A Pest or a Friend? By Steve Kenyon

In this eye-opening episode, Steve Kenyon challenges the mainstream agricultural mindset around pest control—particularly flies—and invites us to step back and consider the whole ecosystem. Instead of waging war on flies with sprays, pour-ons, and chemicals, Steve asks: What if flies are part of the solution?

By treating flies not as enemies, but as employees of the land, Steve explores how proper environmental balance—with the help of natural predators—can transform so-called pests into partners in nutrient cycling and soil health.

🔑 Key Points Covered:

1. Rethinking the War on Flies:
   The industry spends millions on fly control with little long-term success—are we solving symptoms instead of root problems?

2. Flies as Workforce Members:
   Fly larvae break down manure, recycling nutrients and playing a key role in pasture ecosystems.

3. The Role of Predators:
   From parasitic wasps and dragonflies to dung beetles and cow birds, Steve outlines a host of natural allies in fly management.

4. The Dangers of Chemical Interventions:
   Chemical fly control often kills beneficial predators more effectively than it controls flies.

5. Building Balanced Systems:
   A pest outbreak often points to an unbalanced system—usually caused by management decisions. Restore balance, and pests become partners.

🌱 Actionable Insights:

1. Foster predator populations like parasitic wasps, dragonflies, dung beetles, cow birds, and bats by avoiding chemical sprays and maintaining habitat diversity.

2. Improve working conditions for beneficial insects by protecting riparian areas and installing bat houses or other supportive structures.

3. Manage for system balance rather than chasing pest symptoms—evaluate what environmental changes may have created an advantage for one species.

📌 Want more wisdom like this?
Visit www.greenerpasturesranching.com or connect with Steve on Facebook at Greener Pastures Ranching. Check out his book The Calendar of the Year-Round Grazier—available from the SGF Bookshelf.

👉 Tune in to The Stockman Grassfarmer Podcast on your favorite app and discover how thoughtful, systems-based thinking can turn pests into partners.