Recipient Organization
UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
438 WHITNEY RD EXTENSION UNIT 1133
STORRS,CT 06269
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The University of Connecticut Integrated Pest Management (UConn IPM) Program is a collaborative effort in the Departments of Extension and Plant Science & Landscape Architecture that employs sustainable, science-based approaches for the management of plant pests and diseases by recommending methods that are effective, economically sound, and ecologically compatible. UConn IPM faculty members provide training and educational outreach on the topics of plant diseases and pests/plant health, tree and small fruit crops, controlled environment agriculture (including greenhouse and nursery crops), vegetable crops, turfgrass and landscapes, municipalities/schools/public green spaces, community and urban agriculture, pesticide application, pollinator health, and invasive species.Fulfillment of the proposed activities of this project will result in increased awareness anduse of IPM strategies by Connecticut residents. These IPM strategies will result in reduced environmental risk, reduced human health risk, andimprovedpractices for growers and gardeners to save time, energy, and money as they work with plants.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The University of Connecticut Integrated Pest Management program is a collaborative effort of employing sustainable, science-based approaches for the management of plant health by recommending methods that are effective, economically sound and ecologically compatible. The proposed objectives will direct IPM program efforts to maintain the economic viability of agricultural and green industry businesses by providing on-site IPM training and education. IPM training and outreach will also target other relevant Connecticut stakeholders outlined in our narrative. Fulfillment of the proposed project activities will result in increased awareness and the use of IPM strategies by stakeholders. Project activities align with CPPM goals of increased IPM adoption, reduced environmental risks, improved and economical IPM practices, and reduced human health risks, as well as the National IPM Roadmap Goals to increase adoption, implementation and efficiency of safe pest management practices, to develop new practices, and to mitigate adverse impacts of invasive species. The UConn IPM team will participate in state, regional and national collaborations.
Project Methods
Anticipated Efforts to Generate Change for Stakeholders:Identify stakeholder needs byconductingteam based IPM surveysProvide on-site educational training and one-on-one assistance in formal and informal education programsConsult with individuals in person and via phone and emailDevelop and coordinate webinars, workshops and biennial symposiumsDevelop and provide hands-on workshops on IPM topics, biological control, trap crops, cultural practices, and environmental sustainability.Conduct on-farm demonstrations and researchDevelop and disseminate outreach educational documents and resources, including articles and factsheets targeting audience and stakeholders in English and SpanishConduct program evaluationsIntegration of IPM research results into extension outreach efforts.Deliver electronic communications for current cultural, pollinator health, plant selection, and pest recommendations.Develop, market, and facilitate invasive plant certificate programDevelop online invasive plant module for UConn ornamental and turf short course for pesticide applicatorsExpand pollinator habitat in community locationsMaintain pollinator demonstration garden at UConn Plant Science Research FacilityDisseminate information on plant selection to increase pollinator populationsCollaborate with other vegetable IPM specialists.Deliver presentations on pest management and biological control.Conduct IPM habitat manipulation demonstrations and vegetable IPM field workshopConduct on-farm biodegradable plastic mulch (BDM) demonstrationsDevelop Undergraduate student internship program in fruit IPM scouting and trappingUpdate New England Tree Fruit Management guides and Small Fruit Management guidesCreate Fruit IPM Training VideosDevelop On-line fruit production and IPM courseConduct Fruit IPM twilight and winter meetingsDevelop and conduct training programs on pesticide certification and re-certification in both English and Spanish.Develop educational material on pesticide core manual and category specific modules.Administrative Efforts:The IPM Team program areas all emphasize common goals and objectives to maintain the economic viability of our stakeholders, make the most efficient use of resources, enhance environmental quality, and conserve natural resources. The IPM Project Director and Team Leader will collaborate to accomplish the following activities:Deliver & coordinate Extension IPM outreach activities with team members; meet regularly with IPM team members & Extension administrators to discuss program needs, future directions, & program outputs, outcomes, and impacts.Secure and administer program funding.Gather stakeholder input through commodity-specific meetings, direct interactions with producers and the public, online surveys, and program evaluations.Coordinate and report on state and program IPM activities across disciplinary boundaries.Fulfill program management and teambuilding functions, as well as coordinate Spanish translation efforts of team outputs.Develop UConn IPM program publicity materials, promote IPM program team efforts, participate in networking activities, and represent the IPM program on local, state, multi-state, or regional committees.Report to regional or national meetings on program activities, impacts, and outcomes.The IPM Project Director and/or Team Leader will present a UConn IPM Program update at NEERA-1604 annual meetingsInformation Dissemination Efforts:Regular electronic communication of the status of and recommendations for emerging and existing plant pests of concern will be disseminated via the UConn IPM website, pest messages, blog posts, management guides, conference proceedings, presentations, newsletters, videos, webinars, and phone calls. The UConn IPM website is updated regularly with upcoming programs, pest messages, fact sheets in both English and Spanish, videos and recorded webinars. On a regional level, program accomplishments will be shared in academicpublications, newspapers, Farm Bureau newsletters, and Green Industry bulletins and trade magazines.Program Evaluation:Our outcomes align with the CPPM program logic model, and outcomes listed on our logic model represent a milestone we will measure against as part of the annual assessment process. The UConn Evaluation Specialist and Data Analyst will develop a transdisciplinary team-based evaluation approach, including Qualtrics IPM surveys, to be disseminated to participants in all EIP Priority Areas each year of the 3-year project.Data collection: Annual IPM team surveys will be conducted and collected by the Evaluation Specialist and/or Data Analyst using Qualtrics or similar program. The Evaluation Specialist and Data Analyst will work with UConn's IRB for approvals. Individual program evaluations will be conducted and collected by each member of the IPM program team for their respective programs, with data submitted to the Evaluation Specialist and/or Data Analyst. Educational materials will be developed through this project by the PD and the Co-PDs. This will include, but is not limited to, factsheets, educational modules, videos, manuals.Formative Analysis: Post-intervention formative evaluations will be developed in consultation with the Evaluation Specialist and will provide feedback by participants to enhance future delivery of IPM programs, in addition to tracking the number and type of programs delivered as well as the number and diversity of clientele groups engaged. Formative assessment will also occur through a needs assessment block of questions embedded in an annual online survey.Summative Analysis: The UConn Evaluation Specialist, in collaboration with the Data Analyst and our team, will conduct an annual program-wide online survey (via Qualtrics). The survey will employ a retrospective preapproach designed to measure attitudinal change, knowledge gained, and changes from intentional to actual behavior regarding adoption of IPM techniques and alternative pest management methods. The UConn Institutional Review Board (IRB) will provide input on and approval for the annual summative evaluation.Annual progress will also be measured through collection of data including: 1) Additional priority specific pre-post intervention surveys conducted throughout the year; 2) The number and type of contacts made (email, phone, onsite visits, newsletters, websites, webinars, social media, etc.); 3) The number and type of IPM programs delivered and educational materials disseminated; and 4) Statistics from visitors to the UConn IPM website will indicate the level of interest in educational materials viewed or downloaded and will track sections of the website with highest activity. Stakeholder feedback will be collected annually through the annual assessment process and through ongoing formal and informal feedback received throughout the year. Needs assessment related questions will be included to help identify stakeholder needs.