North Dakota Extension Integrated Pest Management (EIPM) Coordination Program

<p>NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:<br/> North Dakota (ND) farmers produce major food crops on over 27 million acres, leading the nation in production of 10 field crops. Pest problems impact yield and quality of these crops every year, threatening food supplies and food safety. ND has a short growing season and a harsh winter climate, so its citizens also place a high value on urban plantings that can survive the winter and pest problems. This EIPM Coordination proposal has a Coordination Component, two primary areas of emphasis (Agronomic Crops; Consumer/Urban Environments,) and two secondary areas of emphasis (Support for Pest Diagnostic Facilities; Education of Pesticide Applicators). The IPM Coordination component supports the IPM Coordinator in leading the state's IPM program. The IPM in Agronomic Crops component supports a pest survey on major crops, the rapid delivery of IPM
information, an applied integrated research/demonstration project, and a collaborative, two-state effort in IPM training for producers. The IPM for Consumer/Urban Environments component supports the Urban IPM horticulturist in developing and delivering urban pest management information. The IPM Support for the Pest Diagnostic Facilities component supports salary and supplies for the NDSU Diagnostic Lab. The IPM for Education of Pesticide Applicators component supports a pilot project to survey private applicators on their IPM knowledge and practices. The goals of these components are to: demonstrate improved economics from using IPM; identify pest management practices that reduce environmental and human risks; deliver timely IPM information; and provide a variety of IPM educational opportunities for ND citizens. Outputs of this program will include: stakeholder identification of IPM
needs for agronomic and urban crops/plants; timely pest information from five crop, statewide survey results provided via the NDSU Crop and Pest Report, the NDSU IPM webpage, the AGDakota list serve, and county agent ag alerts, all to allow appropriate and timely management applications; two "Best of the Best" workshops to train ND and MN producers on IPM management strategies for pests of soybean, wheat and barley; demonstration sites established for showing the use of multiple management strategy advantages over use of a single strategy, for management of Fusarium head blight; IPM factsheets on urban IPM management strategies for key urban pests; timely diagnostic reports and diagnoses of diseases, insects and weeds associated with agronomic crops and urban environments; collaboration with the National and Great Plains Diagnostic Networks for improving diagnostic capabilities and
reporting and detecting pests of prioirty or export concern; and the results of surveying private applicators on their pest management information needs will be assessed and utilized to improve private applicator training in ND.
<p>APPROACH: Stakeholder group meetings will provide valuable information on whether IPM information is relevant and what are current IPM educational needs. For the IPM field survey project, field scouts will be hired to survey five major ND field crops for disease and insect problems, plus establish traps for insects of priority interest. Field scouts also will collect samples for race identification surveys for sunflower downy midlew and wheat leaf rust. Weekly summaries of the pest survey efforts are provided to ND producers via the NDSU Crop and Pest Report, county AgAlerts, and the NDSU IPM webpage. A season summary is provided to the ND Dept. of Ag. which reports through the CAPS system. Outputs are evaluated each year on website use, feed back from stakeholder groups, and via extension personnel. Integrated management demonstration sites will be established that
combine two or three management strategies for Fusarium head blight disease of wheat. Initial data with spring wheat has shown incremental reductions in FHB severity, DON (deoxynivalenol) and increased yield when combining variety resistance, fungicide use, and crop rotation. These demonstrations will promote adoption of an integrated approach to managing Fusarium head blight. Outputs are evaluated by documentation of use of these practices through state statistical surveys and commodity surveys. In the IPM Collaborative Workshops component, Dr. J. Ransom, Extension Agronomist at NDSU, and Dr. P. Glogoza, Regional Extension Entomologist/Educator, the Univ. of Minnesota, will coordinate two "Best of the Best" farmer workshops for management of pests of soybean, wheat and barley, in ND/MN border cities. Topics presented are based on previous year's pest problems. For the Urban IPM
component, Dr. Tom Kalb, NDSU Extension Horticulturist has identified IPM educational needs for educators, volunteers, and the green industry and proposed developing multiple IPM fact sheets addressing key urban pest issues. He also coordinates a monthly IPM newsletter, called "Dakota Gardener". Outputs will be new fact sheets and updated IPM newsletters. Diagnostic Component: The NDSU diagnostic lab receives 2000+ samples/year, representing pathogens, insects, weeds, herbicide injury, and abiotic stresses, across field crops and home and garden plants. The grant will support continued efforts in the lab. Outputs included timely diagnostic reports to clientele; input to the NPDN pest data base, and collaboration with a multi-state virus survey for wheat, with 114 samples analyzed for 5 viruses in 2010. The NDSU Pesticide Applicator Training program provides IPM training for 2000-6500
private applicators/year. The Pesticide Training Coordinator will provide multiple counties with personal response devices (Turning Point technology) to learn more about private applicator IPM perception and adoption through a pilot survey program. Outputs will include a report of survey results which can be used to enhance IPM training for private applicators. Evaluation will be subsequently done by querying private applicators on use of IPM practices.
<p>PROGRESS: 2011/09 TO 2012/08<br/>OUTPUTS: The 2011-2012 ND EIPM Grant had five IPM components. 1. IPM COORDINATION: The Coordinator developed IPM training slide sets and videos for commercial and private applicator pesticide training; developed an eastern region field scout training school and scout training manual, attended in March of 2012 by 120 people; and taught and helped coordinate training materials for a western field scout training school in Minot - 154 agronomists, consultants and producers attended. At eastern school, 27 NDSU students earned one undergraduate NDSU credit in Plant Pathology. The coordinator collaborated with Extension pest specialists and the ND Dept. of Ag. to plan and conduct a stakeholder meeting in August of 2011. The coordinator contributed to updating the IPM webpage, provided leadership for the IPM field survey, and coordinated
delivery of IPM information on multiple crops throughout the state. 2. AGRONOMIC CROPS: a) State extension specialists from NDSU and from the Univ. of MN cooperatively developed two "Best of the Best" workshops for training of IPM practices in wheat and soybean, one in Grand Forks, ND and one in Moorhead, MN, attended by over 400 farmers. b) IPM field survey - five field scouts scouted five major crops in the state for diseases and insects, plus soil sampling for wheat nematodes and sunflower downy mildew races. Major flooding in 2011 resulted in over 5 million acres of prevented plantings, but over 1300 fields were still surveyed, providing immediate feedback on pest problems to growers, county agents and crop consultants, and to the ND Dept. of Agriculture and the Great Plains Diagnostic Network. Survey results posted at: www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/aginfo/ndipm/. c) The value of integrated
strategies for Fusarium head blight management in wheat demonstrated at three field locations in eastern ND, showing response to spring wheat and winter wheat variety resistance and fungicide treatment. 3. CONSUMER, URBAN IPM: Dakota Gardener Newsletter continued to be updated and published on-line (www.dakotagardener.com) and fact sheets on ornamental pest management prepared and printed. Urban specialist (Tom Kalb) conducted five train-the-trainer Master Gardener workshops and gave talks on pest management at the April 2012 Dakota Garden Expo in Bismarck. Extension Entomologist also contributed to publications for pest management for home gardeners. 4. SUPPORT FOR DIAGNOSTIC SERVICES: The diagnostic lab received 3125 samples, annual report found at: http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/diaglab/reports/2011-pdl.pdf); 43% of the samples were from field crops, followed by 29% tree and shrub
samples. 5. PESTICIDE APPLICATOR EDUCATION: Three Turning Point sets purchased and distributed to county extension offices. IPM survey instrument developed for Turning Point distributed for use in private pesticide applicator training. Results of the survey indicated a high understanding of IPM practices. INFORMATION DISSEMINATION: By above web links, additional links indicated in the publication section, and by extension publications for ND citizens, video You Tube tapes, face to face meetings, and email list serves. PARTICIPANTS: PRIMARY INDIVIDUALS ON PROJECT: Marcia McMullen, NDSU IPM Coordinator and Plant Pathologist. She coordinated extension educational IPM programs, developed the Field Scout Training Schools, helped update the IPM webpage and small grain disease forecasting site and the ScabSmart web site, contributed weekly to the NDSU Crop and Pest Report, co-coordinated the
IPM pest survey and supervised the field scouts, and solicited stakeholder input. Joel Ransom, an Extension Agronomist for cereal crops, coordinated the Best of the Best Workshops in ND and MN, in conjunction with Phil Glogoza, U. of MN IPM Area Specialist, and he coordinated the Integrated Management for Fusarium head blight demonstrations in spring and winter wheat. Dr. Ransom supervised Chad DePlazes, a research assistant working on agronomic projects of Dr. Ransom. Kasia Kinzer, the NDSU Plant Diagnostician, led the NDSU Pest Diagnostic Lab and supervised the assistant diagnostician, Monty Botschner. Tom Kalb, NDSU Horticulture Specialist, headquartered in central ND, provided IPM information for urban plantings, Master Gardener training, and authored the on-line Dakota Gardener newsletter. Andrew Thostenson, ND Pesticide Training Coordinator, made it possible to provide IPM training
to ND commercial and private pesticide applicators and provided Turning Point sets to aid educational and survey efforts. Jan Knodel, Extension Entomologist, worked closely with IPM field survey and supervised the computer specialist hourly help that analyzed survey data and posted in ArcView to the IPM web page. Dr. Knodel also co-edited the NDSU Crop and Pest Report, along with Sam Markell, Extension Plant Pathologist. Others assisting with IPM survey work included: Greg Endres, Roger Ashley and Jeremy Pederson, Area Extension Specialists, Tom Guyla, USDA Sunflower pathologist, and Carrie Larson and Dave Nelson, ND Dept. of Agriculture pest specialists. TARGET AUDIENCES: The ND EIPM program has two primary target audiences: ND crop producers, field scouts, agronomists and consultants, and ND urban dwellers. Crop producers and agronomists benefit from field surveys of pests, the
integrated management studies focusing on Fusarium head blight in wheat, the IPM training provided at pesticide applicator training, IPM educational material provided at the Best of the Best Workshops, primarily focusing on wheat and soybean, and from associated data that supports IPM decision tools. Small grain producers, soybean producers, and sunflower producers benefit from field scouting for diseases and insects. ND urban dwellers benefit from on-line and print information on tree, ornamental, vegetable, and garden IPM. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: No major modifications in project for this time period. However, the severe flooding in the state in 2011 did result in some re-orientation of efforts. For example, Dr. Kalb focused more on the Dakota Gardener newsletter and publications reflecting pest management in home, lawn, and turf following flooding, especially in the urban areas of
Bismarck and Minot. These areas are still recovering from the major floods. The field scouts also had to modify their survey efforts somewhat in 2011, because of flooding and because approximately five million crop acres were not planted (prevented plantings) in 2011.
<p>PROGRESS: 2010/09/01 TO 2011/08/31<br/>OUTPUTS: ACCOMPLISHMENT (PROGRESS) REPORT - NDEIPM Grant (June 3, 2011) The 2010 ND EIPM Grant addressed five IPM components: Coordination, Agronomic Crops, Consumer/Urban Environments, Pest Diagnostic Facilities, and Education of Pesticide Applicators. 1. IPM Coordination: Coordinator provided IPM training to 3000 commercial pesticide applicators and provided an IPM slide set for private applicator training. The coordinator co-developed an eastern and western region field scout training school and scout training manual, attended in March of 2011 by 135 people in the east and 150 people in the west; 32 NDSU students earned one credit for the eastern school. Students rated school a 4.4 out of possible five for very good rating. Coordinator collaborated with Extension pest specialists and the ND Dept. of Agriculture to plan and
conduct a stakeholder meeting in the fall of 2010. The coordinator updated the IPM webpage. 2. Agronomic Crops: a) State extension specialists from NDSU and from the Univ. of Minnesota cooperatively developed two "Best of the Best" workshops, one in Grand Forks, ND and one in Moorhead, MN, workshops attended by over 400 farmers who learned about pest management in wheat and soybean. b) IPM in Agronomic Crops: An IPM field survey had five field scouts scouting five major crops in the state for diseases and insects. Over 2000 crop fields surveyed and immediate feedback on pest problems provided to growers, county agents and crop consultants, and to the ND Dept. of Agriculture and the Great Plains Diagnostic Network, for wheat virus detection. Survey results posted weekly at the website: http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/aginfo/ndipm/. The value of integrated management strategies for Fusarium
head blight in wheat was demonstrated at three field locations in eastern ND, showing response to spring wheat and winter wheat variety resistance and fungicide treatment. Field days were held at the two locations plus results posted online. 3. Consumer/Urban IPM: A widely read newsletter for gardeners, the Dakota Gardener Newsletter, was prepared and published on-line (www.dakotagardener.com) and 10 fact sheets on ornamental pest management were drafted and sent to the NDSU Ag. Communication's Dept. for printing. The Burleigh county urban specialist expanded his on-line presence with above newsletter and conducted three train-the-trainer Master Gardener workshops. 4. IPM Support for Diagnostic Services: The diagnostic lab received a record number of over 4516 samples in 2010, report found at: http://www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/diaglab/reports/2010-pdl.pdf). In 2010, 38% of the samples were
field crop samples, followed by 24% as woody ornamental pest problems. 5. Education for Pesticide Applicators: Three Turning Point sets were purchased and distributed to county extension offices. A short IPM survey instrument was developed for the Turning Point technology, and distributed to these county offices for use in private pesticide applicator training. Information received (258 responses) will be summarized for presentation at the national IPM Symposium in March 2012. PARTICIPANTS: PRIMARY INDIVIDUALS ON PROJECT: Marcia McMullen, NDSU IPM Coordinator and Plant Pathologist, who coordinates the IPM programs, develops the Field Scout Schools, helps update the IPM webpage and disease forecasting site for wheat, and for the ScabSmart web site, contributes to the NDSU Crop and Pest Report, and co-coordinates the IPM pest survey, in addition to getting stakeholder input. Jan Knodel,
NDSU Extension Entomologist coordinates development and uploading of IPM survey maps to the IPM webpage, co-coordinates the IPM survey, and co-edits the NDSU Crop and Pest Report. Joel Ransom, NDSU Extension Agronomist, co-coordinates the Collaboration of ND and MN in conducting the Best of the Best Workshops in ND and MN, and coordinates the Integrated Management demonstrations in spring and winter wheat for Fusarium head blight disease of wheat. Phil Glogoza is the MN participant in the collaborative project on the Best of the Best workshops. Kasia Kinzer, NDSU Pest Diagnostician, leads the NDSU Pest Diagnostic Lab and supervises Monty Botschner, assistant diagnostician. Tom Kalb, NDSU Horticulture Specialist, operates out of the Burleigh County office, and is responsible for updating IPM information for urban plantings, doing Master Gardener graining, and publishing the on-line Dakota
Gardener. OTHER COOPERATORS: NDSU Extension specialists in pest management disciplines all work together to promote IPM practices. They include Rich Zollinger, Extension Weed Specialist, and area extension specialists who assist in the crop IPM survey, including Greg Endres, Carrington; Roger Ashley, Dickinson; Dan Waldstein, Minot; and Lionel Olson, Langdon. PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS: The ND Dept. of Agriculture supports efforts to survey for and document the presence or absence of exotic pests in ND. Andrew Thostenson, ND Pesticide Training Coordinator, makes it possible to provide IPM training to ND commercial and private pesticide applicators. Stakeholders that provide IPM guidance include representatives from the commodity groups in the state plus independent and commercial association crop consultants. The ND Wheat Commission, the ND Barley Council, and the ND Soybean Association
assist with the planning and advertising of the Best of the Best Workshops. County agents in Sargent and Cass counties support the integrated management field demonstrations, and the Burleigh county commissioners help support the work of the state horticulturist housed in their county office. OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRAINING: Two field crop scout training schools; two Best of Best Workshops in the Red River Valley of ND and MN; 19 commercial pesticide application training sessions; two field demonstrations; three Master Gardener Trainings, in addition to the ND Ag. Association annual meeting and the annual state and regional crop improvement meetings, where IPM information is shared. TARGET AUDIENCES: A primary target audience includes ND wheat and soybean producers. Wheat is grown on approximately 9 million acres per year, and soybeans on 3.9 million acres. ND has approximate 30,000 farms,
and most would produce wheat and or soybean. The Best of the Best workshops target farmers in the Red River Valley. The NDSU Crop and Pest Report, where survey information and research results are shared, target all ND farmers. Exit surveys at Best of the Best workshops indicate that some of the most valuable informaiton they received at the workshops, that they plan to utilize, include explanation of disease forecasting information, use of disease and insect thresholds, integrated management of wheat diseases, updates on soybean cyst nematode management. Producers were also assessed on their use of IPM practices in the Pesticide Use and Pest Management Practices Survey published in 2009. Sixty-seven percent of farmer respondents scouted the field regularly for pests, 59% made pesticide treatments based on identity, density or pulation size of the pest rather than on a calendar basis,
and 27% used a crop consultant to help them manage their crop pests. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.