Source: NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV submitted to NRP
EXTENSION INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT COORDINATION PROGRAM FOR NORTH CAROLINA
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
COMPLETE
Funding Source
3D GRANT
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
0218419
Grant No.
2009-41534-05484
Cumulative Award Amt.
$204,025.00
Proposal No.
2009-00688
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Jul 15, 2009
Project End Date
Jul 14, 2011
Grant Year
2009
Program Code
[QQIPM]- Extension Integrated Pest Management - Coordination
Recipient Organization
NORTH CAROLINA STATE UNIV
(N/A)
RALEIGH,NC 27695
Performing Department
Entomology
Non Technical Summary
North Carolina has a very productive and diverse agriculture. North Carolina also has a growing urban population. For decades, the North Carolina Extension IPM Program has reflected the reality of a diverse agriculture and growing urban population by addressing a wide array of commodity and program areas, including field crops, vegetables, fruits, Christmas trees, ornamentals, poultry and livestock (beef, dairy, and swine), schools, and municipalities. The state's IPM program has advanced pest management methods that meet the economic, ecological and societal expectations of clientele with the goals of providing effective and economical pest management methodologies, reducing the use of high risk pesticides, and protecting human health and the environment from pests and pest management tactics. This EIPM-CS Coordination Program project will provide for IPM coordination in North Carolina, IPM collaboration with North Carolina A&T State University, and IPM activities in two areas of programming emphasis: IPM in High Value/High Input or Intensively Managed Crops and IPM in Schools. Program objectives are: 1) to maintain an Extension IPM Program to serve as a focal point for IPM team building, communication and stakeholder participation; 2) to create IPM solutions for pest problems that plague small scale market producers of fruits and vegetables through a collaborative project with North Carolina A&T State University; 3) to use project funds to conduct a competitive mini-grants program; and 4) to promote, assist and fund IPM-related applied research, demonstration and training activities for a variety of crops and settings. The designated Extension IPM Coordinator at North Carolina State University will involve university faculty and county agents in Extension IPM activities, communicate program successes, maintain stakeholder input via an established Advisory Committee, and manage the mini-grants program. Additional faculty and staff will conduct IPM-related applied research, demonstration and training activities for specified crops and settings. North Carolina A&T State University faculty and staff will perform similar activities focused on helping small scale market fruit and vegetable producers find IPM solutions to their pest problems. Results will provide stakeholders with IPM practices that are economical, environmentally sound and protective of human health.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
100%
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
2160699113010%
2160699116010%
2161199113010%
2161199116010%
2161499113010%
2161499116010%
2161710113015%
2163299113010%
2165399113015%
Knowledge Area
216 - Integrated Pest Management Systems;

Subject Of Investigation
1499 - Vegetables, general/other; 3299 - Poultry, general/other; 5399 - Structures, facilities, and equipment, general/other; 1199 - Deciduous and small fruits, general/other; 0699 - Trees, forests, and forest products, general; 1710 - Upland cotton;

Field Of Science
1130 - Entomology and acarology; 1160 - Pathology;
Goals / Objectives
Objective 1: To maintain an Extension IPM Program in North Carolina to serve as a focal point for IPM team building, communication and stakeholder participation within the state. Program coordination will be the responsibility of a designated Extension IPM Coordinator. Objective 1 Expected Outcomes: This project will provide for a cohesive IPM program in North Carolina that involves Extension and research faculty and county Extension agents in conducting and communicating IPM programs in the state, actively engages stakeholders, and provides growers, consultants, pest management professionals and other stakeholders with the information and training needed to adopt IPM in various crops and settings. Objective 2: To create IPM solutions for pest problems that plague small scale market producers of fruits and vegetables in North Carolina. Objective 2 Expected Outcomes: This collaboration project will provide new, applied knowledge on integrated pest management of vertebrate pests in small scale market fruit and vegetable crops and increase the knowledge and adoption of these IPM practices. Objective 3: To use project funds to conduct a competitive mini-grants program in 2009 which will provide the opportunity for Extension specialists and research scientists at North Carolina State University and North Carolina A&T State University and county Extension agents in the state's 100 counties and Cherokee Reservation to, if successful, conduct projects that demonstrate IPM principles and/or solve an immediate stakeholder-identified need for IPM. Objective 3 Expected Outcomes: The seven mini-grant projects funded in 2009 will provide new, applied knowledge on IPM on a variety of crops and settings in North Carolina and increase the knowledge and adoption of IPM practices by growers and other stakeholders. Objective 4: To promote, assist and fund IPM-related applied research, demonstration and training activities for a variety of crops and settings in North Carolina, which include but are not limited to apples, cotton, Christmas trees, poultry and livestock, and schools. Objective 4 Expected Outcomes: This project will provide new, applied knowledge on IPM for a variety of crops and settings in North Carolina, especially apples, cotton, Christmas trees, poultry and livestock, and schools.
Project Methods
Objective 1 Activities: Stephen J. Toth, Jr. serves as the designated Extension IPM Coordinator. His responsibilities include: serving as the University's major contact for IPM, collaborating with campus and field faculty in conducting IPM programs; assisting faculty in identifying and seeking funding for IPM; managing the state's IPM mini-grants program; assuring stakeholder input; and representing the state in regional and national meetings as the IPM liaison. Objective 2 Activities: Investigators will identify three small-scale producers with significant deer pressure and crop destruction to serve as cooperators. Six charged fencing systems will be implemented in production fields at these farms. Growers will monitor the effectiveness of the fencing systems to exclude deer from production fields. Objective 3 Activities: North Carolina Extension IPM Program mini-grants are competed for by faculty and county Extension agents. Specific requirements for mini-grant projects are detailed in a simple, three-page Request for Proposals. Grants are limited to a one year funding period. Objective 4 Activities: Stephen Schoof assists and coordinates IPM related applied research and extension activities on fruit and vegetable crops in western North Carolina. His Extension responsibilities include dissemination of information through weekly updating of the Southern Appalachian Apple IPM Website, DUEX phone updates on pest activity, and faxing of updates to extension personnel, growers and the crop protection industry. In cotton, Dr. Jack Bacheler and other North Carolina State University (NCSU) personnel will continue aligned southeastern projects with Dr. Ames Herbert (Virginia Tech), Dr. Jeremy Greene (Clemson) and Dr. Phillip Roberts (University of Georgia). They plan to continue the cooperative applied research and extension work by sharing similar research protocols, appearing as co-authors on professional presentations and papers, and in developing multistate extension publications. Bryan Davis is an integral partner in the Christmas tree IPM program. He works through the county extension agents in these three counties to provide educational programs to growers. Much of his time is spent in the field working side-by-side with growers and Hispanic farm workers to teach them scouting techniques, to calibrate spray equipment, and to identify causes of new problems. Mike Stringham is an Extension entomologist at NCSU. His program addresses the management of arthropod and vertebrate pest of livestock and poultry. His training activities emphasize the use of IPM for pests affecting animals and their production environments, as well as topics relating to human health and nuisance issues associated with livestock and poultry production. The success of the Extension School IPM Program in North Carolina is the result of the efforts of Dr. Godfrey Nalyanya, who prepares training materials (i.e., brochures, manuals, web resources), trained pest management professionals and school employees through training workshops, and designs and conducts surveys to assess the status of IPM implementation in North Carolina public schools.

Progress 07/15/09 to 07/14/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The NC Extension IPM Program involves Extension/research faculty from NC State and NC A&T State universities and county Extension agents. They participated in more than 20 university-sponsored commodity field days and hundreds of area scouting schools, county growers meetings, agent training events, etc. An 18-member Advisory Committee, composed of a diverse group of stakeholders, met on October 22, 2009 in Raleigh to provide direction on the program's future, creating 6 stakeholder working groups to form the framework of a successful Extension IPM Coordination grant proposal for FY 2010-2012. A web site (http://ipm.ncsu.edu) was developed to communicate program opportunities, activities and successes. The NC Pest News was distributed electronically to more than 300 individuals weekly during the growing season. A collaboration project was conducted by NC A&T State University scientists to determine effective methods of deterring deer from small market fruit and vegetable growers' fields. Demonstration sites in 4 counties using low cost electric fencing and bean trap crops successfully deterred deer from strawberry, blueberry and sweet corn fields. Over 50 farmers observed the sites and were educated on wildlife control. Apple IPM Program personnel performed applied research on new pheromone mating disruption products, pheromone lures for codling moths, and new insecticides for effects on pest and beneficial arthropods. Apple growers were informed of insect activity via weekly updates in various media. Christmas Tree IPM Program personnel made on-farm visits and provided recommendations to growers in western NC, and conducted 8 meetings delivering IPM information to 338 growers. Cotton IPM Program personnel conducted 18 grower meetings and 6 scouting schools, emphasizing scouting-based decision making and management of key pests with lower insecticide inputs. IPM information was disseminated via a website, weekly mp3 tapes and newsletter articles. The Extension Poultry/Livestock IPM Specialist conducted 23 meetings and conferences educating producers/industry personnel on IPM of darkling beetles, fire ants, house flies, litter pests, parasitic mites, poultry diseases and rodents. School IPM Program personnel prepared instructional materials (brochures, manuals, DVDs), trained pest management professionals and schools employees, and conducted surveys to assess IPM implementation in NC public schools (mandated by the NC legislature). The NC Extension IPM Program conducted a competitive mini-grants program in 2009, funding 7 projects addressing stakeholder-identified needs. Project outputs include: 1) improved wireworm management practices in potatoes; 2) reduced insecticide volume and drift for granulate ambrosia beetle management in nurseries; 3) effective management of bacterial wilt on tomatoes through grafting of resistant rootstocks; 4) effective management of replant disorders in apple orchards with proper rootstock selection; 5) use of fescues as an IPM tool for Pierce's disease of grapes; 6) reduced-risk insect management on vegetables in western NC; and 7) a "train-the-trainer" program for site-based training of school IPM coordinators. PARTICIPANTS: The following program staff and key personnel provided leadership for the activities of the North Carolina Extension IPM Program: Steve Toth, IPM Coordinator and Extension Entomologist, NC State University (NCSU); Jack Bacheler, Extension Entomologist, NCSU (Cotton IPM); Ed Jones, Extension Service Associate Director and State Program Leader, ANR/CRD, NCSU; Keith Baldwin, Program Leader, ANR/CRD, and Extension Horticulture Specialist, NC A&T State University (IPM Collaboration Project); Mike Waldvogel, Extension Entomologist, NCSU (School IPM); Mike Stringham, Extension Entomologist, NCSU (Poultry and Livestock IPM); Steve Schoof, Agricultural Research Technician III, Department of Entomology, NCSU (Apple IPM); and Bryan Davis, Agricultural Program Assistant and BMP Technician, Ashe County Extension Center (Christmas Tree IPM). Program direction was provided by an Advisory Committee which includes the following: Wayne Buhler, Pesticide Safety Education Program, NCSU; Will Connell, NC Agricultural Consultants Association; Nancy Creamer, Director, Center for Environmental Farming Systems, NCSU; Jeanine Davis, Specialty Crops Program (Horticulture), NCSU; Alex Hitt, Organic Farmer, Alamance County; Ed Jones; Frank Louws, Extension Plant Pathologist - Vegetables and Small Fruit, NCSU; David Monks, NC Agricultural Research Service, NCSU; Mike Mitchell, Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division, NC Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services; Paul Mueller, SARE Coordinator, NCSU; Joe Neal, Extension Weed Scientist (Horticulture) - Nursery Crops, NCSU; David Orr, Extension Entomologist - Biological Control, NCSU; Fawn Pattison, Executive Director for Toxic Free NC (environmental advocate); Mitch Peele, NC Farm Bureau; Jill Sidebottom, Forestry Extension (Christmas trees), NCSU; Mike Stringham; Turner Sutton, Extension Plant Pathologist - Fruit Crops, NCSU; and Mike Waldvogel. The Advisory Committee had two primary functions: 1) to provide advice and oversight to the Extension IPM Coordinator regarding the direction of the IPM program in the state; and 2) serve as the review panel for the annual mini-grants program. TARGET AUDIENCES: The IPM collaboration project with NC A&T State University provided new, applied knowledge on IPM of vertebrate pests in small scale market fruit and vegetable crops and increased the knowledge and adoption of these IPM practices. Results of on-farm and station tests were distributed in Extension bulletins and at conferences such as the Organic Farming School, CFSA Sustainable Agriculture Conference, and farm field days. Results of field trials regarding apple, Christmas tree, cotton, and poultry and livestock IPM were distributed at field days, Extension meetings, scouting schools, etc. and in Extension publications. Growers and other stakeholders were provided with IPM information through newsletters, telephone calls, faxes, and the Internet. In addition, on-farm demonstrations were conducted with growers regarding Christmas tree IPM in three large Christmas tree growing counties in western NC. School IPM information and technology were transferred to Pest Management Professionals, administrators, teachers, and support staff of schools through IPM awareness seminars, training workshops, and consultation meetings. Literature on IPM in schools (manuals, brochures, fact-sheets, DVDs, etc.) was distributed to thousands of people in the state. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: None

Impacts
The NC Extension IPM Program moved to a more multi-disciplined, stakeholder-driven program in 2009-2010, forming 6 new IPM working groups. Communication and visibility improved through a program website (http://ipm.ncsu.edu). Timely pest news/alerts allowed Extension agents and stakeholders to effectively monitor insects and diseases. Through a collaboration project with NC A&T, over 50 small market fruit and vegetable growers observed demonstrations of wildlife management using electric fencing and trap crops; crop yields for these farmers were higher than in previous years due to adoption of new IPM tactics. The Apple IPM Program's dissemination of insect monitoring results to stakeholders accelerated apple acreage under mating disruption and reduced broad spectrum insecticide use. Based on sales data from pheromone companies, 65% of the apple acreage used mating disruption in 2010, compared to 55% in 2009. Based on records from 39 apple growers, organophosphate insecticide use averaged 1.2 applications per grower, compared to greater than 3 applications per grower in 2008. As a result of Christmas Tree IPM Program activities, growers can effectively calibrate air-blast sprayers, employ low cost deer repellents (90% savings over commercial products), effectively manage elongate hemlock scale, reduce late fall insecticide treatments for balsam twig aphids, and reduce nitrogen applications in young trees with clover groundcovers. The Cotton IPM Program's applied research on planting date-based insecticide use options for thrips and development of a plant phenology-based stink bug threshold have resulted in significant refinement of insecticide use by cotton growers. Poultry producers, integrators and servicemen were trained through 23 meetings/conferences, gaining knowledge in IPM of key pests and disease vectors of poultry, manure management, proper application of two new insecticides, and insecticide resistance management. A survey of school maintenance directors completed by the School IPM Program in 2009 showed that 63% of schools had IPM policies, a 47% increase over 2007. Results showed an 18% increase in school districts using written notifications to parents and staff on pesticide applications. These data point to success toward reaching the goal of bringing 100% of schools into compliance with the state's School Children's Health Act by October 31, 2011. Pesticide use was reduced in more than 72 NC school districts, impacting 750,000 students and 57,000 employees. Outcomes from mini-grant projects include: 1) delivery of novel information on wireworm species composition and IPM strategies to potato growers; 2) a 12x reduction of insecticide volume used to protect nursery trees from granulate ambrosia beetle damage and less drift; 3) reduction of disease incidence in tomatoes (from up to 85% plant death to 0%) through use of grafted rootstocks, and yields more than doubled compared to non-grafted controls; and 4) improved insect control with early season chemigation (versus weekly foliar applications) on tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, potentially reducing insecticide use, mitigating spray drift, and increasing grower profitability.

Publications

  • Bacheler, J.S., P. Roberts, J. Greene, D. Mott, J. Van Duyn, A. Herbert, M. Toews, J. Ruberson, D. Robinson, T. Walker, D. Morrison, and T. Pegram. 2009. Use of the dynamic threshold for managing stink bugs in the Southeast. 102:1344-1351. In, Proceedings, 2009 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN.
  • Bacheler, J.S., A. Herbert, P. Roberts, M. Toews, and E. Blinka. 2010. Scouting for stink bug damage in southeast cotton: description and use of a pocket scouting decision aid. AG-730W. CALS, NCSU, Raleigh, NC. http://ipm.ncsu.edu/cotton/insectcorner/PDF/AG_730_WPrint-NC.pdf
  • Bacheler, J.S., A. Herbert, P. Roberts, M. Toews, and E. Blinka. 2010. Decision aid for stink bug thresholds in Southeast cotton. CALS, NCSU, Raleigh, NC. (field template). http://ipm.ncsu.edu/cotton/insectcorner/PDF/NCSU.front.back.low.jpg
  • Bacheler, J.S., J. Van Duyn, D. Mott, A. Herbert, E. Blinka, J. Greene, P. Roberts, M. Toews, and R. Smith. 2010. Managing stink bugs in cotton: research in the Southeast Region. pp. 991-993. In, Proceedings, 2010 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN.
  • Blinka, E., D.A. Herbert, M. Toews, J.S. Bacheler, S. Malone, and J. Van Duyn. 2009. Comparison of two stink bug scouting techniques in cotton under field conditions. pp. 1102-1109. In, Proceedings, 2009 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN.
  • Cabrera, A., J. van Kretschmar, J.S. Bacheler, H.J. Burrack, C.E. Sorenson, and R.M. Roe. 2010. Development of hydrateable, commercially-relevant artificial cotton leaves and assay architecture for monitoring insect resistance to Bt. 2010. pp. 1290-1296. In, Proceedings, 2010 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN.
  • Collins, G., K. Edmisten, J.S. Bacheler, D. Mott, S. Levkoff, W. Handcock, J. Lanier, R. Riar, S. Holt, B. Foote, J. Adkins, and L. O'Neal. 2009. Reducing at-planting costs in cotton production through hill-dropped seed placement and precision application of in-furrow insecticides. 2009. pp.62-64. In, Proceedings, 2009 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN (Published Abstract).
  • Davis, B. 2010. New River Tree Company Recognized for Environmental Achievements. Limbs & Needles, 37 (2) p. 19.
  • Davis, B. 2010. Elongate hemlock scale, balsam twig aphids, and balsam woolly adelgid in North Carolina Fraser fir. Proceedings of the Ninth International Christmas Tree Research and Extension Conference. Corvallis, OR and Puyallup, WA. pp. 77-81.
  • Medrano, Enrique Gino, Jesus Esquivel, Al. A. Bell, Jeremy Greene, P. M. Roberts, J.S. Bacheler, J. J. Marois, D. Wright, and R.L. Nichols. 2010. Investigations of boll damage caused by piercing-sucking pests and disease agent transmission. pg. 249 (Abstract). In, Proceedings, 2010 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN.
  • Nalyanya, G. 2009. A 2009 Pest Management (IPM) Survey of Maintenance and Facilities Directors of North Carolina Public Schools. North Carolina State University.
  • Owen, J., Hundley, D., & Davis, B. 2009. Roundup PowerMax Trials using Backpack and Mistblower Sprayers. Limbs & Needles, 36 (4) pp.8-9.
  • Owen, J.H., B. Davis, & D. Hundley. 2010. Transitioning weed suppression from Roundup Original to Roundup Powermax with backpack and mistblower sprayers. Proceedings of the Ninth International Christmas Tree Research & Extension Conference. Corvallis, OR and Puyallup, WA. pp. 72-76.
  • Owen, J.H. & B. Davis. 2009. Identifying Alternatives to Commercial Deer Repellents. Proceedings of the Ninth International Christmas Tree Research & Extension Conference. Corvallis, OR and Puyallup, WA. pp. 87-92.
  • Reed, J., A. Catchot, S. Akin, G. Lorenz, G. Studebaker, A. Herbert, C. Daves, S. Raymond, J. Greene, M. Toews, R. Leonard, S. Stewart, D. Cook, J. Gore, D. Kerns, J. Bacheler, P. Roberts, and S. Micinski. 2010. Regional thrips trial, 2009: thrips species composition. pp. 906-912. In, Proceedings, 2010 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN.
  • Foote, B., K. Edmisten, J. Lanier, G. Collins, S. Holt, and J.S. Bacheler. 2010. Thrips, wheat, and intercropped cotton. pp. 123 (Abstract). In, Proceedings, 2010 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN.
  • Frank, S.D. 2010. Technique to reduce the volume of insecticide applied for Granulate Ambrosia Beetle. Southern Nursery Association Research Conference Proceedings, 55: 12-16.
  • Greene, J., P. Roberts, J.S. Bacheler, M. Toews, J. Ruberson, F.P. F. Reay-Jones, D. Robinson, D. Mott, T. Walker, C. Davis, D. Morrison, T. Pegram and R. Reeves. 2009. Continued evaluations of internal boll-injury thresholds for stink bugs in the Southeast. 1092-1101. In, Proceedings, 2009 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN.
  • Herbert, A., Eric Blinka, J.S. Bacheler, J. Van Duyn, J. Greene, M. Toews, P. Roberts and R. Smith. 2009. Managing Stink Bugs in Cotton: Research in the Southeast Region. 2009. 16 pgs. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA. Pub. 444-390.
  • Herbert, A., J.S. Bacheler, S. Malone, and D. Mott. 2010. Managing thrips where it really matters: different options for early and late planted cotton in Virginia and North Carolina. pp 870-871. In, Proceedings, 2010 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN.
  • Rivard, C.L., S.O. Connell, M.M. Peet, R.M. Wlaker and F.J. Louws. 2010. Grafting tomato to manage bacterial wilt (caused by Ralstonia solanacearum) in the southeastern United States. (In internal review)
  • Roberts, P., M. Toews, B. Freeman, T. Reed, R. Smith, J.S. Bacheler, A. Herbert, and J. Greene. 2009. Spider mites: pest status in the Southeast. pp. 1531. In, Proceedings, 2009 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN. (Published Abstract).
  • Stringham, S. M. and D. W. Watson. 2009. Darkling Beetle Management. In: Insect Notes. Department of Entomology, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
  • Stringham. S. M. and D. W. Watson 2009. Fly, beetle and rodent control. International Poultry Conference Proceedings. North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC.
  • Stringham, S. M. 2009. Management of vectors of poultry disease agents. Proceedings of International Poultry Veterinary Conference. Paris. France.
  • Toews, M., Eric Blinka, A. Herbert, J.S. Bacheler, Sean Malone, J. Van Duyn, P. Roberts, J. Greene and D. Shurley. 2009. Balancing sample size, accuracy, and time when monitoring stink bug damage. pg. 1110. In, Proceedings, 2009 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN.
  • Toth, S.J., Jr., ed. 2009. North Carolina Pest News. Vol. 24, Nos. 1-22. Weekly newsletter. Timely information on insect pests and diseases of field and forage crops, fruits, vegetables, ornamentals and turf, and residential and community pests. Via e-mail and website (http://ipm.ncsu.edu/current_ipm/pest_news.html).
  • Toth, S.J., Jr., ed. 2010. North Carolina Pest News. Vol. 25, Nos. 1-22. Weekly newsletter. Timely information on insect pests and diseases of field and forage crops, fruits, vegetables, ornamentals and turf, and residential and community pests. Via e-mail and website (http://ipm.ncsu.edu/current_ipm/pest_news.html).
  • van Kretschmar, J.B., K.V. Donohue, A.R. Cabrera, L.C. Magalhaes, C.E. Sorenson, J.S. Bacheler, S.M.S. Khalil, and R.M. Roe.2010. Transcriptomics by massive parallel, pyrosequencing of the green stink bug; functional gene ontology and new targets for control. pp. 1195-1202. In, Proceedings, 2010 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN.
  • Walgenbach, J.F. 2010. Insecticide use in the era of mating disruption. Proc. 2010 Southeastern Apple Growers Meeting. Page 73-73 in Proceedings 2010 Annual Meeting. Asheville, NC.
  • Walgenbach, J.F. (Senior Editor). 2009. Integrated orchard management guide for commercial apples in the southeast. North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service Publication AG-572. 82 pp.
  • Walgenbach, J.F. (Senior Editor). 2011. Integrated orchard management guide for commercial apples in the southeast. North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service Publication AG-572. 81 pp.


Progress 07/15/09 to 07/14/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The NC Extension IPM Program involves Extension and research faculty from NC State and NC A&T State universities and county Extension agents. They participated in more than 20 university-sponsored commodity field days and hundreds of area scouting schools, county growers meetings, agent training events, etc. An 18-member Advisory Committee, representing university faculty, non-governmental agencies, environmentalists, NC Dept. of Agriculture personnel, farmers and agricultural consultants, met on October 22, 2009 in Raleigh to provide direction on the program's future, creating 6 stakeholder working groups to form the framework of a successful Extension IPM Coordination grant proposal for FY 2010-2012. A web site (http://ipm.ncsu.edu) was developed to communicate program opportunities, activities and successes. The NC Pest News was distributed electronically to more than 300 individuals weekly during the growing season. A collaboration project was conducted by NC A&T State University scientists to determine effective methods of deterring deer from small market fruit and vegetable growers' fields. Demonstration sites in 4 counties using low cost electric fencing and bean trap crops successfully deterred deer from strawberry, blueberry and sweet corn fields. Over 50 farmers observed the sites and were educated on wildlife control. Apple IPM Program personnel performed applied research on new pheromone mating disruption products, pheromone lures for codling moths, and new insecticides for effects on pest and beneficial arthropods. Apple growers were informed of insect activity via weekly updates in various media. Christmas Tree IPM Program personnel made on-farm visits and provided IPM-based recommendations to growers in western NC, and conducted 8 meetings delivering IPM information to 338 growers. Cotton IPM Program personnel conducted 16 IPM-oriented grower meetings and 6 scouting schools, emphasizing scouting-based decision making and management of key pests with lower insecticide inputs. IPM information was disseminated via a website (http://ipm.ncsu.edu/cotton/InsectCorner/) and weekly mp3 tapes and newsletter articles. School IPM Program personnel prepared instructional materials (brochures, manuals, DVDs), trained pest management professionals and schools employees, and conducted surveys to assess IPM implementation in NC public schools (mandated by the NC legislature). The NC Extension IPM Program conducted a competitive mini-grants program in 2009 and provided funding for 7 projects addressing stakeholder-identified needs. Project outputs include: 1) improved wireworm management practices in potatoes; 2) reduced insecticide volume and drift for granulate ambrosia beetle management in nurseries; 3) effective management of bacterial wilt on tomatoes through grafting of resistant rootstocks; 4) effective management of replant disorders in apple orchards with proper rootstock selection; 5) use of fescues as an IPM tool for Pierce's disease of grapes; 6) reduced-risk insect management on vegetables in western NC; and 7) a "train-the-trainer" program for site-based training of school IPM coordinators. PARTICIPANTS: The following program staff and key personnel provide leadership for the activities of the North Carolina Extension IPM Program: Steve Toth, IPM Coordinator and Extension Entomologist, NC State University (NCSU); Jack Bacheler, Extension Entomologist, NCSU (Cotton IPM); Ed Jones, Extension Service Associate Director and State Program Leader, ANR/CRD, NCSU; Keith Baldwin, Program Leader, ANR/CRD, and Extension Horticulture Specialist, NC A&T State University (IPM Collaboration Project); Mike Waldvogel, Extension Entomologist, NCSU (School IPM); Mike Stringham, Extension Entomologist, NCSU (Poultry and Livestock IPM); Steve Schoof, Agricultural Research Technician III, Department of Entomology, NCSU (Apple IPM); and Bryan Davis, Agricultural Program Assistant and BMP Technician, Ashe County Extension Center (Christmas Tree IPM). Program direction is provided by an Advisory Committee which includes the following: Wayne Buhler, Pesticide Safety Education Program, NCSU; Will Connell, NC Agricultural Consultants Association; Nancy Creamer, Director, Center for Environmental Farming Systems, NCSU; Jeanine Davis, Specialty Crops Program (Horticulture), NCSU; Alex Hitt, Organic Farmer, Alamance County; Ed Jones; Frank Louws, Extension Plant Pathologist - Vegetables and Small Fruit, NCSU; David Monks, NC Agricultural Research Service, NCSU; Mike Mitchell, Structural Pest Control and Pesticides Division, NC Dept. of Agriculture & Consumer Services; Paul Mueller, SARE Coordinator, NCSU; Joe Neal, Extension Weed Scientist (Horticulture) - Nursery Crops, NCSU; David Orr, Extension Entomologist - Biological Control, NCSU; Fawn Pattison, Executive Director for Toxic Free NC (environmental advocate); Mitch Peele, NC Farm Bureau; Jill Sidebottom, Forestry Extension (Christmas trees), NCSU; Mike Stringham; Turner Sutton, Extension Plant Pathologist - Fruit Crops, NCSU; and Mike Waldvogel. The Advisory Committee has two primary functions: 1) to provide advice and oversight to the Extension IPM Coordinator regarding the direction of the IPM program in the state; and 2) serve as the review panel for the annual mini-grants program. TARGET AUDIENCES: The IPM collaboration project with NC A&T State University provides new, applied knowledge on IPM of vertebrate pests in small scale market fruit and vegetable crops and increases the knowledge and adoption of these IPM practices. Results of on-farm and station tests are distributed in Extension bulletins and at conferences such as the Organic Farming School, CFSA Sustainable Agriculture Conference, and farm field days. Results of field trials regarding apple, Christmas tree, cotton, and poultry and livestock IPM are distributed at field days, Extension meetings, scouting schools, etc. and in Extension publications. Growers and other stakeholders are provided with IPM information through newsletters, telephone calls, faxes, and the Internet. In addition, on-farm demonstrations have been conducted with growers regarding Christmas tree IPM in three large Christmas tree growing counties in western NC. School IPM information and technology has been transferred to Pest Management Professionals, administrators, teachers, and support staff of schools through IPM awareness seminars, training workshops, and consultation meetings. Literature on IPM in schools (manuals, brochures, fact-sheets, DVDs, etc.) has been distributed to thousands of people in the state. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
The NC Extension IPM Program has moved to a more multi-disciplined, stakeholder-driven program with the formation of 6 working groups (field crops, fruit and vegetable crops, ornamental and nursery crops, poultry and livestock, schools and child care centers, and small farms and organic specialty crops). Program communication and visibility has improved through a program website. Timely pest news/alerts allowed Extension agents and IPM stakeholders to effectively monitor insects and diseases. Through an IPM collaboration project with NC A&T, over 50 small market fruit and vegetable growers observed demonstrations of wildlife management using electric fencing and trap crops; crop yields for participating farmers were higher than in previous years as a result of adoption of new wildlife management tactics. The Apple IPM Program's dissemination of insect monitoring results to stakeholders has accelerated the apple acreage under mating disruption and reduction in broad spectrum insecticide use. Based on sales data from pheromone companies, almost 65% of the apple acreage used mating disruption in 2010, compared to 55% in 2009. Based on records obtained from 39 apple growers, organophosphate insecticide use averaged 1.2 applications per grower, compared to greater than 3 applications per grower in 2008. As a result of Christmas Tree IPM Program activities, growers can effectively calibrate air-blast sprayers, employ low cost deer repellents (90% savings over commercial products), improve IPM practices for elongate hemlock scale management, reduce late fall insecticide treatments for balsam twig aphids, and reduce nitrogen applications in young trees with clover groundcovers. The Cotton IPM Program's applied research on planting date-based insecticide use options for thrips and development of a plant phenology-based stink bug threshold have resulted in significant refinement of insecticide use by NC cotton growers. A survey of school maintenance directors completed by the School IPM Program in 2009 showed that 63% of schools had IPM policies, a 47% increase over 2007. Results showed an 18% increase in the number of school districts using written notifications to parents and staff on pesticide applications. These data point to success toward reaching the goal of bringing 100% of schools into compliance with the state's School Children's Health Act by October 31, 2011. Overall, there is a reduction in pesticide use in more than 72 school districts in the state, impacting about 750,000 students and 57,000 employees. Outcomes to date from mini-grant projects include: 1) a 12x reduction of insecticide volume used to protect nursery trees from granulate ambrosia beetle damage and less drift; 2) reduction of disease incidence in tomatoes (from up to 85% plant death to 0%) through the use of grafted rootstocks, and yields more than doubled compared to non-grafted controls; 3) improved levels of insect control with early season chemigation compared to weekly foliar applications of insecticides on tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers, demonstrating the potential of chemigation to reduce insecticide use, mitigate spray drift, and increase grower profitability.

Publications

  • Bacheler, J.S., P. Roberts, J. Greene, D. Mott, J. Van Duyn, A. Herbert, M. Toews, J. Ruberson, D. Robinson, T. Walker, D. Morrison, and T. Pegram. 2009. Use of the dynamic threshold for managing stink bugs in the Southeast. 102:1344-1351. In, Proceedings, 2009 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN.
  • Blinka, E., D.A. Herbert, M. Toews, J.S. Bacheler, S. Malone, and J. Van Duyn. 2009. Comparison of two stink bug scouting techniques in cotton under field conditions. pp. 1102-1109. In, Proceedings, 2009 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN.
  • Collins, G., K. Edmisten, J.S. Bacheler, D. Mott, S. Levkoff, W. Handcock, J. Lanier, R. Riar, S. Holt, B. Foote, J. Adkins, and L. O'Neal. 2009. Reducing at-planting costs in cotton production through hill-dropped seed placement and precision application of in-furrow insecticides. 2009. pp.62-64. In, Proceedings, 2009 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN (Published Abstract).
  • Davis, B. 2010. New River Tree Company Recognized for Environmental Achievements. Limbs & Needles, 37 (2) p. 19.
  • Davis, B. 2010. Elongate hemlock scale, balsam twig aphids, and balsam woolly adelgid in North Carolina Fraser fir. Proceedings of the Ninth International Christmas Tree Research and Extension Conference. Corvallis, OR and Puyallup, WA. pp. 77-81.
  • Frank, S.D. 2010. Technique to reduce the volume of insecticide applied for Granulate Ambrosia Beetle. Southern Nursery Association Research Conference Proceedings, 55: 12-16.
  • Greene, J., P. Roberts, J.S. Bacheler, M. Toews, J. Ruberson, F.P. F. Reay-Jones, D. Robinson, D. Mott, T. Walker, C. Davis, D. Morrison, T. Pegram and R. Reeves. 2009. Continued evaluations of internal boll-injury thresholds for stink bugs in the Southeast. 1092-1101. In, Proceedings, 2009 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN.
  • Herbert, A., Eric Blinka, J.S. Bacheler, J. Van Duyn, J.Greene, M. Toews, P. Roberts and R. Smith. 2009. Managing Stink Bugs in Cotton: Research in the Southeast Region. 2009. 16 pgs. College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA. Pub. 444-390.
  • Nalyanya, G. 2009. A 2009 Pest Management (IPM) Survey of Maintenance and Facilities Directors of North Carolina Public Schools. North Carolina State University.
  • Toth, S.J., Jr., ed. 2009. North Carolina Pest News. Vol. 24, Nos. 1-22. Weekly newsletter. Timely information on insect pests and diseases of field and forage crops, fruits, vegetables, ornamentals and turf, and residential and community pests. Via e-mail and website (http://ipm.ncsu.edu/current_ipm/pest_news.html).
  • Walgenbach, J. 2010. Insecticide use in the era of mating disruption. Proc. 2010 Southeastern Apple Growers Meeting. Page 73-73 in Proc. 2010 Annual Meeting. Asheville, NC.
  • Walgenbach, J.F. (Senior Editor). 2009. Integrated orchard management guide for commercial apples in the southeast. North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service Publication AG-572. 82 pp.
  • Owen, J., Hundley, D., & Davis, B. 2009. Roundup PowerMax Trials using Backpack and Mistblower Sprayers. Limbs & Needles, 36 (4) pp.8-9.
  • Owen, J.H., B. Davis, & D. Hundley. 2010. Transitioning weed suppression from Roundup Original to Roundup Powermax with backpack and mistblower sprayers. Proceedings of the Ninth International Christmas Tree Research & Extension Conference. Corvallis, OR and Puyallup, WA. pp. 72-76.
  • Owen, J.H. & B. Davis. 2009. Identifying Alternatives to Commercial Deer Repellents. Proceedings of the Ninth International Christmas Tree Research & Extension Conference. Corvallis, OR and Puyallup, WA. pp. 87-92.
  • Rivard, C.L., S.O. Connell, M.M. Peet, R.M. Wlaker and F.J. Louws. 2010. Grafting tomato to manage bacterial wilt (caused by Ralstonia solanacearum) in the southeastern United States. (In internal review)
  • Roberts, P., M. Toews, B. Freeman, T. Reed, R. Smith, J.S. Bacheler, A. Herbert, and J. Greene. 2009. Spider mites: pest status in the Southeast. pp. 1531. In, Proceedings, 2009 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN. (Published Abstract).
  • Toews, M., Eric Blinka, A. Herbert, J.S. Bacheler, Sean Malone, J. Van Duyn, P. Roberts, J. Greene and D. Shurley. 2009. Balancing sample size, accuracy, and time when monitoring stink bug damage. pg. 1110. In, Proceedings, 2009 Beltwide Cotton Conferences. National Cotton Council, Memphis, TN.