Source: NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY submitted to NRP
EXPANDING IPM EXTENSION AND EDUCATION IN NEW MEXICO
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1027442
Grant No.
2021-70006-35765
Cumulative Award Amt.
$495,000.00
Proposal No.
2021-05144
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2021
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2025
Grant Year
2023
Program Code
[EIP]- Extension Implementation Program
Recipient Organization
NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY
1620 STANDLEY DR ACADEMIC RESH A RM 110
LAS CRUCES,NM 88003-1239
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
New Mexico State University (NMSU) Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management Center's overall goals are to highlight the benefits of IPM, overcome perceived barriers of implementing IPM practices, and to increase adoption across stakeholder groups. The objectives of this program are to: 1) increase awareness and use of IPM practices, 2) improved recognition of pests and beneficial insects, 3) increased awareness and use of pollinator conservation, 4) increased awareness and understanding of appropriate use of pesticides, and 5) reduction in chemical applications in urban and agricultural settings. These objectives will be addressed through a combination of strategies, including workshops, producing educational materials, and demonstration research.NMSU's EIP proposal addresses three focus areas highlighted in the IPM Road Map and the Crop Protection and Pest Management (CPPM) program, including 1) IPM for sustainable communities, 2) diversified IPM systems, 3) plant protection tactics and tools.
Animal Health Component
100%
Research Effort Categories
Basic
0%
Applied
100%
Developmental
0%
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
72160991060100%
Knowledge Area
721 - Insects and Other Pests Affecting Humans;

Subject Of Investigation
6099 - People and communities, general/other;

Field Of Science
1060 - Biology (whole systems);
Goals / Objectives
New Mexico State University (NMSU) Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management Center's overall goals are to highlight the benefits of IPM, overcome perceived barriers of implementing IPM practices, and to increase adoption across stakeholder groups. The objectives of this program are to: 1) increase awareness and use of IPM practices, 2) improved recognition of pests and beneficial insects, 3) increased awareness and use of pollinator conservation, 4) increased awareness and understanding of appropriate use of pesticides, and 5) reduction in chemical applications in urban and agricultural settings. These objectives will be addressed through a combination of strategies, including workshops, producing educational materials, and demonstration research.The breakdown of priority objectives Communities (35%), Pollinator Health (18%), Agronomic Crops (25%), and Education for Pesticide Applicators (22%)NMSU's EIP proposal addresses three focus areas highlighted in the IPM Road Map and the Crop Protection and Pest Management (CPPM) program, including 1) IPM for sustainable communities, 2) diversified IPM systems, 3) plant protection tactics and tools.Integrated Pest Management (IPM) benefits in urban and agricultural landscapes range from environmental protection to human health to economic savings (Kogan 1998). Although research has demonstrated the benefits of IPM, widespread adoption of IPM in urban and agricultural systems is still lacking in New Mexico (NM). Commonly perceived barriers to the adoption of IPM include pest monitoring expenses, the complexity of IPM tactics, high costs, and lack of site-specific results (Raupp 1992, Stewart et al. 2002, Radcliffe et al. 2009; Gent et al. 2011). The New Mexico State University Integrated Pest and Pollinator Management Center's (NMSU IPPMC) goals are to highlight the benefits of IPM, overcome perceived barriers, and increase adoption across stakeholder groups. Many stakeholder groups across NM are eager to learn and implement IPM practices, including homeowners, Master Gardener volunteers and trainees, urban/small farms, crop consultants, state agencies, and municipal parks and recreation departments. EIP funds will be critical to supporting our efforts to deliver IPM education and increase adoption across the state. NMSU's EIP proposal addressesthreefocus areas highlighted in the IPM Road Map and the Crop Protection and PestManagement (CPPM) program, including1)IPM forsustainable communities, 2) diversified IPM systems, 3) plant protection tactics and tools. The IPPMC also has a commitment to the priorities of agricultural biosecurity and development of next generation scientists, through participation in state-wide biosecurity/cyber security working groups and development of internship programs for high school and undergraduate students.Expected outcomesfrom our IPM program include: 1) increased awareness and use of IPM practices, 2) improved recognition of pest and beneficial insects, 3) increased awareness and use of pollinator conservation, 4) increased awareness and understanding of appropriate use of pesticides, and 5) reduction in chemical applications in urban and agriculture settings.Additional outcomes have been summarized under each Priority area and the associated Logic Models.
Project Methods
Community IPM:1. IPM Short-Coursewill be created and directed by the NMSU IPPMC on an annual basis. The program will be offered during the spring and will take place annually as 1-hour webinars in a series of 4-6 sessions.Content will be themed around the following community IPM concern areas that have been identified as important by NM stakeholders: vegetable IPM, fruit IPM, and ornamental landscape IPM. Local and regional specialists will present materials and courses will be designed for CEU credit (when applicable). Presentations will be recorded and placed on the NMSU IPPMC YouTube Channel. Corresponding Extension guide publications (3 total) will be created and released with each themed short course.2. IPM-Tip Cards.Condensed informational "cards" on key IPM topics will be developed for distribution at workshops, meetings, and field days. These cards will have concise information on identification and management. Topics for community IPM will include: weeds, insects (pests/beneficials), diseases, pesticide education (non-certified applicators). A total of four will be created per year, with 12 total IPM-Tip cards over three 3 years. Topics will be geared toward home gardeners, general public, parks and recreation professionals, and certified crop consultants. Some topics may be geared toward the entire state, while others will be region specific.3. Educational opportunities through guides, trainings, and workshops.NMSU Extension provides a significant amount of in-person and virtual IPM training through lectures, Master Gardener trainings, workshops, field days, and site visits. Extension specialists present over 100 in-person programs relating to IPPM per year. We expect these in-person programs to be continued once travel is allowed following COVID restrictions. These programs will cover various IPM topics presented by state specialists and IPPMC staff. Extension guides, factsheets, hands-on displays, and online media are passive educational IPM material sources that supplement in-person training and fill critical knowledge gaps.Pollinator Health:1. Educational opportunities through guides, trainings, and workshops.Wewill present 5 presentations a year on NM pollinators and their conservation. We will hold regional 3 identification workshops throughout the state annually (i.e., northern, southern, and central NM) on bees, butterflies, and natural enemies, partnering with regional experts. These one-day workshops will provide an overview of each pollinator group and habitats in the area, identification tips, field collections, and training on contributing to established citizen science opportunities. To ensure similar messaging throughout the western region, we will collaborate with Montana State University, Utah State University, and the University of Idaho to create educational materials for pollinators. (See Letters of Support).2. IPM-Tip Cards.Condensed informational cards on key IPM topics will be developed (See Primary Priority 1, Sect. 1.2 for description). Topics for Pollinator Health IPM will include: pollinator monitoring, pollinator identification, and honeybee pests, and will be geared toward home gardeners and the general public. We will create a total of four per year, with a total of 12 cards over 3-years.3. Educational opportunities through demonstrations.Many stakeholders seek information on strategies to augment pollinators and increase pollination services to gardens, farms, and natural areas. To design pollinator habitats, stakeholders often request information on which flower species to incorporate into plantings. Previous research at NMSU evaluated the attractiveness of plants used in NM for beneficial insects (Dreesen and Grasswitz 2013) and demonstrated combinations of NM native plants to target specific pollinator groups for conservation and pollinator services. We will use the results from our previous work to install demonstrationpollinator habitat at community gardens and urban farms in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and other parts of the state. Plantings will be organized as volunteer days to provide people with hands-on experiences and in-person Q&As.4. Improving IPM for Pollinator Health through demonstration research.Managed pollinators (honeybees) are popular with urban, suburban, and agriculture stakeholders. The IPPMC has developed relationships with active beekeeper groups that train new beekeepers; these groups provide suggestions on research needs and requested more information on pest management for honeybees in the Southwest. Many types of novel bee hives have risen in popularity in recent years. A trial testing beehive types (standard frame boxes, top-bar hives, novel design hives, etc.) will be conducted. First year trials will begin in April 2021, with the current EIP funding cycle covering the first year of these trials. We request funding to continue this study for a second year (Year 1) in order to collect data that is more usable for our stakeholder groups.Agronomic Crops:1.Train the Trainer Workshops.A one-day in-person educational training workshop will be held during Year 1 to teach basic pest identification and monitoring techniques to Extension educators and new staff members. Following the workshop, a presentation will be created to summarize key workshop concepts and provide a training module for new Extension educators (Year 2).In year 3, a virtual Q&A will be held as a refresher for those who attended workshops and participate in the training module.2.Pest Monitoring Network.To unify andimprovestate-wide monitoring efforts, the IPPMC will begin to track key implement monitoring of key pests. IPPMC staff and collaborators will begin to regularly collect and report monitoring data in several key regional areas including Farmington and Los Lunas New Mexico where historical pest data has been collected. Efforts will be made to unify data collection develop accessible reporting systems.3. Annual IPM for Agronomic Crops Workshop.We will virtually host two external speakers and two NMSU speakers each year. Topics will include weed monitoring and management, biological control, pest identification and management. Pesticide Applicator CEUs will be available to participants.Pesticide Applicators1. Pesticide Applicator Fact Sheets and IPM Tip Cards.Factsheets and condensed informational cards on key IPM topics will be developed for distribution at workshops, meetings, and field days. Fact sheets will have detailed information on relevant IPM topics as they relate to pesticides use. See Primary Priority 1, Sect. 1-2 for description of IPM Tip Cards. Topics include pesticide safety, equipment calibrations, interpreting pesticide labels, measurements, and calculations for pesticides. We will create four per year, with a total of 12 cards over 3 years. Topics will be geared toward pesticide applicators. NMSU IPPMC Staff will collaborate with Oregon State University to develop these materials for this priority (See Letters of Support).2.Pesticide Applicator Trainings.IPM staff will participate in a minimum of five pesticide applicator trainings per year across NM on specialized IPM topics (as deemed relevant).3.Train the Trainer Materials.Three 1-hour trainings, in the form of scripted PowerPoint presentations, will be developed by IPM staff on key topics relevant to pesticide applicators. These trainings will be maintained and updated by IPM staff and distributed to county Extension educators, giving educators the ability to present materials to their stakeholders and offer CEU credit with IPM staff assisting in virtual Q&A sessions. Presentations will be created for the following stakeholder groups: landscape/parks, agriculture, and homes/structures. NMSU IPPMC Staff will collaborate with Oregon State University to develop these materials.

Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences included: homeowners, backyard gardeners, commercial growers, landscape and related industries, native plant and honey bee organizations, K-12 students, Master Gardeners, and managers of recreational lands. Changes/Problems:The biggest changes were in personnel. Miranda Kersten the project PI took a position with SARE and left NMSU in June 2023. Then a full time employee who had been with the EIP project for 2 years left to work at USDA in February 2024. The current PI was a co-PI and there were two other Co-PIs who have lent stability to the project since all have been with NMSU for 10-28 years. With the savings from employees leaving we recruited additional IPM faculty members and staff including county agents into the project to help us accomplish the goals and objectives. These new participants who represent plant pathology, entomology, and nematology will be part of the new 2024-2027 EIP project. Funding was provided to the diagnostic lab, the arthropod museum, the new IPM specialist, a new plant pathologist, and another plant pathologist who works closely with growers. This funding was provided with the objective of supporting their outreach efforts and impacting stakeholders statewide. A small amount of funding was provided to three county agents The Taos county agent started an apple IPM project that was the headline of the local Taos, NM newspaper. Extension agents in Aztec and Portales, New Mexico are establishing pollinator, beneficial gardens that will be used by master gardeners, and used for training in IPM for stakeholders and K-12 students in the extension year of this project and the first year of the new EIP project. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Professional development opportunities occurred through attendance at professional conferences and local workshops and field days. Pesticide CEU workshops in particular are a routine opportunity for online and in person education about IPM topics and are provided every year in every county in NM. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated in numerous ways including presentations at meetings for growers, homeowners, pesticide applicators and K-16 students, as well as at professional conferences. Results are also made directly to individual stakeholders via phone, email, text messages, chat, messenger , in person visits and US Mail. Some of these individual contacts are the result of submissions to the diagnostic lab but also a result of questions submitted to specialists and county agents. Tip cards were completed and disseminated at a variety of field days, workshops. Specialists also reply to IPM issues that come up in a variety of social media platforms. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?The goals are to 1. Highlight the benefits of IPM, 2. Overcome perceived barriers of implementing IPM practices 3. Increase adoption rates across stakeholder groups. The three new pollinator gardens will be planted in the fall and spring of 2024/2025 in Portales, Las Vegas and Aztec, NM. There will be online and in person pesticide applicators trainings in IPM. Trainings will be provided via IPM workshops, pesticide applicator workshops or participation by IPM specialists in a variety of conferences. The goals will also be accomplished by producing research and extension publications. K-12 education on IPM will include IPM presentations at an annual Ag Day at the Southern NM State Fair, a variety of K-12 tours and workshops at NMSU farms. Stakeholders and K-16 students will also be educated at pollinator gardens located at NMSU farms, extension offices and one at a National Wildlife Refuge.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Publications included the following that addressed IPM issues: 11 referred journal papers, 1 book chapter, 2 research conference proceedings papers, 3 extension publications. IPM presentations included 14 workshops, 30 pesticide applicator training workshops, 26 master gardener IPM training presentations, 8 IPM field day presentations, 26 research conference presentations, 139 other IPM presentations to growers, homeowners, gardeners, etc. that were part of larger conferences, workshops or garden/farm tours etc. Translations included 5 extension publications that were translated into Spanish that are in review or in press. Work was initiated to establish three new pollinator/beneficials educational gardens in New Mexico

Publications

  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Alkhatib, B.M.; Belteton, S.; Creamer, R. Immunolocalization of Beet Curly Top Virus (BCTV) and GroEL Chaperon Protein of Endosymbionts in Beet Leafhopper (Circulifer tenellus) Vector Tissue. Viruses 2024, 16, 1571. https://doi.org/10.3390/v16101571
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Accepted Year Published: 2024 Citation: Mattox, C., Beck, L., Stock, T., Leinauer, B., Kowalewski, A. (Accepted for Publication). Comparing Alternative Non-Selective Herbicides in Oregon and New Mexico. Weed Technology.
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Das, S, Gardner, DR, Cook, D, Creamer, R. 2024. Analysis of the mycotoxin levels and expression pattern of SWN genes at different time points in the fungus Slafractonia leguminicola. Microorganisms 12, 670. https://doi.org/10.3390/ microorganisms12040670
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Vyavhare, S., Pierce, J. B., Kerns, D. (2024). Conchuela Stink Bug (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) Ecology, Biology and Management in Texas High Plains Cotton. Journal of Pest Management, 15(1, 12), 1-6.
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Das, S., Gardner, D.R., Neyaz, M., Charleston, A.B., III, Cook, D., Creamer, R. 2023. Silencing of the transmembrane transporter (swnT) gene of the fungus Slafractonia leguminicola results in a reduction of mycotoxin transport. J. Fungi, 9, 370. https://doi.org/10.3390/ jof9030370
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Schardl, C.L., Afkhami, M.E., Gundel, P.E., Iannone, L.J., Young, C.A., Creamer, R., Cook, D.A., Berry, D. 2023. Diversity of seed endophytes: Causes and implications. In: Scott, B., Mesarich, C. (eds) Plant Relationships. The Mycota, vol 5. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007 /978-3-031-16503-0_5
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Bajagian, A., Lehnhoff, E.A., Steiner, R., Creamer, R., and Schutte, B.J. 2023. Timing termination of a biofumigant cover crop for weed suppression in chile pepper. HortTech https://doi.org/10.21273/HORTTECH05318-23
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Bajagian, A., Lehnhoff, E.A., Steiner, R., Creamer, R., and Schutte, B.J. 2023. Postemergence-directed pendimethalin for control of early-season weeds in chile pepper. Weed Technology doi: 10.1017/wet.2023.91
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Creamer, R., Simpson, A., Rheay, H.T., Brewer, C.E. 2023. Interaction of beet leafhopper (Hemiptera:Cicadellidae) vector of beet curly top virus and hemp in New Mexico. Environmental Entomology nvad069, https://doi.org/10.1093/ee/nvad069
  • Type: Peer Reviewed Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Lujan P, Dura S, Guzman I, Grace M, Lila M, Steiner R, Sanogo S, 2023 Comparison of a proanthocyanidin and total phenolic extract derived from pecan shell and husk as elicitors of induced resistance against Phytophthora capsici on chile pepper. Plant Health Progress DOI: https://doi.org/10.1094/PHP-12-22-0123-RS
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Pierce, J. B., Monk, P., Tellez, I. (2024). Okra-Leaf Cotton Impacts on Helicovera zea (Boddie) Egg Hatch and Predation Under Semi-Arid Conditions in Southeastern New Mexico (pp. 207-215). Ft Worth, TX: National Cotton Council., Date Submitted: December 2021, Date Accepted: January 2024,
  • Type: Conference Papers and Presentations Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Tellez, I., Pierce, J. B., Monk, P. (2023). Influence of plant architecture of okra-leaf cotton on crop microclimate, solar radiation and Helicoverpa zea (boddie) egg hatch (pp. 333-338). Proceedings Beltwide Cotton Conferences, New Orleans, LA: National Cotton Council.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Beck, L. L., Marsalis, M. A., Lauriault, L. M. (2024) Guide A-325 (revised), Managing Weeds in Alfalfa. Las Cruces, NM: Cooperative Extension Service, New Mexico State University.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2024 Citation: Spackman, C., Beck L. L. (2024) Plant Identification and Submission in a Digital World, NM: Cooperative Extension Service, New Mexico State University.
  • Type: Other Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Beck, L. L., Wanstall, J. 2023  worked with various SWCD and BLM groups to print hard copies of Noxious and Troublesome Weeds in New Mexico publication and distribute throughout NM.


Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences included: homeowners, backyard gardeners, commercial growers, landscape and related industries, native plant and honey bee organizations, K-12 students, Master Gardeners, and managers of recreational lands. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Professional development opportunities occurred through attendance of professional conferences and local workshops. Local workshops, in particular, provided great networking opportunities to enhance our programs and plan for future programming needs. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated to communities of interest using in-person and virtual trainings, presentations, and workshops, social media postings, and extension publications. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Most of our plans remain the same for the third year of our project with some additional work included. We plan to conduct a cotton variety verticillium disease resistance field trial in Artesia, NM in the southeastern corner of the state. We will also evaluate the efficacy of organic alternative herbicide active ingredients in an urban setting to help develop more successful weed management strategies for stakeholders.We will conduct a survey on perceptions of IPM by growers, Master Gardeners, and other stakeholders and perform an assessment of green industry professional training needs through surveys shared with nursery & landscape managers to help guide future work in New Mexico.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Primary Priority 1: IPM for Communities Vegetable Pest Short Course-We participated in three in-person workshops on integrated pest management for vegetable pests and hosted three speakers on managing vegetable pests in the online "Ready, Set, Grow" series Educational opportunities through guides, trainings, and workshops Extension Guide: IPM for Insect Pests of Vegetables -This guide contains a thorough explanation of IPM and life history, ID tips, and management strategies for 10 common insect pests of vegetables in New Mexico. We are currently in the last revision of our draft before submitting for review Extension Guide - IPM for Garden Insect Pests of NM Extension Guide has been translated into Spanish and submitted to the NMSU Extension Publication department for review and publication. Tip Cards - We have designed cards on common garden insect pests and management options (6), 9 plant diseases and management options (9), beneficial insect ID (8), and insect egg ID (6). Cards have been printed to hand out at workshops and other events. They are also being posted on the NMSU IPM website, social media, and shared with collaborators. Over twenty presentations on topics such as integrated pest management, noxious weeds, kissing bugs, horticulture, and beneficial insects have been given to stakeholders around the state. Participated in youth events on insects and weeds throughout the state, including the Southern New Mexico State Fair. The 2023 Master Gardener program included classes on pest identification, prevention and integrated pest management, and pollinator and beneficial insect conservation. We are working with the State Master Gardener Program Manager to ensure that Master Gardeners have the resources that they need. Primary Priority 2: IPM for Pollinator Health ID Workshops will be held in Aztec, NM in late June 2023 and Las Vegas, NM in late summer, 2023. These workshops will be held in Las Vegas, NM, located in the northeastern part of the state, and Aztec, NM in the northwestern part of the state. Local experts will be teaching participants basic anatomy needed for pollinator identification, ecology and natural histories of pollinator groups, and field identification. Participated in New Mexico Beekeeping Association and New Mexico Department of Agriculture Bee Inspector training which provided information on basic honey bee biology, honey bee pests, and hive inspections. Demonstration Plantings -We will be planting a pollinator-friendly hedgerow, a garden area with annual flowers, and demonstrate the use of pollinator-friendly cover crops at NMSU's Growing Forward Farm in Aztec, NM in late June 2023 Education Materials Bumble Bees of New Mexico - Content includes importance of bumble bees, conservation actions, natural history, and identification tips for species commonly found in New Mexico. We are now working with the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation on this publication. Tip Cards - We have created a five-card series on identifying pollinators. Cards are being printed for use at workshops and other events and posted on the NMSU IPM website and social media and shared with collaborators. Five presentations on pollinator health have been given to stakeholders. Primary Priority 3: IPM Implementation in Agronomic Crops Train the Trainer - We created five scripted and recorded presentations for County Extension Agents on insects, weeds, plant pathogens, pollinators, and general plant ID and held field workshops for County Extension Agents and Master Gardeners in central NM to provide hands-on training with insect, weeds, plant pathogens, and general plant ID Pest Monitoring - We completed the second year of the Steward trial, evaluating the impacts of Steward, an insecticide, on beneficial insects and idenfitied over 500 Disease/Weed/Insect/Plant/Abiotic disorder requests throught the Plant Diagnostic Clinic. Annual IPM Agronomic Crops Workshop -This workshop focused on forage crops will be held at the Agricultural Science Center in late summer 2023. We will host two speakers on IPM in forage crops and have demonstrations on collecting and preparing soil, insect, and plant samples for diagnostic testing. Secondary Priority 1: IPM Education for Pesticide Applicators Pesticide Applicator Fact Sheets -Five-part Pesticide Applicator Series has been translated into Spanish and submitted to NMSU Extension Publication department for review and publication. Pesticide Applicator Trainings -Five in-person and online pesticide applicator trainings completed around the state.

Publications

  • Type: Journal Articles Status: Published Year Published: 2023 Citation: Zhang, G., Kersten, M., Owen, A. and Skidmore, A., 2023. Honey bee foraging and pesticide exposure in a desert urban agroecosystem. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 249, p.114472.


Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22

Outputs
Target Audience:Target audiences included: homeowners, growers, native plant and honey bee organizations, K-12 students, Master Gardeners, and managers of recreational lands. Changes/Problems:We had challenges in finding qualified candidates for the two new positions that we had proposed in our project: 1) a full time program specialist that would be based out of northwestern New Mexico who was to assist mainly with the community and agronomic crop priorities and 2) a part-time program manager that would develop materials for two of our priorities (pesticide education and agronomic crops). Because of this, we have had a delay in reaching the objectives for these two priorities. We have hired two part-time technicians and one graduate student this year to assist with meeting our project priorities and will continue to work to fulfill the objectives under these priorities with extra help. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Professional development opportunies occurred through professional conferences. For this reporting period, Phillip Lujan and Jane Pierce attended the International IPM Symposium in Denver, CO. Jane Pierce also attended the annual meeting for the Southwestern Branch of the Entomological Society of America. Ashley Knoch attended the Native Plant Materials Conference virtually. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Results have been disseminated to communities of interest using in-person and virtual trainings, presentations, and workshops, social media postings, and extension publications. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Most of our plans remain the same for the next reporting period, but we are adding plans to our IPM for communities priority, we will do outreach and extension education to communities in southeastern New Mexico on kissing bugs including working with the public to collect them and identify them and presenting findings and IPM strategies to the public.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Primary Priority 1: IPM for Communities Objectives: Fruit Pest Short Course: This course was held online April 29 - May 20. We are holding four sessions: 1) general tree care, prevention, and abiotic factors; 2) weed management; 3) plant pathogens/plant diagnostic samples, and 4) insect pests. Each session was recorded, closed captioned, and posted to the NMSU IPM YouTube page. Additionally, we are preparing complementary short videos featuring the most asked questions county extension agents receive. Educational opportunities through guides, trainings, and workshops Extension Guide: IPM for Insect Pests of Fruit Trees This guide contains a thorough explanation of IPM and life history, ID tips, and management strategies for 15 common insect pests of fruit trees in New Mexico. We are currently in the last revision of our draft before submitting for review. Tip Cards: We have designed cards on IPM strategies, common garden weeds, and management options to hand-out at workshops and other events. They are posted on the NMSU IPM website, social media, and shared with collaborators. The 2022 Master Gardener program included classes on pest identification, prevention and integrated pest management, and pollinator and beneficial insect conservation. We are working with the State Master Gardener Program Manager to ensure that Master Gardeners have the resources that they need. Youth Outreach: participated in the AGventure Days and Agriculture and Natural Resources Career Opportunities Day at the Southern New Mexico State Fair with presentations on insects, weeds, and pollinators; insect training for 4H, and talking about the impact of insects in agriculture at the Sierra County Agriculture Day Outcomes and Impacts: Participants reported an improved recognition of pest and beneficial insects; increased knowledge among homeowners regarding IPM strategies; and increased use of IPM strategies among urban stakeholders Primary Priority 2: IPM for Pollinator Health Objectives: ID Workshops: We have organized pollinator (native bees, butterflies, etc.) workshops for summer 2022 in Las Vegas, NM, located in the northeastern part of the state. Local experts will be teaching participants basic anatomy needed for pollinator identification, ecology and natural histories of pollinator groups, and field identification. Demonstration Plantings: We have partnered with the Albuquerque Backyard Refuge Program, managed by the Friends of Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, to plant demonstration pollinator gardens at three sites around Albuquerque (Loma Linda Community Center, Van Buren Middle School, and El Camino Real Academy). We planted a mix of perennial flowers, grasses, and shrubs at these sites. Volunteers and students were involved with the plantings and learned about the benefits that these plants have to pollinators and other wildlife. Education Materials Bumble Bees of New Mexico - Content includes importance of bumble bees, conservation actions, natural history, and identification tips for species commonly found in New Mexico. This guide is still in development. Tip Cards - We have created a series on creating pollinator habitat and using perennial plants for use at workshops and other events and posting on the NMSU IPM website and social media and shared with collaborators. Three presentations on pollinator health have been given to stakeholders. Outcomes and Impacts: Stakeholder has reported improved recognition of and increased habitat for native pollinators, an increase in knowledge among stakeholders regarding IPM for pollinator habitat, an increased use of IPM strategies among beekeepers, and improved pollinator habitat across urban landscapes Primary Priority 3: IPM Implementation in Agronomic Crops Objectives: Pest Monitoring - We have been monitoring the impact of Steward, an insecticide, on beneficial insects in alfalfa fields Annual IPM Agronomic Crops Workshop : This workshop focused on forage crops will be held at the Agricultural Science Center at Los Lunas in August 2022. We will teach about IPM in forage crops and have demonstrations on collecting and preparing soil, insect, and plant samples for diagnostic testing. Two poster presentations on IPM in cotton Outcomes and Impacts: We have engaged stakeholder audiences in IPM implementation in agronomic crops and facilitated communication among farmers, extension specialists, and university faculty through this priority. Secondary Priority 1: IPM Education for Pesticide Applicators Objectives: Pesticide Applicator Fact Sheets and Tip Cards: We are working with a translator to make Extension Pesticide Applicator Training Series accessible to Spanish speakers and with Oregon State University to produce materials related to pollinator health and pesticide safety and education. Creation of Pesticide Applicator Trainings and Train the Trainer Materials are ongoing. Outcomes and Impacts: The Pesticide Safety Education program increased knowledge and awareness of IPM strategies to 35 pre-licensed individuals and 287 individuals who renewed their licenses.

Publications

  • Type: Other Status: Under Review Year Published: 2022 Citation: "IPM Strategies for Common Insect Pests of Fruit Trees in New Mexico"