Comparison of Organic and Conventional Pest Management Practices Among California Citrus Growers

Abstract

This article compares the pest management practices of organic and conventional citrus growers in California, using a 2010 survey of growers. The survey results indicate that, on average, organic growers make less use of biological and cultural controls than conventional growers. This result is surprising because organic growers often rely heavily on these types of controls due to organic restrictions on chemical control. For some organic growers, a lack of farming experience, the smaller scale of their operations, and less financial reliance on citrus production may explain these results.