Pest Control (1)
The land of America is vast and fertile, making it second to none for farming, but if I had to point out one drawback, it would be the sheer number of bugs. You see them so often that you get used to them, but that’s a far cry from actually liking them.
Isn't Chloe’s expression right now proof of that?
“Please... now that I think about it, maybe spraying pesticides isn't such a bad idea. If we spray a reasonable amount, wouldn't it be fine?”
“Of course, you could do that. You don't necessarily have to get organic certification, and while the trees might suffer a bit, it’s certainly the fastest method.”
Chloe hesitated at my overly compliant response.
“Huh? R-really? Then should we do that?”
“There’s no reason we can’t.”
That was when Armando chimed in.
“But if it were your farm, would you have used pesticides?”
“No.”
When I shook my head firmly, Chloe’s eyes widened as she asked, “Why? You just said it was okay for me to do it!”
“Because that’s what you wanted to do.”
“Then why won't you do it?”
“I told you. The trees get damaged.”
“......”
The question *‘Why does that matter?’* was vividly written all over Chloe’s face. How could her thoughts be so transparently displayed on her features?
“To a farmer, every single tree is like my own child. I’m the same way. The grapevines on my farm are all like my children. Do you know that every tree has a different condition?”
At my calm words, Chloe’s gaze wavered.
“No...”
“Grapevines on the same farm aren't all the same. Some trees struggle to absorb nutrients and water, while others are weak and wither easily. Some don't produce plump fruit. Even if you grow them in the same place with the same farming methods, it’s fascinating how every tree is different. That’s why you have to pay attention to each one, slightly differently. For some, you use various methods to help them absorb fertilizer better; for others, you prune them meticulously and manage them from the moment the fruit is tiny. I’m sure your cherry trees are the same. But you wouldn't know that, would you?”
Suddenly, Chloe’s face turned bright red. She was ashamed that she hadn't known such things, despite being a farm owner's daughter who intended to inherit the cherry orchard.
“Yeah...”
“If you can feed your child anything just because they’ll grow, would you? Eating snacks or french fries from a school lunch won't cause immediate problems. But that’s not normal food. I’m admitting that. But you’re different from me. That’s why I’m respecting your choice.”
While Chloe was unable to open her mouth, her face still flushed, Armando threw in another question.
“But how do you know all that when you don't even have kids?”
That guy sometimes has a sharp edge in the most useless places.
“...... Just a guess...? That’s how my mom and dad raised me.”
“But is it true that snacks or french fries aren't considered normal food in Korea?”
“Absolutely... In Korea, we never give that as a meal. We call those snacks, not food.”
Anyway, Chloe, who had taken a moment to collect her thoughts, looked me straight in the eye and said, “I’ll do it. The bugs...”
“It might be pretty gross, are you sure?”
When I asked with a smirk, Chloe nodded firmly.
“If it’s work I have to do as a farm owner, I can do it.”
“Wow... that’s some serious ambition.”
“Listen. This isn't because I want to take over the farm, but because it’s my dad’s farm.”
She spoke as if it were absolutely not about the money, but seeing her wavering eyes, I felt it wasn't one hundred percent the truth. Well, I didn't point it out.
“Good. Since the three of us are here, let’s each take on a task.”
Jacob and Armando’s faces stiffened.
“Do I have to touch the bugs too?”
“Please...”
“If it goes well, wouldn't Chloe treat us to something big?”
Both men turned to look at Chloe simultaneously. She was flustered for a moment, then lifted her chin.
“Armando, if you help me, I’ll set up a dinner date with Christina.”
As soon as Chloe’s words fell, Armando, the lonely Mexican guy, shook his head like a child mesmerized by candy.
“Of course I’ll help.”
“And Jacob, if you help me, I’ll tell Mr. Miller that you actively helped deal with the danger at our farm and saved the day.”
I wasn't sure what that was about, but Jacob smiled brightly as if he’d never hated bugs in his life.
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
“Thank you.”
Is that something to be thankful for?
As I stared blankly at Chloe, she shrugged and said, “Jacob wants to get into a good school. If Mr. Miller writes a good recommendation, it’ll help with his admission.”
At that, I turned to Jacob and said with a look of realization, “So that’s why you’re always writing so diligently in your notebook?”
“Haha... I’m going to become a good farmer and help my dad. Of course, I’m going to marry a pretty girl, too.”
“I wasn't really curious about the second part... anyway, I get it. I’ll give you all a mission. Armando, go downtown and find the Grower Supply Stores. They should carry ladybug adult packs or lacewing egg packs in glass bottles or capsules.”
“... That sounds just like buying game items.”
“Exactly. In farming, bugs are basically items. They probably won't have many in stock, so buy everything they have.”
“What about the money?”
Instead of answering, I looked at Chloe, and she immediately took a card out of her wallet and handed it to Armando.
“If you pay for anything else, I’ll kill you.”
“Even just one ice cream?”
“... That much is okay.”
“Good.”
Next, I looked at Jacob.
“You go downtown and find the Extension Service (an agricultural education and support agency jointly operated by the USDA and state governments). Tell them the situation and request 500 ladybugs and 500 lacewing eggs. It’ll probably take about three days.”
“Oh, got it.”
Finally, I looked at Chloe.
“Contact the California Cherry Association and ask if they can provide ladybugs and lacewings. They might tell you to pick them up from the Extension office, but tell them that won't be enough and ask for additional support from the association.”
“Got it.”
Since it wasn't a difficult task, Chloe smiled brightly and nodded. However, I added with a sly smile, “And...”
“Huh?”
“It’s a shame to end it with just one phone call. From now on, let’s go out and catch some bugs. It’ll be difficult to catch them with bare hands, so change into comfortable clothes and come out. You need to wear thin gloves. Thick gloves might kill the bugs. And they’re hard to catch that way.”
Chloe shouted in surprise, “I thought you said you were requesting them!”
“I told you. It takes at least three days. The ladybug adult packs are ready to use, but the others take time to be effective. The best way is to catch adults and release them immediately.”
“What about you?”
“Me?”
I chuckled and said, “I have to go to the vineyard. I can’t help you forever.”
“You’re mean!”
“Ahem! The greatest value is information. If it weren't for me, would you have been able to get this kind of information?”
“......”
“If you don't know what the bugs look like, ask the farm staff. They’ll know better than I do where to catch them, so try to catch as many as you can.”
“How many?”
“Hmm~ you’ll probably have to catch them all week long.”
Feeling sorry for Chloe, who looked like she was about to cry, I patted her on the shoulder.
“It’s okay. You’ll get used to it once you start catching them.”
Leaving Chloe, who was filled with confusion, I said, “Let’s go, I’ll take you.”
I led my two friends to the car.
“So, we’re not doing anything today?”
“I guess so.”
Just then,
“No! You two have to help me catch the bugs.”
For a moment, the two looked at me pitifully, but I shook my head with an apologetic look.
“Tsk tsk tsk... let’s go!”
And so, I headed downtown with my two friends, their shoulders slumped. I dropped Armando off in front of the grower supply store and Jacob in front of the Extension office, but Jacob said with an anxious look, “What if I go in and get lost?”
“... Okay, let’s go in together.”
Since it wasn't manual labor, I felt anxious for him, so I ended up going into the office with him. In the spacious garden surrounding the building, various crops were planted experimentally, and several staff members were busy tending to the plants.
As we entered the entrance, a middle-aged female employee at the information desk greeted us with a smile.
“Hello, this is the Agricultural Extension Service. How can we help you young men?”
As I stepped forward, the employee looked at me and Jacob alternately with interest. I couldn't tell if it was because of Jacob’s massive build or because it was rare for students to visit.
“Hello. We’re here to urgently request natural predators because of aphids on the cherry trees at our farm. We need 500 seven-spotted ladybugs and 500 lacewing eggs.”
“Oh, is that so? Could you wait a moment?”
As the middle-aged employee went inside, a deep, dignified voice came from behind.
“Requesting ladybugs and lacewings because of cherry aphids?”
As Jacob and I turned our heads, a man who looked to be in his late thirties or early forties was standing there in a suit. His attire was very out of place for this Agricultural Extension Service center.
“Yes... why?”
The man walked over, looking at me with great interest.
“Nice to meet you. I’m Pierce Morgan.”
“I’m Brian Choi.”
I shook his hand, caught off guard.
“Do you run a cherry farm? Or are you a worker?”
“My friend is the daughter of a cherry farm owner. I’m the son of a vineyard owner. And this guy is the son of a rice farmer.”
“Oh ho, so these are the young talents who will lead American agriculture?”
He was quite tall, around 190cm, and he leaned down slightly to look me in the eye and asked, “But how did you know that ladybugs and lacewings are natural predators for cherry aphids?”
Before I could answer, Jacob pointed at me.
“He knew everything from the start. That’s why he stopped us from using pesticides and suggested we use natural predators instead.”
“Oh ho, I see.”
“But what do you do? Wearing a suit here?”
When I asked, he smiled broadly.
“I’m from the USDA. I travel around regional offices and am in charge of encouraging farm owners to adopt sustainable farming methods and new technologies.”
“Ah-”
My goodness, is Jacob a lucky charm? If I had just dropped him off and left, I wouldn't have met him. My eyes lit up.
“Do you happen to have an ID badge?”
“Hahaha, I do.”
After seeing the ID he showed me, I smiled and said, “We’re making vinegar from grapes, and it should be finished in about two months. Would it be okay if I sent you a bottle?”
“Vinegar, not wine?”
“Yes. The harvest wasn't great last year, so we made vinegar instead of wine.”
“Oh ho, I see. I’m looking forward to it. Good. Could you send it to the UC Davis Cooperative Extension? It would be great to taste it with the staff.”
“I will definitely send it! Look forward to it.”
At this moment, the middle-aged female employee who had gone inside came out, scribbled something on a document, and tore it off for us.
“Come pick it up in three days.”
“Thank you.”
As I walked out, beaming with joy, Jacob asked as he got into the car, “But why did you say you’d give him vinegar?”
“You heard him earlier, right? He’s in charge of encouraging sustainable farming methods and new technologies to farm owners.”
“Yeah.”
“That man is a Regional Agricultural Program Director for the USDA. In other words, he’s a person with immense power in the California agricultural industry! He has the authority to ensure the USDA secures information preferentially when farms go to auction, to select high-quality farms or potential sites in advance and provide related information, and he holds powerful influence in local festival competitions like table grapes...”
Jacob, not fully understanding my words, blinked and asked, “So, you mean it’s good to be on his good side?”
“...... Yes. That’s right.”
Sometimes I envy that simplicity.