Brief Summary of Minutes of Annual Meeting

2022 SERA3 ANNUAL MEETING AGENDA – DENVER, CO

Monday – February 28, 2022

AGENDA:

Joint National IPM Coordinating Committee and ERA Meeting:

(All meeting times are based on Mountain Standard Time in Denver CO)

8:30am                        Welcome and NIFA update (virtual)

9:00am            Impact writing workshop with Sara Delheimer

12:00pm          Lunch 

Southern Regional SERA-3 Meeting:

1:00pm            Welcome and Introductions (Ash Sial)

1:15pm            Minutes: Read and Approve (Ash Sial)

1:30pm            Updates from NIFA (Dr. Vijay Nandula)

1:45pm            -National IPM Coordinating Committee – update (Ash Sial)

                        -SERA-3 Renewal submission (Ash Sial)

-Administrative comments/SERA-3 Renewal status update (Dave Monks and Harald Scherm)

2:00pm            Updates from the Southern Region IPM Center (Joe LaForest et al.)

• IPM Enhancement Grants
• Friends of IPM Awards
• Other SIPMC initiatives

3:00pm            Break

3:15pm            - State IPM Updates (All States/Territories)

• Funding for Southern Region IPM Projects

3:45pm            Other discussion:

• Update SERA-3 IPM Priorities (already updated, just a quick revisit)

• Other issues facing IPM in the Southern Region

4:45pm            Selection of the incoming Secretary

5:00pm            Adjourn

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Topic: SERA-3 Annual Meeting

Time: Feb 28, 2022 at 1:00 PM MST (3 PM Eastern Standard Time)

SERA3 2022 Annual Meeting Minutes

Participants: Ash Sial, Chair (GA), Francis Reay-Jones, secretary (SC), Norm Leppla (FL), Roger Margarey (SIPMC), Joe LaForest (SIPMC), David Kerns (GA), Almo (PR), Amy Dreves (Virgin Islands), Daniel Frank (VA), Ric Bessin (KY), Tom Royer (OK), Rebecca Melanson (MS), Boyd Padgett (LA),Wanda Almodovar (PR), Martinez (PR), David Monks (NCSU and SERA3 administrative advisor), Glenn Studebaker (AR), Kayla Watson (SIPMC), Heather Kelly (TN), Tegan Walker (SIPMC)

• Welcome and Introductions: After introductions, Ash Sial indicated that written reports are needed within 60 days, as this is a renewal year for SERA3.
• Minutes of the previous meeting were approved.
• National IPM Coordinating Committee: Prior to this this meeting, report had been emailed to SERA3, which Ash summarized.
• SERA3 renewal: proposal has been submitted to initiate renewal. Dave Monks (administrative advisor and chair of SERA3 review committee) provided an update and overview of the renewal process. Justification and objectives were approved by the committee to move forward. Next step is to prepare write-up for submission, as current project expires at the end of September. Review of document will likely occur in August. Deadline for completion is June or July. Because SERA3 is active, renewal should be a fairly easy process. Dave encouraged new faculty to participate and to verify that participants are listed in NIMSS. Dave also offered help for developing final report for current project. For future meetings, SERA3 should get official approval prior to this meeting (which we did not do this year). Ash thanked David for submitting request and making this meeting official. The SERA3 webpage in NIMSS was shown – it is not up to date (need more states – requires submission of appendix E via the Dean’s office). Joe Laforest suggested an online session to educate participants on the NIMSS with David Monks. New chair Francis Reay-Jones will help set up meeting.
• NIFA update from Dr. Vijay Nandula (zoom): Dr. Nandula makes note of several deadlines: CPPM (2/28), AFRI CARE (9/15), Tactical Sciences for Agricultural Biosecurity (10/20), Pest and Beneficial Species (8/25), OREI (3/31), Organic Transitions (waiting for date), Methyl Bromide Transition Program (3/17). At closing plenary session, Dr. Nandula will make presentation on AFRI and other plant related programs.
  • Norm Leppla asked about earlier reporting date vs. grant ending for EIP. Dr. Nandula indicated that progress reports are due 6 June, but updates on EIP programs are needed before then (15 April – no need to try to project for whole year – or the opposite?).
• Updates from Southern IPM Center: Joe LaForest and Roger Margarey
  • Staff transitions: After Wendy Britton left the center, the new SERA3 contact is Kayla Watson. Natalie Hein-Farris in at the Western IPM Center was mentioned as a collaborator. Alex Belskis (who maintained grant system) is also moving on; recruiting for new position in on-going. Lauren Quevillon recently joined the center and will manage the Friends of IPM program. New IT analyst and research assistant will soon be hired.
  • Friends of IPM: reviewers from the region were thanked. List of awards winners is shown. Two graduate students received an award, as reviewers could not select a winner. As a replacement for the Lifetime Achievement Award (single award), the Hall of Fame had 5 awards this year.
  • IPM grants: 21 proposals this year, with 11 funded ($310K) (last year 37 submissions and 30 funded.
  • Joe shows list of projects from EIP. The Arkansas EIP program monitors 65 pests and diseases. Joe asked whether monitoring for Bt resistance needs to be coordinated across the region Bt resistance, and if the Center can help. Shelby Fleischer (Cornell) would like Pest Watch to continue after his retirement. SIPMC will continue this effort. Pest Watch is now part of AgPest Monitor, with the SIPMC providing data service. Penn State is making maps with nice functionality for spatial data.
  • Upcoming signature programs from the SRIPMC: these used to be technology, resistance management, and invasive species. New programs will be early detection rapid response (rolling these 3 into 1), climate change, pollinators and other beneficials, IPM identity (new from Kayla – how people think of themselves in IPM; help folks identify themselves in IPM).
  • EIP extravaganza (new idea in proposal): Kayla: PD workshop is required per RFA, and has typically been held either during another conference (Southeastern Branch ESA, Southern Division APS) or as a separate meeting. The Southern IPM Hour Webinar has in the past been a venue for EIP presentations, but may be limited to ARDP in the future, not EIP. The idea is to do more than just checking box and address what SERA3 and the Southern IPM Center need as an EIP PD meeting – the following ideas were discussed:
    • It could be a virtual standalone event, with potential for collaboration with other states.
    • Should focus on priorities of Southern Region.
    • Could include prerecorded presentations and sessions focused on questions and discussions.
    • Maybe have 3-4 states participate in a given year, so all can be covered over the 3 years of the EIP cycle.
    • Meeting could be limited to a single priority area in order to increase participation. looks at a given priority area across all states. It would be more work for IPM coordinators.
    • Among challenges, it would be more work for IPM Coordinators. There is also the challenge of convincing NIFA that this is suitable as a PD workshop, given that the EIP program emphasizes coordination across priority areas.
    • Joe will set up plan for options.
  • Prioritization process: to help in making our list of priorities, we can use a national IPM database, and search for priorities among a range of IPM documents (PM strategic plans, etc.). The Southern IPM Center will start to add priority lists into IPM database from different commodity groups.
• Updates to priorities of region:
  • Given the significant updates made last year, updates may be more limited this year.
  • Tegan will put together a survey to update our ranking of priorities using Qualtrics. Options come from full list of IPM priorities. Goal is to make list better organized. One issue with current list of priorities is that it is based on our expertise (biased by strong presence of entomologists). Purpose is to help with grant submissions to justify topic, with both top pests and list of pests. Need procedures in place for timely edits and posting of updated list, as we should aim to time updates to RFA of CPPM. Updates from IPM Coordinators are needed by the end of March 25, with a meeting in week of 28^th Need updated priorities first, then Tegan makes survey by the end of April.
  • State reports:
    • UGA: EIP proposal had outstanding ranking. Includes new podcast series (IPM on the Fly), IPM Academy, IPM Newsletters (which include 1 pest highlighted in each issue), Interactive peanut resource, GA Pest management handbook. 4 to 6,000 diagnostics per year.
    • Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands: EIP proposal addressed 4 primary and one 1 secondary (diagnostics) priorities. Specialist crops. Training agents. Farmers receive certification after training. Whitefly IPM in vegetables – pesticide rotation plan. IPM communities: database. IPM forage crops for livestock: weeds, invasive insects, resistance to insecticides. Evaluations: to determine impact (innovative pest management), BMPs, user attitudes. Help to ID priorities. Scorecard and other methods will help to quantify impacts.
    • Virginia: 3 primary and 1 secondary. Main is agronomic crops. Spec. and pollinator. Sec is diag. Agronomic: PM guides, work with us on MyIPM. Red imported fire ants becoming big issues – in the past, just 3 counties, now moving west and north. On-farm demonstrations. Patholo: nematodes. Insects: neonic seed trts. Weeds: cover crops. Creation of digital library to compile IPM information. Spec: nursery crops mainly. Transition to IPM for plants that need to look perfect. Emerging pests also. Poll: VA bee cooperators = agents interested in Extension work with beekeepers. Varroa mites course. Diag: 4 facilities supported.
    • Kentucky: EIP coordination manages annual meeting, surveillance of lep species for row crops. 6 working groups within grant. 2 with agronomic priority area: grains IPM working group (surveillance of invasive and changing pest populations [weeds, diseases, insects], educational p) and KY agricultural training school: intensive (10-20 folks). COVID made it go virtual. Spec: 3 WG: vegetable (research and demo plots), fruit (same), nursery (use of social media, podcast, Instagram, tictok). Diag.: 2 labs, one was destroyed by tornado.
    • Texas: 92% funded. Audio newsletter by region. Audio updates on pests in field during season and management. Over 100 updates. 300 producers signed up. Community: bugs by the yard program. Over 2,700 downloads. Structural: Unwanted guests (612). 15 online courses, most with pollinators and structural pests. 591 face to face or virtual presentations. Scouting program: in cotton. New emphasis on Thryvon. Scouting school for cotton, online programs to be done on Bt tech and insecticides. CEW resistance monitoring. Online courses for corn and sorghum. IPM and communities: updates to pubs on ants, butterfly garden. Spec. crop. Diag. 650 insect pest IDs. Pesticide applicators in residential areas.
    • Oklahoma: EIP program and IPM efforts at OSU are in transition due to loss of personnel. Among topics addressed, education programs needed to address the prohibition of Enlist herbicide in half of counties in the east where a lot of soybean is grown. An alfalfa weevil egg laying survey is conducted. A winter crop school is conducted for agents and CCAs, with 120 participants. Entomology and plant pathology courses are used for new educators in particular. Home owner issues ask any questions. Row crops: transition; PP have retired (2); have new PP. Cotton entomol retired. Spec crops: lost entomol. Livestock also. Poll. Not funded. Apps for sampling: one for SCA. Diag.: lots of samples. 10 episodes of TV program by Coop Ext. on insect or diseases.
    • Mississippi: program is in transition, Rebecca Melancon took over from Blake Layton. New EIP grant has 10 PIs. Stakeholders included master gardeners and pest control professionals. EIP grant was placed in medium priority. Secondary priority support included diagnostics lab support.
    • Louisiana: budget was cut for new cycle. Efforts in Agronomic Crops priority area included Mexican rice borer monitoring, training programs on root-knot nematodes, resistance to insecticides and herbicides for key pests, participation in MyIPM for Row Crops app, pesticide training and workshops. An example of demonstrations trials to address automatic fungicide applications being made in soybean, side by side plots of treated and untreated soybean were used to show stakeholders that automatic applications are not needed. Secondary priority area included diagnostics. Loss of personnel is a concern.
    • South Carolina: EIP grant has 17 co-PIs, with 20% budget cut despite being placed in high priority. EIP program addresses Agronomic Crops, Specialty Crops, and Pollinator Health. Over past year, efforts were made to develop online presence of IPM program (new website, use of social media, IPM videos), in addition to numerous virtual training program. MyIPM for Row Crops app was launched in collaboration with the Southern IPM Center and 8 land-grant universities.
    • Arkansas: EIP program has 5 priority areas (Agronomic Crops, Specialty Crops, Pollinator Health, Animal, Diagnostics). EIP program offered mini-grants for IPM demonstrations. Over 100 IPM demonstrations were made in Agronomic Crops, in addition to online courses for scouting row crop pests. For pollinator health, efforts included classes, training programs, pocket guide to ID pests in beehives – very popular. Educational programs were also used to address the Enlist ban in 11 counties.
    • Tennessee: Specialty crops (cucurbits and tomato) and pollinator health as expansions for new EIP grant. For row crops, efforts involved monitoring for resistance in insects (including to Bt) and weeds. Urban IPM training programs. Pesticide applicator IPM training + more virtual training modules.
  • New secretary: Heather Kelly.

Accomplishments

ALABAMA

The Alabama IPM program is a mature, interdisciplinary producer training and education program conducted in collaboration with the AL Cooperative Extension System (ACES). The goal is to facilitate implementation and adoption of economically and environmentally sound IPM practices in these five program area priorities:

IPM in Agronomic Crops. Four objectives were established: 1) Improve current IPM recommendations based on new trials and new data to effectively manage current spectrum of common pests, 2) Monitor the progress of new pests and pesticide resistances throughout the state of Alabama, 3) Test new methods to provide early pest detection in agronomic crops with drone based remote sensors, 4) Disseminate IPM recommendations to stakeholders, and conduct result-oriented field demonstrations on-farm and during field days. The scope is to improve IPM adoption and pest control effectiveness in all six major agronomic crops (cotton, corn, soybean, peanut, wheat, and forage) in AL and serve stakeholders in the southern US. This priority area supports 7 statewide Extension specialists (representing weed science, entomology, plant pathology, and nematology), undergraduate assistants, and travel for those state specialists and collaborating REAs. Accomplishments were: 1) disseminated IPM recommendations to stakeholders at 89 Extension events, 2) Conducted a total of 109 different IPM projects with agronomic crops, 3) Reach stakeholders through newsletters and podcasts. The Alabama Crops Report Podcast (rated 4.75/5) produces regular episodes highlighting interdisciplinary topics related to IPM. 

IPM in Specialty Crops. We will address the following Objectives for Fruit Crop IPM: 1) Development and implementation of IPM strategies for peachtree borers; 2) Extension and outreach to stone fruit farmers with 2-year follow-up surveys.  IPM in Vegetable Crops has the following goals: 1) Critical insect monitoring and pest alert service to specialty crop producers as a team project; 2) Integration of low-cost temporary pest exclusion with bioinsecticides for sustainable small farm sustainable IPM strategy; 3) Bio-intensive management of cowpea curculio in southern peas; 4) Development and/or revision of IPM digital media and print publications; 5) COVID-19 Special Programs via social media networks and other platforms.  The objective for Nursery Crop IPM is to implement an IPM program for Chilli thrips in outdoor ornamental production to reduce losses and use of insecticides. This priority area supports 1 statewide Extension specialist, 1 co-PI (entomology), 1 support staff member, a partial graduate assistant, undergraduate assistants, and travel for state specialists, co-PI, and collaborating REAs. Accomplishments were: 1) Mating disruption demonstrations delayed and weakened emergence peaks. These results from were presented to 70 Alabama peach growers and 3 REA were trained in these methods; 2) On-site trapping demonstrations for Chili thrips are established at 3 cooperating nurseries.

IPM for Pollinator Heath. Obj. 1) Identifying effective instructional approaches for Alabama beekeepers, and Obj. 2) Demonstrating beekeeping BMPs, with a focus on V. destructor IPM and other timely management activities. Accomplishments were: 1) Conducted six At Home Beekeeping Webinar Series lectures alongside our regional team of partners (U. Florida, U. Georgia, Mississippi State U., Louisiana State U., Texas A&M U., U. Tennessee, NC State U., Kentucky State U.), 2) Recruited 4 regional beekeeping clubs, plus 2 Alabama Extension / Auburn University groups to participate in our Alabama Demonstration Bee Yards Program, 3) 51 Alabama Extension Coordinators or Regional Agents were trained, 4) Redesign of Online Alabama Extension Beekeeping Certificate Programs alongside Alabama Extension Information Technology Specialists using Canvas.

IPM in Housing has the following objectives 1) establish a statewide IPM educating program to disseminate knowledge and attitude on cost-effective and sustainable IPM practices for public housing in AL, and 2) empower residents to practice the best DIY strategies through education and demonstrations for a comfortable life. Accomplishments were: 1) Developed pilot studies programs in underserved public communities to teach IPM and deliver materials directly to the community residents and managers, and 2) worked with AAHA (Alabama Affordable Housing Association) and AAHRA (Alabama Association of Housing & Redevelopment) to educate them on this program and to add participation in the program.

IPM Support for Pest Diagnostic Facilities. The Extension-led Objective is to provide timely and accurate pest diagnoses and recommendations to stakeholders and the general public in Alabama. Accomplishments were: 1) Provided timely diagnosis of plant disease, nematode, and insect pest problems for >3,200 routine samples, 2) Processed >8,700 survey samples (including CLRDV, citrus and grapes), 3) Twelve first reports identified in Alabama through samples submitted to the Plant Diagnostic Lab (PDL) including six resulted in regulatory action by Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries.

ARKANSAS

Arkansas IPM is a multi-disciplinary program providing education and information to producers and pest managers in five priority areas:

IPM Implementation in Agronomic Crops (Cotton, Soybean, Rice, Corn, Grain Sorghum and Peanut): 

• Mini grants were distributed to 31 counties to support IPM education and demonstrations.
• Over 120 on-farm IPM demonstrations were conducted.
• Pest monitoring with over 150 pheromone traps.
• Resistant weed monitoring by county agents.
• Weekly pest reports/updates on the Arkansas Row Crops Blog.
• Six on-line educational modules were produced on monitoring pests in row crop agriculture. Modules qualify as continuing education credits for licensed crop advisors.
• IPM demonstration booklets were produced in each of the 31 counties participating in the min-grants program and were distributed to clientele at winter crop production meetings.
• Monitoring for southwestern corn borer in conventional corn resulted in a savings of $29/acre on approximately 60,000 acres through educational efforts discouraging growers from making automatic applications for this pest.

IPM Implementation in Animal Agriculture (Beef Cattle and Forage): 

• Horn fly control, tick collections for anaplasmosis testing and black fly abatement in SW Arkansas. The final evaluation and analysis of the multicounty horn fly management demonstration identified three non-pyrethroid (OP, ML and pyrazole classes) insecticidal ear tags that maintained populations below the treatment threshold for a six week period. Three other treatments (pyrethroid ear tag, pyrethroid dust and OP ear tag) did not maintain horn fly populations below the treatment threshold for the entire six week period. Environmental and on-animal tick collections included collections from the environment, hunter-killed deer, slaughter houses and a cattle operation with previously confirmed anaplasmosis cases. These ticks are currently being processed to determine the presence of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia.
• Black fly abatement. In early 2022, members of the Miller/Bowie County Black Fly Abatement Committee met and surveyed the Sulfur River for presence of black fly larvae. Based upon the surveillance, treatment of the Sulfur River was not recommended. We are now past the traditional date when buffalo gnat appear in that region and very few buffalo gnats emerged.
• Mini grants were distributed to 11 counties to support animal IPM education and demonstrations.
• Priority forage IPM projects included a bermudagrass stem maggot (BSM) control study and a sugarcane aphid (SCA) tolerant sorghum-sudangrass hybrid study. Although sugarcane aphid populations were low, it appeared that two hybrids supported lower sugarcane aphid populations. Several fall armyworm updates were provided to relay information concerning multiple control failures, demonstration research results, proper application timing and the sheer abundance of FAW. Specific FAW presentations were provided to Yell Co. Cattlemen, Arkansas NRCS personnel and the Arkansas Association of Conservation Districts Annual Meeting attendees. In addition a FAW Questions and Answers article was published in the trade magazine “Arkansas Cattle Business”.

IPM Implementation in Specialty Crops: 

• A webpage has been developed for monitoring and reporting on fruit and vegetable pests. GIS was utilized to build an interactive map and information for a large number of common pests is currently being added.
• Decision making tools are under development for pecan scab as well as grape berry moth.
• A statewide demonstration is underway at 30 sites with County Extension Agents, key mentor growers, and experiment stations across Arkansas focusing on insect resistance in sweet corn.
• Field days in Hope, AR, Kibler, AR, and Clarksville, AR are scheduled for 2022 with demonstration plots established to showcase IPM tactics.
• An IPM Demonstration video has been posted to our YouTube with 268 views (Proper fungicide use in flowering strawberries - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X056zfLnimk )
• Pecan IPM demonstrations were conducted in 5 counties.
• 11 newsletters on fruit and nut IPM posted on the Arkansas Vegetable, Fruit and Nut Update Blog.

IPM for Pollinator Health: 

• Eight classes and meetings were conducted educating beekeepers on best practices regarding honey bee colony management and pest/disease control emphasizing IPM techniques. There were 564 participants.
• Three training sessions were conducted educating pest professionals and Extension agents on the importance of IPM for pollinator conservation with 214 participating.
• Four classes were conducted with the general public on the importance of pollinators and pollinator conservation with 193 participating.
• Pollinator content was updated on the Extension website (uaes.uada.edu/bees)

IPM Support for Plant Diagnostic Facilities:

• Over 3,000 plant samples were processed. Disease reports were generated for clientele along with appropriate control recommendations.
• A Portable diagnostic lab was used during field days and gardening events, including three Flower and Garden Shows.
• 31 newsletters on pests and management were produced and distributed to clientele.
• Over 36,000 clientele were reached through various means including electronic newsletters, one-on-one consultations, phone calls, social media as well as in-person events (field days, shows).

FLORIDA

Norman C. Leppla

University of Florida IPM Coordinator

IPM Implementation in Specialty Crops

Brian Bahder

• Training for stakeholders to identify the vector will be through annual in-service trainings (ISTs) in each of the four counties where cooperators are located. 50% completed. Accomplishments: day long IST (Palm School) held in Broward Co. (Oct. 2021) and in Orange Co. (Jan. 2022) with 80 and 76 attendees, respectively. Outcomes: at these ISTs, stakeholders were trained to take samples of insect vectors of phytoplasmas, samples from palms, and how to inject appropriate chemicals for management. Impacts: pre and post test scores at these events showed a 20% and 90% knowledge gain, respectively. Objectives for the second year: Two additional events are planned for Tampa and Ft. Lauderdale and the process of planning events for the fall.
• Workshops held at field sites to provide hands-on experience for stakeholders in sampling, collecting and maintaining adults and nymphs of crudus. 50% completed. Accomplishments and Outcomes: monthly training events on site in Miami-Dade for vector sampling and identification have taken place with an increase in accuracy in ID from approximately 40% to 97% over the duration of the project. Objectives for the second year: Monthly trainings will continue with new personnel.

Sriyanka Lahiri

• Develop educational materials for workshops by Extension agents. 50% completed. Accomplishments: Four UF/IFAS Extension agents working with small fruit crops each were provided with a large screen stereoscope, for the hands-on pest ID component. Outcomes: equipment now is available for on-farm workshops for small scale growers in Hillsborough, Manatee, and Hardee counties Impacts: The equipment has enabled county faculty to develop educational materials and set-up arthropod collections for grower training. Objectives for the second year: Continue team meetings with the four participating Extension agents to develop educational materials and a hands-on farm workshop.
• Hold 2-3 on-farm workshops per year to increase confidence in IPM adoption by small-scale growers. 5% completed. Accomplishments: One small-scale small fruit crop grower has been contacted to host our first on-farm workshop. Outcomes and Impacts: the workshop has not taken place. Objectives for the second year: Contact 1-2 other small-scale growers who are willing to host a workshop.

Norm Leppla

• Support implementation of augmentation biological control of invasive arthropod pests by improving colonization and rearing, especially quality control, and delivering the information. 100% completed. Accomplishments: grower recommendations were developed for managing wireworms in Florida sweet potato. Outcomes: alternative biological control methods for managing wireworms in sweet potato were evaluated and described in a management guide. General thresholds were established and IPM tactics recommended for sweet potato in the region. Impacts: sweet potato growers in Suwannee County, Madison County, and adjacent counties directly benefited from the project by increasing profitability of these crops. Objectives for the second year: The work on wireworms in sweetpotato is completed and published. Stink bug colonization and rearing will be the priority for Year 2.
• Advance adoption of IPM, especially augmentation biological control and cultural practices, to reduce the impact of invasive arthropod pests of specialty crops. 50% completed. Accomplishments: border rows of grain sorghum were planted along two sides of an organic tomato crop in North Florida to reduce fruit injury caused by invasive stink bugs. A total of 13 stink bug species were encountered, Nezara viridula being the most abundant. About 60% of the stink bugs were captured in the sorghum but this did not reduce injury to the tomato fruit. Outcomes: sampling techniques were improved and stink bug species abundance quantified. Impacts: Additional interventions will be required to prevent stink bugs from exceeding the economic threshold. Objectives for the second year: We will analyze the data and prepare a manuscript for Year 1 and further develop methods to efficiently rear Trichopoda pennipes for augmentative biological control in Year 2.

IPM for Pollinator Health

Jaret Daniels

• Conduct a Southeast regional ornamental industry pollinator health network analysis and needs assessment. 70% completed. Accomplishments: leveraged resources from a related project to complete a consumer (868 respondents) and an industry grower (75 respondents) survey. Currently developing similar survey for landscape maintenance professionals. Outcomes: initial consumer and landscape industry insights were gained to help identify needs, problems, knowledge gaps, and industry disconnects. Preliminary list of key stakeholders was identified for a Southeast Stakeholder Advisory Group. Impacts: broad consumer and grower support for the development of best integrated pest and pollinator management (IPPM) practices and delivery of corresponding training and educational resource content. Objectives for the second year: Finalize pollinator health network analysis and needs assessment and facilitate Southeast Stakeholder Advisory Group engagement.
• Develop dynamic training tools and educational resources tailored to stakeholders in the ornamental industry via diverse delivery modalities. 50% completed. Accomplishments: a comprehensive Pollinator Health Certificate Program course outline and initial module development. Outcomes: insights and survey results from Objective 1 were used to inform/direct specific course module content and learning tool development. Impacts: new educational resource content being developed. Objective for the second year: complete course module and training materials t and finalize recording for online delivery.
• Launch certificate program marketing efforts and implement regional stakeholder training and education. 10% completed. Accomplishments: basic program marketing delivered at four stakeholder events. Training delivered at one Extension event and one green industry/botanical garden event. Outcomes: knowledge of program and IPPM best practices were expanded to appropriate stakeholders. Impact: 136 stakeholders were informed of the program; 165 stakeholders were trained on best IPPM practices. Objectives for the second year: further develop and disseminate program marketing and training materials. Launch pollinator Health Certificate Program course outline.

IPM Implementation in Agronomic Crops

Pratrap Devkota

• Conduct agronomic (and forage/pasture) weed surveys at commercial fields throughout the Panhandle, north central, and central regions of Florida. 50% completed. Accomplishments: The graduate student is conducting the weed survey in peanut and cotton in western panhandle. Outcomes and Impacts: Nothing to report. Objectives for the second year: Conduct the weed survey of grower fields in central and eastern panhandle region. Collect high resolution images of weeds from the commercial fields for websites and training. Continue meeting with project collaborators and stakeholder groups to identify commercial fields for weed surveys.
• Compile available management information/strategies on these weeds and disseminate information on weed identification, control strategies, and integrated management to the stakeholders. 50% completed. Accomplishments: The images of 42 weed species at different growth stages have been compiled from cotton and peanut fields and will be used for ID. Outcomes and Impacts: developing Extension materials for dissemination. Objectives for the second year: Compile weed control information and integrated management strategy guides for dissemination. Continue planning with project team meetings for disseminating weed identification and management information.
• Develop a website and update MyIPM app with information on weed identification and management. 50% completed. Accomplishments: the weed images have been incorporated into a website: https://wfrec.ifas.ufl.edu/weed-science-lab/weed-id-gallery/row-crop-weeds/. Outcomes and Impacts: developing website and updating APP. Objectives for the second year: further enhance the website and its content, update MyIPM.

Silvana Paula-Moraes

• Support IPM decision-making in agronomic crops for Ag professionals in the Florida Panhandle by establishing annual sentinel plots of selected agronomic crops at the WFREC to be monitored for the presence Lepidoptera and other pests targeted by Bt cotton and corn, and conventional insecticides. 50% completed. Accomplishments: collaborative work with University of Maryland, sweet corn seeds with Bt and non-Bt cultivars have been planted in a sentinel plot at WFREC. Participated in one farm meeting, two Extension symposiums, and biweekly visits to commercial fields in six farms around WFREC. Contacted two “groundbreaking” farmers for collaboration. Outcomes: knowledge of seasonal polyphagous lepidopteran pest occurrence, performance of Bt traits in corn and cotton. Impacts: promotion of close interaction with farmers in the region and decreasing risk of pest outbreak impacts with timely IPM information. Objectives for the second year: continue documenting the phenology of occurrence of lepidopteran pests in corn, documenting the performance of IPM methods in agronomic crops, and disseminating the results to farmers and Extension agents.
• Perform year-round pheromone trapping of lepidopteran pests to document moth flight phenology in their overwintering and migratory intersection in the U.S. 100% completed. Accomplishments: Pheromone trapping conducted for fall armyworm, corn earworm, southern armyworm, and lesser corn stalk borer. Outcomes: A manuscript documenting the pattern of flight of lesser corn stalk borer has been submitted and an EDIS (Extension publication) has been accepted on flight of soybean looper in the region and how to differentiate this species from Ctenoplusia oxygramma. Impacts: decreasing risk of pest outbreak impacts with timely IPM information. Objectives for the second year: continuation of year-round pheromone trapping.
• Improve IRM recommendations for Ag professionals by performing diagnostic insecticide bioassays to document the current susceptibility of economically important lepidopteran pests to commonly used insecticides. 100% completed. Accomplishments and Outcomes: documentation of fall armyworm susceptibility to Novaluron (Diamond). Impacts: insecticide susceptibility of pests in the region. Empowering ag professionals with IPM/IRM recommendations for agronomic crops. Objectives for the second year: diagnostic insecticide bioassays to document the susceptibility of target lepidopteran pests.

IPM Implementation in Communities

Lauren Diepenbrock

• To train MGV and MGV coordinators in IPM techniques, have MGV apply IPM concepts and record the success of these techniques in home landscapes with specific fruit crops, and produce new IPM factsheets for home landscape fruit production. 50% completed. Accomplishments and Outcomes: From mid-2021 to early 2022, we used a Qualtrics survey to determine educational needs of Florida residents wishing to grow fruits in their yards. With over 1,500 responses, we have a large list of fruit crops of interest to begin our work. In summer 2022, we have a student in the Doctor of Plant Medicine program that will be working with researchers at the Tropical Research and Education Center to update Extension documents and develop IPM training sessions to educate Master Gardener Volunteers and their coordinators on proper care of target crops including banana, avocado, papaya, guava, dragonfruit, carambola, and mango. Objectives for the second year: Continue educational programming on crops of interest that are grown primarily in Central Florida for residents including citrus, peach, blueberries, loquat, fig, strawberry, and persimmon. From our survey, we have identified additional crops of interest that will need educational materials beyond the scope of our current funding.

Estelle Martin

• To identify socio-demographic and socio-economic factors that influence mosquito abundance. 20% completed. Accomplishments: recruited personnel to work on the project and established contact with the Southwest Gainesville Advocacy Group (SWAG), a nonprofit organization to provide low income families in Southwest Gainesville with dental and medical care as well as food and education. We also developed a KAP questionnaire. Outcomes and Impacts: Now that we established contact with SWAG, we were able to identify the low income sites and sites in the high income neighborhoods bordering SWAG that will be used for the surveillance this upcoming mosquito season. The KAP questionnaire will allow us to learn more about the specific knowledge, attitudes and practices of homeowners towards mosquitoes and mosquito-borne diseases. Objectives for the second year: start the surveillance in June of 2022 and work to get IRB approval for the KAP survey.
• To educate local communities regarding the repercussions of IPM on their backyard mosquitoes. 20% completed. Accomplishments: established contact with the City of Gainesville Mosquito Control District and Extension specialist Dr. Eva Buckner. Outcomes and Impacts: City of Gainesville and Dr. Buckner have extensive expertise conducting outreach in communities. Objectives for the second year: develop the Extension materials to be distributed in the communities.

Xavier Martini

• Develop Extension resources for pests specific to cold hardy citrus. 33% completed. Accomplishments: February 24, 2022, we organized the Citrus Health Forum in Quincy, FL. This workshop and field day attracted 120 growers and stakeholder from three states: Florida, Georgia and Alabama. Outcomes: published an abstract for the FACAA Professional Development Conference: Sprague, D., Martini X. (2022) the citrus health forum: expanding citrus programming in north Florida. Florida Association of County Agricultural Agents. Impacts: The Citrus Health Forum was highly praised with 99% of growers satisfied, 97% reporting gain of knowledge, and most importantly 59% indicating that they will change their production practices following this forum. Behavioral changes included sampling more frequently for citrus pests, or the use of non-insecticide methods to control insect pests. Objectives for the second year: develop Extension documents for citrus scales found in North Florida, Georgia and Alabama. Organize a new session of the Citrus Health Forum and an In-Service training for Extension Agents.
• Promote non-insecticidal methods to control citrus leafminer in North Florida. 20% completed. Accomplishments: provided guidance to Georgia citrus growers for the implementation of citrus leafminer (CLM) pheromone disruption. Collaboration on a study of the phenology of CLM in Georgia. Objectives for the second year: Develop Extension publications for the use of CLM pheromone disruption and attract and kill against CLM.
• Develop an IPM program against ACP and citrus greening for residential areas. 33% completed. Accomplishments: student developed a survey (#IRB202200230) in direction to citrus homeowners. This survey aims to determine current knowledge of homeowners on Asian citrus psyllid (ACP) and Huanglongbing (HLB), and most importantly the control methods for homeowners to control ACP and HLB in their property. The goal is to identify tools and techniques to prioritize for Extension to implement IPM in homeowner community. This 40-question survey in Qualtrics will be sent to homeowners across the state via our network of Extension agents and actively promoted on social networks. Objectives for the second year: distribute the survey and analyze the results. Organize a workshop on citrus for homeowners and produce an Extension publication on citrus IPM techniques.

Hannah Wooten

• Expand opportunities for landscape IPM training to more diverse audiences representative of the community of landscape professionals. 60% completed. Accomplishments: A student is assisting with the development of bilingual landscape training materials. The outline is complete and being transferred into a template. Supporting documents are being translated to Spanish. Outcomes: Basic landscape training content is developed and evaluated for ease of understanding concepts by diverse clientele. Objectives for second year: Complete and publish bilingual landscape training materials supporting Objective 1. Begin to evaluate increase in knowledge and implementation of best practices.
• Increase knowledge of diverse landscape professionals about the fundamentals of IPM and landscape best practices in their communities. 0% complete. Objectives for second year: Administer trainings incorporating new bilingual landscape training materials resulting in an increase of knowledge of best landscaping practices.
• Evaluate the intent of landscape professionals to implement cultural best practices and preventative techniques in landscapes they manage. 0% complete. Objectives for second year: Evaluate intent to implement best practices because of trainings and materials.
• Show implementation of cultural best practices and preventative techniques in landscapes managed by professionals that attended the training. 0% complete. Objective 4 will evaluate actual implementation of best practices by bilingual landscape teams. This will be done in year 3.

GEORGIA

Ashfaq A. Sial, IPM Coordinator, University of Georgia

UGA IPM Program Activities Summary (2021)

In 2021, the University of Georgia Integrated Pest Management Program helped forge safe and effective methods for continuing research, education and outreach through exemplary Extension programming. Our current IPM program draws from a multidisciplinary team of specialists in cotton, corn, peanut, pecan, small fruits, vegetables, turfgrass, animal agriculture, precision agriculture, pollinator/beneficials, plant pest & disease diagnostics, and program evaluation. The program was ranked in the “outstanding” category and received the maximum funding amount for the next three years from the USDA NIFA Crop Protection & Pest Management Program.

In 2021, program evaluation specialists modified the existing IPM evaluation instrument for each commodity area represented on the grant. Simplified questions and response options target economic impact of programming and take into account survey fatigue. A QR code was added for sharing via presentation slides, taking participants directly to a Qualtrics survey for automated data collection.

The 3^rd Annual Great Georgia Pollinator Census has 5,946 participants, a 58% increase from 2020. Participants documented over 108,000 insects and 436 new pollinator spaces were developed. Nine countries outside of the U.S. are interested in replicating the Census.

Education and outreach efforts were diversified in 2021 with the launch of a new podcast series, IPM on the Fly, which already has 185 monthly listeners. The UGA IPM Academy was developed as a training series for Extension agents throughout the southeast. Due to the pandemic, the first two trainings were solely delivered via Zoom, which allowed for increased regional participation. Individual sessions were recorded and posted online for the general public. The success of the MyIPM app lead way for the release of the new Row Crop App. The web-based, interactive Peanut Rx resource was fully refined and is now available throughout the southeast for agents, growers and industry professionals. Diagnostic methods were optimized for fungicide resistance evaluation to include strawberries.

2021 Outputs:

• Extension trainings: 127
• Professional conferences: 42
• Grower meetings: 35
• Journal articles: 32
• New UGA IPM Academy series: Blackberry (113 registrants), Blueberry (123 registrants)
• GA Pest Management Handbooks (Commercial and Home & Garden): distributed copies to all 159 county Extension offices. Sold over 400 copies of each edition. Had 28,283 website views.
• Additional commodity production guides: Peanut, Blueberry, Peach, Cotton, Turf
• IPM on the Fly Podcast: 5 episodes
• Monthly Feature Creature series: 12 fact sheets
• UGA IPM blog: over 6,000 page views
• Additional IPM specialist blogs: 18
• Monthly UGA IPM newsletter: 477 subscribers
• Additional IPM specialist newsletters: 5
• Diagnostics: 554 samples for fungicide resistance
• MyIPM App: 5,000 downloads, New Row Crop App, Peanut Rx
• Major popular press exposure: 4 articles reached 1.4 billion
• Great Georgia Pollinator Census: 5,946 participants

ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR THE REPORTING PERIOD

The overall goal of this project is to develop transdisciplinary IPM programs utilizing the most updated scienctific information and help stakeholders to implement those programs in order to minimize environmental and economic risks associated with insects, pathogens, and weed pests and their management at the state, regional and national level. During this reporting period, IPM specialists have worked with stakeholder to implement IPM programs to address pest problems in many commodities across the state. The most significant accomplishments are briefly described in the text below:

IPM Implementation in Agronomic Crops: (Peanut and Cotton): Objectives: 1) Develop and refine effective management programs for rootworm complex (Peanut) (30% complete); 2) assess effectiveness of TSWV resistant genotypes (30% complete); 3) survey commercial farms and processing facilities for incidence of fungal diseases and aflatoxin, and update Peanut Rx (Peanut) (30% complete); 4) Evaluate chemical as well as cultural strategies based on pest (aphid) and crop phenology and use that develop sustainable IPM programs (Cotton) (30% complete); and 5) Disseminate the new information to stakeholders (Peanut and Cotton) (30% complete).

Accomplishments, outcomes, impacts: Objectives: 1) Research conducted in 2021 focused on determining the abundance and spatial and temporal distribution of rootworm in Georgia peanut fields and on evaluating the efficacy of selected insecticide modes of action and use patterns. Data are being analyzed to update recommendations. 2) Several trials were conducted in multiple locations. Results revealed that the newly released field resistant cultivars were often not effective as standalone options and integrating them with various chemical and cultural practices could reduce the risks posed by thrips and TSWV. Our research continuously helps to fine tune the risk management index developed by UGA extension scientists, and directly assists growers to make the optimal risk reduction choices associated with planting peanuts year after year. In addition, there is concern if the continuous use of resistant cultivars could impart selection pressure on the virus itself and transform them into resistant breaking or highly virulent isolates/strains. Recent research completed in 2020 does not indicate that there is immense selection pressure imparted on the virus. Research is ongoing on this aspect. 3) Based on results of multiple field trials, Peanut Rx was fully refined for 2021 and 2022 seasons. The Peanut Rx Team met “in-person” in December 2021 at George T. Bagby State Park. The Index was made available to growers in Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and South Carolina though a new web-based interactive tool, through production guides, and through Industry fact sheets. 4) We evaluated 7 active ingredients for control of cotton aphid; top performers provided 86 to 92 percent control and no significant response in yield was observed among treatments.  The cotton aphid pheno trial included aggressive aphid control programs initiated at different timings.  The most aggressive treatment was treated weekly beginning at 14 days after planting and continuing until populations crashed due to a fungal epizootic.  Aphid populations were generally low in this trial and no significant differences were observed in yield nor the incidence of CLRDV positive plants. Trials completed in the fall of 2021 are consistent with previous years in that aphid management does not significantly affect cotton yield nor incidence of CLRDV. 5) The findings were synthesized to update pest management recommendation in Pest Management Handbook and other extension publications and were disseminated to growers via presentations at the county extension meetings, field days, and other research and extension meetings. Growers who implemented UGA pest management recommendations saved millions of dollars in crop losses.

IPM Implementation in Animal Agriculture: (Poultry and Beef Cattle)

Objectives: 1) Evaluate new chemicals and other alternative strategies to control insect pests of poultry (broiler and caged layers) and beef cattle and develop effective IPM programs (30% complete); 2) Develop monitoring programs to tack ALT (30% complete); and 3) disseminate this information to poultry and beef cattle producers (30% complete).

Accomplishments, outcomes, impacts: Objectives: 1) Horn flies continue to be a major concern for cattlemen. In a survey, cattlemen wanted us to continue to focus on developing more sustainable IPM strategies to control horn flies. New products, treatment methodologies, and suppression strategies were evaluated under field conditions throughout the state. Based on our findings, IPM recommendations were developed relevant to the geographical location and seasonal fly pressure. 2) We have developed and standardized sampling methodologies for surveying cattle ticks under field conditions. Having established these baseline data, we are better prepared to monitor for arrival of ALT as it spreads through the Southeast. We are working in collaboration other researchers in the southeastern US to initiate environmental monitoring while checking for the invasive tick on alternative hosts such as wildlife and domestic pets. and 3) These findings were shared with poultry and beef cattle producers through extension presentations, publications, websites, and broadcast media interviews, and used to update IPM recommendations in the Georgia Pest Management Handbook.

IPM Implementation in Specialty Crops: (Blueberries, Peaches, and Vegetables)

Objectives: 1) Develop more sustainable IPM programs based on recent research findings to effectively manage SWD (Blueberry) (30% complete); 2) Evaluate new and alternative fungicidal spray programs for managing QoI-resistant anthracnose fruit rot (Blueberry) (30% complete); 3) evaluate effectiveness of new herbicides and orchard floor coverings to manage weeds in young blueberry orchards(Blueberry) (30% complete); 4) Evaluate effectiveness of pheromone-based mating disruption as a strategy to control SJS (Peach) (30% complete); 5) Evaluate the efficacy of plant defense inducers, growth regulators, and systemic chemical applications on PPD trees (Peach) (30% complete); 6) Develop and implement resistance monitoring and management plans for sweet potato whitefly and DBM (Vegetables) (30% complete); 7) demonstrate and help farmers implement effective IPM programs for center rot of onion (Vegetables) (30% complete); 8) Evaluate host plant resistance and cultural strategies to control FAW (Turf) (30% complete); 9) Conduct dollar spot surveillance in the field and develop management strategies (Turf) (30% complete); and 10) disseminate this information to blueberry growers(Blueberry, Peach, Vegetables and Turf) (30% complete).

Accomplishments, outcomes, impacts: Objectives 1) Field trials were conducted to evaluate effectiveness of new reduced-risk insecticides and behavioral control tactics to develop more sustainable season-long programs to control SWD. Findings were used to update season-long SWD management programs. 2) Trials to evaluate new and alternative fungicide programs for QoI-resistant anthracnose fruit rot are under way. Once data are collected and analyzed, findings will be used to update management recommendations. 3) Trials were conducted to evaluate safety and efficacy of Dual Magnum (S-metolachlor) in blueberries. Findings were disseminated to blueberry growers via presentations at the extension meetings. 4) Trials were conducted to evaluate efficacy of two different pheromone formulations (provided by Shit-Etsu and CBC America and Trécé, Inc.) in mating disruption of San Jose Scale (SJS). Results showed that trees under the mating disruption treatments had an average of four to five times fewer SJS crawlers than the control trees. While the mating disruption did not completely eliminate SJS crawlers from the disrupted blocks, the significant reduction in scale numbers is an encouraging first step in developing an alternative management approach for SJS in Southeastern peaches. 5) Trials were conducted on PPD trees to evaluate efficacy of Actigard 50WG (acibenzolar – S – methyl), K – phite 7LP (phosophorous acid), Maximizer (cytokinin, auxins, humic/organic acids, gibberellins), ProGibb40SG (gibberellic acid), and RIO (gibberellic acid, indole acetic acid, cytokinin). Bacterial titer was measured in the roots to compare treatment effects and to differentiate the response of healthy vs. diseased trees. Initial results were shared with stakeholders and the trials will be repeated in 2022. 6) A total of 21 LC50-based trials have been completed to screen whitefly populations for resistance so far using cotton as the standard host for all trials. Four field sites across southern Georgia have also been established in Camilla, Plains, Reidsville, and Tifton. The four vegetable crops are being cultivated at these sites to serve as hosts for establishing whitefly field populations. Weekly scouting and monitoring are underway to identify the current timeframe for the whitefly invasion in the cotton belt region. 7) Integrated approach with copper-bactericide, insecticide (thrips control) and herbicide program considerably reduced center rot incidence in bulb compared to the onion grower’s standard. Based on the economic analysis, growers can achieve a profit of $880 per acre using integrated approach identified in this project compared to the grower’s standard control. If the improved management strategy is utilized over the entire onion acreage in Georgia (10,000 acres), a total profit of $8.8 million can potentially be achieved. 8) The host plant resistance characteristics of several cultivars and advanced lines of tall fescue grass were compared with the zoysiagrass cultivar ‘Zeon’ and the bermudagrass cultivar ‘TifTuf’as positive and negative controls, respectively. The results showed that all the tall fescue cultivars/lines performed better than zoysiagrass ‘Zeon’. 9) In the disease survey, 33 isolates were collected in the state of Georgia from 19 counties (including, Clarke, Fulton, Henry, Tift and Walton counties) and on six different turfgrass hosts. The samples were from golf courses (4), homeowners (8), landscapes (20) sod farms (1). All the isolates were genetically identified based on their sequence of the Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) region. 10) Findings were shared with specialty crop growers through extension presentations, publications, websites, and broadcast media interviews, and used to update IPM recommendations in the Georgia Pest Management Handbook.

IPM for Pollinator Health:

Objectives: 1) To increase the amount of sustainable pollinator habitat across the state (30% complete); 2) to increase the entomological literacy of our citizens in regards to beneficial insects (30% complete); and 3) to generate data of Georgia’s pollinator populations (30% complete).

Accomplishments, outcomes, impacts: Objective. 1), 2), & 3): Maps of the pollinator gardens created as part of this project were generated by Hamilton Gardens intern, Emma Harris, showing the locations of the new gardens across the state.  These are posted on the website (https://GGaPC.org). Data from all three Censuses were finalized and placed on the website as well.  This data is being used by researchers as well as educators who are using it for the STEM curriculum.  2022 GA Annual Pollinator Census has been scheduled to be held on April 21-22, 2022. The educational materials have been updated for the 2022 Census and social media outlets are being used for educational purposes.

IPM Support for Pest Diagnostic Facilities:

Objectives: 1) Develop, optimize and provide fungicide resistance testing services for multiple crop-pathogen combinations to enable timely and effective disease management (30% complete); 2) Conduct regional monitoring for citrus greening to safeguard Georgia’s commercial citrus industry (30% complete); and 3) empowering county agents through on-site diagnostics (30% complete).

Accomplishments, outcomes, impacts: Objectives: 1) Rapid, lab-based fungicide resistance assays for blueberry, peanut, strawberry, and turfgrass pathogens have been developed and validated this past year. 2) In total, 212 citrus samples were tested from 9/1/2021 through the present, with 2 of 212 samples (0.9%) testing positive for HLB during this time period. One of the positive tests was the first report in Grady County and came from a commercial citrus tree. This is only the third HLB-positive tree from a commercial planting in Georgia. 3) Agdia lateral flow tests for Xylella fastidiosa were distributed to Extension agents in two Georgia wine grape-growing counties to aid in the diagnosis of Pierce’s disease. 11 tests were conducted this past fall resulting in 6 positives for Pierce’s disease. Diagnoses were shared with growers to make decisions about vine removal. Similarly, immunostrips for Phytophthora spp. (causal agent of Phytophthora blight and fruit rot) and Acidovorax citrulli (Ac; causal agent of bacterial fruit blotch in cucurbits) were distributed to county Extension agents in Tift, Cook, Berrien. and Crisp counties. A total of 48 Ac immunostrips were used to detect/confirm suspect seedlings in the greenhouse that aided in exclusion prior to field-transplanting. Agents also utilized Phytophthora spp. immunotrips (n = 93) to detect the pathogen from suspect leaves, stem and fruits of cucurbits and pepper in field and also in storage.

Evaluation: A series of evaluation instruments were created by commodity: cotton, peanuts, corn, blueberry, peach, vegetables, and pollinators, as well as a general instrument for other areas such as turfgrass or urban programs. Furthermore, the evaluation specialists on this grant collaborated with the pollinator health specialist to explore the literature for appropriate and defensible measures on the value of pollination to the economy. Stakeholder surveys will be conducted at the end of this project to evaluate impact.

Coordination: The UGA IPM Program hosted the second training of the newly created UGA IPM Academy, focusing on blueberry production in the southeast. The program recorded and published several episodes of the newly created IPM on the Fly Podcast, and continued to develop monthly IPM content for agents and growers to use in their counties. Coordination included an overhaul of the current IPM website. We also updated and published 2022 Commercial Edition (Volume I and Volume II) and 2022 Home & Garden Edition of Georgia Pest Management Handbook which is the most widely used IPM resources within the state of Georgia and across the southeastern US.

KENTUCKY

Ric Bessin, IPM Coordinator, University of Kentucky

This is our 2022 IPM report for Kentucky. This past year we successfully completed our previous EIP 3-year grant with a fourth-year extension and received a new competitive award to continue the IPM program for the next three-year period. This past year we experienced an epic outbreak of fall armyworms in soybean, alfalfa, pastures, turf, and some specialty crops. The outbreak was preceded by noticeable increases in moth captures and earliness of captures in traps maintained by our IPM program in Princeton.  The duration of the outbreak extended from late June through September and resulted in shortages of some insecticides across the state.

December 10, 2021 Tornado

On the evening of December 10, 2021, a EF 4 tornado virtually destroyed the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center (UKREC) in Princeton, Kentucky. This facility justr completed a $17 million renovation that was finished just 2 years ago. Currently there are no offices, labs, or necessary field equipment for the extension and research personnel at the station. The UK Grain and Forage Center of Excellence located here received 78.5% of the resources in the EIP grant to implement IPM programs within the center. While the damage from the tornado does not reduce our capacity to get the work done, it does create extreme challenges to overcome for the next several years.

Our IPM program is divided in six somewhat antonymous working groups; coordination, KATS, grain crops, vegetable crops, fruit crops, nursery crops, and Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab in Princeton. Our progress reflects this structure.

IPM Coordination:

Our annual IPM Training School was held on Mar 9, participation was reduced as this was a new venue due to tornado damage. There were 63 in person and virtual attendees in the grain crops session, while in the horticulture session there were 41. The Insect field crop trapping network using pheromone trapping for field crop pests has begun in Lexington and at the UK REC in Princeton and is reported through Kentucky Pest News newsletter and IPM webpage.

KATS (Kentucky Agricultural Training School):

The EIP grant supports an extension associate to coordinate multiple in-depth hands-on, field trainings to educate agricultural practitioners on IPM approaches for best management options associated with the production of grain, oilseed crops, forages and other activities. We had scheduled seven training events for the current year. Due to tornado destruction of UKREC in Princeton, some trainings were cancelled. We were able increase trainings in other areas that we had not planned and plan to offer eight trainings for this year. The meetings cancelled were due to difficulties in establishing crops due to field equipment destruction. First drone training Conducted Dec 20-21, 10 days after the total loss of UKREC facilities at a different venue. There were a total of 75 program participants at field trainings. The tornado shifted our focus from in-field hands-on trainings to electronic versions of educational training. Recording, editing and posting both in-depth and brief videos for posting to the KATS website associated with the production of grain, oilseed crops, forages and other activities (4,100 indirect video views).

Agronomic Crops IPM:

1) This working group situated entirely in Princeton was severely impacted by the tornado. Our hope is that we can begin progress on the deliverables, as soon as temporary facilities are in place at the UKREC. The recovery effort and lack of infrastructure available to complete objectives have led to a delay in hiring this individual to initiate any of the objectives. However, temporary office structures are scheduled to arrive on site in June of 2022, and a position description for an individual to work toward the objectives outlined in the grant has been approved by UK, and will be advertised soon.

Fruit Crops IPM:

Expanded outreach to small and limited resource fruit growers through in person and virtual trainings, with recordings available online, digital resources through social media, county newsletters, commodity groups, and other special interests. We are partnering with the Kentucky Horticulture Council to help distribute materials and promote resources. Two orchard IPM field days addressed wildlife management, emerging and chronic insect pests, and brown rot fungus.

Annual Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference presented 11 grower talks; these presentations were recorded and are available online. Grower survey was initiated to help determine priorities for apple and peach extension programming. Extended outreach information through county agents through newly revised publications “Fire Blight,” “Blueberry Canker Diseases,” and “Peach Cankers,” and six new video resources on YouTube and weekly email update so that agents are alerted to the most up-to-date resources and alerts; this help supplement the in-person trainings offered. Maintaining an alert system for chronic and emerging pest issues using a grower alert system for chronic and emerging pest issues in conjunction with our county agent network, extension specialist and associate cooperators, and university diagnostic labs to monitor grower problems and concerns.

Vegetable Crops IPM:

Expanded outreach to new and limited-experience growers and limited resource growers with high tunnels and low acreages through a high tunnel tomato webinar which had 158 attendees and YouTube views and the commercial vegetable webinar had 83 attendees and YouTube views. New damping off and new root-knot nematode extension publications have been created.

Provided trainings and outreach to county extension agents on soil health and fertility including IPM Specialists presentint at the Annual Fruit and Vegetable Conference and the IPM field school. A commercial vegetable grower listserv has been established to provide timely updates to growers. The first demonstration high-tunnel trial has been set up and is underway addressing on irrigation, nitrogen, and Sclerotinia management. We have begun planning the trainings and outreach for county agents as well as creating videos of our demonstration trial to use for later trainings. We plan to have a virtual field day this summer to showcase all of demonstration work.

Nursery Crops IPM:

Empowered county Extension professionals with up to date, environmentally and