Performing Department
Entomology
Non Technical Summary
This project includes the continued implementation of previously EIPM funded projects and one additionalproject that addresses IPM Implementation in Specialty Crops. The project's overall goals are to increase IPM awareness and adoption in NJ by continuing to conduct annual advisory meetings with stakeholders, represent NJ on state and regional committees, respond to IPM-related inquires, and coordinate and report on state/institutional activities. The goals of the IPM Implementation in our new Specialty Crops emphasis area (in blueberries and tree fruit) are to integrate validated pest management research results into a delivery program, train growers and seasonal field scouts in pest monitoring methods, reduce OP & carbamate insecticide use, optimize the use of reduced risk practices, and reduce excessive use of fertilizers in blueberries and peaches.
Animal Health Component
0%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
100%
Developmental
0%
Goals / Objectives
NJ growers produce 70 field, fruit and vegetable crops and 200+ nursery and greenhouse crops with receipts exceeding over $652 million (USDA 2008). The use of pesticides in these crops is quite high with chemical use totaling 929,770 lbsin 2006. The high use of pesticides warrants continued coordination of IPM programs and research designed to increase IPM adoption. The goal of this project is to increase awareness and adoption of IPM practices, to continue to offer current IPM programs for vegetables, greenhouses and nurseries, andto specifically target current IPM programs for apples, peaches and blueberries. Fruit pests include 17 -30 key insects, 8-12 diseases, and 25 weed species, and nematodes. Goals include: integrate pest management research results from pathology, entomology and horticultural disciplines into a delivery program, providing growerswith weekly recommendations for their use, andresearchers with datawith which to validate IPM research results; train growers and seasonal field scouts in pest monitoring methods and management; and reduce the use of OP and carbamate materials, optimize the use of reduced risk practices, and reduce excessive use of P and K in fertility programs.
Project Methods
The state IPM coordinator will work with the program leaders of the fruit, nursery, greenhouse and vegetable IPM programs to insure that these programs continue to provide outreach activities such as on-farm visits, newsletter articles and talks at county, regional and statewide grower meetings. The state IPM coordinator will conduct quarterly meetings with each program leader to discuss programmatic or personnel issues that might occur. These meetings will be conducted via face-to-face, video conferencing and Skype® exchanges.The statewide IPM coordinator is currently poised to accomplish this activity. At the state level the coordinator is currently a member of the NJ Governor's Pesticide Advisory Committee, the NJ IPM Task Force, the NJ School IPM Advisory Committee and advises several commodity and industry groups IPM issues. At the regional level the coordinator is a current member NEREAP-IPM committee and has served on the advisory board of the NE IPM Center.When requested, the IPM coordinator will survey state specialists in affected areas and report to the person and/or agency making the inquiry. Records of all activities to generate the requested information will be maintained. All activities by this program and those of other IPM related units at NJ AES will be compiled and discussed in an final report to USDA at the end of the funding period. Blueberries: Primary participant program delivery - Commercial blueberry growers (40 & 60% of state acreage) will have fields monitored, partially funded by the NJBIAC and individual growers. This will include weekly scouting for insects and disease and weeds, and plant and soil fertility monitoring. Data and recommendations will be summarized in a weekly newsletter, and sent to all growers in NJ, other states and outside the U.S. Twilight update meetings (3) will be held to update current field conditions and recommended IPM practices, along with 2 annual meetings. All other growers (secondary participants) will receive the same information as (1) above, but not have direct scouting included. Extension Delivery and Research Interface - Information from (1) above will be available to all team members (entomology, pathology (disease levels and nematode levels), and fertility) for structuring ongoing research. Research results will be placed in the field when available. Plant and pest phenology will be linked with a network of weather stations in NJ, and synthesized in a Web-based format for grower access. Pesticide use and grower practices will besurveyed each year and maintained in a database. Data tables will be extracted and layered over Arcview shapefiles to relate pesticide use with environmental parameters. Program evaluation will rely on this data. GIS-based pesticide use files andEIQ values for various pest management (pesticide use) programs will be generated. Tree Fruit: Primary participant program delivery - Tree fruit growers (42) will participate in a monitoring program, partially funded by individual growers. The program will include weekly scouting for insect and disease presence, consultation on weed management, and sampling for plant tissue and soil fertility levels. The program will rely on a team of research and extension personnel to execute various areas such as fertility recommendations (county agent), disease management recommendations (research pathologist), insecticide recommendations (fruit IPM coordinator/agent), program coordination (fruit IPM agent), and grower interface (2 extension program associates). Data will be summarized for a weekly newsletter and sent to all NJ growers, as well as growers in other states. Five twilight update meetings and (three)regional annual meetings will be held to discuss current field conditions and update growers on recommended IPM practices. This component will involve growers who manage over 75% of NJ tree fruit acreage. Secondary participant program delivery - All commercial growers and others will receive the same information as (1) above, but not have direct scouting included. Extension Delivery and Research Interface - Information from (1) above will be available to all team members (entomology, pathology (disease levels and nematode levels), and fertility) for structuring ongoing research. A database (IPM-D) will be updated fwith annual IPM and pesticide use data. Data tables will be extracted and layered over Arcview shapefiles to relate pesticide use with environmental parameters. EIQ values for various pest management programs can be calculated to measure impact.