Progress 08/01/07 to 07/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The overall goals of this project were to implement, evaluate, and document adoption of the aphid-parasitoid Glance n Go sampling and management plan in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. In accordance with our project timeline, co-investigators from each state completed major objectives during each growing season. The Cereal Aphid Expert System and Glance n Go Sampling education Handbook was revised and provided to extension professionals and interested growers throughout the major wheat growing regions of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Additionally, as planned, extension presentations on the use of the Glance n Go plan occurred at major wheat field farm days for each participating state in each region. Updates to Glance n Go at http://www.entoplp.okstate.edu/gbweb/index.htm are now available to IPM practitioners and wheat producers in each state. PARTICIPANTS: This project was a collaborative effort among Oklahoma State University, Texas A&M University, Kansas State University, and personnel at USDA-ARS. Kristopher L. Giles provided overall project management and evaluation, and direction of the Postdoctoral Fellow at OSU. Tom A. Royer worked with extension personnel from Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas to assist on presentation and evaluation of Glance n' Go education materials and directed incorporation of new data into expert system web-site and the revised education handbook. Alan Knutson, Roxanne Bowling and Gerald Michels worked cooperatively with OSU scientists, county extension educators and local producers in the Dallas and Amarillo areas. Phil Sloderbeck and Jeff Whitworth worked cooperatively with OSU scientists, county extension educators and local producers in central and western Kansas. Norman Elliott was involved in data analysis and incorporation of data into the Decision Support System. Francis Epplin in cooperation with the postdoctoral fellow, direct the economic analysis portion of this project. In each state, each year, at defined local grower meetings and field days, extension professionals presented project training sessions and evaluation approaches for county extension educators. Many of these educators evaluated the effectiveness and then incorporated Glance n Go materials into their programs for wheat producers. In addition, demonstration wheat producers also participated in the study. These producers provided recommendations and modifications to the basic approach which will be incorporated into future sampling plans. TARGET AUDIENCES: This project targeted two audiences: 1) county extension educators in Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas, and 2) winter wheat producers in these states. Efforts designed to cause change in knowledge and actions are outlined in the outcome/impact section. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The only modification to the project occurred relative to demonstration farms. Replication of management treatment occurred among a larger number of farms within a geographic area instead of replication within a smaller number of farms.
Impacts
Cropping years and sampling procedures proceeded as planned, with the exception of Texas Panhandle locations: severe drought each year prevented establishment of planned demonstration and experimental wheat fields. Each year, aphids were abundant at Oklahoma and North-Central Texas locations, but were at extremely low levels at Kansas locations. Data were collected and procedures followed at each location according protocols in the project narrative. Participating producers expressed concern about the time commitment involved in sampling, but were supportive of a technique that would allow for easy evaluation and prevent unnecessary use of costly insecticides. Analyses of the time for sampling revealed common trends. At low aphid densities, the grower standard approaches (often #/row ft) took significantly less time than the Glance n Go approaches (Glance n Go with parasitoids was intermediate). At aphid densities near thresholds, all approaches took approximately the same amount of time. At high aphid densities, Glance n Go procedures took significantly less time to reach a decision. Interestingly, yields among all sampling and management treatments were similar which indicates two important findings: 1) parasitoids quickly reduce aphids in unsprayed plots and prevent damage, and 2) the application of insecticides at aphid thresholds (without considering parasitoid activity) appears to be unnecessary and results in net production losses overall. Producers in Texas suggested the sampling program would be more widely used if tied-in or timed to coincide with top-dress fertilizer applications. Investigators are exploring how these two approaches can be combined. Pre and Post tests on Glance n Go indicated two important outcomes: 1) younger stakeholders scored high on pre tests, and 2) overall a 36% improvement from pre to post test occurred. That is, a significant increase in the knowledge level of Glance n Go procedures and details occurred during the project. Data on levels of awareness, adoption of Glance n Go, and impact on pesticide use are currently being analyzed.
Publications
- Royer, T.A. and K. Rank. 2009. IPM Oklahoma! http://www.ento.okstate.edu/ipm/
- Royer, T.A. and K.L. Giles. 2009. Management of insect and mite pests of small grains. CR-7194. Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service, Stillwater, OK (revised)
- Giles, K. L. and N. W. Walker. 2009. Dissemination and impact of IPM programmes in US agriculture. In (Peshin and Dhawan Eds.) Integrated Pest Management: Innovation-Development Process Vol.2. pgs 481-506. Springer, United Kingdom.
- Royer, T. A., K. L. Giles and M. M. Lebusa. 2008. Preference and suitability of greenbug, Schizaphis graminum (Hemiptera: Aphididae) parasitized by Lysiphlebus testaceipes (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) as a food source for Coccinella septimpunctata and Hippodamia convergens (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae). Biological Control. 47: 82-88.
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Progress 08/01/08 to 07/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The overall goals of this project are to implement, evaluate, and document adoption of the aphid-parasitoid Glance n Go sampling and management plan in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. In accordance with our project timeline, co-investigators from each state completed most major objectives for the 2008-2009 growing season. The Cereal Aphid Expert System and Glance n Go Sampling education Handbook was provided to extension professionals and interested growers throughout the major wheat growing regions of Kansas, Oklahoma, and Texas. Additionally, during the 2008-2009 growing season, extension presentations on the use of the Glance n Go plan occurred at major wheat field farm days for each participating state in each region. All data collected is currently being summarized for publication and inclusion into a revised handbook, CD and web-site. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
The cropping year and sampling procedures proceeded as planned, with the exception of the Texas Panhandle locations: severe drought prevented establishment of planned demonstration and experimental wheat fields. Aphids were abundant at Oklahoma and North-Central Texas locations, but were at extremely low levels at Kansas locations. Data were collected and procedures followed at each location according protocols in the project narrative. Participating producers expressed concern about the time commitment involved in sampling, but were supportive of a technique that would allow for easy evaluation and prevent unnecessary use of costly insecticides. Additionally, producers in Texas suggested the sampling program would be more widely used if tied-in or timed to coincide with top-dress fertilizer applications. Investigators are exploring how these two approaches can be combined. Data on levels of awareness, adoption of Glance n Go, and impact on pesticide use are currently being summarized.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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Progress 08/01/07 to 07/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The overall goals of this project are to implement, evaluate, and document adoption of the aphid-parasitoid Glance n Go sampling and management plan in Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas. In accordance with our project timeline, co-investigators from each state met during July 2007 to plan project logistics. Each investigator was supplied with educational materials on the Glance n Go sampling and management plan for distribution to extension educators and cooperating producers. In each state, extension educators helped to identify producers for demonstrations and experimental locations. PARTICIPANTS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. TARGET AUDIENCES: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
One major change in methodology occurred following the planning meeting and the search for producers: management treatments at the demonstration sites were not be replicated. Lack of available acreage provided by producers and a more focused approach on training and education were the main reasons for this change. Additionally, replication could be viewed by Zone each year. At the experimental sites, management treatments were replicated as planned. The cropping year and sampling procedures proceeded as planned, with the exception of the Texas Panhandle locations: severe drought prevented establishment of planned demonstration and experimental wheat fields. Aphids were abundant at Oklahoma and North-Central Texas locations, but were at extremely low levels at Kansas locations. Data were collected and procedures followed at each location according protocols in the project narrative. As planned, at most locations, participating producers and extension educators were pre-tested on their knowledge of the Glance n Go sampling and management plan. Additionally as planned, several state and county extension educators presented the Glance n Go sampling and management plan at field days during the spring of 2009. Wheat plots were harvested according to protocols, and in July 2008 the investigators met to discuss findings and plans for the second year of the study. Data from the first year and upcoming second field year will be summarized. A few noticeable trends were observed during the first year of the project. The producers and extension educators were concerned with the pre-test procedures. Each expressed their concern about taking a test that they were clearly going to fail because of no exposure to the Glance n Go sampling and management plan. This was clearly an unforeseen problem, however, pre-test data will provide an important pre-education evaluation. Relative to Glance n Go sampling, the grower standard approach (#/ft. row) took less time when aphids were at very low densities, and nearly equal time when aphids approached thresholds. At most locations with moderate to high aphid numbers, yields were generally higher in the plots that were treated with insecticide according to management protocols.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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