Progress 10/01/08 to 09/30/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities. Field experiments were conducted to determine effects of a methyl salicylate based beneficial insect lure on populations of beneficial insects, pest insects and damage to sweet corn ears. One experiment was conducted using organic production practices at the KSU Agricultural Research and Demonstration Farm. The other was conducted at the University of Kentucky Horticulture South Farm using conventional production practices. Beneficial insects were quantified using yellow sticky traps. Larval Lepidoptera were identified and quantified after crop harvest and damage was assessed. A third experiment was conducted at the KSU farm to determine effects of companion planting on beneficial insect abundance, pest abundance and damage to sweet corn. This study quantified populations of lady beetles using yellow sticky traps in un-mowed pasture, buckwheat, and sunflower borders and sweet corn plots. Five undergraduate and two high school students worked in my laboratory on various aspects of this research and learned beneficial insect identification, crop production methods and insect ecology and management concepts. News and information sections were added to the KSU Organic Working Group web site http://organic.kysu.edu/index.shtml). This site received 190,101 hits during 2009 and 2010. Events. We participated in 19 events during the two years of this project. We attended National and Branch Entomological Society of America meetings, Kentucky Academy of Science Meetings, the 1890 Association of Research Directors Meeting, Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Meetings, and Kentucky State University Third Thursday Sustainable Agriculture Workshops. We also participated in one University of Kentucky Vegetable Field Day; Small, Limited Resource and Minority Farmer Conferences and Posters-at-the Capitol meetings. Services. Approximately 75 telephone calls and emails were answered from people having questions about sweet corn production, pest management and conservation biological control. We mentored five undergraduate students and two high school students on research projects. Products. The KSU Organic Working Group web site was updated and had 93,996 visitors during 2009 and 96,105 during 2010. Three undergraduates completed BIO 410 research projects on lady beetles in sweet corn. Collaborations were initiated with Dr. Yukie Kajita and Dr. Kenneth Haynes of the University of Kentucky Department of Entomology. Dissemination. Presentations were made at National and Branch Entomological Society of America Meetings, Kentucky Academy of Science Meetings, the 1890 Association of Research Directors Meeting, Kentucky State University Third Thursday Sustainable Agriculture Workshops, the University of Kentucky Vegetable Field Day, and the University of Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Conference. Sweet corn pest and beneficial insect and damage information and conservation biological control strategy brochures were distributed to 600 people attending KSU Third Thursday Sustainable Agriculture Workshops and to another 400 people attending the Small, Limited Resource and Minority Farmer Conferences at KSU. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals. Dr. John Sedlacek, project director, designed all experiments, assisted in the production of the crops, assisted collecting and analyzing all data, delivered talks to growers, extension and research personnel, developed field days, answered grower questions via telephone, email, and farm visits, and mentored undergraduate and high school students. Ms. Karen Friley, project co-investigator, assisted implementing all project experiments, assisted in data collection and analyses, assisted with crop production, delivered talks to growers, extension and research personnel, helped develop field days, and mentored undergraduate and high school students. Partner Organizations. University Collaborations: We collaborated with Dr. John Strang and Mr. Darrell Slone, University of Kentucky Horticulture Department, concerning conventional sweet corn plot preparation, planting, maintenance and assessment at the University of Kentucky South Farm plots. I continued communicating with Dr. David James, Washington State University, regarding results of PredaLure experiments and deployment strategies of lures in sweet corn and small fruit crops. I consulted with Dr. Yukie Kajita and Dr. Kenneth Haynes, University of Kentucky Department of Entomology, regarding lady beetle chemical ecology. Collaborators and Contacts. KSU Collaborators: Collaborations with KSU CRS and CEP personnel continued with Dr. Kirk Pomper and Dr. Michael Bomford (Plant and Soil Science) and Dr. Marion Simon and Mr. Louie Rivers (Small Farm Program). I provided 10 limited resource farmers with sweet corn production information especially organically grown sweet corn. I maintained contact with Ms. Wanda Miick, small farm assistant Russell County, who will collaborate in future on-farm demonstrations. Collaborations with Producers: Mr. Mac Stone and Ms. Ann Bell Stone, prominent organic vegetable farmers in Scott County, adopted companion planting strategies with vegetables and fruits. We maintained contact with Ms. Maragaret Shea of Dropseed Native Plant Nursery and Ms. Lori Belling of Meadowview Farm and Natural Habitat Gardens to discuss landscape pest management and farmscaping using perennial flowering plants. Collaborations with Companies: Dr. Mark Sigourney of Syngenta Seed provided my research program with all sweet corn seed used in this field research. I communicated with Dr. Jan Meneley, Manufacturer and CEO of PredaLure, AgBio, Inc. regarding lure deployment strategies and results in sweet corn plots. He provided all lures for my research. Training or Professional Development: Five undergraduate students and two high school students were trained in lady beetle identification and insect ecology and management. Three undergraduates and both high school students completed research projects. Each student also learned sweet corn production practices. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences. The needs of small family farms, limited resource farmers and organic/sustainable growers in Kentucky and the southeastern United States were addressed by this project by describing beneficial insect populations as related to lures and border plantings. It also will impact entrepreneurs, farmers' markets, and other specialty vegetable retailers. Kentucky and the southeastern U.S. continue to transition from tobacco to alternative crops. Therefore, organic/sustainable production of sweet corn could provide an additional high value crop for this region. This project could significantly impact low-income minority farmers by providing an alternative crop and market opportunities for these individuals. Efforts. Presentations concerning Conservation Biological Control using chemical ecology and border plantings were made at KSU Third Thursday Sustainable Agriculture Workshops, the Small, Limited Resource, Minority Farmer Conferences, National and Branch Meetings of the Entomological Society of America, Kentucky Academy of Science Meetings, Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Meetings and the 1890 Association of Research Directors Biennial Research Symposium. I developed, organized and moderated the symposium entitled "Entomological Issues Associated with Organic/Sustainable Agriculture" for the March 2010 North Central Branch Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, Louisville, KY. This program featured speakers from two certified organic farms in Kentucky, and researchers from the Ohio State University, Michigan State University, Iowa State University, and Kentucky State University. Tours of the KSU Research and Demonstration Farm and those at the University of Kentucky Horticulture Farm, especially the sweet corn plots, were given to various youth, agriculture and community groups from across the state of Kentucky. Brochures detailing our research efforts and photo identification sheets of pest and beneficial insects and sweet corn damage were distributed at all of these events. Updates concerning this project were added to the KSU Organic Working Group web site(http://organic.kysu.edu/index.shtml). This site received over 190,000 hits during 2009 and 2010. Three undergraduate students and two high school students completed their research projects and developed Power Point presentations. Results of this research will continue to be presented at various professional and stakeholder meetings. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Change in knowledge. PredaLure Methyl Salicylate Experiments. Seven species of lady beetles, one species of big eyed bug, and green and brown lacewings were caught in the organic sweet corn plots. Pink lady beetle and big eyed bug were the two most abundant predators caught in organic plots. Pink lady beetle, Asian lady beetle and big eyed bug represented 73%, 7% and 18% of the total beneficial insects caught, respectively, over both years. The remaining species represented only 2% of the total. There was a tendency toward higher numbers of Asian lady beetles in plots where PredaLure had been deployed. Nine species of lady beetles, one species of big eyed bug, green and brown lacewings, and the minute pirate bug were found in the conventional study plots. Pink lady beetle and the big eyed bug were the most abundant predators caught in the conventional sweet corn plots. Pink lady beetle, Asian lady beetle and the big eyed bug accounted for 71%, 7% and 17%, respectively, of the predatory insects caught in the conventional sweet corn plots during both years. The remaining 10 species accounted for only 5% of the total. There were significantly greater numbers of pink lady beetle, Asian lady beetle, green lacewing and big eyed bugs caught in PredaLure baited conventional plots in 2009. This trend was not evident in 2010. Corn earworm larvae were the most abundant pest of sweet corn ears followed by European corn borer. Damage to ears was not reduced in either organic or conventional plots. Companion Plant Experiment. Four species of lady beetles were found in this experiment. The pink lady beetle was the dominant species trapped with 96% of the total number of lady beetles captured. There were greater numbers of pink lady beetles in buckwheat and in the combined buckwheat plus corn plots. Significantly more pink lady beetles were trapped in the buckwheat and sweet corn paired plots than the pasture and sweet corn and sunflower and sweet corn paired plots. However, there was no reduction in damage to ears. Change in action. Organic/sustainable sweet corn growers are requesting PredaLure lures for trial on their farms and for garden use. Considerable interest is also being expressed in companion plantings using flowering plants. Organic and sustainable sweet corn production practices could be impacted by lures and flowering plants by reducing insecticide use and increasing local beneficial insect biodiversity and potentially lowering damage to sweet corn. Change in condition. Local production of high value organic/sustainably produced sweet corn will promote socioeconomic stability of rural communities. It will also reduce reliance on chemical inputs and transportation of this crop from bordering states which would improve environmental quality.
Publications
- Sedlacek, J.D., K.L. Friley, L.S. Brent and M.K. Bomford. 2009. Populations of beneficial insects in organically grown sweet corn using methyl salicylate based PredaLure insect attractant.1890 Research: Sustainable Solutions for the 21st Century Program & Abstracts. p. 106.
- Brent, L.S., J.D. Sedlacek, K.L. Friley, and M.K. Bomford. 2009. Beneficial insects in organically grown late-planted sweet corn baited with methyl salicylate-based PredaLure insect attractant. J. Kentucky Acad. Sci. 70: 167.
- Friley, K.L., J.D. Sedlacek, J.D. Lowe and K.W. Pomper. 2009. Can pawpaw fruit extract be used to manage striped cucumber beetle on squash J. Kentucky Acad. Sci. 70: 167.
- Mack, A.M., J.D. Sedlacek, K. L. Friley, J.D. Lowe and K.W. Pomper. 2009. Potential of Ripe Pawpaw Fruit Extract as a Feeding Deterrent for Striped Cucumber Beetle on Squash. Posters-at-the-Capitol Program and Abstract Book. p. 54.
- Mack, A.M., J.D. Sedlacek, K. L. Friley, J.D. Lowe and K.W. Pomper. 2010. The Effectiveness of Ripe Pawpaw Fruit Extract for Managing Striped Cucumber Beetle on Squash. Posters-at-the-Capitol Program and Abstract Book. p. 55.
- Sedlacek, J.D., K.L. Friley and S. L. Hillman. 2009. Populations of lady beetles and lacewings in sweet corn grown following organic production practices using 2-phenylethanol based Benallure beneficial insect lures. J. Kentucky Acad. Sci. 70: 127-132.
- Sedlacek, J.D., K.L. Friley, J.D. Lowe and K.W. Pomper. 2010. Potential of ripe pawpaw fruit extract as an insecticide and feeding deterrent for striped cucumber beetle on squash. J. Entomol. Sci. 45: 378-384.
- Sedlacek, J.D., D.J. Sedlacek and K.L. Friley. 2009. Flower and synthetic HIPPO attractancy of four common lady beetle species. J. Kentucky Acad. Sci. 70: 167.
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Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities. Two field experiments were conducted to determine the effects of a methyl salicylate based beneficial insect lure on populations of beneficial insects, pest insects and damage to sweet corn ears. One experiment was conducted using organic production practices at the KSU Agricultural Research and Demonstration Farm. The other was conducted at the University of Kentucky South Farm using conventional production practices. Neither study employed any type of insecticide. These studies quantified lady beetles, lacewings, and big eyed bugs using yellow sticky traps in control plots and plots where the lures were deployed. Traps were changed weekly during anthesis. Beneficial insect data from these two studies were analyzed using SAS ANOVA procedures. Larval Lepidoptera were identified and quantified after crop harvest and damage was assessed. A third experiment was conducted to determine the impact habitat management/companion planting has on beneficial insect diversity and abundance, pest abundance and damage in sweet corn. This study quantified populations of lady beetles, lacewings, and big eyed bugs using yellow sticky traps in un-mowed pasture, buckwheat, and sunflower borders and sweet corn plots. Traps were changed weekly during anthesis. Larval Lepidoptera were identified and quantified after crop harvest and damage was assessed. Data analyses will be completed this winter. Two undergraduate students and one high school student worked in my laboratory on various aspects of this research and learned beneficial insect identification skills and insect ecology and management concepts. News and information sections were added to the KSU Organic Working Group web site (http://organic.kysu.edu/index.shtml). This site has received 81,000 hits since January 2009. Events. Two staff members and one student attended the Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Meeting, the Kentucky Academy of Science Meeting, the 1890 Association of Research Directors Meeting, and the Kentucky State University Third Thursday Sustainable Agriculture Workshops. Services. Approximately 35 telephone calls and emails were answered from people having questions about sweet corn production practices and pest management. We mentored two undergraduate students and one high school student on research projects. Products. The KSU Organic Working Group web site was updated and has had 81,000 visitors during 2009. One undergraduate completed a BIO 410 research project on lady beetles in sweet corn. Dissemination. Presentations were made at the Kentucky Academy of Science Meeting, the 1890 Association of Research Directors Meeting, and the Kentucky State University Third Thursday Sustainable Agriculture Workshops by two staff members. Sweet corn pest and beneficial insect and damage information was distributed to 250 people attending the Kentucky State University Third Thursday Sustainable Agriculture Workshops and to another 200 people attending the Small and Minority Farmers Conference at Kentucky State University. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals. Dr. John Sedlacek, project director, designed the experiments, assisted in the production of the crops, assisted collecting and analyzing data, delivered talks to growers, extension and research personnel, developed field days, answered grower questions via telephone, email, and farm visits, and mentored an undergraduate student and high school student. Ms. Karen Friley, project co-investigator, assisted in the design of experiments, assisted in data collection and analyses, assisted with crop production, delivered talks to growers, extension and research personnel, helped develop field days, and mentored an undergraduate student and high school student. Partner Organizations: University Collaborations: We have collaborated with Dr. John Strang and Mr. Darrell Slone, University of Kentucky, concerning sweet corn plot preparation, planting, maintenance and assessment at the University of Kentucky South Farm. I continue to communicate with Dr. David James, Washington State University, regarding results of PredaLure experiments and deployment strategies of lures in sweet corn and small fruit crops. Collaborators and Contacts: KSU Collaborators. Collaborations with KSU CRS and CEP personnel continued with individuals in Plant and Soil Science (Dr. Kirk Pomper and Dr. Michael Bomford) and the Small Farm Program (Dr. Marion Simon and Mr. Louie Rivers). I provided Emmett Wright, Paul Riley, John Clay, and Andre Barbour (limited resource farmers) with sweet corn production information especially organically grown sweet corn. I maintained contact with Ms. Wanda Miick, small farm assistant Russell County, who will collaborate with on-farm demonstrations in 2010 and with Mr. Mac Stone and Ms. Ann Bell Stone, prominent organic vegetable farmers in Scott County, who will collaborate on companion planting with the sweet corn project in 2010. We maintained contact with Ms. Lori Belling of Meadowview Farm and Natural Habitat Gardens to discuss landscape pest management and farmscaping using perennial flowering plants. Collaborations with Companies. Dr. Mark Sigourney of Syngenta Seed will continue to provide my research program with all sweet corn seed to use in field research. I continue to communicate with the Manufacturer and CEO of PredaLure, AgBio, Inc. Dr. Jan Menely, to discuss deployment strategies and results in sweet corn plots. He provides all lures for my research. Training or Professional Development: One undergraduate student and one high school student were trained in lady beetle identification and insect ecology and management for their research projects. These students also learned sweet corn production practices. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences. The needs of small family farms and limited resource farmers in Kentucky and the southeastern United States are being addressed by improving production practices of a high value niche crop in Kentucky and surrounding regions. It also will impact entrepreneurs, farmers' markets, and other specialty vegetable retailers. Kentucky and the southeastern U.S. continue to transition from tobacco to alternative crops. Thus, organic/sustainable production of sweet corn could provide an additional high value crop for this region. This project could significantly impact low-income minority farmers by providing a new crop and market opportunities for these individuals. Efforts. Presentations concerning Conservation Biological Control using chemical ecology were made at the KSU Third Thursday Sustainable Agriculture Workshop, the Small and Minority Farmers Conference, the Kentucky Academy of Science Meeting, and the 1890 Association of Research Directors Biennial Research Symposium. Tours of the KSU Research and Demonstration Farm, especially the sweet corn plots, were given to various youth and community groups from across the state of Kentucky. Brochures detailing our research efforts and photo identification sheets of pest and beneficial insects and sweet corn damage were distributed at all of these events. Updates concerning this project were added to the KSU Organic Working Group web site http://organic.kysu.edu/index.shtml). This site has received 81,000 hits since January 2009. One undergraduate student and one high school student completed their research projects and also a Power Point presentation. This year, results of this research will be presented at the North Central Branch Meeting of the Entomological Society of America, the Annual Entomological Society of America Meeting, the Kentucky Fruit and Vegetable Meeting, and the Kentucky Academy of Science Meeting. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Change in knowledge. PredaLure Methyl Salicylate Experiments. Five species of lady beetles, one species of big eyed bug and the green lacewing were caught in the organic sweet corn plots. Pink lady beetle and big eyed bug were the two most abundant predators caught in organic plots. Pink lady beetle, Asian lady beetle and big eyed bug represented 61%, 16% and 20% of the total beneficial insects caught, respectively. The remaining species represented only 3%. There was a tendency toward higher numbers of Asian lady beetles in plots where PredaLure had been deployed. Nine species of lady beetles, one species of big eyed bug, one species of green lacewing and one species of brown lacewing were found in the conventional study plots. Pink lady beetle and Asian lady beetle were the most abundant predators caught in the conventional sweet corn plots. Pink lady beetle and Asian lady beetle accounted for 56% and 28%, respectively, of the predatory insects caught in the conventional sweet corn plots. The big eyed bug, green lacewing and seven spotted lady beetle represented 6%, 4% and 3%, respectively, of the total number caught. The remaining seven species represented only 3% of the total number caught. There were significantly greater numbers of pink lady beetle, Asian lady beetle, green lacewing and big eyed bugs caught in PredaLure baited conventional plots. Corn earworm larvae were the most abundant pest of sweet corn ears followed by European corn borer. Companion Plant Experiment. Four species of lady beetles were found midway through anthesis. The pink lady beetle was the dominant species trapped with 96% of the total number of lady beetles captured. There was a greater number of pink lady beetles in sweet corn bordered by any of the three border types than in the borders themselves. However, the numerically greatest number of pink lady beetles was trapped in the buckwheat and sweet corn paired plots. All experiments need to be repeated because this is only the first year of this project. Change in action. Organic/sustainable sweet corn growers have begun requesting PredaLure lures for trial on their farms. They have also expressed considerable interest in companion planting using flowering plants. Organic and sustainable sweet corn production practices could be impacted by lures and flowering plants increasing local biodiversity and potentially lowering damage to sweet corn. Change in condition. Local production of high value organic/sustainably produced sweet corn will promote socioeconomic stability of rural communities. It will also reduce reliance on chemical inputs and transportation of this crop from bordering states which will improve environmental quality.
Publications
- Sedlacek, J.D., K.L. Friley, L.S. Brent and M.K. Bomford. 2009. Populations of Beneficial Insects in Organically Grown Sweet Corn Using Methyl Salicylate Based PredaLure Insect Attractant. 1890 Research: Sustainable Solutions for the 21st Century Program & Abstracts. p. 106.
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Progress 10/01/08 to 12/31/08
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities. Discussions were held with Shooting Star Nursery, Inc. (Georgetown, KY) personnel regarding native plant seed selection, availability and general procedures for establishing native plant communities. These discussions included seedbed preparation, seeding and plot maintenance. It was determined that using native and non-native annuals for two growing seasons to condition and establish sections of the KSU Farm that had been partly cultivated and left partly fallow would be desirable. Plans for field preparation and management were drafted and presented to Mr. Eddie Reed, KSU Farm manager. Dr. Sedlacek met with Dr. Jan Meneley, AgBio Inc. CEO, manufacturer of PredaLure beneficial insect lure, to request lures for research purposes and discuss their deployment in sweet corn plots. Meetings were also held with Dr. David James, Washington State University and Dr. Geoff Gurr, Charles Sturt University, Leeds Parade, New South Wales, Australia to discuss the effectiveness of PredaLure lures and deployment of lures in sweet corn and other vegetable and small fruit crops. Events. We presented preliminary information on PredaLure beneficial insect attractants in sweet corn at the Annual Kentucky Academy of Science meeting and the Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America. Methods of companion planting/farmscaping and beneficial insect attractants, major methods of Conservation Biological Control, were discussed. Services. We mentored two undergraduate students in this research. Products. New collaborations were established with AgBio Inc., and Dr. David James, Washington State University. We continued collaborations with Dr. John Obrycki of the University of Kentucky and Dr. Daniel Pavuk of Bowling Green State University. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals. Dr. John Sedlacek, project PI/PD, designed experiments for this project and spoke with growers, extension and research personnel in person and on the telephone regarding protocol and data analyses. Ms. Karen Friley, project Co-Investigator, assisted in designing experiments. Partner Organizations: University Collaborations: We collaborated with Dr. John Obrycki, University of Kentucky, Department of Entomology Chair, who reviewed the proposal and made experiment design and sampling recommendations. We also collaborated with Dr. Daniel Pavuk of Bowling Green State University, Department of Biology who made design and sampling recommendations for ground beetles. Dr. David James, Washington State University, was consulted several times for trap deployment and design parameters. Grower Collaborations: We have research collaborations with sweet corn growers Mr. Paul Riley, Morning View, KY, Mr. Bobby Hutcherson, Hutcherson Farms, Frankfort, KY, and Ms. Lori Belling of Meadowview Farm and Natural Habitat Gardens, Crestwood, KY. Collaborations with Companies: Mr. Mark Sigourney, Syngenta, Wilmington, DE provided all seed necessary for this study. Mr. Jan Meneley, AgBio Inc., Denver, CO will be providing PredaLure lures. Collaborators and contacts: KSU Collaborators. We have a collaboration with Dr. Michael Bomford who is assisting with experimental design. Training or professional development. Dr. Sedlacek attended the Annual Entomological Society of America meeting and discussed this project with entomologists actively researching Conservation Biological Control methods. Dr. Sedlacek and Ms. Friley attended the Annual Kentucky Academy of Science Meeting to discuss this project with state biologists. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences. This project addresses the needs of small family farms and limited resource farmers in Kentucky and the southeastern United States by improving production practices of a niche crop in Kentucky and surrounding regions. It also will impact entrepreneurs, farmers markets, and other specialty vegetable retailers. Kentucky and the southeast U.S. are transitioning from tobacco to alternative crops. Thus, organic production of sweet corn could provide an additional high value crop for this region. This project could significantly impact low-income minority farmers by providing a new crop and market opportunities for these individuals. Efforts. Project is only three months old. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Change in Knowledge. There has been no change, since the project is only three months old. Change in action. There has been no change, since the project is only three months old. Change in conditions. There has been no change, since the project is only three months old.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
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