Progress 09/01/24 to 08/31/25
Outputs
Target Audience:Crop Protection and pest control in agronomic and speciality crops continue to be the greatest challenge in production. In AL, stakeholder engagement occurs through on-site visits, surveys, and needs assessments conducted by our ACES Teams (e.g., Commercial Hort and Agronomic Crops). Members of our teams also engage state boards and commodity commissions (AL Peanut Producer, AL Wheat and Feed Grain Producers, AL Cotton Commission, AL Fruit and Vegetable growers, and AL Nursery Landscape Association, ALFA) for feedback on research and Extension priorities. In Pollinator Health, our co-PD directly engages their stakeholders through our AL Farmers Federation Bee and Honey Division, the Sentinel Apiary programs, and the national Colony Loss Assessment in collaboration with the Bee Informed Partnership. Our diagnostic team integrates across the plant-based ACES teams and interacts directly with the clientele submtting samples to the PDL. Each of the persons submitting the 1,687 routine samples received a recommendation from the PDL. Changes/Problems:Dr. Paulo Cremonez joined the project as the vegetable and fruit entomologist after the proposal was submitted. Our former Vegetable and Fruit Entomologist became a full time admin during this reporting period and then left the university. The proposal lists the following forObjective 1 in Specialty Crops, the Vegetable IPM project will build upon past successes support by the EIP program to conduct demonstrations of temporary and permanent pest exclusion systems (e.g., high tunnel pest exclusion or HTPE system) with bioinsecticides and natural enemies for vegetable crop producers, and provide timely dissemination of IPM technologies along with on-farm training.After coming on board, Dr. Cremonez began visiting with producers and develop a needs assessment for fruit and vegetable growers. In doing so, he determined the needs extended beyond what was originally listed in the proposal. The direction of Dr. Cremonez's programs still align with our original objectives but the activities within those objectives have changed. Namely, there are major concerns with vegetable producers about breaking of resistance for insect or diseases in tomatoes (viruses and whiteflies). Therefore, rather than focus on pest exclusion systems, Dr Cremonez wants to address these new emerging needs for our producers. He discussed this with the project director and this was supported since activities still aligned with our stated objectives. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?IPM in AGRONOMIC & SPECIALTY CROPS Three graduate students mentored. Graduate student and PD attended and presented work at the International IPM sympsoium Spray drone research update and IPM invited to present 25 times in regional, national and international conferences The largest spray drone focused conference was hosted by Auburn University in March. 636 attendance from 40+ states in the US and 10 countries. 60+ speakers and panelists shared their knowledge, experience and expertise on stage to the audience. In person attendees rated the conference at 4.73/5 (n=78), remote participants rating was 4.36/5 (n = 32). IPM in APICULTURE Beekeeping certificate programs Beekeeping Basics short course contains 12 learning modules to introduce participants about beekeeping. The modules cover essential information about beekeeping focused on helping new beekeepers navigate their first year, especially concerning pest management (https://aces.catalog.auburn.edu/courses/beekeeping-basics). SUPPORT FOR DIAGNOSTIC FACILITIES Both Co-PD attended the SPDN and NPDN. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?IPM in AGRONOMIC & SPECIALTY CROPS Publications, Podcasts, and other timely communications 3 Extension refereed, 6 non-referred Extension publications and 4 IPM guides with fungicide recommendations. 2 Peer-Reviewed Fact Sheets on soybean insects, 2 Pest Patrol hotlines focused on Cotton IPM, 16 episodes of Alabama Crops Report Podcast, and 4 IPM blogs. 23 Extension publications, bulletins and newsletters on IPM in corn and soybean disease management Corn, soybean and pasture weed control updates and recommendations featured in 6 webinars, podcast and videos in 2025. First draft of the CMBS Extension publication developed. Printed and distributed CMBS postcards to producers and Extension offices. 1 timely update on stink bugs in fruit crops and 3 publications on fruit crop IPM Events and Information Delivery Over 264 stakeholders received research updates and recommendation from these trials across 9 Extension events. IPM and insect control updates presented in 7 invited presentations, 8 Extension cotton meetings, 4 Extension small grain meetings and 7 in peanut production meetings. 6 Extension meetings on IPM in corn and soybean disease management Information on corn and soybean disease incidence and management shared via Alabama Crops Newsletter, the Alabama Crops Podcast, social- media outlets (X and Bluesky, Facebook), and on the National Disease Monitoring sites at: https://corn.ipmpipe.org/ and http://soybean.ipmpipe.org/ 15 Extension meetings and regional events on IPM in pasture weed control Weed control IPM and updates in row crops presented in 25 local extension meetings to over 800 people in person. IPM for nematodes in row crops led to 2 field day plot demo, one podcast recorded, 6 peer reviewed publications, 3 abstracts, and 9 conference presentations. Whitefly and host plant resistance concerns shared at two regional meetings and through informal visits with growers, extension agents, technical service providers (TSPs), and a vegetable seedling supplier company (Bonnie Plants, Union Springs, AL). IPM recommendations for CMBS presented at 7 producer events 9 presentations on fruit crops IPM (strawberries, grapes, peaches, citrus) at producer workshops or Extension meetings IPM in APICULTURE Beginning Beekeeper Program at the ACES Beekeeping Symposium Hosted the beginner course in February 2025: 108 participants, 85 fully completed the pre- and post-tests. 96.5% (82/85) knowledge gain overall; 54.1% knowledge gain (33.0% to 87.1%) on most accurate Varroa monitoring methods Beekeeping Webinars Online 'At Home Beekeeping Series' (ACES, regional Extension specialists, researchers, and USDA scientists). Delivered seven lectures with regional partners (UFL, Mississippi State U., USDA ARS Baton Rouge, Texas A&M U., NC State U.) 1456 total participants (1314 on Zoom; 142 on Facebook Live). Of those, 665 responded to surveys. 79.4% respondents had gained knowledge; 39.1% that gained knowledge gained will save them ≥$50 in future honey bee management expenses. SUPPORT FOR DIAGNOSTIC FACILITIES Provided recommendations for 1,687 routine samples. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Priority Area: IPM in AGRONOMIC & SPECIALTY CROPS Objective 1. to improve, promote, and disseminate timely IPM recommendations and practices though on-farm or Extension center trials and demonstrations, on-farm training or events, publications, and other On-going objective each project year. Results of demonstrations, updated IPM guides, new refereed and non-refereed publications will be produced. Objective 2. to monitor new and established pests and provide critical updates to producers Sentinel plots for row crops are established annually as an on-going activity. New monitoring projects in vegetable crops will be reported in Years 2 and 3. Objective 3. to monitor and mitigate negative outcomes such as pesticide resistance and off-target impacts associated with established practices during production On-going resistance monitoring for herbicide resistance. Chili thrips insecticide resistance monitoring to be completed in the next reporting year and progress will be reported on number of grower resistance mitigation plans. On-going monitoring of breakthroughs in host plant resistance (tomato or cotton) will be reported. Objective 4. to test new technologies such as spray drones and mapping drones for precision pest management and spot applications. Our highly successful and nationally recognized spray drone program will continue to be a state and national education source for producers and Extension personnel. On-going activities and impacts in weed management will be reported. Priority Area: IPM in APICULTURE Objective to demonstrate regionally-appropriate Best Management Practices for beekeeping, with an emphasis on V.destructor IPM, so that honey bee colony mortality is reduced. Beekeeping certificate programs: Continue to promote the ACES Beekeeping Basics Online Course; host the Beginning Beekeeper Course at the ACES Symposium in February 2026. Beekeeping webinars: Host 12-14 online lectures alongside our regional partners via the At Home Beekeeping Webinar Beekeeping workshops: Host Beekeeping Workshops in August 2025 (Fall) and April 2026 (Spring) focusing on seasonally appropriate colony management techniques. Varroa IPM lectures: Deliver at least two lectures on beekeeping management this summer and fall, with a focus on V. destructor mites, to regional Alabama beekeeping clubs. We will visit another three beekeeping clubs before August 2026. Priority Area: SUPPORT FOR DIAGNOSTIC FACILITIES Objective 1 Increasing awareness and knowledge of key economic pest species among growers to improve their decision making, ultimately reducing unnecessary pesticide applications, and preventing economic yield loss Objective 2 Increasing awareness of invasive pest species among growers and extension personnel to prevent establishment of invasive species and reduce environmental backlash with pesticide overuse. Provide timely diagnosis of plant disease, nematode, and insect pest problems along with IPM recommendations. Monitor incoming samples for pests not known to occur in AL or the US and regulatory pests to circumvent problems and increase chances for mitigation of introduced pests. Maintain testing certifications with USDA.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
IPM in AGRONOMIC & SPECIALTY CROPS Objective 1. to improve, promote, and disseminate timely IPM recommendations and practices though on-farm or Extension center trials and demonstrations, on-farm training or events, publications, and other Field or demonstrations conducted in support of IPM Fungicide: 17 cotton, 20 peanut, 5 small grain, 8 in corn and soybean. Fungicide trials commonly repeated throughout the state to feature fungicide efficacy and variety tolerance to different diseases. Herbicide tolerance evaluated on the new Axant flex cotton variety on sandy loam soil Greenhouse trials with tomato varieties verify grower's observations. Under high whitefly populations, varietal differences were no longer significant, and resistance traits are overcome. Impacts 71% of row crop producers currently use or plan to use ACES IPM guides, 75% specifically indicated insect and/or weed management information "helpful". IPM focused meetings rate 4.6/5 by participants. Fruit IPM webinar training series had a minimum and maximum potential impact of $135,767 and $243,734 on all participants. Objective 2. to monitor new and established pests and provide critical updates to producers Five cotton disease sentinel plots established in 2025. Spore traps used to monitor areolate mildew, but target spot and Stemphylium leaf spot were also observed. Results estimate yield losses reported to Beltwide Cotton Disease Council Sentinel cotton plots planted on 5 AAES to monitor performance of Bt traits for bollworm. Soybean and corn-disease sentinel plots were established, and commercial fields periodically scouted for soybean rust and tar spot in corn. New cotton varieties were screened for nematode tolerance against the susceptible variety. Traps deployed April 2025 for glassy-winged sharpshooters and other xylem-feeding vectors in grapes and blueberries, for Pierce's disease and bacterial leaf scorch. Purple-painted pole traps for buprestid beetles installed in blueberry plots. Monitoring sweet corn field and sentinel plots located in Chilton, Pike, Mobile, and Baldwin Counties for invasive corn leafhopper, a recently detected vector of highly destructive maize pathogens. Monitoring project evaluating new lures for cucumber beetles in vegetables. Impacts Resistant cotton varieties have average yield increase of 815 lb/acre in RKN fields over susceptible variety. In fields with reniform nematodes, resistant varieties show yield increase of 1,012 lb/acre over susceptible variety, a $287 per acre increased in revenue. If aldicarb added to resistant cotton varieties, lint yields increased more (308 lb/acre), providing an additional $218 per acre. Three new ThryVon cotton varieties for thrips resistance supported very high R. reniformis counts. At state field days and in-person demonstrations, 143 growers, Extension agents, and consultants viewed the cotton variety trials for nematode tolerance. Cotton variety podcast was downloaded 1,277 times, reaching a much wider audience. Objective 3. to monitor and mitigate negative outcomes such as pesticide resistance and off-target impacts associated with established practices during production Herbicide resistance survey in ryegrass and palmer amaranth conducted with seeds collected throughout the state. Published 'Status of herbicide-resistant Italian ryegrass and its control options in Alabama' (199 views, 12 pdf downloads) Data generated from this work (44 populations) influenced weed management decisions for row crop producers across Alabama from info conveyed from at least 15 statewide production meetings Amaranthus species and resistance screening ongoing Mitigation strategies for Armillaria root rot infection in peach orchards evaluating berm planting colored mulches Bacteriophage technology being used by peach farmers as alternative to copper-based products for bacterial spot management. Demonstration trials with bacteriophage being conducted. Developed a Spotted Wing Drosophila Growing degree day model for the Southeast for sustainable small fruit production Thrips resistance monitoring in nurseries identified cooperators and protocols. Objective 4. to test new technologies such as spray drones and mapping drones for precision pest management and spot applications. Cover crop establishment by drones before crop harvest tested at 5 locations; can obtain biomass sooner than planting after harvest. Precision pesticide application evaluated in cotton, corn and peanut across the state in 15+ farms and locations. Spray drone applying low GPA can achieve similar or even better deposition than ground sprayer and airplane when applying common pesticides. Educational efforts in person and online to educate stakeholders about spray drones for pest management. Field trials with drones show over 50% of herbicide saving because of precision application vs whole field applications. Combinations of biochar and beneficial rhizobacteria being investigated to control soil borne diseases in strawberries IPM in APICULTURE Objective to demonstrate regionally-appropriate Best Management Practices for beekeeping, with an emphasis on V.destructor IPM, so that honey bee colony mortality is reduced. Beekeeping workshops: Demonstrate key beekeeping management activities during seasonally-appropriate (spring & late summer) in-person workshops. Spring Beekeeping Workshop in Hartselle, AL, in April 2025. 50 participants. 94% plan to implement practices observed, 60.6% will save ≥$50 in future honey bee management expenses. For Varroa, 94% plan to implement Varroa monitoring in their beekeeping and 94% will use information learned to make decisions about Varroa monitoring. Varroa IPM lectures: Delivered comprehensive Varroa destructor IPM lectures and ex situ demonstrations to beginner beekeeping program participants hosted by various local AL clubs (Auburn, Alabama Extension, state/local beekeeping leaders). Delivered one presentation to the Shelby County Beekeeping Club in February 2025. 40 attendees, 17 responded to survey. Among respondents, 94.1% plan to implement practices they learned, 52.9% had knowledge gain that will save them ≥$50 in future honey bee management expenses. 68% had knowledge gain about the sex of the first egg laid by a Varroa mite; 73% knowledge gain about dispersal phases of Varroa and Tropilaelaps mites; 50% knowledge gain about the recommended method for detecting Varroa mites but not Tropilaelaps mites; and 89% knowledge gain about a treatment effective for both Varroa and Tropilaelaps mites. Other activities 9 in person presentations reached 529 people Online newsletters and podcasts reached 6.058 subscribers or listeners SUPPORT FOR DIAGNOSTIC FACILITIES Objective 1 Increasing awareness and knowledge of key economic pest species among growers to improve their decision making, ultimately reducing unnecessary pesticide applications, and preventing economic yield loss (33% completed) Provided timely diagnosis of plant disease, nematode, and insect pest problems for 1,687 routine samples (739 plant, 825 nematode, and 123 insect). Processed 6,754 survey samples (including cotton, citrus and grapes). Maintained/received PPDCP certification for molecular testing of high-risk diseases (HLB, SOD, and PPV) for USDA. 5 first reports were identified in Alabama through samples submitted to the AU-PDL 1 Extension publication, 3 technical reports or presentations associated with SPDN or NPDN meetings Objective 2 Increasing awareness of invasive pest species among growers and extension personnel to prevent establishment of invasive species and reduce environmental backlash with pesticide overuse. (33% completed) Three pest alerts for new detections or detections and two first reports or new hosts
Publications
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