ASCFG Events Calendar
Digging Deep: High Tunnel Pest Management Practices for Cut Flower Growers
Nick Volesky, South Dakota State University
March 3, 2026, 7:00 p.m. Eastern
Pest pressure can cause significant losses in specialty crops nationwide, including cut flowers. However, plant-insect pests represent only 0.5% of all insect species, making accurate identification critical. Feeding damage can occur on all parts of a cut flower, impacting both plant health and aesthetic quality, which in turn affects marketability. Given the wide variability in specialty cut flower species and the regions in which they are grown, standardized thresholds and management recommendations are difficult to establish. Therefore, management strategies should rather be focused on individual farms, taking into account factors such as budget, farm size, and the specific pests present. This presentation will train cut flower growers in proactive scouting methods, identification of insect pests and plant diseases, understanding the damage they cause, their life or disease cycles, and appropriate control strategies. Emphasis will be placed on integrated pest management, including cultural, mechanical, and biological control techniques.
Nick Volesky is an Extension Horticulture and Specialty Crop Field Specialist with South Dakota State University, based in the beautiful Badlands and Black Hills region of western South Dakota. In his role, he works alongside a multidisciplinary team to serve stakeholders across the state through education, outreach, and programming. His work focuses on addressing consumer horticulture needs, including home landscape plantings and specialty crop production in farms, homes, schools, and community gardens. Nick recently completed graduate studies at Utah State University, where his research evaluated the timing and protective cultivation methods for delphinium and larkspur cut flower production in the intermountain west. His expertise includes integrated pest management in specialty crop systems, protected cultivation methods, and vegetable and cut flower production. He is an active member of ASCFG and is passionate about specialty crop production and the Cooperative Extension system, which connects research-based knowledge with community stakeholders. Nick is especially committed to supporting growers in optimizing their production through sustainable, evidence-based practices.
Attendees Receive:
- Live webinar access.
- Event recording for one year.
- Electronic copy of presentation slides.
Sponsored by:
