"Using a Dyson vacuum to get rid of pests, the neighbors say we're crazy" - Farmers' creative pesticide-reduced cultivation wins the first IPM Sustainable Good Farmer Award

Since 2017 (ROC year 106), the Council of Agriculture declared a halving of pesticides within ten years. To achieve this goal, it promotes "Integrated Pest Management" (hereafter IPM) to farmers for pesticide-reduced cultivation. To encourage frontline farmers who operate with IPM concepts, the Council of Agriculture, referencing the format of international IPM awards, held the event domestically for the first time, using the award ceremony to pass on and promote farmers' experience, encouraging more farmers to join in pesticide-reduced farming with IPM.

There were 69 contestants in total, coming from the north, central, south and east of the main island. The judging panel spanned industry, government, academia and consumer groups. Through written review and field visits and verification, the first cohort of winners was finally selected: You Shu-zhen of Qizhen Yugu, Zhang Jian Yu-feng of Taiyang Henduo, and Sanguang Rice Co., Ltd., sharing the honor.

IPM trivia: The concept of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is "prevention is better than cure." Through integrating multiple control methods, it controls single or complex pests, such as diseases and insects, weeds and organisms. Its principles are: keep pest populations below the economic injury level, adopt non-chemical control methods as much as possible, and when pesticide use is unavoidable, choose the option with the lowest harm to human health and the environment.

Qizhen Yugu: Vacuuming stink bugs, ND kumquat wins championship again

One of this year's winners is You Shu-zhen of Qizhen Yugu, located in Jiaoxi, Yilan. Five years ago, she and her husband Xu Xi-qi took over a kumquat orchard. This year is the third year of formal cultivation, and the orchard has already obtained traceability certifications and other labels. The couple, who previously worked in interior design, found poor soil quality and weed conditions when they took over, so they decided to cultivate with reduced use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers.

Through observing crop growth, soil testing, and consulting the Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station, they found that as long as pesticides are used precisely, over time both quality and yield will not lose out to conventional farming. "From July this year until now, we haven't used any pesticides." You Shu-zhen counted on her fingers. Despite their non-agricultural background, they have developed their own approach to IPM.

When the two cleared the kumquat orchard at the end of March, they crushed and disinfected the pruned branches before composting them. Later, based on recorded peak periods for various pests and diseases, they used pesticides recommended by the Hualien District Agricultural Research and Extension Station for prevention, such as tea seed meal and Bordeaux mixture. In July, facing their biggest headache, the red-banded stink bug that sprays venom, the couple used physical control methods such as a Dyson vacuum and nets. You Shu-zhen said firmly: "The neighbors say we're crazy, but kumquats are eaten whole with the peel, and using pesticides then would cause residue - absolutely not!"

Xu Xi-qi recalled that his wife originally caught bugs by hand but accidentally got stink bug venom sprayed in her eye, so he tried using a Dyson vacuum to remove the pests, and unexpectedly it was really effective. "No choice, my wife matters most," Xu said with a smile.

The orchard uses sod culture. They believe that rich vegetation can retain soil moisture and also protect the fruit. "As long as many insects have something to eat, they won't harm the fruit." The couple only worries about too much grass growing, so they weed regularly. To save manpower, they even introduced a remote-controlled mower.

The couple's fruit currently tests for zero pesticide residue, and they have been kumquat evaluation champions for two consecutive years. A processing plant even purchases small and off-grade fruit to make preserves, and a jam company directly contracts one metric ton. Speaking of next steps, they want to make the orchard "park-like" in the future, turning it into a parent-child educational orchard, continuing to spread their philosophy to more people.

Taiyang Henduo: Halve the fruit trees, ecology first, production last

Another winner is Zhang Jian Yu-feng, a sugar apple farmer in Taitung. Initially, he returned to his hometown to have more family time, took over his father's sugar apple field, and managed the field with IPM concepts.