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The ND IPM program has been focused on IPM for crop pests, because of the large acreages, diversity of crops, and the enormity of some pest problems. In the future, other programs may be targeted if resources allow, but field crop IPM has been and is the focus. <P>
The goals of the ND IPM Extension Program are to: <UL> <LI> Play a role in identifying the best IPM practices for specific pests. <LI>Identify pest management practices that reduce or minimize adverse environmental risks. <LI>Identify pest management practices that reduce potential human health risks from pests and from the appropriate pest management practices. <LI>Demonstrate improved economics from using IPM practices. <LI>Provide prediction tools to minimize un-needed use of pesticides. <LI>Provide a variety of educational opportunities for ND producers to learn about the best IPM practices. <LI>Identify IPM needs of producers as they change over the years. <LI>Evaluate success of IPM programs by measuring adoption of IPM practices. </UL>To accomplish these goals, the project will have 5 components, coordination, collaboration, IPM in Agronomic Crops, Consumer/Urban IPM, and Diagnostic Facilities. The expected outcomes are: <BR> The IPM coordinator component will provide a focal point for IPM team building, provide IPM leadership and continuity in programming.
<BR> The IPM collaboration component will provide training programs for agents, consultants, scouts, growers and industry members in the best management practices for a variety of pests of soybeans and wheat grown within the border counties of North Dakota and Minnesota. Manuals, fact sheets, and a web-based video will be outputs of this program, and increased learning and change of practices will be outcomes. <BR> The IPM in Agronomic crops component has: a pest survey project which determines pest risks statewide; a plan for delivery of pest survey information with easily understood, accessible graphics and a plan for the maintenance of predictive models and forecasting systems to inform growers of the risks of particular pests - leading to wise use of pesticides, only when needed. This component also uses applied research and demonstration to illustrate that multiple management strategies, when integrated, will provide greater disease control and improved yields and food safety over a single strategy for management of Fusarium head blight in wheat.<BR> The IPM Support for Plant Diagnostic Facilities component will provide technical assistance for the diagnostic lab and assistance in trouble shooting pest problems, via support for personnel, materials and travel for training. The diagnostic lab is a critical pest information resource for ND producers, consultants, landscapers, and home owners.<BR> The IPM Urban component will prepare fact sheets and develop an on-line newsletter describing key pest management practices for urban pest problems, such as emerald ash borer and black knot of cherry. Fact sheets and the newsletter will be used by county educators to respond to local pest questions, as well as by the general public to improve their ability to correctly identify pests and know proper management strategies to use without endangering their health or the environment.
NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: ND has critical needs and for IPM information: Those needs include the following: 30,000 family farmers produce grain, legume, and oilseed crops on > 25 million acres. ND is number one in US production of 10 crops - durum wheat and hard red spring wheat, barley, oats, flax, all dry edible beans, dry edible peas, lentils, sunflower, and canola - is third in sugar beet, fourth in potato, and ninth in soybean (ND Ag. Statistics No. 77, 2008). The value of all crops ranges from $ 4 to $ 6.5 billion/year (ND Ag. Statistics No. 77, 2008). Pest problems may severely impact yield and quality any given year, threatening the economy of the state and region, and export capacity. Examples: Fusarium head blight of wheat and barley resulted in several billion dollars loss to the state's economy from 1993-2005 (Nganje et. al., 2004; McMullen, 2005); other pests impact crops each year (Sugarbeet Research and Extension Report, http://www.sbreb.org; ND Crop and Pest Report (http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/aginfo/entomology/ndsucpr/index.htm). ND producers use pesticides as one management tool to combat pest outbreaks. For example, in 2004, 45.4% of cropland was sprayed with herbicides, 2.3% with insecticides, and 5.4% with fungicides (Pesticide Use and Pest Management Practices Survey in ND, 2004). This survey also showed that ND producers increased their use of IPM practices, such as use of field scouting and forecasting models, between 2000 and 2004 surveys. ND has a short growing season and a harsh winter climate. Citizens place high value on urban plantings which can survive the winter and which are relatively free of pest problems. A recent electronic questionnaire about urban IPM needs, sent to extension educators in 8 states of the High Plains region, including ND, indicated that almost 40% of their pest questions. This IPM project addresses those critical needs, by coordinating a statewide IPM program, providing collaborative efforts in pest management education across two states for two key crops, wheat and soybean, by demonstrating the value of integrated strategies for controlling a key disease of wheat, Fusarium head blight, by supporting the valuable resource of the NDSU Diagnostic Lab that services agriculture, homeowners, and the ornamental industry, and by increasing the outreach capabilities of the Urban IPM programs.
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APPROACH: The IPM coordinator will continue to coordinate IPM training within the NDSU Extension Service. This includes maintaining core IPM programs and collaboration with other extension pest specialists in program design and delivery. Stakeholder input will provide valuable information on whether IPM information is relevant and what current IPM needs are. The collaboration component address the large acreages of wheat and soybean (2 million acres of each along bordering counties in ND and Minnesota) have similar disease, insect and weed problems. The two states have similar varieties, management strategies, and pest management problems. Two workshops are proposed, one in Grand Forks, ND, and one in Moorhead, MN. These workshops will be held in February of 2009, and each are expected to attract between 150-200 producers and crop consultants. A pre- and post-evaluation tool will be used at the workshops, using Turning Point Technology. IPM in Agronomic Crops Component: NDSU IPM Field Survey sub-component - Five field scouts will be hired in the spring of 2009. The field scouts will survey five major field crops, wheat, barley, soybean, sunflower and canola, for major disease and insect problems. Area and state specialists deliver pest survey information via conference calls with county extension educators, post information to the IPM web page and the NDSU Crop and Pest Report, and through weekly count ag alerts. Integrated Management Strategies subcomponent: Applied field demonstrations will be established to show the value of integrated management of Fusarium head blight in wheat.The purpose of this applied research project is to demonstrate that a single management strategy, such as variety resistance, or fungicide use, is not sufficient to control this disease under epidemics, and that integration of two or more strategies results in improved disease control. Two sites are proposed, a winter wheat site in Lisbon, ND and a spring wheat site in Prosper,ND. Data from these trials is shared with producers and impacts will be evaluated by the percent increase in acres with the use of integrated strategies. IPM Support for the Pest Diagnostic Facilities component: This component will support efforts of the NDSU diagnostic lab. The lab has agronomic, homeowner and ornamental industry samples, as well as phytosanitary certification samples and seed health testing samples. The diagnostic lab and its procedures are reviewed each year by the state pest specialists, the department chair, and a small group of stakeholders. IPM - Urban Component: Dr. Tom Kalb will develop educational resources for county educators, volunteers, and the green industry. He proposes to develop a series of 10 pest management fact sheets on many ornamental pest topics. Dr. Kolb also will establish a bi-weekly horticulture teleconference to alert county educators of emerging pest issues on a timely basis. The highlights of this teleconference will be prepared in a newsletter. A Survey Monkey instrument will be used to assess success and impacts with county educators and meeting participants.