Progress 09/01/24 to 08/31/25
Outputs Target Audience:county extension educators commodity boards cotton growers corn growers peanut growers soybean growers beef and dairy cattle ranchers broiler and layer poultry producers backyard chicken producers area extension specialists commercial pesticide applicators private pesticide applicators certfied crop consultants master gardeners industry professionals Changes/Problems:Insect and disease pressure is not always guaranteed and when low makes it challenging/difficult to observe differences in technology/products tested at small plot levels. For the animal project, a main goal was to develop breed/hide color-specific thresholds. There were challenges in locating a sufficient number of animals that were not black hided to be able to develop horn fly thresholds for red or white hided animals. However, statistical analyses indicated that the predictive abilities of our models were not impacted by hide color. Summer of 2025 we are sampling on more herds of cattle that contain red hided animals to determine if these initial models need revision or additional data to maintain robustness. Unable to plan the large backyard poultry conference in spring 2025 due to a rotation for an annual beef cattle event that conflicted with the area livestock specialists ability to host an event focued on poultry (this rotationwas established prior to the livestock entomologists January 2024 hiring). Plan is to host this event in fall 2025. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?County educators, area specialists, growers, industry professionals and consultants have received training and professional development opportunities through in-services, winter crop schools, grower/producer meetings, county level meetings, field days and tours, online extension courses, pesticide safety CEU courses, as well as through pest alerts where IPM strategies related to arthropod pests and diseases have been disseminated. The cropping systems entomologist, cotton IPM specialist, row crop pathologist, livestock entomologist, and pesticide safety director have provided hands on demonstrations at these events for how to identify pests, use an IPM approach for managing the pests, and how to correctly apply pesticides when chemical control options are needed. Student and temporary workers associated with these projects have also received training on sceintific and technical IPM aspects, as well as hands on experience with extension education. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Extension field days, commodity meetings, grower and producermeetings, pest e-alert emails, online course, newsletters, audio updates in conjunction with TAMU, social media platforms, professional conferences, and field demonstrations. Pesticide education extended through master gardener trainings. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Coordinator will work with SIPMC to begin process for dveeloping audio newsletter component and will colaborate with OSU extension specialists to identify timely IPM issues and guidance to feature and distribute through the audio format. Speacialty/agrnomic crop and Animal needs assessments - groups will be identified, questions developed with graduate student and SIPMC evaluator, and submitted to IRB office for approval prior to dissemination of survey. Once IRB is secured, needs assessment will be distributed through email and in person at grower/producer events. Stink bug and ThryvOn trials will be repeated in 2026. Data from 2025 and 2026 will be compiled and distributed to cotton growers through grower meetings, crop schools, at field days/demonstrations, cotton comments newsletter. Continue to train extension personnel and consultants on recognizing stink bug damage and what ThryvOn cotton actually offers in terms of IPM. Fungicide trials will be repeated in 2026 to observe if changes in efficacy occur. On-farm demonstration trials will be expanded to additional regions. Web-app model will be refined using 2025 trial data. Increase grower and stakeholder engagement through targeted outreach including new educational materials and videos. Continue to train extension personnel and consultants to ensure braoder adoption. Evaluate economic impact data and grower feedback to validate fungicide model in commercial fields. Horn flies and cattle model building will continue for computational side of smart phone app, incorporate ecnomoic fly control data, performance control data into the app. Continue to administer survey on producer's ability to accurately assess horn fly populations on cattle and infestations at which they choose to treat. Periodically review course assessments for online Backyard Chickens course for areas to improve and plan to host extension education event for backyard poultry producers. Pesticide saftey education will develop online CEU courseand have the portable spray tables constructed for future use in pesticide saftey CEUs.
Impacts What was accomplished under these goals?
Speacialty and agronomic crops needs assessments have gained access to surveying software, examples of needs assessments and best practices have been discussed with southern IPM center evaluator, commodities and partners for developing needs assessments are being identified, student that will assist with project will begin graduate school in fall 2025. Integration of new cotton technology and stink bug monitoring trials have been planted as of May 2025. Stink bug scouting has been provided at 5 grower and educator meetings to train stakeholders on how to scout and monitor. Fungicide and row crop disease trials have been planted as of May 2025 at locations where field days will be held this year. Animal needs assessment has gained survey software access,examples of needs assessments and best practices have been discussed with southern IPM center evaluator.. Horn flies on cattle sampling tool - surveyed cattle producers to assess their abilities at estimating horn fly populations on cattle and point they treat. Binomial sequential sampling plans have been developed and validated. Statistical analysis has determined 350 horn flies as the treatable number and will be used in the development of the smart phone app. However, statistical analyses indicated that the predictive abilities of our models were not impacted by hide color. Statistical analyses indicated that the predictive abilities of our models are not impacted by hide color. Pestcide safety education specialists have received spray patternators that will be used for CEU demonstrations and proper pesticide applications. Specialists have submitted protable spray booth supply list for purchase. Online train the trainer course for county educators that teach pesticide CEUs is in development. Two IPM courses for online CEU development have been identified for development.
Publications
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