With labour costs on the rise and biological crop protection playing an increasingly important role in IPM strategies, many greenhouse and field growers are exploring ways to make beneficial insect applications more efficient and consistent. The Entomatic™ Handheld is one such tool gaining attention for its ability to streamline the release of predatory species in both high-value greenhouse and outdoor crops. Designed to improve accuracy while reducing labour input, the tool is being positioned as a practical solution for precision biocontrol in a range of cropping systems.
"In crops where every square meter counts, like ornamentals, strawberries, and propagation systems, time and precision are everything," says Liam Brennan, Product Manager at Plant Products. "The Entomatic™ Handheld dramatically reduces labour and speeds up the introduction of biological controls, ultimately helping growers reduce their reliance on chemical sprays and improve their ROI on macro biological controls."
This shift is particularly critical in crops that are both labour-intensive and sensitive to over- or under-application of beneficials.
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Can precision biocontrol become the new standard?
According to Liam, the answer is a definite yes.
"With increasing labour costs, precision biocontrol will come into focus as the way forward," he explains. "Minimising labour inputs while maximising the value of your beneficial insects is essential for sustainable profitability in high-value crops."
According to him, the Entomatic™ Handheld ensures a consistent and even distribution of predatory species, thanks to a modular dosing system that can be finely tuned to the specific requirements of any growing environment.
Accuracy, speed, and comfort
Traditional hand spreading of beneficial insects often comes with high variability, operator fatigue, and surprisingly high mortality rates among the insects. Liam believes the Entomatic™ Handheld changes that equation entirely.
"The speed of application, the accuracy of that application, and the ease of use will change the game in favour of precision," he says. "Plus, very low insect mortality ensures strong establishment and effective crop protection."
This means growers are delivering live, viable biocontrol agents exactly where they're needed.
Not sacrificing precision
Growers using both the Entomatic™ Handheld and its larger counterparts like the RD and MRD models are reporting impressive labour reductions.
"Using tools like Entomatic handheld and the larger Entomatic systems could lead to labour savings of up to 80%," he notes. "At the same time, application accuracy improves, allowing growers to take a uniform approach at scale, while still boosting coverage in pest hotspots."
Designed by people who understand the job
An important aspect of the Entomatic™ Handheld apart isn't just its performance, but a grower-centric design.
"It's built vertically, so it fits where you fit," Liam elaborates. "The ergonomic design means no more sore backs and necks from shoulder straps as weight is carried on the waist. And the Ento-stick ensures accurate dispersal while compensating for height differences between workers."
Add to this its ability to handle multiple carrier types, including bran, sawdust, or buckwheat husk, with a simple adjustment to fan and dosing speeds, and the result is a truly versatile and adaptable tool.
A fit for ornamentals, strawberries, and propagation
While the Entomatic™ Handheld can be used across a wide range of crops, Liam points out that three systems stand out: "Ornamentals, strawberry crops on troughs, and propagation systems have the most to gain from labour savings and increased accuracy."
That said, its modular capabilities make it a valuable addition to many greenhouse and field operations where biological controls play a key role in pest management.
Grower feedback: "We want more"
Ahead of its upcoming showcase at the Canadian Greenhouse Conference (CGC), early feedback from growers has been overwhelmingly positive.
"Growers are praising the ease of use, the comfort, and of course, the labour savings," he says. "Several have already expressed interest in outfitting their entire crew with multiple Entomatic Handheld units for early-season bio applications."
For more information:
Plant Products
www.plantproducts.com
