SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report
Sections
Status: Approved
Basic Information
- Project No. and Title: NEERA1004 : Northeast Region Technical Committee on Integrated Pest Management
- Period Covered: 10/01/2014 to 09/01/2015
- Date of Report: 04/09/2015
- Annual Meeting Dates: 03/23/2015 to 03/23/2015
Participants
Hamilton, George (hamilton@aesop.rutgers.edu) - Rutgers University; Whalon, Joanne (jwhalen@udel.edu) - University of Delaware; Lehman, Dione (dll33@psu.edu) - Penn State University; Tewksbury, Lisa (lisat@uri.edu) - University of Rhode Island; Chandran, Rakesh (rschandran@mail.wvu.edu) - West Virginia University; Grant, Jennifer (jag7@cornell.edu) - Cornell University; O'Neill, Michael (mp.oneill@uconn.edu) - University of Connecticut; Ellis, Donna (donna.ellis@uconn.edu) - University of Connecticut;
[Minutes]
Accomplishments
Connecticut
1. Data collected from 32 weather stations distributed throughout the state were used to forecast various fruit and turf diseases and insect pest emergence and development to growersIPM scouts and consultants and green industry clientele thus allowing for the refinement of IPM tactics used against these pests.
2. Outreach on invasive plants was provided to over 73,200 business owners and citizens.
3. Research on the use of Tiphia parasitoids showed that root feeding by white grubs release volatiles that are attractive to these parasitoids.
Delaware
1. Three on-farm demonstrations for control of problematic weed species were established , targeting speedwell species, jagged chickweed, and grass species.
2. The use of traps baited with commercial pheromones and merlot/ apple cider vinegar to monitoring for the first occurrence and seasonal abundance of Spotted Wing Drosophila were demonstrated.
3. Thirteen black light and eleven corn earworm pheromone traps were placed on vegetable farms throughout Kent and Sussex counties to collect data on corn borer, corn earworm and stink bug species. This information was included on the Delaware IPM website and a recorded message (“Crop Pest Hotline”) to allow users to access the information 24 hours a day and provide information on how to use the trap catch information to make management decision for peppers, snap beans and sweet corn.
Massachusetts
1. Eight Mentor farms (five were both vegetables and fruit) were provided scouting and management information.
2. The Small Fruit and Tree Fruit teams worked with nine Partner Farms on various disease models and use of reduced-risk pesticides.
3. The Vegetable Team worked with five Partner farms on a variety of issues including tomato and potato late blight.
New Jersey
1. Scouting programs were provided to nursery, greenhouse, fruit and vegetable growers.
2. Weekly pest incidence maps were provided to growers via pest blogs and websites.
3. Research on the brown marmorated stink bug has led to the development of short term management of this pest in fruit and vegetable crops.
New York
1. Research on the economic impacts of birds in various fruit crops resulted in the publication of nine fact sheets.
2. Ag Extension IPM is now providing Trac Software for fruit and turfgrass online.
3. A greenhouse biocontrol App (GreenhouseScout) to provide biocontrol and pest information is now available.
Pennsylvania
1. The increasing need by the Hispanic community for culturally appropriate IPM educational materials via the Latino Community IPM Partnership translated pest and asthma fact sheets into Spanish for distribution,
2. Thirty five Healthy Home trainings were conducted for over 560 people.
3. Three videos for IPM childcare facilities (two in English, one in Spanish) were developed distributed via the internet.
Rhode Island
1. Blueberry and raspberry growers were provided advise on the management of spotted wing drosophila (SWD).
2. Collaborations with MA and VT were created to develop a pest and disease scouting calendar and alert system for fruits and vegetables.
3. Rhinoncomimus latipes weevils to control mile-a-minute weed were released in 8 sites in Rhode Island; the program collaborated with Connecticut to release the parasitoid Tetrastichus setifer to control lily leaf beetle.
West Virginia
1. Three pest identification and management clinics were conducted during 2014.
2. Four issues of the IPM Chronicle newsletter were published and distributed to stakeholders.
3. State specialist contributed to the publication and distribution of two regional pest management guides.
Impacts
- Broader adoption of IPM practices by Connecticut stakeholders enhanced responsible pest management and reduced management and production costs; minimized adverse environmental and economic effects from pests; resulted in improved ecosystem quality and plant performance; and improved plant health, quality, yields, and aesthetics.
- Approximately 1,285 pesticide applicators and occupational users in Connecticut were provided with training on the safe use and handling of pesticide products, including those who earned pesticide recertification credits. Approximately 4,000 non-certified people received pesticide safety training.
- 9,670 participants in Connecticut received IPM training and increased their knowledge and awareness of managing plant pests (insects, mites, diseases, wildlife, and weeds, including invasive plants), resulting in improved decision-making regarding management options.
- 32 weather stations installed in Connecticut in 2014 and linked to the Network for Environment and Weather Applications (NEWA) provided a new IPM decision management tool for fruit and vegetable growers and consultants, green industry professionals, and school and municipal grounds managers.
- Based on a survey of vegetable growers in Delaware, respondents (42) indicated that trapping information was used to make insect management decisions on processing snap bean, lima bean and sweet corn; and fresh market snap beans, sweet corn and peppers. Eighty three percent (35) indicated that the trapping program helped to prevent yield loss on fresh and processing vegetables. Sixty nine percent (29) of the survey respondents indicated that the trapping program resulted in a reduction in the number of insecticide applications. Five percent (2) of the survey respondents indicated that an average of $ 15-30 per acre was saved in terms of yield loss, increased profits, and improved quality across all crops. Seventy-six percent (32) of the survey respondents indicated that the trapping program resulted in increased profits and improved crop quality across all crops.
- By the end of a workshop held for High Tunnel growers in Delaware, 70% of the attendees increased their knowledge on awareness of principles of integrated pest management in high tunnels. 55% of the attendees indicated that they would put into practice the technologies needed to prevent and control problems with insects, weeds and plant pathogens.
- New Jersey Growers were able to make better pest management decisions for fruit, nursery, greenhouse and vegetable crops.
- New Jersey growers reduced the amounts of fertilizer and pesticide inputs.