reduce economic risks from crop failures, and provide farmers with a new revenue stream through the production of biodegradable rubber products.

The environmental benefits of cultivating guayule are also noteworthy. By stabilizing soil and reducing erosion on marginal lands, it enhances soil health and supports the local ecosystem. Del Craig also commented that they have looked at the carbon sequestration ability of the plant and its deep and extensive root system makes it a winner. To fully integrate guayule into the South Plains, initiatives such as pilot projects to tailor cultivation techniques, local agronomic support, and the establishment of processing facilities are essential.