Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:Specialty crop growers, conventional and organic growers, Spanish and English-speaking farm workers, beginning and women farmers, UMass Extension staff, Regional Extension IPM specialists, IPM consultants and scouts, agricultural service providers, farm mangers and decision makers, newsletter subscribers, workshop and meeting attendees, industry representatives, UAS pilots and trainees. Changes/Problems:Fruit Extension Educator, Ms. Elizabeth Garofalo, left UMass employment in June 2022 and her absence translated into gaps in accomplishements for the Fruit Team. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Since there is considerable continuity between this EIP project (2017-70006-27137) and our current EIP project (2021-70006-35388) and since this final year (Sept 1, 2021-Aug 31, 2022) wasgranted via a No-Cost Extension, we will report our professional development in our current EIP project, which was active over the same time period. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We continue to have positive and consistent contact with our stakeholders throughout the year. We delivered an extensive array of workshops, presentations, and training sessions throughout the reporting period. We published 3 newsletters (50 issues total) that reached more than 3,200 speciality crop growers. We participated in Regional IPM "call ins" and working groups, which help to strengthen our Extension network and re-focus our educational efforts as needed. We bring unknown crop damage issues to the meetings and the knowledge we gain is transferred driectly to our growers. Almost all EIP team members are part of the organizing committee for the New England Vegetble and Fruit Conference, a bi-yearly event that attracts more than 1,500 growers from across New England. We are invited speakers to other states' Extension events where we present and train specialty crop growers. We are well networked with our colleagues and this facilitates exchange of information that helps the New England grower community. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: Improve IPM Practices and Strategies for Emerging and Established Pests. Advanced Vegetable/Brassica IPM. •Vegetable Team hosted or co-hosted 11 programs and gave 14 additional presentations to external farm organizations (e.g. SEMAP, NOFA, NEVBGA) on IPM-related topics reaching at least 1,589 growers. •2021 field work was completed, and all results were compiled into reports, which are available on the vegetable program website and include: -Organic pesticide efficacy trials for Alternaria in broccoli, Cercospora in chard, wireworm in sweet potatoes -Cucumber variety trial (testing resistance to downy mildew, bacterial wilt) -Seed treatment pesticide efficacy trial for cabbage root maggot in radish -Spinach trial testing the effects of spinach variety, seed priming, and a buckwheat cover crop on damping off and yield •Weekly sweet corn pest monitoring was carried out at 17 locations. Locations were monitored by educators, farmers, and a local IPM scout. Results were shared with growers weekly via Veg Notes. A final season report was published in the September 16, 2021 edition of Veg Notes. Efficacy of Organic Pesticides. •Field trials were conducted to study an organic copper fungicide for moss control in cranberry. The product had efficacy, but the registrant felt that the rate and number of applications that would be needed for satisfactory moss management would be cost prohibitive to growers. •Vegetable Team evaluated OMRI-approved pesticides. Reports are available here on the vegetable program website (please see list of trials above). Goal 2A: Increase IPM Implementation and Promote Whole-Farm Sustainability through Outreach and Training Activities. Training scouts and IPM implementation on Mentor Farms. •The Vegetable Team worked closely with 5 mentor farms to provide support and guidance (Nuestras Raíces, Riquezas del Campo, Flats Mentor Farm, Blossoming Acres and Bardwell Farm). These farms all received a pre-season planning meeting, biweekly farm visits and consultations, and a post-season (2022) evaluation will be conducted. Provide timely and accurate specialty crop diagnostics. •The Fruit Team assisted (an estimate) 50 growers (pest diagnosis and horticulture/IPM recommendations). Interactions included one-on-one, e-mail, and phone. •The Cranberry Team recorded over 450 cranberry grower contacts (phone calls, texts, emails) representing over 140 growers. More than 120 bog visits were made with more than half of them related to diagnosing scale insect presence and management timing including diagnostic samples collected and processed. Over 160 scale samples were processed, representing over 90 sites for 25 growers (or companies). Scouted for casebearer (16 contacts). •47 pesticide license contacts for renewing license, auditing or finding credits. 34 contacts about meetings, using zoom or finding dates. •The Vegetable Team assisted at least 195 growers with pest diagnosis and management/IPM recommendations. This included in-person interactions, emails, texts, and phone calls. •The EIP team submitted at least 45 samples to the UMass Diagnostic Lab on behalf of growers. Diagnostic information will be collated and shared at winter meetings. •The following talks covered pest management information, including recent pest outbreaks, local prevalence and emerging pests. Combined, they reached 198 people: -UMass Research Update (Scheufele, 602nd Meeting of the NEVBGA) -Vegetable Pests of the Year (Higgins, NOFA-MA Winter Conference) -Brassica Pest Management Updates (Scheufele, SEMAP Ag and Food Conference) -Sweet Corn Pest Management (Scheufele, Elliot Farm Twilight Meeting) -Research Farm Field Day Conduct Workshops and Training. •The Vegetable Team hosted the following workshops and trainings during the 2021-2022 year, reaching 70 people total: -Economics of Winter Spinach: Three Case Studies (Higgins) -2 Produce Safety Alliance grower trainings (McKeag) •We completed 6 training videos in partnership with eTown Video and post on-line. Topics are: attract-and-kill strategies, downy mildew in grape, tensiometers, cover crops and roller-crimper (CDLE), and onion thrips. They are hosted outside UMass: vimeo.com/showcase/umass-ipm. Password: umass. Revised cranberry questions for the pesticide certification exam. Conducted exam prep session on zoom (18 growers). Bridge Language Barriers. •The Vegetable Team worked closely with 3 non-english speaking mentor farms: Nuestras Raices (Spanish), Riquezas del Campo (Spanish) and the Flats Mentor Farm (multiple languages). •When appropriate,Vegetable Team educators hired live interpreters to translate pest walks and on-farm workshops. This included 6 pest walks at Nuestras Raices, and the UMass Research Farm Field Day. Riquezas del Campo farm visits were conducted in a mix of Spanish and English. •The Vegetable Team also produced a Spanish-language weed management fact sheet (available here: Entendiendo los Ciclos de Vida de la Malezas), which was distributed at Nuestras Raices. Goal 2B: Increase IPM Implementation and Promote Whole-Farm Sustainability through Demonstrating Effective Technological Strategies Digital Recordkeeping. •Piñero has been trapping BMSB for 4 years (2019-2022) across at least 10 Massachusetts fruit farms. However, the EDDMaps portion of this objective could not be accomplished due to the resignation of Garofalo. Optimizing Technology Utilization on Specialty Crop Farms. •Prepared and tested 1 Matrice 100 stationed at Cranberry Station to fly to collect calibrated multispectral imagery and uncalibrated Long-Waver Infrared (LWIR) using a Sequoia camera and Zenmuse XT camera, respectively. •Conducted flights to demonstrate UAV functionality in agricultural applications as part of an introductory video to UASs in agriculture. •Conducted a demo flight with the Matrice 600 carrying multispectral and short-wave infrared cameras demonstrate capabilities to a research team at the UMass Cranberry Station. •Conducted a series of flights at State Bog, Rosebrook Bog, and Nye Bog with a team of students to explore the viability of using long-wave-infrared-equipped (LWIR-equipped) drones to more accurately monitor potential frost damage. Work was coordinated in conjunction with research and outreach goals. Subsequent analysis of derived data products was conducted by students and reviewed by the team to inform exploration of potential drone applications in agriculture. Team will continue to use multi-media resources to effectively communicate and prioritize measures in a highly adaptive fashion •The Vegetable Team co-organized the 2021 New England Vegetable and Fruit conference, which took place online in December 2021 and had 606 registered attendees. They also organized or spoke at 15 online events from September 2021-August 2022. In summer 2022, they re-booted their Instagram account to promote their workshops, services and activities. The Instagram account currently has 1,012 followers and has reached 841 accounts. Goal 3: Promote IPM Adoption by Improving and Expanding Skill Capacity and Evaluating Progress Business Management and IPM Decision Making. •We trained on the use and development of web-based applications for remote teaching through the use of podcasts and programs like Zoom, GoToWebinar, Facebook Live, Instagram, and more. •Organized weed session at NEVFC '21. Hosted a weed workshop at Nuestras Raices which included producing and distributing a factsheet on weed life cycles in Spanish. Published three articles on weed management in VegNotes. Total number of nonpeer-reviewed publications: 10 veg articles, 9 fruit pubs, 2 cranberry pubs plus 69 issues of our 3 newsletters Total number of presentations: 53 Total number of people reached: >6,620 stakeholders
Publications
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Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:Specialty crop growers, conventional and organic growers, Spanish and Englisht-speaking farm workers, beginning and women farmers, UMass Extension staff, Regional Extension IPM specialists, IPM consultants and scouts, agricultural service providers, farm mangers and decision makers, newsletter subscribers, workshop and meeting attendees, industry representatives, UAS pilots and trainees. Changes/Problems:Restrictions resulting from the Covid 19 pandemic adversely impacted our ability to travel (e.g., Mentor Farmer visits) and to host in-person gatherings and to conduct field research. We increased our output of on-line educational products to "fill the gap". Many of our stakeholders actually preferred the on-line meetings occasionally (not totally in lieu of in-person meetings, but in addition to). We plan to continue to incorporate on-line offerings into our typical outreach products. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Clements attended MyIPM Workshop, October 6-7, 2020; the 82nd Annual New England, New York & Canadian Fruit Pest Management Workshop, October 19, 2020; the96th Cumberland - Shenandoah Fruit Workers Conference, December 2-4, 2020; Great Lakes Expo, December 8-10, 2020; NEWA 3.0 - Train the Trainer Webinar, March 19, 2021; and the New England Fruit Webinar Series, via Zoom. Higgins attended and presented at the Long Island Agricultural Forum Jan 5-7, 2020 and VT Grower-to-Grower discussions on greenhouse management, Mar 24 and Mar 31, 2020. Garafalo attended: Latinx Training Session I-Planting Seeds: Supporting Thriving Latinx Farmer and Farmworker Communities; Latinx Training Session II-Planting Seeds: Cultivating Connection: Culture and Communication; Latinx Training Session III-Planting Seeds: Harvesting Health: Provision of Services and Outreach; How to Build an Equity Agenda with Dr. Patricia Marshall. She also attended an Extension Climate Adaptation meeting sponsored by UMass Extension May 6, 2021, presented and attended CiderCon Feb 3-5 2021, and hosted, organized and attended 10 fruit meetings for New England growers 1/12/21-3/30/21. Ghantous and Sandler attended a New Chemistry workshop offered by Syngenta on March 28, 2021. Higgins and Scheufele hosted 4 talks by biopesticide company representative: AgBiome Oct 28, 2020, Summit Agro Nov 13, 2020, Marrone Bio Nov 12, 2020, and Certis Dec 7, 2020. McKeag attended a workshop on Civil Rights Compliance Review, sponsored by USDA-NIFA, Aug 25, 2020, attended the Long Island Ag Forum sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension, January 5-7, 2021, participated in a workshop for Climate Adaptation Fellows (CAF), sponsored by UMaine, Jan 11-15, 2021, a Dry Farming Collaborative Winter Meeting sponsored by Oregon State U, Feb 25, 2021; and a soil moisture sensor session for CAF, sponsored by UMaine Mar 23, 2021. McKeag and Higgins attended an Extension Climate Adaptation meeting sponsored by UMass Extension May 6, 2021. Piñero, J.C. Wen, X.Y., and Godoy-Hernandez, H. 2020. Oral presentation at the 2020 Annual Meeting of the Entomological Society of America (November 11-25, 2020; ONLINE). Presentation title: "Optimizing the attractiveness of diluted Concord grape juice: an effective, low-cost attractant for Drosophila suzukii (Diptera: Drosophilidae)". Attendance: 109. Sandler was Past-Chair of the NEERA 1604 group and organized a meeting of IPM coordinators by zoom (due to covid 19). The virtual meeting was held April 23, 2021 and attended by 18 people including 5 members of the NEIPM Center. Sandler also represented Northeast IPM Coordinators at the virtual National IPM Coordinators meeting on October 21, 2020. Sandler participates regularly in Regional IPM "call-ins", which help to strengthen our Extension network and re-focus our educational efforts as needed. Occasionally experts join the call to share on a pest of interest (e.g., spotted lantern fly, SWD). We held sessions on Zoom, allowing us to share photos and slide presentations. She also attended a workshop on Japanese Knotweed on July 16, 2020, offered by UMass Extension. Sandler, Sylvia and Ghantous were invited speakers at various cranberry workshops across the United States. Sandler attended a Work-Life Balance training, June 16, 2020, a Resiliency Workshop on June 23, 2020, and a Racism Workshop July 24, 2020 offered by UMass. She participated in a workshop on UAVs on November 3, 2020 sponsored by the American Phytopathological Society. She also attended on-line seminars offered by Fraunhofer Institute on Solar Energy Systems on agri-voltaic research. Scheufele and Higgins attended the Great Lakes Expo, Dec 8-10, 2020 and High Tunnels after Dark, sponsored by UNH, Dec 1 and Dec 8, 2020. Scheufele hosted a weekly Vegetable Pest Alerts call using Zoom including 30 Extension Educators from all New England States and New York to share timely IPM issues occurring on farms through the season, and to share expertise. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have positive and consistent contact with our stakeholders throughout the year. We delivered an extensive array of workshops, presentations, and training sessions throughout the reporting period. We published 3 newsletters (50 issues total) that reached more than 3,200 speciality crop growers. We participated in Regional IPM "call ins" and working groups, which help to strengthen our Extension network and re-focus our educational efforts as needed. We bring unknown crop damage issues to the meetings and the knowledge we gain is transferred driectly to our growers. Almost all EIP team members are part of the organizing committee for the New England Vegetble and Fruit Conference, a bi-yearly event that attracts more than 1,500 growers from across New England. We are invited speakers to other states' Extension events where we present and train specialty crop growers. We are well networked with our colleagues and this facilitates exchange of information that helps the New England grower community. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Goal 1: Improve IPM Practices and Strategies for Emerging and Established Pests Emerging Pests that Affect Multiple Specialty Crops. • Objective complete; No work planned. Advanced Apple IPM. • Objective complete; No work planned. Advanced Vegetable/Brassica IPM. •Presentations of relevant IPM strategies will be made to growers at state and regional meetings and through UMass Extension publications. •Tasks related to completing field work from 2021 will be completed. Efficacy of Organic Pesticides. •Presentations will be made to growers at state and regional meetings and through UMass Extension publications. •Tasks related to completing field work from 2021 will be completed including use of copper for moss control in cranberry. Goal 2A: Increase IPM Implementation and Promote Whole-Farm Sustainability through Outreach and Training Activities Training scouts and IPM implementation on Mentor Farms. •We will perform concluding tasks for Mentor Farm projects. Provide timely and accurate specialty crop disease diagnostics. •We will produce a narrated powerpoint on sampling (upright dieback, scale, Phytophthora root rot, and weeds). •Diagnostic information will be collated and shared at winter meetings. Conduct Workshops and Training. •Workshops and trainings relevant to this proposal will be presented during winter 2021-22, including increasing awareness about green spanworm, scale, and invasive species. •We will complete 6 training videos in partnership with eTown Video and post on-line. Topics are: attract-and-kill strategies, downy mildew in grape, drone in agriculture, tensiometers, cover crops and roller-crimper, and onion thrips. •We will do 1 in-person and 1 on-line demonstration on integrating UAS technologies on-farm. Bridge Language Barriers. •Work will continue with Spanish-speaking and other non-English speaking mentor farmers. This work continues to lead to the production of printed resources, workshops with live interpretation, and translation of extant IPM factsheets to other languages. Promote Commonwealth Quality Program (CQP). • Objective complete; No work planned. Goal 2B: Increase IPM Implementation and Promote Whole-Farm Sustainability through Demonstrating Effective Technological Strategies Digital Recordkeeping. •Team members will use EDDMaps and collect mapping data on BMSB. Optimizing Technology Utilization on Specialty Crop Farms. •We will configure 2 Matrice 100 aircraft and conduct demonstrations for growers. •We will work with American Robotics to explore data collection and use information to attend to goals in new EIP grant. •We will conduct research and outreach regarding dual-use of solar energy on working specialty crop farms (blueberry and cranberry) and evaluate projects fostering dual-use on specialty crop farms and connect this work to our new EIP21 project. • Team will continue to use multi-media resources (podcasts, websites, virtual conferences, social media platforms, etc.) to effectively communicate and prioritize measures in a highly adaptive fashion Using Integrated Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education (iPiPE). • Objective complete; No work planned. Weather Stations and Sensors. • Our work with NEWA is on-going and will be reported on in our EIP21 progress report for Y1. NEWA and RIMPro are used to disseminate disease alerts in Healthy Fruit newsletter. Goal 3: Promote IPM Adoption by Improving and Expanding Skill Capacity and Evaluating Progress Business Management and IPM Decision Making. •We will train students to record information for grower enterprise budgets. Physical recordings are the basis for computing revenues and costs. We will make revenue and cost comparisons between IPM and non-IPM strategies to determine the best economic outcome. Weed Management. •We will collect, process and analyze data from 2021 field and greenhouse studies. • We will interview growers to assess specific needs of vegetable farms to determine the frequency and intensity of problematic annual and perennial weeds. Information Technology (IT) Professional Development. •We will expand our knowledge, use and development of web-based applications for remote teaching through the use of podcasts and programs like Zoom, GoToWebinar, Facebook Live, Instagram, and more. •We will gain education and experience on the use of UAS and dual-use solar. Assessing Change in Behavior and Condition from IPM Extension Efforts. •The project team will continue to work on a process to standardize the collection of interactions across different Extension commodity groups in a readily accessible way (e.g., using a standardized data collection form and shared response database) as well the addition of a rating scale or other mechanism to measure growers' satisfaction with the support they received and allow opportunity for future feedback and follow-up. This tool, as envisioned, would be applicable for both remote and in-person farm visits and would allow us to generate a robust pool of data from affected farmers by which to assess and improve our outreach.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: Improve IPM Practices and Strategies for Emerging and Established Pests Emerging Pests that Affect Multiple Specialty Crops (100% complete). •Downy mildew on winter greens: completed 1 variety trial leading to recommendations that are being implemented by growers. •Presented 1 on-line workshop on pests of winter greens and their management. •Visited 4 farms routinely to conduct enterprise budgets for winter spinach populations. •Scouted for cranberry scale, 34 samples from 13 growers were assessed. Scouted and advised 13 sites for leafhopper and casebearer. Advanced Apple IPM (100% complete). •20 on-farm research and demonstrations were conducted in MA, NH, and ME involving 1) Evaluation of entomopathogenic nematodes against plum curculio, 2) Evaluation of grower-friendly attract-and-kill strategy for apple maggot control, 3) Efficacy of multi-cultivar grafted apple trees as perennial trap crops for multiple pests, 4) evaluation of trap cropping in association with ghost traps for attract-and-kill of the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) and 5) statewide monitoring of BMSB using clear sticky cards. Brassica IPM (90% complete). •No Brassica research was conducted due to the pandemic. A webinar on brassica insect pest was held. Efficacy of Organic Pesticides (95% complete). •OMRI-listed fungicide, PerCarb (Biosafe, 85% a.i. sodium carbonate peroxyhydrate) was tested against haircap moss in cranberry. Although minor moss control was noted with single applications, high rates or multiple applications would likely be needed for significant control. •Scouting visits and pesticide recommendations given for 2 organic cranberry farms. Goal 2A: Increase IPM Implementation and Promote Whole-Farm Sustainability through Outreach and Training Activities Training scouts and IPM implementation on Mentor Farms (95% complete). •We were unable to hire and train scouts during this period due to Covid, however 4 farms were scouted biweekly by team personnel. •We were unable to routinely visit mentor farms during the pandemic. Provide timely and accurate specialty crop disease diagnostics (90% complete). •Pest diagnostics, pesticide efficacy, and forecasting are consistently the focus of our outreach programs, teleconferencing workshops, and field day events. Conduct Workshops and Training (85% complete). •Conducted webinar on BMSB (75 attendees) •Held 12 on-line fruit grower meetings (1,640 attendees) •Conducted 3 WPS trainings (51 attendees) and 2 respirator trainings (56 attendees). •13 vegetable workshops and trainings were held (1,304 attendees) targeting water quality, nutrition and horticulture, weed management, fertigation, and general vegetable IPM. •Created 15 IPM Fruit Loop podcast episodess as companions to the Healthy Fruit newsletter (333 plays) •17 YouTube videos were produced in lieu of the traditional summer orchard tour (258 views). Bridge Language Barriers (80% complete). •4 vegetable IPM articles were published. •1 presentation was made in Spanish on nutrient management for vegetables (6 Mentor Farmers). Promote Commonwealth Quality Program (CQP) (100% complete). •Objective completed in Year 2. Goal 2B: Increase IPM Implementation and Promote Whole-Farm Sustainability through Demonstrating Effective Technological Strategies Digital Recordkeeping (90% complete). •The nature of the reporting system has morphed into EDDmaps: https://www.eddmaps.org/. Our current efforts remain focused on BMSB. Optimizing Technology Utilization on Specialty Crop Farms (85% complete). •Licensed UMAS UAS pilots incorporated drone usage and precision ag techniques at UMass Cold Spring Orchard. •UMass continued its participation in the maintenance and expansion of MyIPM app. Using Integrated Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education (iPiPE) (100 complete). •Objective completed in Year 2. iPiPE went defunct in 2019. Weather Stations and Sensors (100% complete). •The Network for Environment and Weather Applications (NEWA) in MA provides useful weather tools and pest management models for fruit and vegetable growers. 4 new weather stations were added to NEWA in MA for a total of 52 active stations (most of them located on farms). In 2020, there were 1,181 Users (203 Returning Users) in MA using NEWA for a total of 256 contact hours. Apple Resources are the most used models for grower decision-making. Goal 3: Promote IPM Adoption by Improving and Expanding Skill Capacity and Evaluating Progress Business Management and IPM Decision Making (85% complete). •Most efforts were curtailed due to Covid, especially performance of replicated trials for economics. As a stop gap, production data from 4 growers were analyzed. •EIP Team Members worked with resource economists and growers to conduct 4 enterprise budgets for winter spinach production. Weed Management (85% complete). •Conducted 1 vegetable weed webinar (26 attendees) and 5 cranberry workshops with weed management presentations (407 attendees). Information Technology (IT) Professional Development (90% complete). •Created 1 video featuring a cranberry Mentor farmer. •Created 8 video presentations posted to YouTube. •EIP team started work with professional videographer to initiate production of 6 IPM videos. •Created 15 Fruit Loop podcast episodess as an audio partner to Healthy Fruit. Assessing Change in Behavior and Condition from IPM Extension Efforts (90% complete). •Used IPM toolkit to guide evaluation discussion and in evaluation plan for subsequent EIP proposal submission. •We did not work on-farm with Mentor Farms in 2020 growing season due to COVID-19. Work was conducted virtually through webinars and other remote programming as well as through individual calls and emails. •Evaluations of 7 online programs were conducted during the reporting period. A large majority of growers reported increased their knowledge of topics and that they intended to use what they learned in their work. One grower responded "Great job, very informative. Good review of basic principles (IPM pyramid) along with latest developments in control and resistance. Great pics of weeds, liked tips on how to ID." Online surveys also provided an opportunity to improve our collection of self-reported demographic data from program participants. •A log of as-needed Extension assistance was kept, which included the farm/farmer, communication format (e.g., text, phone, email), the issue or question, and follow-up and/or resolution (over 150 interactions for this reporting period). •Survey data from former Mentor Farmers was reviewed. Project personnel determined that follow-up surveys were unlikely to produce useful information about mid- and long-term impacts of Extension efforts. This review did generate substantive discussion about how to create evaluation tools for future projects that may be used to determine longer-term impacts of Extension interventions. •Personnel met to discuss improvements to the project's evaluation process and evaluation plans for future EIP projects. The log formed the foundation for future evaluation planning. Because these recorded interactions were generally grower-initiated in response to a real-time issue, the log may include growers without sustained interactions with UMass Extension and reflect issues that are clearly of importance to these growers. Total number of peer-reviewed publications: 0 Total number of nonpeer-reviewed publications: 8 veg articles, 17 fruit pubs, 2 cranberry pubs plus 50 issues of our 3 newsletters Total number of presentations: 94 presentations Total number of people reached: >4,490 stakeholders
Publications
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Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:Specialty crop growers, conventional and organic growers, Spanish and English speaking farm workers, beginning and women farmers, Commonwealth Quality growers, UMass Extension staff, Regional Extension IPM specialists, IPM consultants and scouts, agricultural service providers, farm managers and decision makers, newsletter subscribers, workshop and meeting attendees, industry representatives including UAS (drone) pilots and trainees. Changes/Problems:Many of our usual face-to-face meetings were replaced by virtual teleconferencing platforms due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The grower response to these on-line offerings has been very positive. We remain committed to increasing our skill level for delivery our outreach materials on a virtual plane. In 2020-21, we look forward to the addition of two members of our group. The return of Lisa McKeag, who brings expertise in food safety and water quantity/quality efficiency as well as the anticipated addition of a new team member who brings UAV expertise and education enthusiasm to our program. Susan Scheufele has taken on the leadership role for the Vegetable Team and Genevieve Higgins has moved from a seasonal position to assume a larger year-round participatory role in the Vegetable Team. Elizabeth Garofalo has assumed greater responsibility for obtaining and disseminating data for the Fruit Tree team. Sonia Schloemann, who has provided small fruit expertise for UMass and the EIP project will be retiring in August 2020 and will depart from her roles related to the project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The EIP team held our advisory group meeting on March 9, 2020, Grafton, MA with 18 attendees. We use this forum to generate feedback for the project, provide training on special topics, and to recruit mentor and partner farms as needed. The Tree Fruit team attended MyIPM app content development sessions in Clemson, SC, Oct 8-10, 2019. The Tree Fruit Team attended the iPiPE Mixer at North Carolina State University to participate in future planning of the projects next phase as Ag-Pest Monitor/EDDMaps. The team learned about multiple other existing agricultural data aggregation and sharing platforms. Garofalo, Piñero, Clements, and Cooley attended the New York/New England/Canadian Fruit Pest Management Working Group, 80th Annual New England, New York, and Canadian Fruit Pest Management Workshop. Burlington, VT. October 21-23, 2019. The IPM team produced the Massachusetts IPM Report for 2019. Clements gave an App guy update at this WG meeting and presented additional app information at the Massachusetts Fruit Growers' Association Annual Meeting held in Leominster, MA. Garofalo attended International Apple Pathology Working Group 25. Odense, DK. January 16-21, 2019. Garofalo hosted Dr. Cameron Peace, Washington State University in collaboration with the Stockbridge School of Agriculture and Franklin County Cider Days and the Franklin County Chamber of commerce. While on his 3-day stay Dr. Peace met with graduate students, presented at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture Seminar Series as well as Franklin County Cider Days events. Dr. Peace brought his expertise in marker assisted rosaceous plant breeding and apple genome tracking to multiple communities in UMass and Franklin county, not only increasing understanding of and access to this information but also providing an opportunity for Extension to strengthen relationships within the University as well as the larger local community. Garofalo represented UMass Extension at the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) committee meeting, a collaboration of USDA APHIS PPQ, MDAR, UMass Extension and non-governmental organizations with a stake in the state's agricultural resources. CAPS meets in order to decide which invasive pests will be the focus of the next year's survey and outreach efforts. Garofalo sits as program co-chair for the New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference helping develop sessions and coordinating scheduling and other programmatic logistical concerns. Ghantous worked with vegetable and cranberry growers to improve their weed ID skills. She provides diagnostic services for weed ID for cranberry and vegetable growers. She and Sylvia are part of a subcommittee on Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) that involves 4 conference calls/year, 100 emails and review of pesticide options for growers. Higgins and Scheufele attended a workshop at UVM Extension on Nutrient Management in Vegetable Crops workshop. February 12, 2020. Higgins attended, "Making it Happen, a farm financial planning workshop" hosted by The Carrot Project. Higgins attended "UConn Extension Agricultural Wellness Summit." December 5, 2019. Higgins attended the "Northeast Specialty Crop Water Symposium," December 18, 2019. Morzuch initiated the training of students to interview growers in the Mentor Program who could provide detailed information on amounts of time needed to accomplish tasks for various activities.Interviewing was to take place over the duration of the summer.The goal was to establish a template that extension members could use in future dealings with their clientele to gather economic information. Interviewing was curtailed completely as summer began and growers becamebusy. Piñero conducted on-farm demonstrations of the effectiveness of odor-baited trap trees as an attract-and-kill strategy for management of plum curculio, a key pest of apple in eastern North America. This behaviorally-based approach to management of adult plum curculios was integrated with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) for biological control of plum curculio larvae in the soil. Evaluations took place in six commercial orchards (five in MA, one in NH) from May to August 2018. Piñero and Garofalo monitored deployment of pheromone-baited ghost traps for increased fruit damage potential due to the invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug at three commercial farms (August-October 2019). Sandler was Chair of the NEERA 1604 group and organized a meeting of IPM coordinators by zoom (due to covid 19). The meeting was held May 12, 2020 and attended by 18 people including members of the NEIPM Center. As incoming Chair, she also represented Northeast IPM Coordinators at the National IPM Coordinators meeting held in Washington, DC on October 22-23, 2019. Sandler presented and attended the North American Cranberry Researchers and Extension Workers Conference, held in Vancouver, BC, August 18-21, 2019. Sandler presented research results on weed IPM at the Northeastern Plant, Pest, and Soil Conference held in Philadelphia, PA on January 6-9, 2020. Sandler attended the Eastern NY Grower Expo, Albany, NY on February 25-26, 2020. Scheufele and Higgins hosted Pest Alerts call: A group of ~30 Extension agents around the Northeast convene Wednesdays during the growing season (May-Sept) for one hour discussion of the week's pest activity and other issues. Scheufele attended the 2020 American Phytopathological Society Northeast Division Meeting March 11-13 to share plant disease updates and research activities with peers across the region. Schloemann and Sandler participate regularly in Regional IPM "call-ins", which help to strengthen our Extension network and re-focus our educational efforts as needed. Occasionally experts join the call to share on a pest of interest (e.g., spotted lantern fly, SWD). We started having these sessions on Zoom, which allows us to share photos and slide presentations. Sylvia worked with MDAR and UMass pesticide program to host WPS train-the-trainer sessions. Sylvia trained growers on WPS and respirator fit tests. She tutored 13 growers to help them study for their pesticide certification exam. Sylvia provides diagnostic services, usually in the range of 70-100 samples per year. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have positive and consistent contact with our stakeholders throughout the year. As listed in Box 1, we delivered an extensive array of workshops, presentations, and training sessions throughout the reporting period. We published 7 newsletters (>100 issues total) that reached more than 4,400 specialty crop growers. We participate in Regional IPM "call-ins" and working groups, which help to strengthen our Extension network and re-focus our educational efforts as needed. We bring unknown crop damage issues to the table for discussion and the knowledge we gain is transferred directly to our growers. Almost all of the EIP Team members are part of the organizing committee for the New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference, a bi-yearly event that attracts more than 1,500 growers from across New England. This 3.5 day event offers multiple opportunities for Extension personnel and growers to share experiences and information on specialty crop production. We are invited speakers (by our Extension colleagues) throughout the Northeast to present and train specialty crop growers. We are well networked with our colleagues and this facilitates exchange of information that helps our grower community. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Goal 1: Improve IPM Practices and Strategies for Emerging and Established Pests Emerging Pests that Affect Multiple Specialty Crops. •We will continue to monitor emerging pests and will provide training to growers on invasive pest identification, monitoring, and management. •We will continue in an augmented mapping information distribution network through cooperation with iPiPE, now AgPest/EddMaps. We will monitor scale and Japanese knotweed populations on cranberry farms and provide management information via newsletters and IPM alerts. Advanced Apple IPM. •The transition of growers handling their own fireblight risk management will be monitored. •We will monitor accuracy of apple scab ascospore maturity models used in DSS at 1 MA site. •A multi-stage IPM program for conventional and organic systems will be supported. •Compare performance of attract-and-kill strategy involving perimeter-row sprays of insecticide mixed with sugar vs. perimeter trapping using odor-baited spheres in absence of insecticide sprays. •Presentations will be made to growers at state and regional meetings and through UMass Extension publications. Advanced Vegetable IPM. •We will work with growers and regional partners to design and conduct trials on management of striped cucumber beetle (as a vector). •We will use results from research for newsletter articles, web-based fact sheets, and workshops. Efficacy of Organic Pesticides. •We will conduct at least 1 study on organic pesticide efficacy. Results will be shared through field days, newsletter articles web-based factsheets, and peer-reviewed articles. •Training of 1-2 undergraduate students on organic pest management will be provided, focusing on monitoring and organic management of key fruit and vegetable pests. •Integration of biological controls and cultural controls will continue. Goal 2A: Increase IPM Implementation and Promote Whole-Farm Sustainability through Outreach and Training Activities Training scouts and IPM implementation on Mentor Farms. •We will regularly visit 10 Mentor Farms to scout, assess problems, and provide hands-on training for IPM techniques and pest identification. Invasive pests will be monitored. •We will interview all Mentor Farmers at the end of the season to determine implementation success and challenges. We will seek new Mentor Farmers, if necessary, in Spring 2021. Provide timely and accurate specialty crop disease diagnostics. •We will produce 1 video or podcast on pest sample collection and interpreting diagnostic reports. •Diagnostic outreach activities will focus on hands-on activities to properly identify and manage plant disease, insect, nutritional, and weed problems during field days. •We will share this information through disease alerts, articles for vegetable, fruit and horticulture newsletters, and fruit and vegetable websites. Conduct Workshops and Training. •Workshops and trainings (targeting beginning and/or organic growers, WPS, nutrient management, bee conservation and weed management training, with other subjects addressed as dictated by grower needs) are a mainstay of our education outreach efforts and will continue for 2020-21. Bridge Language Barriers. •We will continue to develop language resources such as factsheets, vocabulary and phrase guides to be posted on our Spanish language resources webpage. • 5 IPM videos will be translated into Spanish (and other languages) and shared via YouTube. Promote Commonwealth Quality Program (CQP). •Our Vegetable and Fruit Teams will continue to train inspectors/auditors to use the IPM checklists. Goal 2B: Increase IPM Implementation and Promote Whole-Farm Sustainability through Demonstrating Effective Technological Strategies Digital Recordkeeping. •Team members will test new platforms (e.g., FarmDog) and collaborate with AgPst/EddMaps to investigate potential for and develop record keeping capabilities in this platform. Optimizing Technology Utilization on Specialty Crop Farms. •We will use UAS and image sensing with growers via workshops, meetings, and data collection. •We will conduct research and outreach regarding dual-use of solar energy on working specialty crop farms (blueberry and cranberry) and evaluate projects fostering dual-use on specialty crop farms. •We will research regulatory information related to agricultural water use. •Evaluate different moisture sensor technologies in vegetables and fruit. •Continue use of DTN© Smart Traps to allow remote monitoring of OFM, CM, and (OFM). •Feedback will be considered on a re-tooled design for NEWA, including responsive web options. •Team will continue to use multi-media resources (podcasts, websites, virtual conferences, social media platforms, etc.) to effectively communicate and prioritize measures in a highly adaptive fashion. Using Integrated Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education (iPiPE). • Ultilizing AgPest/EddMaps (fomerly known as iPiPe), seven BMSB monitoring sites will be established in MA and the information will be recorded and mapped. Weather Stations and Sensors. •We will monitor 31 weather stations and coordinate a network of 26 RainWise and Onset stations. •We will conduct outreach about DSS and encourage use of expanded HELP features on NEWA. •We will continue to test the efficacy of disease-risk forecasting models for management of fireblight and disease-risk forecasting models for management of summer disease complexes. •We will produce 1 video on reading NEWA and forecast models. Goal 3: Promote IPM Adoption by Improving and Expanding Skill Capacity and Evaluating Progress Business Management and IPM Decision Making. •We will work with resource economists to conduct cost-benefit analyses of replicated trials on crop and pest management, in order to provide benchmark data for growers and to gain additional expertise in making these calculations and using economic data in decision-making. Weed Management. •We will screen herbicides (field trials) to identify products for priority IR-4 projects. •We will conduct at least 1 workshop to promote use of effective weed IPM techniques; weed IPM support will be provided via field walks, newsletter articles, pest alerts, fact sheets and workshops. •We will interview growers to assess specific needs of vegetable farms to determine the frequency and intensity of problematic annual and perennial weeds. Information Technology (IT) Professional Development. •We will partner with UMass Extension's Landscape, Nursery, and Urban Forestry Program to offer 7 webinars focusing on impact, monitoring, and management of invasive insects in MA. Topics include spotted lanternfly, SWD, BMSB, emerald ash borer, gypsy moth, Asian longhorned beetle, and more. •Create and implement podcasts that are written, recorded, edited, and produced remotely by Fruit Team to expand growers' access to Healthy Fruit news while they are in the field, etc. •We will expand our knowledge, use and development of web-based applications for remote teaching through the use of podcasts and programs like Zoom, GoToWebinar, Facebook Live, and more. Assessing Change in Behavior and Condition from IPM Extension Efforts. •We will use the IPM Toolkit as a guide to improve our evaluation process. •We will work with the NEIPM Center to evaluate adoption of IPM in our Mentor program. •We will develop a survey instrument and gather information from former Mentor farmers regarding the impact of the UMass EIP project on their pest management practices.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: Improve IPM Practices and Strategies for Emerging and Established Pests Emerging Pests that Affect Multiple Specialty Crops (65% complete). •12 MA sites checked weekly for BMSB. Data shared with MDAR and UMass Extension. "Ghost" traps, the novel "attract-and-kill" strategy were deployed on 5 partner farms. Collaborated in augmented mapping information distribution network (iPiPE, now AgPest/EddMaps). Monitored scale populations on 28 cranberry farms, processed 218 samples and addressed emerging pests including Allium leafminer fly and downy mildews (DM) in lettuce and spinach. Conducted 1 replicated trial evaluating DM resistant varieties of spinach for NE winter production. Advanced Apple IPM (65% complete). •Achieved implementation of grower-sufficient fireblight (FB) risk management. •Conducted apple scab (AS) spore observations at UMass Cold Spring Orchard to determine duration of primary spore availability. •Trained growers on AS and FB model output use. •Consistently demonstrated effectiveness of semiochemical based attract-and-kill strategies for plum curculio (PC) and other key pests. •Assessed pathogenic nematodes suppression for PC ground-dwelling stages in commercial farms. Brassica IPM (85% complete). •Our network of 5 researchers in 4 states worked with 15 growers to implement BMPs in brassicas, and conducted 9 replicated trials on alternative pest management strategies. •Wrote 10 newsletter articles, factsheets and reports; conducted 5 webinars with live attendance and video views totaling >1,047 growers and service providers; held 3 field days with 150 attendees. Efficacy of Organic Pesticides (75% complete). •Conducted replicated trials evaluating host-resistance to manage diseases without use of pesticides, a valuable strategy for organic growers whose choices of fungicides are very limited. •We trained 10 undergraduate students on organic IPM. Goal 2A: Increase IPM Implementation and Promote Whole-Farm Sustainability through Outreach and Training Activities Training scouts and IPM implementation on Mentor Farms (65% complete). •Hosted our annual Advisory Group meeting and discussed priorities (18 attendees). •Regularly visited 14 Mentor Farms to scout and provide hands-on training. Growers were interviewed to determine implementation success and challenges. Provide timely and accurate specialty crop disease diagnostics (75% complete). •Pest diagnostics, fungicide efficacy, and forecasting are the focus of our outreach programs and field day events. •Made 43 site visits, processed 299 samples, had >120 phone consultations related to cranberry scale. Conduct Workshops and Training (65% complete) (numbers down due to Covid-19 restrictions). •Conducted one workshop on SWD identification and management (50 attendees). •Published the 28th Annual March Message, providing information on cutting-edge research-based pest control to MA and NE fruit tree growers. •Held 8 twilight meetings (300 attendees) and one field day (110 attendees). •Conducted 4 WPS trainings (42 attendees) and worked with MDAR and UMass pesticide programs to host 1 WPS train-the-trainer session. •We held a "how-to" diagnostics workshop for growers (35 attendees). •We did one-on-one trainings and education on resistance management (53 attendees). •20 workshops and trainings were held (840 attendees) targeting organic growers, nutrient management, bee conservation. Bridge Language Barriers (55% complete). •We evaluated survey responses and worked with collaborating institutions (CISA) and farmers to prioritize production of Spanish-language resources. •Created a general Spanish-resource page, with vegetable production resources, and a Food Safety page, listing specifically food safety-related resources. Promote Commonwealth Quality Program (CQP) (85% complete). •Our Vegetable and Fruit Teams partnered with MDAR in on-farm and classroom trainings to prepare inspectors/auditors to use the IPM checklists. •Work on the Cranberry CQP was completed and is posted on MDAR website. Goal 2B: Increase IPM Implementation and Promote Whole-Farm Sustainability through Demonstrating Effective Technological Strategies Digital Recordkeeping (60% complete). •Team members continued to seek software/platforms to serve this need, investigating versatility of Farm Dog app and AgPest/EddMaps to determine feasibility of record keeping in those platforms. Optimizing Technology Utilization on Specialty Crop Farms (70% complete). •Held 1 workshop on the use of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) in cranberry (10 attendees). •Published 1 fact sheet on agrivoltaic panels on cranberry farms. •Reviewed 16 proposals for dual-use of solar energy on specialty crop farms; 10 were approved. •Ultilized MyIPM workgroup session to leverage phones for creating phone-friendly apps. •Installed 8 new weather stations with microclimate sensor potential. Using Integrated Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education (iPiPE) (65% complete). •We installed monitoring systems and gathered information on Collaborator farms. Information shared with our regional Extension colleagues to inform IPM decisions across state lines. Weather Stations and Sensors (75% complete). •Communications with growers about stations and data were accompanied with advice and questions about IPM and decision support systems (DSS) as supported by the NEWA platform. •Approximately 50 tree fruit growers are steady users of models for apple scab disease, fire blight disease, and summer diseases as well as plum curculio, apple maggot, and other insects. •Produced 1 video on using NEWA to determine apple scab infection risk and access weather forecast. Goal 3: Promote IPM Adoption by Improving and Expanding Skill Capacity and Evaluating Progress Business Management and IPM Decision Making (65% complete). •Extension Team Members worked with resource economists and growers to guide our examination of factors that influence whole-farm management decisions. •We hosted a workshop on enterprise budget development (18 attendees). Weed Management (65% complete). •Secured registration of a new herbicide in cranberry, expanding mode of action options. •Conducted 5 workshops to promote effective weed IPM on specialty crop farms (1287 attendees). •Conducted 1 Partner Farm project (pronamide on new cranberry vines) and weed IPM support was provided to fruit and vegetable growers via field walks, newsletter articles, pest alerts, and workshops. •Developed and delivered a weed identification quiz at a regional meeting to determine growers' ability to accurately identify problem weeds on farm (80 respondents). Information Technology (IT) Professional Development (75% complete). •Extension personnel held 10 virtual grower workshops (ca. 650 attendees). •Conducted 3 fruit-growing webinars (195 attendees). Video presentations posted to YouTube. •Initiated Podcast component to Healthy Fruit. Assessing Change in Behavior and Condition from IPM Extension Efforts (50% complete). •Improved evaluation process to capture increasing knowledge and confidence in implementing IPM, as well as longer-term impacts. •Two growers adopted the use of synthetic lures and perimeter-row applications of insecticide mixed with sugar as a phagostimulant for reduced-input management of apple maggot fly. Insecticide applications were reduced by at least 70%. Total number of peer-reviewed publications: 0 (2 noted published during reporting period, but mentioned in last year's report). Total number of nonpeer-reviewed publications: 12 Total number of presentations: 36 in person; 12 internet-based Total number of people reached: >1,200 at talks/webinars, >4,400 newsletter subscribers
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Scheufele, S.B., and G. Higgins., 2019. Evaluation of resistant cultivars for management of downy and powdery mildews in fall cucumbers, 2018. . Plant Disease Management Reports. No. 13:V078
https://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/pub/trial/pdmr/volume13/abstracts/v078.asp
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Scheufele, S.B., and G. Higgins., 2019. Evaluation of fungicides to reduce chlorothalonil use for powdery mildew on squash, 2018. Plant Disease Management Reports. No. 13:V081.
https://www.plantmanagementnetwork.org/pub/trial/pdmr/volume13/abstracts/v081.asp
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Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:Specialty crop growers, Conventional and organic growers, Spanish and English speaking farm workers, Beginning and women farmers, Commonwealth Quality growers, UMass Extension staff, Regional Extension IPM specialists, IPM consultants and scouts, Agricultural service providers, Farm managers and decision makers, Newsletter subscribers, Workshop and meeting attendees, Industry representatives, including drone pilots and trainees Changes/Problems:Personnel: Ms. Lisa McKeag, instrumental in the Commonwealth Quality Program and initiator of evaluation processes for the project, entered graduate school and changed her job focus to food safety. Thus, objectives under her purview were significantly reduced. Mr. Andrew Cavanaugh, IT consultant, had devised our electronic reporting system in a language that is not as universal as other languages. This, along with unforeseened University security issues, hampered the transfer of the program maintenance to UMass IT as originally proposed. In addition, unexpected external employment activities curtailed Mr. Cavanaugh's availability to the EIP program and Ms. Elizabeth Amour (Unitversity IT) retired. These events have combined to severely limit our ability to develop and promote the electronic scouting system. On a positive note, Dr. Jaime Pinero has joined our team and will be providing entomological expertise in our fruit team extension efforts. Budget: No adjustments were needed for Year 2 funds. Activities: Activity assignments associated with McKeag, Cavanaugh and Amour were reduced or eliminated. The remaining efforts and activities of the Team are proceeding on schedule as anticipated for 2019-20. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The EIP team participated in the Vegetable and Fruit Working Group with all New England state extension educators, organized by University of Vermont. Lake Morey, VT December 17-18, 2018, 28 attendees. The EIP team held our advisory group meeting on March 29, 2019, Grafton, MA with 28 attendees. We use this forum to generate feedback for the project, provide training on special topics, and to recruit mentor and partner farms as needed. The Tree Fruit team attended MyIPM app content development sessions in Clemson, SC, Oct 8-10, 2018. Schloemann did a demonstration of Exclusion Netting for control of Spotted Wing Drosophila by constructing a low cost tunnel with a pvc frame and double-doored entry way covered with 80-gram exclusion netting.The tunnel was approximately 85' long and the cost of construction was approximately $1,000.SDW monitoring traps were checked twice/week and no SWD were captured.Fruit was evaluated for SWD infestation and no infested fruit were found.400 half-pints of fruit were harvested at a value of $4/half-pint, or a value of $1,600. Schloemann and Sandler participate regularly in Regional IPM "call-ins", which help to strengthen our Extension network and re-focus our educational efforts as needed. Occasionally experts join the call to share on a pest of interest (e.g., spotted lantern fly, SWD). We started having these session on Zoom, which allows us to share photos and slide presentations. Garofalo, Piñero, Clements, and Cooley attended the New York/New England/Canadian Fruit Pest Management Working Group, 79th Annual New England, New York, and Canadian Fruit Pest Management Workshop. Burlington, VT. October 22-24, 2018. The IPM team produced the Massachusetts IPM Report for 2018. Clements gave an App guy update at this WG meeting and presented additional app information at the Massachusetts Fruit Growers' Association Annual Meeting held in Leominster, MA. Garofalo attended Great Lakes Fruit Workers Meeting. Ithaca, NY. November 7-9, 2018, the SIVAL Expo; International Apple Pathology Working Group 25. Montabazon, FR. January 15-19, 2019, and the Eco Apple Meeting. Hyde Park, NY. February 28- March 1, 2019. Garofalo dispatched Spensa/DTN (mytraps.com) camera pheromone traps for monitoring/setting first catch biofix of Oriental fruit moth, codling moth, and oblique banded leafroller at Nicewicz Farm, Bolton, MA. Sylvia attended a presentation by Dr. Joe Elkington on winter moth 3/28/19 and a presentation by Heather Faubert on 2/26/19. This allowed her to consult with growers regarding winter moth. She also worked with MDAR and UMass pesticide program to host WPS train-the-trainer sessions. Sylvia trained growers on WPS and respirator fit tests. She tutored 35 growers to help them study for their pesticide certification exam. Sylvia provides diagnostic services, usually in the range of 70-100 samples per year. Campbell-Nelson was the EIP Team's resource person providing training to stakeholders regarding nutrient management compliance. Ghantous worked with vegetable and cranberry growers to improve their weed ID skills. She provides diagnostic services for weed ID for cranberry and vegetable growers. She and Sylvia are part of a subcommittee on Maximum Residue Limits (MRL) that involves 4 conference calls/year, 100 emails and review of pesticide options for growers. Sandler obtained her recurrent Part 107 Unmanned Aerial Vehicle pilot's license after attending a training session with Dr. David Price, President of Association of Professional Drone Pilots. Piñero conducted on-farm demonstrations of the effectiveness of odor-baited trap trees as an attract-and-kill strategy for management of plum curculio, a key pest of apple in eastern North America. This behaviorally-based approach to management of adult plum curculios was integrated with entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) for biological control of plum curculio larvae in the soil. Evaluations took place in six commercial orchards (five in MA, one in NH) from May to August 2018. Piñero and Garofalo demonstrated the effectiveness of pheromone-baited ghost traps for attract-and-kill of the invasive Brown Marmorated Stink Bug at three commercial farms (September-October 2018). Campbell-Nelson and Scheufele hosted a weekly Vegetable Pest Alerts call using Zoom including 30 Extension Educators from all New England States and New York to share timely IPM issues occurring on farms through the season, and to share expertise. Scheufele attended the 2019 APS Northeastern Division Meeting in April 2019 at PennState to gain insight on current research in plant pathology. She also hosted a Grant Writing workshop with Sandler to Extension educators, faculty and staff as part of a professional development program. She coordinated a 4-state SARE Research and Education grant on ecological pest management in brassicas, which has led to valuable peer learning opportunities for members of the resulting 'Brassica Pest Collaborative'. Campbell-Nelson hosted a Professional Development Program for UMass Extension funded by Northeast SARE, which included monthly peer-facilitated professional development workshops, and provided $500 stipends to participants for subsidizing their own professional development activities. Garofalo, Piñero and Scheufele made use of these funds to travel to conferences, present at meetings, and bring outside expertise to visit with us. Scheufele attended a one-on-one mentoring session with UMass' Statistical Consulting Service in order to improve data analysis skills. Scheufele hosted an international expert on spinach downy mildew, Dr. Jim Correll of University of Arkansas, for a 2-day visit to learn about pathogen biology and disease management, and to introduce Dr. Correll to our unique winter spinach production systems and the challenges they bring for managing spinach downy mildew effectively. Dr. Correll's visit brought expertise to our region and UMass Extension is now well-poised to provide superior education about this disease to growers and industry across the region. Furthermore, the visit sparked a collaboration that led to the development of a new grant proposal which is being submitted now to conduct research and education on this emerging disease. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We have positive and consistent contact with our stakeholders throughout the year. As listed in Box 1, we delivered an extensive array ofworkshops, presentations, and training sessions throughout the reporting period.We published 5 newsletters (69 issues total) that reached more than 4,000 specialty crop growers. We participate in Regional IPM "call-ins" and working groups, which help to strengthen our Extension network and re-focus our educational efforts as needed. We bring unknown crop damage issues to the table for discussion and the knowledge we gain is transferred directly to our growers. Almost all of the EIP Team members are part of the organizing committee for the New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference, a bi-yearly event that attracts more than 1,500 growers from across New England. This 3.5 day event offers multiple opportunities for Extension personnel and growers to share experiences and information on specialty crop production. We are invited speakers (by our Extension colleagues) throughout the Northeast to present and train specialty crop growers. We are well networked with our colleagues and this facilitates exchange of information that helps our grower community. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Goal 1: Improve IPM Practices and Strategies for Emerging and Established Pests Emerging Pests that Affect Multiple Specialty Crops. •We will continue to monitor emerging pests (SWD, BMSB) and will provide training to growers on invasive pest identification, monitoring, and management. • We will collaborate in an augmented mapping information distribution network through cooperation with iPiPE and UMassIT. • We will monitor scale and Japanese knotweed populations on cranberry farms and provide management information via newsletters and IPM alerts. Advanced Apple IPM. •The transition of growers handling their own fire blight risk management will be monitored. •We will engage 5 sites in southern New England for the purpose of validating apple scab predictive models used in DSS. •The effectiveness of semiochemically based attract-and-kill strategies for plum curculio and other key pests of stone and pome fruit will be demonstrated within and outside MA. •Team members will hold field workshops to demonstrate IPM tools, such as attracticidal spheres for apple maggot management, and control options for fire blight-sensitive crops. •Results from applied research projects will be presented to growers at state and regional meetings and through UMass Extension publications (e.g., Healthy Fruit, Fruit Notes). Brassica IPM. •We will work with growers and researchers in 4 states to design and conduct trials at the UMass Agronomy Research Farm and on Partner Farms. •We will use results from trials and demonstrations to develop newsletter articles, web-based fact sheets, and workshops. •New invasive pests will be monitored through our scouting efforts, Collaborator Farms, and in Brassica pest trials; best management practices will be developed and shared with growers. Efficacy of Organic Pesticides. •We will conduct at least 1 study on a Partner Farm and/or University facilities on organic pesticide efficacy. Results will be shared with growers through field days, newsletter articles web-based factsheets, and peer-reviewed articles. •Training to undergraduate students on organic pest management will be provided at the UMass Agriculture Learning Center. Focus will be on monitoring and organic management of key pests of apples. Goal 2A: Increase IPM Implementation and Promote Whole-Farm Sustainability through Outreach and Training Activities Training scouts and IPM implementation on Mentor Farms. •We will regularly visit 10 Mentor Farms to scout, assess problems, and provide hands-on training for IPM techniques and pest identification. Invasive pests will be monitored. •We will interview all Mentor Farmers at the end of the season to determine implementation success and challenges. We will seek new Mentor Farmers, if necessary, in Spring 2020. Provide timely and accurate specialty crop disease diagnostics. •We will conduct a training session and produce 1 video on proper plant and insect sample collection and how to interpret diagnostic reports. •Diagnostic outreach activities will focus on hands-on activities to properly identify and manage plant disease, insect, nutritional, and weed problems during field days. •We will share this information through disease alerts, articles for vegetable, fruit and horticulture newsletters, and fruit and vegetable websites. Conduct Workshops and Training. •Workshops and trainings (targeting organic growers, WPS, nutrient compliance, bee conservation and weed management training, with other subjects addressed as dictated by grower needs) are a mainstay of our education outreach efforts and will continue for 2019. Bridge Language Barriers. •We will evaluate survey responses and work with organizations that can provide expertise. •We will develop language resources such as factsheets, vocabulary and phrase guides, produce 1 short video, and to host IPM related workshops such as WPS training in Spanish. Promote Commonwealth Quality Program (CQP). •Our Vegetable and Fruit Teams will foster our partnership with MDAR in on-farm trainings, field walks and twilight meetings to prepare inspectors/auditors to use the IPM checklists. •Work will continue in launching the Cranberry CQP audit document in 2019-20. Goal 2B: Increase IPM Implementation and Promote Whole-Farm Sustainability through Demonstrating Effective Technological Strategies Digital Recordkeeping. •We will not pursue this objective for the remainder of the project, as described above. Optimizing Technology Utilization on Specialty Crop Farms. •Members of the EIP team are part of UMassAir, a collaborative of scientists and educators dedicated to increasing outreach of unmanned aerial systems (UAS); we will bring agricultural expertise to this group. •We will continue to share our experience using UAS and image sensing with growers via workshops and meetings. •We will pursue interest in dual-use of solar energy on working specialty crop farms. Using Integrated Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education (iPiPE). •We will install monitoring systems and gather information on Collaborator farms. •Information will be shared with our regional Extension colleagues to inform IPM decisions across state lines. Weather Stations and Sensors. •We will continue to coordinate a network of 26 RainWise and Onset weather stations. •We will conduct outreach about DSS and encourage the use of the expanded HELP features on the NEWA site. •We will continue to test the efficacy of disease-risk forecasting models for management of fire blight and disease-risk forecasting models for management of summer disease complex. •We will produce 1 video on using NEWA and forecast models. Goal 3: Promote IPM Adoption by Improving and Expanding Skill Capacity and Evaluating Progress Business Management and IPM Decision Making. •Extension Team Members will work with resource economists and growers to guide our examination of factors that influence whole-farm management decisions. •We will host a workshop on enterprise budget development. Weed Management. •We will interview growers to assess specific needs of vegetable and small specialty crop farms to determine the frequency and intensity of problematic annual and perennial weeds. •We will screen herbicides (greenhouse) to identify products for priority IR-4 projects. •We will conduct at least 1 workshop to promote use of effective IPM techniques for managing weeds on specialty crop farms. •1 Partner Farm project will be developed and weed IPM support will be provided to fruit and vegetable growers via field walks, newsletter articles, pest alerts, fact sheets and workshops. Information Technology (IT) Professional Development. •Extension personnel will conduct one 1 webinar. •We will expand our knowledge, use and development of web-based applications. Assessing Change in Behavior and Condition from IPM Extension Efforts. •We will use the IPM Toolkit as a guide to improve our evaluation process. •We will highlight cost-benefit as part of our evaluation program and engage growers willing to explore this aspect in more detail.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: Improve IPM Practices and Strategies for Emerging and Established Pests Emerging Pests that Affect Multiple Specialty Crops (50% complete). •For BMSB, MA sites were checked weekly in 2018. All data were shared with MA Dept. of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) and UMass Extension. 'Ghost' traps, an attract-and-kill strategy consisting of the BMSB pheromone and insecticide-treated netting, were deployed where BMSB numbers exceeded apple management threshold levels. •SWD monitoring, research, and demonstrations took place at various farms. Findings were reported via IPM Berry Blast and Healthy Fruit newsletters as well as social media platforms. •Due to successful establishment of parasitoids, winter moth infestations were not a concern in 2018-19. Scale populations in cranberry continue to escalate at rates of high concern. We diagnosed 24 samples and made 10 site visits to diagnose scale in 2018. Scale pressure for 2019 is high; we have already collected 60 samples and made 30 bog visits. We have a visiting expert to assist in documenting species and distribution (June 2019). We continue to monitor for Japanese knotweed infestations. Advanced Apple IPM (50% complete). •Five sites with weather stations were set up in MA, CT and VT to validate apple scab models used in Decision Support Systems (DSS); it compared spore and infection observations. •Growers were trained on model output use. Spore observations are on-going. Brassica IPM (50% complete). •3 replicated field trials were conducted at the UMass Agronomy Farm. Trials included: mulches to reduce flea beetle damage and improve yield and attracting beneficial insects to reduce cabbage aphid population size. •A website was setup through another grant program to house factsheets, research reports, webinars (415 views), and other resources. •Scouting of brassicas occurred regularly on 11 farms in 2018. •8 factsheets and research reports were published online. 3 articles were published in Veg Notes and pest alerts were published weekly, and 1 field day was held (45 attendees). Efficacy of Organic Pesticides (50% complete). •1 replicated study was conducted at UMass Agronomy farm using beneficial nematode products for control of flea beetle compared to an OMRI-approved standard treatment. •3 presentations were given on organic pesticide efficacy focus, 24 issues of Vegetable notes and 3 Plant Disease/Arthropod Management Reports were published. •6 on-farm demonstrations of the effectiveness of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPN) for biological control of plum curculio larvae in the soil were conducted in 2018. Goal 2A: Increase IPM Implementation and Promote Whole-Farm Sustainability through Outreach and Training Activities Training scouts and IPM implementation on Mentor Farms (50% complete). •We hosted our annual Advisory Group meeting for the EIP grant, March 29, 2019 (28 attendees). We recruited Mentor and Partner Farms. •Intake interviews and evaluations with 11 Mentor Farms were done in 2018. Intakes and scouting has started with 10 farms for 2019. •Employees were trained in scouting procedures during biweekly visits. Provide timely and accurate specialty crop disease/pest diagnostics (50% complete). •Cranberry scale identification was a high diagnostic priority in 2018-19. •Pest diagnostics, fungicide efficacy, and forecasting are consistently the focus of our outreach programs and field day events. Please see REEport for the full list of presentations. Conduct Workshops and Training on Special Topics (50% complete). •We held 5 train-the-trainer sessions with 278 attendees. •We provided 35 one-on-one consultations to receive Pesticide Certification. •We provided hands-on respirator training and fit tests to 14 growers and made presentations on regulations regarding respirators to 175 attendees. •We trained 57 workers on Worker Protection Standards (11 workshops). •We conducted one workshop at UMass Agronomy Farm regarding bee conservation, covering insectary plantings and reducing use of chlorothalonil, 45 attendees. •We conducted 6 workshops on nutrient management, 353 attendees. •We provided one-on-one consulting for 28 growers regarding resistance management. • We conducted one workshop on SWD management, 50 attendees. •We conducted 3 workshops on organic pesticide efficacy, 190 attendees. Bridge Language Barriers (40% complete). •We conducted a needs survey but the response was low (13). We started development on a plan to create new resources, translate existing resources, and compile existing resources. Promote Commonwealth Quality Program (CQP) (40% complete). •We worked with MDAR to make improvements to the CQP audit checklist. •MDAR inspectors attended 5 Vegetable Winter School workshops. •We made 5 presentations regarding CQP, 74 attendees. Goal 2B: Increase IPM Implementation and Promote Whole-Farm Sustainability through Demonstrating Effective Technological Strategies Digital Recordkeeping (This objective cannot be completed). •Use of a difficult programming language and security hurdles within the UMass system hampered the transfer of the program maintenance to UMass IT as well as the development, promotion and use of the electronic scouting system. Key personnel left the project. Optimizing Technology Utilization on Specialty Crop Farms (50% complete). •A fact sheet was produced to introduce specialty crop farmers to FAA regulations and unmanned aerial systems (UAS). •1 presentation was made to blueberry farmers regarding use of precision agriculture and UAS on their farms. 159 attendees. •3 presentations were given to cranberry growers regarding the use of thermal cameras and UAS, 315 attendees. •We published a fact sheet on the use of solar technology on cranberry farms. Using Integrated Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education (iPiPE) (50% complete). •30 Farms participated in a pest scouting network of sweetcorn pests and squash vine borer. •3 interns were trained in iPiPE and provided support for the project. Weather Stations and Sensors (50% complete). •We coordinated a network of 26 RainWise and Onset weather stations. •Communications with growers about stations and data were accompanied with advice and questions about IPM and decision support systems (DSS). •Many tree fruit growers are steady users of models for apple scab disease, fire blight disease, and summer diseases as well as plum curculio, apple maggot, and other insects. Goal 3: Promote IPM Adoption by Improving and Expanding Skill Capacity and Evaluating Progress Business Management and IPM Decision Making (50% complete). •Resource economists provided mentoring to extension members to include economic analysis in 2 research trials, and worked with 2 growers to include IPM goals related to business management through our Mentor program mentioned above. Weed Management (50% complete). •We conducted a weed management workshop for organic vegetable farmers, 40 attendees. •We held a program on weed management in no-till systems, 50 attendees. Information Technology (IT) Professional Development (50% complete). •Team members were trained in MyIPM app development and worked with other IPM specialists to disseminate the information to stakeholders. •5 webinars were held on Brassica IPM. •We participated in the App guy update: MyIPM, Malusim, EcoApple, and NETFMG, New England, New York and Canada IPM Working Group. Assessing Change in Behavior and Condition from IPM Extension Efforts (25% complete). •Due McKeag's departure, activities around evaluation were reduced. Total peer-reviewed publications: 6 Total non-peer-reviewed publications: 13 Total presentations: 78 Total people reached: 2,904 (via meetings); 4,200 via newsletter/alert subscriptions
Publications
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Scheufele, S.B., and G. Higgins., 2018. Evaluation of fungicides to reduce chlorothalonil use for powdery mildew on squash, 2018. Plant Disease Management Reports. (In Press).
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Scheufele, S.B., and G. Higgins., 2018. Evaluation of resistant cultivars for management of downy and powdery mildews in fall cucumbers, 2018. . Plant Disease Management Reports (In Press).
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Awaiting Publication
Year Published:
2019
Citation:
Scheufele, S.B., and G. Higgins., M. Meder. 2018. Evaluation of mulches to reduce feeding damage by flea beetles in fall broccoli, 2018. Arthropod Management Tests. (In Press).
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Averill, A.L., M.M. Sylvia, N. Hahn, and A.V. Couto. 2018. Bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) foraging on american cranberry in Massachusetts. Northeastern Naturalist 25(3):502-512.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Xu, G. E. Palmer-Young, K. Skyrm, T. Daley, M. Sylvia, A. Averill and S. Rich. 2018. Triplex real-time PCR for detection of Crithidia mellificae and Lotmaria passim in honey bees. Parasitol Res. 117(2):623-628.
- Type:
Journal Articles
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Hoshide, A.K., F.A. Drummond, T.H. Stevens, E. Venturini, S.P. Hanes, M.M. Sylvia, C.S. Loftin, D.E. Yarborough, and A.L. Averill. 2018. What is the value of wild bee pollination for wild blueberries and cranberries, and who values it? Environments 2018, 5(9): 98.
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Progress 09/01/17 to 08/31/18
Outputs
Target Audience:Specialty crop growers, Conventional and organic growers, Spanish and English speaking farm workers, Beginning and women farmers, Commonwealth Quality growers, UMass Extension staff, Regional Extension IPM specialists, IPM consultants and scouts, Agricultural service providers, Farm managers and decision makers, Newsletter subscribers, Workshop and meeting attendees, Industry representatives, including drone pilots and trainees Changes/Problems:Personnel: Dr. Erika Saalau-Rojas, originally a co-PD, left University employment and relinquished her leadership role in the project. She is employed in another sector of the cranberry industry and we anticipate that she will play a minor collaborator role with regards to cranberry disease diagnosis and development of unmanned aerial systems for cranberry. Dr. Angela Madeiras changed responsibilities within the University and has significantly reduced her role in the project. She will continue to provide diagnostic services only. Despite multiple and concerted efforts to recruit a summer weed technician, we were not able to identify a suitable candidate. We decided that Garofalo and Ghantous, with their current expertise and knowledge of weed science, would attend to the extension weed management objectives for Year 1.Budget: Adjustments to meet budget changes for Year 1 were made by eliminating costs associated with hiring a videographer to assist with production of educational videos and reducing IT consulting. Activities: Activity assignments associated with Saalau-Rojas and Madeiras were eliminated. The number of videos anticipated from this project was reduced from 8 to 5 (eliminated videos relating to disease diagnosis and IT development and one of 2 videos on resistance management). IT consulting services for Year 1 were scaled back to focus on the reporting aspect of the grower portal interface. After much discussion, it became apparent that our proposed goal to make the current digital recordkeeping software compatible with Drupal was not logistically viable. Our hope was that this compatibility would enable us to shift the upkeep of the software from the consultant to UMass. Due to various security hurdles, we realized this would not work. We have ceased efforts on this objective and have identified a workable solution. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Lass developed an instructional/outreach presentation on the microeconomic foundations for farm-level decision-making. The presentation focused on farm production choices, the related costs of production and the profits earned at different levels of production. The basic microeconomic principles that would drive optimal farm choices were presented and discussed at the IPM Planning meeting at Brigham Hill Community Farm (Grafton, MA) to 31 farmers and educators. In addition to the key principles of microeconomic theory, an illustration showing application of these principles to adoption of new production technology in the nursery industry was included. Extension personnel were interested in obtaining spreadsheets that could assist in computing costs of IPM practices. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?We gave more than 40 workshops, presentations, and/or training sessions during the reporting period; more than 2,500 growers attended these educational sessions. We published 5 newsletters (35 issues total) that reached more than 4,000 specialty crop growers. We participate in Regional IPM "call-ins" and working groups, which help to strengthen our Extension network and re-focus our educational efforts as needed. Almost all of the EIP Team members are part of the organizing committee for the New England Vegetable and Fruit Conference, a bi-yearly event that attracts more than 1,500 growers from across New England. This 3.5 day event offers multiple opportunities for Extension personnel and growers to share experiences and information on specialty crop production. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals? Goal 1: Improve IPM Practices and Strategies for Emerging and Established Pests Emerging Pests that Affect Multiple Specialty Crops. We will monitor emerging pests in Mentor, Partner, and Collaborator Farms and other sites as dictated by need. We will collaborate with Integrated Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education (iPiPE) and UMassIT. Emerging pests include spotted wing Drosophila (SWD), winter moth (WM), brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) and Scale (cranberry); we will also include Japanese Knotweed (JK). • Advanced Apple IPM. Team members will educate growers on fungicide alternatives against apple scab (AS), including orchard sanitation and use of forecasting models for AS and Summer Disease Complex (SBFS) to optimize pesticide efficiency. Mentor and Partner Farmers will receive alerts when medium and high risks for Fire Blight (FB) are present. In Year 2, growers' experience with weather stations and model outputs on the Network for Environment and Weather Applications (NEWA) should enable them to handle their own FB risk management. They will present results from applied research projects to growers at state and regional meetings and through Extension publications and will host a workshop demonstrating drift-reduction strategies and improve targeted spray application. • Brassica IPM. Outputs and expected deliverables will include presentations and other publications on improved strategies to manage Brassica pests. We will use results from trials and demonstrations to develop newsletter articles, web-based fact sheets, and workshops. New invasive pests will be monitored through our scouting efforts, Collaborator Farms, and in Brassica pest trials; best management practices will be developed and shared with growers. • Efficacy of Organic Pesticides. We will conduct at least one study in 2018 on organic pesticide efficacy. Results will be shared with growers through field days, newsletter articles and web-based factsheets. Results will also be shared with the extension community. Goal 2A: Increase IPM Implementation and Promote Whole-Farm Sustainability through Outreach and Training Activities • Training scouts and IPM implementation on Mentor Farms. We will visit at least 10 Mentor Farms regularly throughout the season to scout, assess problems, and provide hands-on training for scouting and pest identification. Invasive pests will be monitored at all of these locations. We will interview all Mentor Farmers at the end of the season to determine implementation success and challenges. • Provide timely and accurate specialty crop disease diagnostics. We will work with the Diagnostic Lab to prepare reports that emphasize cultural controls and promote the importance of IPM and the use of disease forecast models. Outreach activities will focus on hands-on activities to properly identify and manage pest problems during field days. We will provide education on forecasting models, fungicide efficacy and resistance management. • Conduct Workshops and Training. Our priority topics include pesticide training targeting organic growers, WPS and nutrient compliance and regulations, bee conservation and weed management training, with other subjects addressed as dictated by grower needs. Workshops and trainings are a mainstay of our education outreach efforts and will continue for 2018. • Bridge Language Barriers. We will generate a survey to be used as a needs assessment that will guide our future outreach efforts and development of resources for farmers to overcome language barriers on the farm. In 2018-19, we will develop language resources such as factsheets, vocabulary and phrase guides, produce 1 short video, and to host IPM related workshops such as WPS training in Spanish. • Promote Commonwealth Quality Program (CQP). We will partner with MDAR/CQP Coordinator, Mr. M. Botelho, to work with Mentor Farmers to improve their IPM practices to meet CQP standards. The CQP fruit and vegetable checklists, which describe and assign point values to practices, will be reviewed and updated to ensure they are current, science-based, meaningful, and workable. Our Vegetable and Fruit Teams will include Botelho and MDAR's expanding CQP support staff in on-farm trainings, field walks and twilight meetings to prepare inspectors/auditors to use the IPM checklists in the field. Goal 2B: Increase IPM Implementation and Promote Whole-Farm Sustainability through Demonstrating Effective Technological Strategies • Digital Recordkeeping. We plan to add grower self-service logins during the upcoming year. The IT Consultant (Cavanagh) will identify another IT expert who could assist the EIP Team in the event that he is not available. • Optimizing Technology Utilization on Specialty Crop Farms. We have a 1-year subscription for data analysis and image stitching with Skycision. We will share our experience using UAS and image sensing with growers via workshops and meetings. We will develop a fact sheet and/or BMP on the use of unmanned aerial systems on specialty crops. • Using Integrated Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education (iPiPE). We will evaluate the efficacy of three different organic weed control practices: straw mulch, wood chip mulch and acetic acid. We will implement a trial in hazelnuts and has potential use in other (tree fruit) perennial cropping systems. Information will be shared with our regional Extension colleagues to inform IPM decisions across state lines. • Weather Stations and Sensors. UMass Fruit team members will coordinate a network of weather stations. Data from all stations will be checked weekly and equipment will be repaired as needed. Communications with growers about stations and data will be accompanied with advice and questions about IPM and decision support systems (DSS). We will train the growers to maintain those stations. We will conduct outreach about DSS and encourage the use of the expanded HELP features available on the NEWA site. Goal 3: Promote IPM Adoption by Improving and Expanding Skill Capacity and Evaluating Progress • Business Management and IPM Decision Making. The Team will explore the development of an enterprise budget for one vegetable, one small/tree fruit and one cranberry farm for the project. In 2018-19, Lass and Morzuch will conduct a workshop for growers and others to address the needs identified in Year 1. We will examine the factors that influence whole-farm management decisions. • Weed Management. During the 2018 season, Ghantous and Garofalo will interview growers to assess specific needs and survey orchards and vegetable and small specialty crop farms to determine the frequency and intensity of problematic annual and perennial weeds. Ghantous and Garofalo will implement an IPM plan with selected Mentor Farmers in 2018. They will conduct at least one workshop to promote use of effective IPM techniques for managing weeds on specialty crop farms in 2018-19. One Partner Farm project will be developed for 2018 and weed IPM support will be provided to other fruit and vegetable growers through field walks, newsletter articles, pest alerts, fact sheets and workshops. • Information Technology (IT) Professional Development. Extension personnel will conduct one (1) webinar (related to workshops, trainings, and identified priorities) in 2018-19. We will expand our knowledge, use and development of web-based applications. • Assessing Change in Behavior and Condition from IPM Extension Efforts. During 2018-19, we will use the IPM Toolkit as a guide to improve our evaluation process and focus on one-on-one interviews with growers to obtain relevant information and conduct analyses to identify trends in progress. This assessment will allow us the opportunity to make adjustments to optimize achievement of our short, intermediate, and long-range goals.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Massachusetts is the 3rd most densely populated state; MA farm land is very valuable and often sought after for development. Despite this pressure, farmers steward over 523,500 acres, >10% of the MA land base. There are 7,755 farms (of which 2,651 are vegetable, berry, and fruit farms) in the state. The total number of farms has been steady since 2007, however the number of vegetable farms increased by more than 400 (28%) in the same time frame. Averaging 68 acres in size, 95% of MA farms easily fit the USDA definition of small farms, bringing in less than $64,000 annually. Even with constant economic and biological pressures, MA farmers are committed to being efficient business owners and effective pest managers, optimizing the output of their small-scale specialty crop farms to meet consumer demands. MA farms generate over $490 million in total sales per year with 47% from sales of specialty crops such as apples, strawberries, and cucurbits. MA has almost 300 farmers' markets and ranks 1st nationally by percentage of farms with Community Supported Agriculture (CSA). Through increased adoption and implementation of effective IPM strategies, this EIP Project will support National Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Road Map goals of achieving increased profitability while reducing human health and environmental hazards. We will address stakeholder-identified priorities by integrating applied research and outreach activities for specialty crop growers in Massachusetts. Massachusetts produces more than 70 types of specialty crops and many of the farmers we work with grow more than 30 different crops on their farms. This project will focus on whole-farm IPM approaches tailored to fit diverse specialty crop growers. Specific commodity issues identified as high priorities by growers will be addressed through our applied research and demonstration trials and outreach programs. Goal 1: Improve IPM Practices and Strategies for Emerging and Established Pests Emerging Pests that Affect Multiple Specialty Crops. UMass Fruit Team members coordinated and maintained monitoring networks for brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), spotted-wing Drosophila (SWD), winter moth (WM) and scale. Findings were shared with the UMass iPiPE project (Garofalo and Clements). • Advanced Apple IPM. Five weather station sites are established in southern New England established for the purpose of validating apple scab predictive models used in Decision Support Systems (DSS). Three Mentor Farms in MA worked with team members to increase their use of cultural controls and reduced-risk pesticides for apple scab and summer diseases. The same growers received additional training on fire blight prediction and management. • Brassica IPM. The 2018-2019 issue of the New England Vegetable Management Guide was published in print and on-line, with several project personnel serving as Editor or Contributor. • Efficacy of Organic Pesticides. 2 presentations given (see "Other Products" section). Goal 2A: Increase IPM Implementation and Promote Whole-Farm Sustainability through Outreach and Training Activities • Training scouts and IPM implementation on Mentor Farms. We hosted our annual Advisory Group meeting for the EIP grant. Growers who had previously participated in our program as Mentor Farmers shared their experiences to enhance recruitment of new Mentor Farmers for our new grant. EIP Team members (Lass and Morzuch) gave a presentation on IPM Decision Making and Business Management. In Spring 2018, IPM planning sessions were conducted at all Mentor Farms. Farm visits started in April. EIP Economists participated in planning interviews to provide guidance for business and/or economic goals. • Provide timely and accurate specialty crop disease/pest diagnostics. Apple scab outbreak consultation was conducted at Mountain Orchard, Granville, MA on 5 acres of 'MacIntosh' apples. 9/13/17. Infestations of cranberry scale were confirmed at two different locations in mid-late April 2018. • Conduct Workshops and Training. More than 20 presentations were given during the reporting period to support the EIP Project. See "Other products section". • Bridge Language Barriers. We have generated a draft survey to be used as a needs assessment that will guide our future outreach efforts and development of resources for farmers to overcome language barriers on the farm. This assessment tool will be sent out to growers once the team has had a chance to review the survey questions. • Promote Commonwealth Quality Program (CQP). Sandler and Sylvia have worked with Botelho and other MDAR staff to create an audit package for cranberries destined for the fresh market. A feedback session with stakeholders was held May 8, 2018 (11 attending). A launch of the cranberry program is planned for Summer 2018. Goal 2B: Increase IPM Implementation and Promote Whole-Farm Sustainability through Demonstrating Effective Technological Strategies • Digital Recordkeeping. Currently growers can log in and access their plans and reports. Work is ongoing to Improve this interface. • Optimizing Technology Utilization on Specialty Crop Farms. We met with Skycision, a drone-enabled software company. A flight demonstration was performed on-site at the UMass Cranberry Station and a workshop was conducted (by Skycision personnel) on the applicability and adaptability of UAS for specialty crops. • Using Integrated Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education (iPiPE). Two undergraduate interns have been hired as result of this project (see Training section). They will work in collaboration with EIP fruit team members to provide additional scouting and trap monitoring at all sites currently participating with the fruit program. • Weather Stations and Sensors. We coordinated a network of 26 RainWise and Onset weather stations. Data were checked weekly and equipment was repaired as needed. Communications with growers about stations and data were accompanied with advice and questions about IPM and decision support systems (DSS). The EIP project finances the link between these 26 stations plus 20 more airport weather stations and New York State NEWA system. Goal 3: Promote IPM Adoption by Improving and Expanding Skill Capacity and Evaluating Progress • Business Management and IPM Decision Making. Lass and Morzuch met with several entering Mentor farmers to provide guidance on business goal planning. The Team reached a consensus to explore the development of an enterprise budget for one vegetable, one small/tree fruit and one cranberry farm for the project. • Weed Management. As soon as weeds emerged, cataloging of persistent weeds on Partner Farms began. A weed management workshop for organic vegetable farmers is planned for July. • Assessing Change in Behavior and Condition from IPM Extension Efforts. None to report at this writing.
Publications
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2017
Citation:
Dicklow, MB and L. McKeag, eds. 2017.New England Vegetable Management Guide, 2018-2019 edition. https://nevegetable.org.
- Type:
Other
Status:
Published
Year Published:
2018
Citation:
Ghantous, K., M.Sylvia, and D, Gauvin, eds. 2108. Cranberry Chart Book-Management Guide for Massachusetts. http://ag.umass.edu/cranberry/publications-resources.
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