Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
(N/A)
BURLINGTON,VT 05405
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Agriculture is essential to Vermont's economy, generating an estimated $11.3 billion annually. Over the past two decades, Vermont's agriculture has become more diverse. Currently 75% of farms produce crops other than the agronomic crops supporting the dairy industry. New and existing farms have expanded production of fruit crops, ornamentals, high tunnel vegetables, soybeans, and organic grains, all key to maintaining Vermont's agriculture and a healthy working landscape.With the changes in Vermont's agriculture sector (increased numbers of dairy cows and increased diversified acreage), we are seeing new pests requiring integrated pest management (IPM) strategies. Emerging arthropod pests, invasive weeds, and diseases require IPM tactics to minimize crop loss and the unnecessary use of pesticides. Current IPM strategies for established pests must also be adapted to changing climatic conditions like warmer temperatures, longer growing seasons, significant rain events, and droughts now common in the state. The changes in Vermont's agriculture sector also includes beginning farmers who don't often come from farm backgrounds and are eager for information. This new audience needs to build confidence in pest and disease identification and learn how to successfully incorporate IPM tools into their operations.The VT EIP team has expertise aligned with the IPM needs of the diverse crops and audiences in the state and includes the Priority Areas of IPM Implementation in: Agronomic Crops, Specialty Crops (Tree Fruit/Grapes, Greenhouse/High Tunnel), Animal Agriculture, and Communities; IPM for Pesticide Applicators; and IPM Support for Pest Diagnostic Facilities. The UVM Extension Plant Diagnostic Clinic supports all VT EIP programs by providing timely and accurate pest identification as the critical first step of IPM. The UVM Extension Community Horticulture Program (Master Gardener) serves as a hub for all VT EIP program consumer-targeted IPM information outreach.VT EIP strives to advance the goals of the National IPM Roadmap, USDA Strategic Plan, Northeastern IPM Center priorities and address CPPM program focus areas by introducing IPM awareness and strategies to increase knowledge and adoption among both new and established stakeholders in addition to fostering established networks to introduce new IPM tactics, emerging high consequence pests and climate change. VT EIP recognizes the impacts on IPM programs and stakeholders due to decreasing numbers of relevant faculty and technical positions throughout the Northeast and the need to foster next generation IPM scientists and educators. A key component of VT EIP will foster next generation IPM scientists and educators.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The goals of VT EIP are to develop and provide effective IPM education and outreach programs for both new and established growers and consumers in addition to promoting next generation IPM educators and scientists. The VT EIP Priority Area efforts focus on the following three objectives to promote new IPM tools and tactics for established practitioners, increase IPM awareness and adoption for new audiences, and develop the next generation IPM scientists and educators.Objective 1. Promote New IPM Tools and Tactics for Established PractitionersObjective 2. Increase IPM Awareness and Adoption for New Audiences Objective 3. Develop the Next Generation of IPM Scientists and Educators
Project Methods
A suite of impact evaluation tools for each objective will be used by all participating Priority Areas to focus efforts and provide consistency across programs to determine impacts. Retrospective pre-post questionnaires will be completed for each event to assess knowledge and skill gain and annually to track adoption and behavior change actions. This method is especially suitable to learners exploring new or complex issues and effectively provides substantial evidence for program impacts when compared with more complex methods (Davis, 2003).Short Term Measures: number participating in program or attending program events, number of outputs produced, pre-post surveys/exams/interviews to assess IPM awareness, knowledge gain, and intent to adopt IPM practices (e.g. seed testing, beneficial/pest identification, scouting/monitoring, biocontrol use, pesticide resistance management, clinic sample diagnosis, etc.) among target audiences. Next generation scientist and educator programs will also assess intent to continue in IPM fields (graduate program, employment).Medium Term Measures: number participating in program (new clients, changes over time), annual or end of project surveys/exams/interviews to assess adoption of IPM among target audiences, pesticide use or product toxicity, yield/quality/cost benefits, and confidence/satisfaction applying IPM strategies. Working group programs will also assess participants' program development/outreach, peer collaboration, and funding opportunities created. Next generation scientist and educator programs will also assess IPM skills developed and measure the number completing programs, certifications earned, advanced/graduate program applications, employment and funding opportunities created.VT EIP program activities will begin September 2024 through summer 2027. An Evaluation Specialist will work with the VT EIP team to gather stakeholder data, be responsible for the Data Management Plan, and assist with annual reports. A Stakeholder Advisory Group (1-2 stakeholders/Priority Area selected to provide a broad spectrum of viewpoints) will be formed and meet twice annually to address emerging needs, enhance impacts, and improve program delivery to meet VT EIP objectives. Program impacts will be shared on the VT EIP website (http://www.uvm.edu/extension/ipm) and with the Stakeholder Advisory Group.