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March 21, 2025 |  By: Iowa News Service

Farmers should know that not all bugs are 'bad'

The organization, Practical Farmers of Iowa, is helping urban crop growers use beneficial insects to control pests, boost soil health, and increase pollination. It's part of the group's efforts to use natural resources to create healthier farms. Farmers don't like most bugs, but in some cases, they can help. A flower farmer at Engelbrecht Farm near Waverly, Tricia Engelbrecht, introduced ground beetles, lacewings, and parasitic wasps into the habitat to stay ahead of the pests that like to feed on her flowers.

"I could never get rid of pests, they are just part of the ecosystem, but if I could manage them, that would be very  helpful for me. Like Aphids suck the plant, so they're killing the plant. Some bugs go after the bloom.", says Engelbrecht. 

Engelbrecht uses native insect strips and beetle banks, which allow the good bugs to integrate into the habitat and keep the pests under control. The bugs also reduce the need for chemicals, which in the end, creates healthier flowers. She admits, though, things do not always go as planned.

Engelbrecht says, "Its not always fool-proof, like last year, I put all of those egg sacs out. Something like a strip of paper and you're supposed to keep it off of the ground. So I hung it up and something ate all of the eggs. I dont know if some rodent or something came and ate all of the eggs, but I came the next day and everything was gone."

Engelbrecht gets new shipments of healthy bugs every few weeks and Practical Farmers of Iowa pays for the habitats so she is getting financial help from the program while striking a balance with nature.