Progress 09/01/24 to 08/31/25

Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this project includes: Extension specialists and agent faculty VT and VSU graduate students Crop producers and consultants Nursery and greenhouse producers Small farmers Farm scouts Pesticide applicators Crop commodity boards, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services VA bee cooperators VA State Beekeepers Association Lawn and landscape professionals Golf course managers Retail outlets Botanical and historical gardens Public service organizations Master Gardeners 4-H and other agriculture youth organizations Homeowners Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Numerous oppotunities for training and professional development have been provided by the project. IPM project information has been created and desseminated via presentations at Extension in-service meetings, Master Gardener trainings, pesticide recertification trainings, crop production meetings/agriculture conferences, Beekeeper Association meetings/workshops, field day events, and webinars. Overall, approximately 6,087 stakeholders have been reached through these efforts. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results and information from the project have been delivered via Extension publications (print and web based), in-person presentations, video presentations, webinars, field days and other training events, blog and social media posts, YouTube videos, and newsletters. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The plan of work for the next reporting period includes: Develop and disseminate a 10-month post-event survey to evaluate participants' application of IPM train-the-trainer workshop content. Hold additional IPM train-the-trainer workshops in September 2025 and 2026, and continue collecting post-event knowledge assessments and implementation data from participants. Develop and distribute regional evaluation surveys for major field crops to growers, advisors, and other stakeholders and create summary documents for Extension professionals based on survey results. Work with other IPM coordinators and partners to develop additional survey tools to assess whether project initiatives lead to a higher adoption of sustainable IPM practices and contribute to enhanced agricultural production by minimizing pest-related losses. Continue Vip3A and insecticide resistance monitoring for Helicoverpa zea in Virginia. Continue demonstration plots to showcase the performance of monitoring and IPM methods. Continue educating pest management professionals and public servide entites on bed bug IPM. Continue diagnostic services for the public. Continue to hold workshops, field days, webinars, and other in-person and online IPM training. Continue to develop and distribute surveys to clientele to evaluate changes in knowledge and implementation of IPM practices. Continue to develop fact sheets and other publications for the public. Develop video content for the VCE YouTube channel and continue outreach via Extension meetings, blogs, and other social media.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Major accomplishments under these goals include: An IPM train-the-trainer workshop was held in November 2024 and attended by 40 VCE agents and specialists.A pre- and post-event survey was developed and administered to assess knowledge gained by participants. Over 90% of participants self-reported an increase in knowledge post-event. In addition to improved understanding and knowledge of IPM principles and practices, Virginia Cooperative Extension agents self reported that the training made them better able to effectively answer client pest management questions, and better contribute to state-wide IPM programming efforts. Regional SERA-3 survey development discussions were held at the International IPM Symposium and SERA-3 meeting in March 2025. Multiple coordinators have been identfied to develop surveys that assess grower perceptions of pest issues in agronomic crops and the IPM practices they employ.Survey distribution is anticipated for later this year. Sentinel plots for Bt-corn and Bt-cotton were established and are being monitored for Helicoverpa zea damage in VA. Currently, no evidence of resistance to the Vip3A Bt protein has been observed. Pyrethroid vial assays were also performed on 251 H. zea moths.The overall percent survival of tested moths was 57.4%, indicating significant levels of resistance to this pesticide class.This information will be used to increase adoption of insect resistance management tactics within grower IPM programs, and enhance coordination and responsiveness of H. zea resistance monitoring efforts among land-grant university IPM programs. As of May 2025,IPM and resistance management information for H. zea has been shared with ~820 growers through 16 Extension programs and the Virginia Ag Pest Advisory blog (blog reach of over 2,000 growers/producers). Four demonstration plots (with additional plots planned for this year) were established to showcase monitoring tools, commercially available biorational and biological products, as well as selective pesticides for control of pests in protected systems (i.e. greenhouses and high tunnels) and nursery/floriculture production.These sites are being used to provide hands-on training for Extension professionals, growers, and other stakeholders. Three grower workshops/field days have currently been held for the nursery/floriculture industry, with several more planned for later this year.IPM information for this demographic has also been shared with ~630 growers and stakeholders during 21 Extension events, and through weekly text alerts.Stakeholder surveys have shown that 100% of attendees found these trainings informative and that they planned to utilize Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) as a resource. Nine bed bug IPM traings have been given to public service organizations that care for the eldery and underrepresented groups (5 trainings/month are planned for the remainder of the year). The objective of these trainings were to enhance understanding of bed bug biology, behavior, and IPM tactics, as well as provide these organizations with informationon what should be required from a pest management contractor when hired to eliminate a bed bug introduction or infestation. In addition, an exhibition was held at the Virginia Governor's Conference on Aging, so that conference attendees would know what bed bugs look like when they see them.Specialized bed bug trainings have also been given to 569 pest control operators that work with eldercare facilities. Trainings provided these stakeholders with knowledge of advanced IPM tools andbest management practices. The Virginia State University Community Garden was used as a site to train Master Gardeners and youth agricultural groupsin subject matters related to IPM, soil health, and sustainability.IPM information for this demographic was shared with ~387 individuals during 9 Extension events. A collaborative network of VCE faculty was established to increase training for IPM of managed pollinators. Three teaching apiaries were also established to increase stakeholder engagement in current IPM and apicultural techniques (an additional apiary will be established this year).Information on IPM for managed pollinator health was disseminated to ~500 beekeepers and stakeholders through 8 Extension programs. Furthermore,varroa mite sampling materials were given to over 200 beekeepers in Virginia. Pollinator friendly plots were established at Virginia State University's Randolph Farm to provide support for wild pollinators while demonstrating farming practices that enhance pollinator health to stakeholders. One field day has currently been held for small farmers, with several more workshops planned for this summer. Virginia Tech pest diagnostic clinicsreceived, processed, and prepared IPM-based recommendations for 566 plant disease, 485 insect, and 11 weed samples. New molecular diagnostics were also implemented for oak wilt (Bretziella fagacearum); an emerging plant disease in Virginia.In addition, information on pest identification and management was disseminated to 138 stakeholders during 8 Extension programs.Surveys distributed in December 2024 showed that commercial (88%), home grower (84%), and service professional (86%) respondents agreed with the statement, "I value the services provided by the Pest Identification Clinics at Virginia Tech." Commercial respondents agreed that diagnostic services increased crop quality (70%), allowed them to develop an IPM approach (50%) and increased their profitability (40%). A total of 14 Extension fact sheets were developed to provide a range of IPM information to stakeholders, and 3 VCE Pest Management Guides were revised.

Publications