Connecticut IPM Report, 2019

NEERA meeting: May 1, 2019, College Park, MD

Mary Concklin, IPM Program Coordinator

The Connecticut IPM Program 2018 Annual Report, IPM fact sheets, and other information are available on the UConn IPM website.

Funding

  • The Connecticut IPM Program is funded in part by USDA (NIFA CPPM EIP, NIFA BFRDP, RMA, SCBG, SARE, FRTEP, AFRI ELI, APHIS), the Northeastern IPM Center, Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (CT DEEP), Connecticut Department of Agriculture, and the University of Connecticut.

Team Members

  • University of Connecticut (UConn): The IPM Program team includes Mary Concklin (IPM Program Coordinator), Donna Ellis (retired), Joan Allen (deceased August 2018), Candace Bartholomew, Jennifer Dacey, Shuresh Ghimire (joined July 2018), Miriah Kelly, Ana Legrand, Leanne Pundt, and Victoria Wallace in the Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture, and the Department of Extension.
  • Partners/Collaborators: State and Federal agricultural and environmental/non-governmental agencies and organizations; State, New England, and Northeastern fruit, greenhouse, groundskeepers, nursery, turf, landscape, and vegetable associations; industry suppliers/dealers; regional universities; educators; schools and municipalities; individual growers, farmers, and producers; Master Gardeners; and the general public.

Issue

  • Integrated Pest Management applies multiple tactics in a variety of settings through the selection of appropriate tools and the education of agricultural industry members and Connecticut citizens to provide sustainable, science-based approaches for the management of plant pests (insects, mites, diseases, wildlife, and weeds, including invasive plants). The UConn IPM Program incorporates all possible pest management strategies through knowledgeable decision-making, utilizing the most efficient landscape and on-farm resources, and integrating cultural and biological controls. Program objectives include maintaining the economic viability of agricultural and green industry businesses, enhancing and conserving environmental quality and natural resources, educating participants on the effective use of biological control agents, and educating pesticide users about the safe use and handling of pesticide products.

Accomplishments

  • IPM Program team members conducted intensive on-site educational training for fruit and vegetable producers, garden center owners, greenhouse growers, nursery producers and retailers, and turf and landscape professionals. Growers and green industry professionals received information on the current status of and recommendations for important plant pests and training via pest messages, email alerts, webinars, newsletters, articles in national trade journals, management guides, websites, conferences, exhibits, and short courses.
  • Evaluations: A formal IPM Collective Impact Assessment was conducted by IPM team member and evaluation specialist, Dr. M. Kelly. IPM programs were individually evaluated by the following methods: pre- and/or post-program surveys and evaluations, needs assessment surveys and focus group meetings, testimonials, and unsolicited comments.

Connecticut IPM Program Outcomes

  • Fourteen Connecticut grape growers participated in a new USDA funded project titled “iPiPE – CT Grape Component” involving weekly scouting and IPM training. Several participants indicated one of the most important aspects of this program was the IPM support and education.
  • There were 133,956 sessions created by 111,510 users of the IPM website during 2018, representing 173,143 page views. Visitors to the IPM website in 2018 increased 30% over the previous year.
  • Integrated Pest Management education e-newsletters and pest alerts:
    • 442 vegetable growers in Connecticut received 20 weekly vegetable pest updates from May–September.
    • 459 fruit growers and industry members received 77 fruit e-newsletters during the growing season.
    • 270 growers and allied members of the ornamental horticulture industry received 26 pest messages.
  • A total of 652 invasive plant activities in 30 Connecticut towns reached over 23,325 Connecticut citizens in 2018, including agency and municipal staff. A minimum of 9,414 hours of intensive invasive plant training sessions and management activities was provided, as well as technical educational outreach.
  • Two intensive, team-taught short courses providing active training time of 1,101 hours were conducted for 46 individuals seeking initial state certification as commercial Ornamental and Turf or Golf Course Superintendent pesticide applicators.
  • Eleven conferences and workshops were held covering fruits, vegetables, greenhouse, turf, landscape, invasive plants, and school IPM. UConn IPM Program members were integral in the following: Greenhouse Biological Control, Pest & Production Update for Greenhouse Crops, Invasive Plant Conference, UConn’s Vegetable & Small Fruit Conference, Connecticut Pomological Society Annual Meeting, Small Fruit Scouting Primer, Tree Fruit Scouting Primer, NE Greenhouse Conference & Expo, Connecticut School IPM Workshop, 2018 UConn Turfgrass Field Day, and School Groundskeepers Workshop.
  • During 2018, 772 plant samples were diagnosed, and management recommendations were provided to IPM Program participants and other stakeholders.