Northeast Region IPM Grants
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| States: | Vermont |
| Project Directors: | Margaret Skinner; Michael Brownbridge |
| Institutions: | University of Vermont |
| Project Type: | Research and Extension |
| Award*: | $ 86,743 |
| Term: | 36 months |
| Setting: |
greenhouse |
*Award shown is total amount to be used over the course of the project term.
This project will promote ways of reducing risks associated with the use of chemical insecticides by increasing opportunities to use biological control, and IPM education. First, we will assess the utility of banker plants for on-site production of predatory mites for control of spider mites on spring bedding plants. Banker plant systems provide a steady release of natural enemies into a crop, offering extended suppression of pests while reducing the cost and increasing the quality of the biocontrol agents. Second, many natural enemies are released innundatively into a crop, several times over a growing season. Shipping costs for these beneficials are considerable. We will determine whether cheaper shipping options, i.e., ground vs. overnight, impact the quality of the natural enemies received. We will also define a simple method to empower growers to perform their own quality control tests on mite shipments. Third, we will continue to develop and present innovative hands-on IPM workshops for growers in ME, NH and VT. Specialists from Europe and North America will participate, and results from our research will be incorporated into the program to aid technology transfer. Finally, we will perform a follow-up survey to measure changes in consumer attitudes and knowledge about IPM, and to see if our efforts to promote IPM have influenced the criteria people use when purchasing greenhouse-grown plants. This will follow a customer survey we will perform in 2005, which will be accompanied by the development and distribution of educational materials on IPM in the intervening years to raise public awareness and appreciation of the importance of IPM to them and the environment. Over time, consumer awareness will be critical to increase growers’ use of non-pesticidal management tactics. If customers demand plants that with no (minimal) pesticide residues, growers will have to change their production practices. Together, these initiatives will promote a decreased reliance on toxic pesticides while creating an appreciation among growers’ clientele about the benefits of IPM, and greater demand for plants grown using IPM practices.
1. Evaluate the use of banker plants for production of predatory mites in spring
bedding plants.
2. Assess the quality of natural enemy shipments received at different times
of the year from Regional and National distributors.
Extension:
1. Develop, organize, and conduct hands-on IPM training programs for greenhouse
growers in ME, NH and VT.
2. Conduct follow-up surveys at garden centers in ME, NH and VT to determine
changes in consumer attitudes and knowledge about IPM.
Historically, dairy farms have dominated the rural landscape in the Northeast, but this traditional farming sector is declining as production agriculture becomes more diversified. In contrast, the greenhouse industry is expanding, and has become a vital component of the Region’s agricultural economy. In fact, revenues from greenhouse crops far exceed that of any other crop commodity in the Northeast, with annual sales in excess of $551 million in New England alone. Public demand has driven this expansion, as people seek to beautify their homes and gardens with flowering plants.
Arthropod pests and diseases limit productivity and economic returns in greenhouse crops. Growers rely heavily on conventional pesticide-based strategies for their control. The compounds used pose risks to applicators, consumers and the environment. Repeated pesticide applications can also adversely impact plant physiology and appearance.
The goal of maintaining high levels of agricultural productivity and profitability while reducing pesticide use, presents a significant challenge. Research and outreach efforts must focus on increasing IPM implementation on all crops – strategies that emphasize cultural and biological controls as the main defense against pests but include the judicious use of pesticides. IPM reduces risks associated with pesticides, yet growers assert that they must use these materials to meet consumer demands for 100% pest-free plants. To be successful, control agents and IPM programs that are appropriate to local conditions must be developed. Generic IPM techniques developed for large, year-round facilities in southern states – where pests may be year-round rather than seasonal threats – are often not applicable to small, family-run greenhouse operations that are predominant in the Northeast. Furthermore, if not accompanied by appropriate extension and outreach activities, they will have little chance of adoption. Educational efforts must not only target growers, but also consumers. Consumers are a driving force in our market society; if, through education about the value of IPM-grown crops in terms of human health and environmental quality, consumer demand could be created, this would serve as a valuable incentive for growers to implement IPM.Importance and Relevance to Growers and Other Stakeholders in the Northeast.
Adoption of multiple management tactics – IPM – is essential to ensure that high-quality plants are produced, the greatest revenue generated, and the least amount of chemical insecticide used. Time, knowledge (or lack of), and ease of implementation appear to be the greatest barriers to the wider adoption of IPM techniques (GO IPM 2002, Skinner et al. 2003). The research objectives evaluate the use of banker plants for on-site production of predatory mites for the control of spider mites. Cost and availability are often cited as factors limiting growers’ use of natural enemies. Banker plants offer great potential to provide a constant “feed” of such predators into a crop, reducing the need for multiple releases, and ensuring that a resident population is present should a pest outbreak occur. Few inputs are needed, once the natural enemy is established, to achieve long-term suppression. The cost of shipping natural enemies is often higher than the cost of the beneficials themselves; when multiple releases are required, shipping costs become a major expense. These can be minimized by using banker plants.
Costs can also be considerably reduced by using ‘ground’ shipping, which is one-third the price of ‘overnight’ shipping. However, this can take 1-2 days longer than standard overnight shipping. How will this affect the quality of the natural enemies received by the grower? We propose to assess the quality of predaceous mites used to control pests on spring bedding plants over the course of a growing season. Natural enemies will be ordered from three distributors and shipped via ‘overnight’ and ‘ground’ carrier. We will produce and distribute an informational pamphlet reporting results of our research, outlining methods growers can use to evaluate the viability of their shipments. This information will also be posted on our website for broader distribution. These are research priorities identified by the Regional Greenhouse and Ornamental IPM Commodity Working Group (GO IPM 2002).
In the extension component, we propose to directly address grower-identified needs by continuing to offer effective educational IPM workshops, drawing on the expertise of specialists in Europe and North America. Based on a recent survey by the Greenhouse and Ornamentals Commodity Working Group (GO IPM 2002), growers overwhelmingly stated that educational workshops were the best way for them to learn new production techniques. New plant varieties become available every year, and growers strive to respond to the constant demands of their clientele for access to these new products. Each new variety presents new production challenges and pest problems. To continue to grow and be profitable, both experienced and novice growers need support. As the Extension System throughout New England continues to be downsized, few people are left to provide leadership to address this need. Generally, specialists in fruit and vegetable crops and community IPM must do their best to cover several commodities, including greenhouse production. The only way to make up these gaps is to secure external funds to supplement ongoing programs. Growers in northern New England often lack the resources to attend national greenhouse meetings, and the opportunity to interact with specialists outside the region. For this reason, it is critical that we bring national and world experts here. Growers who have attended our workshops have stated that the hands-on format used is the best way for them to learn the technical information and skills they need to implement IPM. Too often, educational meetings rely exclusively on lecture formats. This is a great way to reach a large number of people in a short amount of time, but they have little lasting impact on growers’ pest management practices. To achieve true adoption, IPM techniques must be demonstrated, taking into consideration the individual conditions of each greenhouse operation. The workshops we host have been refined over the years to minimize lectures and maximize small group sessions. This format encourages learning and interaction between growers and specialists. The project proposed herein builds on this successful educational initiative we began 8 years ago. We have already secured funding to conduct a survey to monitor the outcome of our workshops in terms of changing grower practices; this will allow us to gain a better understanding of growers’ needs and will enable development of more responsive and effective educational programs. Therefore, an impact assessment study is not included in the current proposal.
In one-on-one discussions with growers, they repeatedly stated that they want IPM information presented in a straightforward, “how-to” format. GO IPM also clearly identified the need to develop clearer and more succinct guidelines to support IPM implementation as a high priority (see Appendices listing Extension and Research Priorities).
How will the project develop, promote and implement non-pesticidal tactics?
Greenhouse production is complex, and a multi-component approach to pest management is required. Growers can get overwhelmed by the choices they have to make and often resort to the easiest option—a chemical pesticide. To reduce reliance on pesticides and promote greater use of alternatives, a new approach is needed. Critical information must be synthesized to provide a practical, IPM-based decision support tool, whereby a sequential series of actions in response to pest incidence are defined. Using a decision tree approach, we will present a step-by-step IPM system that includes cultural controls, guidance on scouting and data interpretation, when and if to use biological controls, and which chemical pesticides to use if necessary, along with resistance-management strategies. Growers will be supported in their selection of pest management actions, and encouraged to make decisions based on sound IPM principles. This will empower them to take proactive rather than reactive steps to resolve pest problems.
In the Extension component of this project, hands-on workshops will be presented in all cooperating states (CT, MA, MD, ME, NH, NY, PA and VT) to demonstrate use of the decision tree systems and supporting practices. These will provide growers with the skills they need to put IPM into practice. An electronic version of the decision tree package will be placed on the NEPMC website, and other state and regional sites. Summaries of the individual IPM components for the pest complexes will also be prepared for inclusion on the NEPMC website.What is the level of multi-state involvement?
This project builds on an 8-year collaborative relationship between Extension specialists, researchers and growers in ME, NH and VT, most of whom are members of GO IPM, the Greenhouse and Ornamentals IPM working group, established under the auspices of the NEPMC. GO IPM was formed to serve as a catalyst for collaborative research and extension activities in the region, and this current project directly addresses needs identified for the region. Collaborators from 3 Northeastern states will be directly involved in the outreach/extension activities.
Does this project address a significant problem with environmental implications?
Yes. Throughout the Northeast, the greenhouse industry is one of the few agricultural sectors that has grown over the past 10 years. In many states, where the survival of small family farms is at risk, greenhouse production has become an important means of diversification and economic stability. While the total acreage under glass and plastic is relatively small compared to other major crops, more chemicals are used on greenhouse crops—on an ai/acre basis—than in any other agricultural sector. Through provision of specific guidelines that encourage the proactive use of IPM tactics, growers will become less reliant on chemical controls and the negative environmental impacts of this agricultural sector will be reduced.
What is the probability of the results of this project being implemented?
High. We have built many components into this project to ensure that the systems will be practical and effective. First, the head grower at the Entomology Research Lab was formerly a commercial grower, and has personal knowledge of the demands of the industry and constraints on IPM implementation. He provides an excellent reality check for all the research we do. Second, growers are involved in “field testing” the systems we develop, which will ensure that they are suitable. We find growers are often more inclined to believe another grower, and our cooperating growers will serve as excellent ambassadors for disseminating information and encouraging adoption. Lastly, the workshop programs will be designed to be interactive and hands-on. Based on our experience, and feedback from growers, this is the best way to get them to understand and then put into practice the techniques we present.
Does this project address either of the NE-IPM annual emphases?
Yes. Through this project, we will develop and test systems to effectively use biological control agents which is a form of environmental stewardship, and because we are developing practical approaches for their use the likelihood for implementation will be high (see previous section). Through our survey of customers we will determine the value of greater use of IPM in terms of plant salability.
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