National IPM Initiative
Phase I Projects
Phase I Projects
Economic Analysis and Planning for Implementation
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Phase I Projects |
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Process and Accomplishments
Assemble a tri-state team of growers, extension specialists and researchers to develop a long-term strategy to implement IPM on greenhouse ornamentals in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont.
Determine the economics of current pest management practices for greenhouse ornamentals and design an approach for assessing the economic implications of introducing new management tools, i.e., fungal entomopathogens, into an existing IPM plan.
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Tri-state Greenhouse IPM Team:
A Research Advisory Group was established, which was made up of researchers and extension specialists from the Univ. of Vermont, Univ. of Maine and Univ. of New Hampshire; and greenhouse growers from the three participating states. This group provided input on developing the survey questionnaire and how to conduct the survey to maximize grower participation and interest. This group continues to be active in providing guidance in the greenhouse IPM activities in these three states. A meeting is scheduled for this November to discuss a curriculum for up-coming greenhouse IPM workshops for growers.
A survey was conducted among greenhouse growers on their current IPM practices, pesticide use, and the economics of pest management. All greenhouse growers in the tri-state region (625 growers based on current state Extension lists) were contacted by telephone to explain the purpose of the survey and to ask them to participate. This served a dual purpose. First, it allowed us to update state records, and eliminate growers who were no longer in business. Secondly, it enabled us to communicate information about our current and future IPM implementation initiatives. Questionnaires were sent out to 325 growers who, based on our phone contact, agreed to participate. At least one follow up call was made to each grower who did not return the survey by the required time. We obtained a return rate of 51% among growers who agreed to participate.
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In conjunction with a cooperative program with a local correctional facility, data from the survey were entered twice, and the files were compared and any errors corrected. Data were then analyzed combining information from all states. A report summarizing these results was compiled to provide information essential for developing IPM training strategies for the Northern New England Region in a timely fashion. Additional analysis has been completed assessing trends in each state. This will be prepared as an Extension publication to be published in June 1998.
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To encourage growers to participate in the survey, on receipt of their survey, they were sent a packet of IPM related materials (including a hand lens, two types of yellow sticky cards, sample data sheets for scouting greenhouses and a catalog from IPM Laboratories with information about natural enemies) along with a summary of the results.
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Final Products and Presentation of the Results:
Survey Results: The results from this survey have been presented in a poster for the 3rd National IPM Symposium and at talks given at the 1996 New England Greenhouse Conference (audience of over 400), a workshop on IPM for Bedding Plants hosted by the New Hampshire Extension System (audience of over 50 growers), and the annual meeting of the Northeastern Greenhouse IPM Working Group (audience of 25 extension specialists, researchers and scouts). It will also be the focus of a presentation at a conference in Maine this November entitled Practical Partnerships, A New England Sustainable Agriculture Conference (anticipated audience of 200). Results from this survey are being used to develop plans for future collaboration between researchers, growers and extension specialists in the Northern New England region.
A summary of the results has been distributed to all grower participants and other interested people. In the future, a comprehensive extension publication will be prepared reporting the results in detail. In addition, at least one manuscript will be prepared for submission to a referred journal.
Grant Proposals: To date we have submitted 3 grants to continue our regional cooperation in greenhouse IPM research and education (outcome pending). The objectives for these grants were developed from insights gained and they directly address grower identified needs as indicated in the survey results.
Workshops: Greenhouse IPM workshops are planned for early 1998 in two locations. Click here to access program and registration information.
The University of Vermont Entomology Research Lab
THRIPSNET is an international internet listserver stablished and managed by Margaret Skinner. It currently has over 250 subscribers from 25 different countries. All have the common interest of research and management of thrips and tospovirus.
Margaret Skinner, Entomologist
University of Vermont
Entomology Research Laboratory
Burlington, VT 05405-3400October 20, 1997
Index of Northeast Region Phase I Projects