Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/14
Outputs
Target Audience: The targeted audiencewas the Missouri Aquaculture Association members which includes fish farmers, the aquaculture APHIS veternarian, and aquaculture related businesses. The majority of the fish farmers are located in remote rural areas. Changes/Problems: Missouri fish farmers initially were very hesitant to consider Integrated Pest Management. Offers to present informationat annual meetings was declined. With persistance and a user friendly approach progress is being made. Similar experiences have been reported to me in the east and gulf coast regions. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The survey/needs assessment results have been distributed to the target audience. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
A Needs Assessment/front end survey was distributed to the 20 members of the Missouri Aquaculture Association. Eight fish farmers replied providing a 35% response rate, a high rate for farmers survey response. Extra effort was made to make the surveys very short and concise. Results are summarized. Five fish farmers are not familiar with IPM and 3 are neutral. Six fish farmers would benefit from IPM publications, 2 were neutral. Half of those reporting indicate they haveno pest problems on their farms. Attendance at short workshops is desired by half (10) and half (10) remained neutral - no farmers indicated they would not benefit from a short workshop. Five fish farmers would benefit from Pest Management alerts andtwo were neutral, one would not benefit. An Aquaculture IPM newsletter would benefit six fish farmers; two remained neutral indicating 8 fish farmers would not benefit from a newsletter. One producer would like to contribute to Aquaculture IPM efforts, five were neutral and two do not want to contribute. Four fish farmers want to learn how to reduce chemical waste and four remained neutral. Regarding actively monitoring fish health four fish farms actively monitor while three remain neutral and one does not. Two of the farms currently monitoring health are not interested in learning more, all others farms are interested in learning how to monitor for pests. Five fish farmers are not familiar with the Missouri pest treatments regulations, three are familiar. These results provide a clear direction for successful development of Aquaculture Integrated Management for Missouri. The Assessment/survey revealed that in general Missouri fish farmers would benefit from outreach/extension professional development activities targeting Aquaculture IPM. Opportunities include a variety of deliveries including a short workshop addressing Pest Management Alerts, reduction of chemical pesticides, fish health monitoring practices, pest treatment regulations information and developing an Aquaculture IPM newsletter to develop a network. Fish farmers are very busy and a workshop must be timed perfectly for those to attend. Partners including veterinarians, educators and pest related organizations need to all be included to develop a successful network. The response from the 2013 survey indicates a desire to learn about IPM; fish farmers are now receptive to IPM whcih was not the case when this project began.
Publications
|
Progress 09/01/12 to 08/31/13
Outputs
Target Audience: The targeted audeince includes: Extension staff, fish farmers, scientists, water quality program personnel, veternarians, and agriculture educators. Changes/Problems: Missouri fish farmers are slow to adopt new concepts and management strategies, especially those dealing with integrated pest management in their culture systems. Therefore, continued efforts to present these ideas and concepts are needed. In time we can expect a willingness to adopt IPM practices. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? The results have been presented to the Missouri Aquaculture leadership in efforts to promote the concept. Concentrated efforts advancing this will be a primary effort in the next year. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? A front end survey will be conducted with the targeted audience and stakeholders. Based on the survey results a workshop may be planned to further IPM in Missouri.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
The level of knowledge and awareness of IPM aquaculture technologies was assessed during poster presentations at aquaculture/agriculture conferences. The result was networking with over 1,000 stakeholders directly. One on one interactions resulting in learning that the knowledge is extremely limited and those whom are aware misunderstand the concept. This information will be critical in the development of a useful and meaningful survey. A primary contact was established with the Missouri Department of Natural Resources in the Water Quality Program who has indicated interest in participating in IPM efforts when they are developed. This potential partnership will be further explored in the next year. The Aquaculture Extension Specialist presented information regarding developing IPM for aquacurlture to 65 atttndees at a farmers workshop. At present fish farmers are hesitant to adopt the concept; however, this knowledge is critical in developing a successful workshop in the future. The project has been extended one year to improve upon and allow a more comprehensive and needs based survey relevant to the information collected in 2013.
Publications
|
Progress 09/01/11 to 08/31/12
Outputs
OUTPUTS: The objective of this project is to develop, maintain and support a network of veterinarians, fish farmers, IPM Specialists, Extension personnel and other related stakeholders. Several relevant conferences and workshops were attended to learn about challenges, opportunities, strengths and weaknesses using this approach. Developing a network of aquaculture stakeholders having a vested interest in IPM has been ongoing. Attendance at the 2011 Missouri Veterinarian Medical Association and Aquaculture America 2012 conference lead to many contacts including non-traditional audiences such as researchers, veterinarians, aquaculture vendors and pesticide applicators. A presentations at the LU 2012 Cooperative Extension retreat exposed extension staff to the project and explained the role IPM can play in aquaculture. Extension staff were recruited to participate in developing the front end survey. networking at the 2012 Aquatic Animal Drug approval workshop clarified the drug approval process, the legal constraints of pesticide/antimicrobial use and the conditions which fish farmers can use these treatments. PARTICIPANTS: Cindy Borgwordt and Chuck Hicks. Collaborators include the Missouri Veterinary Medical Association. TARGET AUDIENCES: The targeted audiences are fish farmers, veterinarians, extension staff and pesticide trainers. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
Information obtained at these conferences/workshops will be used to develop a front end survey that will be meaningful to fish farmers and IPM stakeholders. The second objective, to access IPM knowledge and awareness, has been deferred to permit developing a network to assist with the design and implementation. The next phase will be a collaboration meeting to develop and implement the survey, results will be analyzed. This information will be critical in developing a future successful training for Missouri stakeholders.
Publications
- No publications reported this period
|
|