Progress 06/15/09 to 06/14/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Statewide Coordination of New Jersey IPM Outreach and Delivery Program: During FY09 the principle investigator (i.e., IPM Coordinator) coordinated the overall activities of five grower supported statewide IPM programs impacted the tree fruit, nursery, greenhouse and blueberry industries. The coordinator also oversaw educational activities related to school IPM. Coordination was accomplished through the use of regular meeting (in-person, conference call and Skype) to access program development, needs and issues. At the state level, the coordinator convened annual stakeholder advisory meeting that included representative from Rutgers University, state government, advocacy groups and grower organizations. The results of this meeting were made available the IPM program coordinators for each previously mentioned program. The IPM coordinator represented the New Jersey Ag Experiment Station on two statewide committees (Governor's Pesticide Advisory Committee and DEP's IPM Task Force) and served as New Jersey's representative to the Northeast's NEREAP-IPM Committee. The coordinator also responded to questions regarding NJ's IPM programs and questions regarding pesticide usage from state and federal partners and the general public. IPM in High Value/High Input or Intensely Managed Crops (Blueberries and tree fruit): During FY09 an IPM program was delivered to commercial blueberry and tree fruit growers by employing seasonal field scouts who collected farm specific weekly pest management data from farms (primary participants) enrolled in the program. The program also reached all other blueberry and tree fruit growers in NJ (secondary participants) with summarized scouting data and recommendations in 2 statewide newsletters (The Blueberry Bulletin and The Plant & Pest Advisory-Fruit Edition - 55 editions and 344 subscribers). Results were also transferred to growers with farm visits, seasonal update meetings, and a broadcast fax system. The program also collected data on insect and disease pests as well as fertility levels through soil and plant tissue sampling. Primary participants in blueberries included 42 growers who grew 4900 acres of blueberries (65% of the state acreage, 75% of the state production). Primary participants in tree fruit included 24 growers in northern counties and 18 growers in southern counties (3,759 acres total). Grower knowledge and practice of IPM was improved through demonstrations, articles, county reports and other outreach, public awareness on IPM. IPM Support for Pest Diagnostic Facilities: During FY09 the Rutgers Pest Diagnostic Lab processed 1483 samples from growers, landscapers and other sources (1223 of these samples were routine diagnostic requests, 178 were specific for summer fruit tortrix moth and 82 were for an enhanced trapping project). The total numbers of diagnosis made (2410) were distributed as follows: pathogens 487, arthropods 126, plants/weeds 19, nematodes 225, abiotic 348 and other 1205. Laboratory personnel produced newsletter articles (9) and made personal presentations (70) on pest problems and their diagnosis that impacted over 5,000 stakeholders. PARTICIPANTS: Partner Organizations - Hunterdon County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Gloucester County Board of Chosen Freeholders, Atlantic County Board of Chosen Freeholders, NJ Highlands Council through Hunterdon County, NJ Blueberry Industry Advisory Council, NJ Blueberry Cranberry Research Council, NJ State Horticultural Society, New Jersey Turfgrass Association, New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association Collaborators and Contacts - Rutgers University: Drs. Cesar Rodriguez-Saona, Peter Oudemans, Norman Lalancette, Brad Majek, and George Hamilton; Agricultural Agents - Winfred Cowgill, Jerome Frecon, Dr. Gary Pavlis, and Peter Nitzche State Agencies - New Jersey Department of Agriculture CAPS Program, New Jersey DEP Pesticide Control Program, USDA NRCS Farm Services EQIP Program TARGET AUDIENCES: The principal audiences consist of commercial tree fruit and blueberry growers statewide. Blueberry production in focused in Atlantic and Burlington counties (Hammonton, Pemberton through Browns Mills and New Lisbon areas). Wholesale tree fruit production is largely in Gloucester, Salem, Cumberland counties, and direct market tree fruit production is in Burlington, Mercer, Hunterdon, Warren, Morris, Sussex, Monmouth, Middlesex and Bergen Counties. In total, the program directly addressed 42 commercial blueberry growers, 42 tree fruit growers and 4 wine grape growers, defined as primary participants. Commercial growers were trained out of state in two meeting in PA. A blueberry IPM training course addressed 23 growers in Burkes County, PA, and over 100 growers were addressed in a half day IPM training session in Hershey, PA in February. Sevin undergraduate students were trained as seasonal IPM field scouts for both blueberry and tree fruit pests, and one full time farm IPM employee was trained. One post-doctoral fellow was trained in blueberry IPM and GIS based monitoring. The results of program activities were presented in field meetings, twilight and other grower meetings, newsletters, Web downloads, and annual recommendations. Third party food safety auditors used the presence of the program to certify food safety standards, and one large marketer used program participation for both food safety audits and marketing purposes. Pest specific monitoring protocols for blueberry maggot, partially developed by this program, were used by commercial growers to certify exports to Canada in cooperation with the NJ Department of Agriculture. These exports comprise from $10 to $12 million in sales, and are instrumental in maintaining the fresh market price for domestic NJ blueberry sales. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Blueberry - All primary participants utilized IPM practices as a result of scouting, farm consultations, newsletters and meeting information. The use of IPM recommendations was verified by collecting and analyzing grower pesticide use records. Three blueberry growers participated in USDA/NRCS EQIP cost sharing programs for IPM. New pest management programs were utilized using new reduced risk materials and practices. Growers managing blueberry maggot under IPM methods reduced insecticide use from 6 to 1-2 applications 66%). Using the results from a USDA/RAMP project, growers following this program had between 45% and 58% lower amounts of insecticides applied than growers using standard programs. Overall, growers who practiced IPM at high levels, used from 6-8 lb ai of pesticide per acre, while growers treating on a pure calendar schedule, used up to 34 lb ai per acre. The average grower using IPM practices saved about $100/A. New pest management practices such as mating disruption for oriental beetle and whole farm GIS based monitoring were demonstrated. IPM training (students and farm employees) created new IPM interns, professionals and researchers. Additional growers adapted a trapping method for blueberry maggot monitoring and control, that reduced insecticide use. Because of program efforts, organophosphate and carbamate pesticides was reduced, and were replaced by reduced risk materials (90% of growers) and new technologies were learned and adopted on 1,500 acres. Tree Fruit - The program demonstrated reduced risk methods to replace insecticide use for oriental fruit moth, tarnished plant bug and stink bugs and two species of peach tree borers. Pesticide use records were collected at the end of the season to measure the program impact on pesticide use. Demonstrations were conducted on commercial farms to encourage use of alternative practices including mating disruption and reduced risk pesticides. Each grower using mating disruption in peaches eliminated 5-7 insecticide applications. In southern counties 44% of growers now use mating disruption, 62% used alternative, reduced risk insecticides, and 80% used reduced risk fungicides. Grower use of degree day based pest models reduced insecticide use by 40%. Because of monitoring, field consultations, and other teaching methods growers used less organophosphate and carbamate insecticides. Growers use of degree day based phenology models for oriental fruit moth, codling moth and tufted apple budmoth reduced insecticide use. Grower use of environmental models for apple scab and summer disease control optimized fruit quality reduced fungicide use. Growers learned the importance of regular orchard monitoring, helping to prevent pest resistance to pesticides, and optimize the use of pest management resources.
Publications
- Ward, D.L., G.C. Hamilton, J.R. Heckman, N. Lalancette, B.A. Majek and D.F. Polk. 2010. New Jersey Tree Fruit Production Guide. Rutgers Cooperative Extension Bulletin E002
- Majek, B.A., P. Oudemans and D.F. Polk. 2010. The Commercial Blueberry Pest Control Recommendations for New Jersey. Rutgers Cooperative Extension Bulletin E265
- Polk, D.F. 2010. The Plant and Pest Advisory Newsletter Fruit Edition. Articles in 22 issues
- Polk, D.F. 2010. The Plant and Pest Advisory Newsletter. Articles in 33 issues
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