Annual/Termination Reports:

[03/16/2023] [05/01/2024]

Report Information

Participants

in-person: Ash Sial, past-chair (GA), Roger Margarey (SIPMC), Joe LaForest (SIPMC), Francis Reay-Jones, chair(SC), Tom Royer (OK), Rebecca Melanson (MS), Norm Leppla (FL); Virtual: Kayla Watson (SIPMC), Heather Kelly, secretary (TN), Francis Peter Fortnum Reay-Jones (SC) virtual: Glenn Studebaker (AR), Amy J. Dreves (Univ. Virgin Islands), Ryan Adams (NC), Ric Bessin (KY), Tegan Walker (SIPMC), Raj Singh (LA), Kayla Watson, David Kerns (TX), Daniel Frank (VA), Wanda Almodovar (Puerto Rico)

Brief Summary of Minutes

Accomplishments

<p>See Annual Report attached under 'Publications' section</p>

Publications

Impact Statements

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Report Information

Participants

In-person – Janet Hurley (TX), Ric Bessin (KY), Rebecca Melanson (MS), Heather Kelly (TN), Tegan Walker (SIPMC), Francis Reay Jones (SC), Kayla Watson (SIPMC), Joe LaForest (SIPMC), Roger Magarey (SIPMC), Norm Leppla (FL), Raj Singh (LA), Kiersten Wise(KY), Ashleigh Farris (OK)

Zoom – Ryan Adams (NC), Wanda Almodovar (PR), Daniel Frank (VA), Ash Sial (GA), Glen Studebaker (AR), David Kerns (TX), David Held (AL), Amy Dreves (VI), Lauren Quevillon (SIPMC), Lacey Belanger (SIPMC)

Brief Summary of Minutes

Accomplishments

<p>Reporting: Florida, Kentucky, Virginia, Texas, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Louisiana, Arkansas, North Carolina, Mississippi, Tennessee</p><br /> <p>IPM Project Areas covered: Agronomic crops, Support for Pest Diagnostics, Specialty Crops, Pollinator Health, Communities including housing and schools, Pesticide Applicators, Animal Agriculture, and Public Health</p><br /> <p>Funding that was acquired due to IPM efforts included commodity boards, USDA Forest Service, State Funds, Industry support, and internal university seed grant</p><br /> <p>People reached by IPM outreach efforts: Direct (field days, workshops, professional development, webinars, etc.) &ndash; 127,626. Indirect (newsletter/Listserv subscribers, website views, podcast listens, etc.) &ndash; 950, 229</p><br /> <p>Outputs &ndash; Publications</p><br /> <table><br /> <tbody><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Outlet</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Total</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Book</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>2</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Book Chapter</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>4</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Conference Paper</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>61</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Extension Publication</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>99</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Journal Articles</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>72</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Thesis/Dissertation</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>12</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Websites</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>38</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Totals</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>288</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> </tbody><br /> </table><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p><br /> <p>Outputs &ndash; Other Projects</p><br /> <table><br /> <tbody><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Outlet</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Total</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Commodity/Grower Meeting</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>778</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Conference Presentation or Poster</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>120</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Curricula or Education Aids</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>18</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Diagnostic Service</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>12,723</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Extension Presentation</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>1,212</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Newsletter</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>355</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Newsletter Article or Interview</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>192</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Podcast</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>464</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Video</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>135</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Webinar</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>28</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Workshop</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>42</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Other</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>20</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> <tr><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>Totals</p><br /> </td><br /> <td width="312"><br /> <p>16,087</p><br /> </td><br /> </tr><br /> </tbody><br /> </table><br /> <p>&nbsp;</p>

Publications

Impact Statements

1. Florida- A Southeast regional certificate program in pollination ecology and pollinator health was developed based on a regional ornamental industry pollinator health network analysis and needs assessment. The survey addressed interest, perceptions, knowledge gaps, and markets for wildlife/pollinator-friendly plants and needed information gaps and training. Results indicated broad consumer, green industry, and landscape maintenance interest. The certificate program includes a comprehensive online Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management training program outline with detailed individual modules, learning outcomes and activities, and a storyboard for recorded individual modules. Stakeholder training includes in-person and virtual workshops for Extension agents and industry professionals.
2. Kentucky- The Kentucky IPM program is comprised of 5 working groups: Kentucky Agricultural Training School (KATS), Agronomic Crop IPM, Specialty Crop IPM, IPM for Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab, and IPM with Pesticide Safety Education Programs. There is also a Coordination effort that monitors for key field crop pests, works with a stakeholder advisory group and organizes an annual IPM Conference. This effort strives to reduce unnecessary pesticide use while fostering agronomically, environmentally, economically, and socially sustainable production practices.
3. Virginia- Statewide surveys revealed significant progress in managing pest problems and enhancing IPM practices across Virginia. For instance, most survey respondents in fire ant quarantine counties indicated that they had encountered this pest (89%), and half reported improved identification and management skills due to our programming. Key outcomes included enhanced awareness of quarantine zones to limit fire ant spread, accurate identification, selective insecticide use, and awareness of fire ants’ ecological benefits (such as biological control in row crops) thus benefiting crop health and public safety. In addition, on-farm and on-station demonstrations further promoted sustainable IPM. In field crops, these demonstrations persuaded surveyed growers to improve their knowledge of various IPM practices (51%), and resulted in a 19% increase in non-Bt refuge planting in corn and cotton to preserve Bt efficacy. Furthermore, Virginia Tech’s pest diagnostic services have significantly benefited numerous commercial operations. Commercial respondents agreed that diagnostic services increased crop quality (94%) and profitability (57%) and allowed them to develop a more strategic integrated pest management approach in their operation (88%). Service professionals reported improved service quality (100%) and enhanced client perceptions (88%), underscoring the broader benefits of diagnostic services in pest management and environmental stewardship.
4. Texas- Agricultural IPM. The 2023 Agricultural Pest Management News from the Field survey indicates $780,000 in economic benefits across 70,479 acres, or $11 per acre. Survey results from 153 cotton producers managing 320,000 acres indicate an average increase in net returns attributable to the IPM crop monitoring program of $40 per acre. Along with applied research and demonstrations, and other educational outreach the total increase in annual net returns was $30.6 million. Community IPM. Survey respondents have participated in the community wide program for a mean of 15 years while having a mean time of living in the neighborhood of 10 years. Given a scale of 1 to 5 where 1 is little to no knowledge and 5 is expert knowledge on fire ant management strategies, respondents gave a mean of 2 before the program and a mean of 4 after the program implementation. Money spent on red imported fire ant control was reduced by $43 per household and insecticide use was reduced by 83%.
5. Oklahoma- Winter wheat, sorghum, and soybean are the top three agronomic crops in Oklahoma, with sorghum and soybeans being planted immediately after what harvest. This double crop system provides producers the opportunity to harvest two crops on one piece of land each year. However, the later planting of the second crop leads to challenges such as increased risk of arthropod pests during critical growth stages. The primary agricultural commodity in Oklahoma is beef cattle production which is susceptible to direct damage by horn flies (limiting productivity, weight gain, milk production for offspring, and farm profitability). Oklahoma IPM! has supported the development of sustainable and economic IPM strategies for producers of these commodities for decades through variety trials, on-farm demonstrations, the development of IPM decision support tools, and extension education and outreach activities. Winter wheat producers commonly include pyrethroid insecticide with top-dress nitrogen application as “crop insurance” and to reduce field passes. There is a lack of knowledge whether this practice is economically viable and effective. The addition of an insecticide was not always economically justified in a given year or location, but on average, a farmer would receive a positive return over the course of several years. When locations and years are combined, the addition of an insecticide to the top-dress N application was economically justified. The insecticide treatments were shown to control both resident aphids and winter grain mites. The sorghum aphid is a regular pest in OK sorghum production. IPM Oklahoma! worked with researchers to develop a smart phone app that would take into account natural enemies and sorghum aphid numbers to help producers make insecticide spray decisions. This tool was validated in previous years of this grant cycle and is in use by OK sorghum producers. Oklahoma soybean production has seen stinkbugs as an end of season pest. Extension education and demos promoting timely planting systems and end of season/late season insecticides sprays were implemented at field days and extension workshops. These efforts have spurred the need for future work with evaluating the current economic thresholds for stink bugs in Oklahoma soybean production. IPM Oklahoma! developed a binomial sequential sampling (BSS) plan for horn flies based on hide color of cattle. Information has been disseminated through traditional areas such as Master Cattleman's classes, County and Area Cattlemen's meetings and Cow Calf Boot Camps throughout the state. IPM practices were taught at approximately 20 different extension organized functions and 4 non extension organized meetings in 2023. Horn fly extension projects that compared IPM strategies for managing horn fly populations within beef production systems demonstrated up to an 80% reduction in overall fly populations and resulted in improved beef production by increasing weight gains versus untreated cattle. The economic impact resulted in a $15.00 / hd added revenue which resulted in a net profit of $10.00 /hd for the increased weight gain. The BSS model will aid producers on the number of animals to sample in relation to modified thresholds based on hide color of the animal and improved cattle genetics since the initial threshold of 200 flies per animal was established in the 1980's.
6. Puerto Rico- IPM issues throughout the Caribbean region need to be part of the on-going recovery from storms, and rebuilding of agriculture. Pest/disease control issues, cost and availability of agricultural inputs and lack of IPM strategy knowledge is a challenge to pesticides are used extensively for control of agricultural and backyard pests in the Caribbean region. Our project united and increased exchange between PR and UVI, engaging ornamental growers, small farmers, backyard gardeners, community members and livestock and forage crops owners in best management practices and IPM methods for reducing disease-pest incidence, favoring beneficial organisms and increasing yield and income through trainings, Extension bulletins, descriptive comic and cartoon booklets, pocket field guides, audio and visual message clips and posters, promoting the implementation of reduced-risk practices and the protection of pollinators. In root crops, an educational campaign among elemental schools and communities was developed with the support of the Extension Agents. Field days were conducted throughout Puerto Rico, focusing on providing knowledge and skills to youth, leaders and parents about root crops as superfoods and resilient crops, with emphasis on the nutritional value and IPM. Pocket IPM guides were produced for sweetpotato, tanier and yam. More than 500 hundred persons increased their knowledge in the identification of common pests, IPM practices and nutritional properties of root crops. The trainings and educational materials were shared with UVI farmers through conferences, visits and posting the information in. the IPM webpage (www.uprm.edu/sea/mip/). About 35 elemental schools received education on root crops. Also, field days and visits of Extension Agents to root and tuber crops farmers reported an increase of 50% in the number of growers that implement at least 3 IPM practices in their farms, including the use of clean seed, weed control and pest and disease monitoring.
7. South Carolina- Over the past year, coordinated Extension programming continued to develop appropriate knowledge and competencies in producers and pest managers across the state, with the purpose of preventing excessive levels of pest damage, minimizing risks to the environment and to people, and reducing the evolution of resistance among target pests to pesticides. In addition to continuing trials to assess in-season horticultural oils for insect pest control and potential synergistic effects in combination with fungicides in peaches, the MyIPM working group met in October 2023 to update the app. The app has been downloaded over 5000 times and is frequently used by growers, county agents, and specialists. Training programs in vegetable IPM highlighted sensitivity of cucurbit powdery mildew and downy mildew to fungicides, and how new competitive vegetable varieties can help to reduce the impact of weeds on yield. A comprehensive weed ID garden was developed that can be easily moved to different locations for grower and county agent trainings. IPM work in agronomic crops including sampling of 360 grower fields for nematodes, these samples have helped develop management programs directly with growers. Demonstration field trials were conducted to compare fungicide management efficacy in peanut. Photographs of peanut cultivars with varying amounts of defoliation caused by late leaf spot were organized in a visual aid diagram and incorporated into the Peanut Production Guide and distributed to stakeholders.
8. Louisiana- Statewide Pest Management Training for LSU AgCenter ANR Extension Agents Relevance: LSU AgCenter ANR Extension Agents interact with stakeholders regularly in their respective parishes. They actively support the agricultural community in many aspects of crop production, particularly pest management. However, the dynamic nature of agricultural pests and the emergence of new challenges necessitate regular training to keep extension agents updated on the latest pest management strategies. To address this need, a statewide pest management training program was initiated. Approach: The comprehensive pest management training program brought together 14 LSU AgCenter specialists with expertise in various areas of pest management (weeds, disease, nematode, and insects) in field crops. The training was designed to refresh and enhance the knowledge of extension agents regarding pest management approaches in agronomic crops including soybean, cotton, corn, grain sorghum, wheat, rice, sugarcane, and forage. The training featured presentations covering a range of topics such as current pesticide recommendations, mode of action and efficacy of pesticide compounds, pest identification, resistance monitoring and management, and emerging threats. Results: Improved Knowledge Evaluation feedback from all participating ANR Extension Agents confirmed that their general knowledge of insects, disease, nematode, and weed management in field crops had significantly improved. The comprehensive training equipped the extension agents with up-to-date information on pest management approaches that enable them to provide timely and accurate guidance to stakeholders, facilitating better-informed decision-making, and thereby strengthening the relationship between the stakeholder and the LSU AgCenter. Positive Feedback and Continued Engagement - All participants expressed their intentions to attend the training again if offered in the future, demonstrating their recognition of its value. The positive feedback received highlights the relevance and impact of the training in meeting the specific needs of extension agents. It also reflects their commitment to continuous learning and professional development emphasizing their dedication to providing quality assistance to support the agricultural community.
9. Arkansas- The Arkansas Extension Implementation program educates agricultural producers on best IPM practices to increase profits, reduce costs and reduce the environmental impact of pesticides on the environment. The primary method of education is through providing IPM mini-grants to county agents. Mini-grants provide an avenue for agents to educate growers through various methods including in-field IPM demonstrations, field days, scouting schools and educational meetings. Forty-five demonstrations, 6 field days/scouting schools and 33 educational meetings were conducted. Producers indicated they had saved at least one pesticide application by following IPM thresholds.
10. North Carolina- The NC EIP program continues to build confidence in their knowledge of IPM strategies, and to foster high levels of trust and credibility in their local communities in Agronomic crops, Specialty crops, Communities, and Aquatic environments. One specific example of this can be seen as a result of the Plants, Pests, and Pathogens webinars in 2023. A follow-up survey saw 93% of agents and EMGV's reported an increase in knowledge of plant diseases, 78% indicated improved diagnostic skills (follow-up survey, increase to 83%), and 82% had used the knowledge gained to advise others on sustainability. By increasing their knowledge of IPM, EMGV's and Extension Horticulture Agents are able to address pest problems in their community and develop trust and credibility from consumers and homeowners.
11. Mississippi- Row crop producers are faced with numerous production and pest management challenges each year. The Agronomic Crops team at Mississippi State University hosted the annual Mississippi Row Crop Short Course in December 2023; this three-day course includes presentations from specialists of various disciplines and crops coving important production and pest (e.g., disease, insect, and weed) management topics. Several hundred stakeholders from Mississippi and other states attend this program each year to increase their knowledge of these topics. Program survey respondents typically represent approximately 2 million acres of row crops and report an estimated economic impact of over $40 million. Attendees also have opportunities for consultant license renewal, pesticide applicator recertification, and certified crop advisor CEU credits.
12. Tennessee- Our goal is to deliver programs so that stakeholders have the necessary training and resources to make IPM recommendations and decisions that are effective, economically sustainable, and environmentally sound. My area specifically focuses on disease management. Resource development, update, and distribution is key to IPM and within our program we have developed a mobile friend field guide at guide.utcrops.com where disease and insect identification and management information is located including images. Along with online resources, in-person/hands-on training and demonstrations are conducted throughout the year for county Extension agents and agricultural clientele that further impact decision making. Lastly, monitoring and reporting of native and exotic diseases and fungicide-resistance is conducted in collaboration with county Extension agents and producers where ~12 commercial fields across the state are monitored throughout the season and pathogen isolates are taken for further fungicide sensitivity monitoring.

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