Progress 09/01/09 to 08/31/10
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities: Research conducted on late blight strains in potato and tomato; management research on wireworms in potatoes; survey conducted on cranberry tipworm; survey conducted on mosquito species and distribution; participated in surveys on distribution of browntail moth, Asian longhorned beetle, and emerald ash borer. Events: Potato Pest Management Conference, Annual Potato Grower's Conference, New England Vegetable and Small Fruit Grower's Annual Conference, Tri State Greenhouse IPM Conference, Calibration Workshop with Andrew Landers from Cornell University, Apple Scab Research and Management Workshop with Bill MacHardy of UNH, Apple Field Day, Annual Meeting of Maine Apple Growers, Small Fruit and Vegetable Field Day and Twilight Meetings(3), Vegetable and Small Fruit Schools(2 days). Services: Over 2,500 arthropod and plant disease specimens identified or calls answered. Products: Dill, J. F. 2010. How to Look for and Avoid Bedbugs in Hotel or Motel Rooms. (YouTube). Cooperative Extension, University of Maine, Orono, Maine. Dill, J. F. and A. Lichtenwalner 2010. Protecting Against Mosquitoes and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. (YouTube). Cooperative Extension, University of Maine, Orono, Maine. Dill, J. F. 2010. How to Get Rid of Japanese Beetles. (YouTube). Cooperative Extension, University of Maine, Orono, Maine. Maine Homeowner IPM website(http://umaine.edu/homeowner-ipm/). A fifth grade curriculum on tick biology and identification produced by the Vectorborne Task Force on Youth Education. Dissemination: Greenhouse IPM two day training to Micmac Native Americans; Greenhouse IPM training and discussion with Penobscot Native Americans; Three Youtube videos(listed above); various fact sheets; 40-50 media interviews; two three-hour call in pest management radio shows; three online live chat pest management programs; and a one-hour television interview on invasive insects and bed bugs. PARTICIPANTS: Dr. James Dill, UMaine Extension Pest Management Specialist, and Director of the UMaine Extension Pest Diagnostic Facility, is the UMaine Extension IPM Coordinator for the Smith Lever 3(d) Funds and is responsible for overall IPM program administration. He is also responsible for program implementation of sweet corn, strawberry, and potato IPM programs in central Maine as well as oversight of the multiple IPM programs listed in this document. Dr. David Handley, UMaine Extension Small Fruit and Vegetable Specialist, is program coordinator for the strawberry and sweet corn programs in southern Maine. He is also a member of the Northeast Vegetable IPM Working Group as well as the New England Small Fruit IPM Working Group. James Dwyer, Crop Specialist, is the program coordinator for potatoes, soybeans, and canola in northern Maine, as well as a member of the Maine/New Brunswick Late Blight Management Task Force. Dr. Steve Johnson is an Extension Potato Plant Pathologist and cooperates on the Potato IPM Program as well as lending expertise as a plant pathologist in other IPM programs. Mr. Glen Koehler, Associate Scientist, is the apple IPM program coordinator, ProNewEngland webmaster, and member of the New England Pest Management Network. The New England Pest Management Network collaborators are from the six New England land grant universities and are responsible for pest management surveys, crop profiles, and pest management strategic plans in various commodities. As the webmaster of ProNewEngland.org, Glen Koehler's responsibilities include maintaining a vast array of current IPM information as well as answering risk/benefit queries from the EPA. Mr. Clay Kirby, Insect Diagnostician, and member of the Maine Vectorborne Disease Work Group and the Entomology Ad Hoc Committee of the National Plant Diagnostic Network, and Dr. Bruce Watt, Plant Disease Diagnostician, who coordinates Maine's National Plant Diagnostic Network activities, staff the University of Maine Extension Pest Diagnostic Facility. Dr. James McConnon, Professor of Resource Economics and Policy, and Dr. Todd Gabe, Assistant Professor of Resource Economics and Policy, have conducted an economic impact analysis regarding a potential for major increase in the plant diagnostic laboratory. Both of these economists will continue to provide evaluation assistance to Maine's IPM programs. Richard Kersbergen, Organic Dairy Specialist and County Educator, will also be providing his weed management expertise to the IPM team. Other collaborators in the IPM programs are the Maine Dept. of Agriculture, the Maine Organic Farmers and Growers Association, the Maine Potato Board, the Maine Pomological Society, and the Maine Small Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. In 2010, the IPM program employed approximately 30 undergraduate students who learned about various aspects of UMaine's IPM programs. TARGET AUDIENCES: The IPM program staff worked with Micmac and Penobscot Native Americans on greenhouse IPM. The vegetable IPM staff also worked with a large group of Somali farmers in central Maine. Otherwise, through various field days, twilight meetings, workshops, media venues, live online pest management chats, call-in radio programs, and videos, a large portion of Maine's population was reached concerning various pest management problems across a wide array of commodities and households. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.
Impacts
Evaluations indicate that most participating growers have modified their pesticide use as a result of the Strawberry IPM program. A survey of 2010 participants showed that 86% of growers participating in the program reduced their costs through reduced spraying. Just over 80% of growers saw an improvement in the quality of their crop, and 54% were able to significantly reduce the amount of pesticides sprayed on their fields. Nearly all participants have seen an improvement in crop quality and profitability, and want the program to continue. In 2010, a survey of sweet corn IPM participants indicated that 85% of the growers receiving the UMaine IPM information were able to improve their crop quality as a result. Most of the growers(79%) modified the number of sprays or spray timing. Approximately 20% significantly reduced their insecticide applications. More than half of the farmers found that participating in the program improved crop profitability, some by more than 100%. All of the responding farmers said that they want to continue receiving this type of information. In the year end survey, 100% of apple growers who participated in the IPM program said that the visits helped their decision making. In a separate survey, 91% of growers said they had benefited from an Apple IPM Program presentation, and 100% said that the newsletter had helped them with pest management decisions. Growers estimated that support from the Apple IPM Program helped them reduce pest damage losses by 33%, and achieved this improved yield while spending an average of $262 per acre less on pesticide. In the homeowner and public health IPM programs, we have made impacts through the use of our homeowner IPM website and through various media outlets. We have started a new homeowner IPM program tentatively titled the Green Bug Education Program with more information available next year. Through these venues we have increased by 10% the general public contacting us about pest management alternatives and safe use of pesticides. In approximately 50% of the direct contacts, behavior and knowledge has been changed with the individuals being more informed and making wiser, lower hazard management choices. We have also had several public meetings as well as personal contact with individuals concerned about mosquitoes and EEE/WNV and deer ticks and Lyme disease. In most of these individual cases as well as public meetings, the citizenry has been convinced that prevention is the key to avoiding contraction of these diseases. The use of repellents and protective clothing against ticks and mosquitoes has been a major shift in behavior. Most people in Maine grew up with these arthropods and had no concerns about diseases, therefore they had no reason to repel them, other than as a nuisance. Of course, 2010 was the year of the bed bug, with many consultations and presentations given on avoidance of these insects. People are greatly concerned about getting bed bug infestations and have worked diligently with our program staff to prevent and mitigate the problem. By monitoring cutworms and aphid populations in canola and soybeans, significant insecticide applications were reduced.
Publications
- Handley, D. 2010. Sweet Corn IPM Newsletter. Weekly. Provides technical information and observations from a network of growers and researchers. VIA email and mail from UMaine Cooperative Extension.
- Handley, D. 2010. Strawberry IPM Newsletter. Weekly. Provides technical information and observations from a network of growers and researchers. VIA email and mail from UMaine Cooperative Extension.
- Koehler, G. 2010. Apple Pest Report. Weekly. Provides technical information and observations from a network of growers and researchers. VIA email and mail from UMaine Cooperative Extension.
- Koehler, G. and R. Moran. 2010. Growing Fruit Trees in Maine. UMaine Cooperative Extension.
- Dwyer, J, J. Dill, S. Johnson. 2010. Potato IPM Pest Alert Newsletter. Weekly. Provides technical information and observations from a network of growers and researchers. VIA email and mail from UMaine Cooperative Extension.
- Dill, J. 2010. Late Blight: What Happened in 2009. Proc. New England Vegetable and Small Fruit Association Annual Meeting. Manchester, NH.
- Dill, J. and C. Kirby. 2010(Revised). Bed Bugs. Fact Sheet. UMaine Cooperative Extension.
- Dill, J. and G. Dill. 2010(Revised). Mosquitoes in Maine. UMaine Cooperative Extension.
- Dill, J. 2010. Gardening After Late Blight. Fact Sheet. UMaine Cooperative Extension.
- Dwyer, J. and J. Dill. 2010. Home Gardener Late Blight Alert. Fact Sheet/Poster. UMaine Cooperative Extension.
- Dwyer, J. and J. Dill. 2010. Potato IPM Program Late Blight Identification for Maine Roadside Stand Producers. Brochure. UMaine Cooperative Extension.
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