states

New Hampshire
IPM coordinator Alan Eaton has launched an effort to introduce a parasite that controls European apple sawfly. The European parasite, an ichneumonid called Lathrolestes ensator Brauns, was established in Quebec five years ago by Charles Vincent of the Horticulture Research and Development Center at St.-Jean-sur-Richlieu. Dr. Eaton received permission to bring the parasite to New Hampshire last June, and he hopes to establish it over the next few years.

Maine
Several homeowner IPM programs, coordinated by Colin Stewart and run through the state’s Cooperative Extension Pest Management Office, are increasing the visibility of IPM in Maine. In Winterport, IPM specialists are working closely with residents, teaching them multiple techniques to reduce, not eliminate, Japanese beetles. The IPM team is using publicity for this high-interest issue to introduce the concept of IPM to a larger audience. In five counties, Master Gardeners have received advanced training in the identification of landscape plant problems, and each Master Gardener is scouting one property of their choice biweekly. In addition, Stewart and his colleagues are developing a series of web pages that will help homeowners identify structural, garden, and landscape pests.

Pennsylvania
A group of Penn State researchers was recently awarded a three-year, $162,000 grant through the state’s Department of Agriculture to study a new class of biopesticides for use in greenhouse tomato production. The biopesticides, called plant elicitors, are unique compounds that send a message to the plant to mobilize its defense mechanisms against pests. These compounds offer a distinct advantage over traditional pesticides because they are naturally occurring, are active at very low doses, and have no direct toxicity to natural enemies or other nontarget organisms. The study proposes to evaluate use of these biopesticides for control of major greenhouse pests, emphasizing whiteflies, spider mites, and powdery mildew. Project leaders Cathy Thomas, Kelli Hoover, and Gary Felton hope the results will be adaptable to other greenhouse ornamental and vegetable crops, and even field crops.

West Virginia
West Virginia’s IPM Program is supporting a meatgoat IPM pilot project to evaluate whether goats can effectively manage brush in pastures, especially multiflora rose. This strategy has been tried in the past to a limited extent, but the program now has a group of enthusiastic growers led by the agricultural extension agents in Monongalia County. The market for goat meat is increasing, and growers hope to exploit the proximity of the state to major metropolitan areas by tapping into their markets. The project, led by Sheryl Jarvis, is one of four mini-grants currently being funded by the state’s IPM program.

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The Northeastern Integrated Pest Management Center fosters the development and adoption of IPM, a science-based approach to managing pests in ways that generate economic, environmental, and human health benefits. We work in partnership with stakeholders from agricultural, urban, and rural settings to identify and address regional priorities for research, education, and outreach.