General Production Information Executive Summary

In 1997 approx. 25 ac. of cauliflower were harvested in Minnesota. Another 700 acres of related crucifer crops, including cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and Chinese cabbage (e.g., bok choi, nappa, etc.) are also produced annually in Minnesota, most of which is sold for fresh market. Cabbage and broccoli are covered in separate crop profiles for Minnesota. Despite the relatively few acres of cauliflower in the state, the high value of the crop (ca. $4,100/ac), and traditionally high insecticide use of about 5-6 sprays/ season, continues to create a demand for effective integrated pest management (IPM) programs. In response to new IPM information needs generated by the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), this crop profile was developed to a) summarize current IPM practices for insect, disease and weed pests, b) highlight pesticides under review by US-EPA, c) estimate the impact of the loss of selected pesticides, and d) assess alternatives for such losses. In most years, insect pests are usually the most damaging and difficult to control in Minnesota The Crop Profile/PMSP database, including this document, is supported by USDA NIFA. cauliflower. The most important insect pests include: cabbage looper, imported cabbageworm, diamondback moth, cabbage maggot and flea beetles. Diamondback moth larvae are especially critical because of their rather cryptic feeding behavior in the head and maximum size of < inch. Even wit