Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
AEA Agronomist Shelley Katz shares her firsthand experience managing aphids in loquats on her Florida fruit farm.
Shelley's goal is to keep amino acids in a healthy range to prevent them from attracting aphids in the first place.
Here's how she did it:
✅ Spoonfeeding low rates of N frequently
✅ Adding organic matter (from chop & drop cover)
✅ Reducing plant stress, including water stress
✅ Supporting complete protein synthesis with precision nutrition
✅ Treating irrigation water to lower pH and carbonates
Shelley notes that AEA's approach to pest management is more nuanced when protecting a commercial crop: she did it this way to test the principles for herself and show how they work in practice.
➡️ Learn more about pest resistance in the Plant Health Pyramid: loom.ly/LTw4hBg
AEA Agronomist Shelley Katz shares her firsthand experience managing aphids in loquats on her Florida fruit farm.
Shelley's goal is to keep amino acids in a healthy range to prevent them from attracting aphids in the first place.
Here's how she did it:
✅ Spoonfeeding low rates of N frequently
✅ Adding organic matter (from chop & drop cover)
✅ Reducing plant stress, including water stress
✅ Supporting complete protein synthesis with precision nutrition
✅ Treating irrigation water to lower pH and carbonates
Shelley notes that AEA's approach to pest management is more nuanced when protecting a commercial crop: she did it this way to test the principles for herself and show how they work in practice.
➡️ Learn more about pest resistance in the Plant Health Pyramid: loom.ly/LTw4hBg
