Vermont IPM Report, 2019

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

PI: Ann Hazelrigg
Co-PIs: Heather Darby, Terence Bradshaw, Margaret Skinner, Sid Bosworth

Primary Priority Area: IPM Implementation in Agronomic Crops

Field Days and Winter Conferences

Champlain Valley Hops Field Day, Starksboro, VT. September 28, 2018. 40 attendees.

IMPACTS
  • 28 attendees indicated they better understood how to identify insect and disease pests of hops.
  • 35 attendees indicated they would be able to make more informed choices on practices to implement to reduce pest pressure in their hop yards.

The 10th Annual Hops Conference, Burlington, VT. February 21, 2019. 86 attendees, 10 participants via live broadcast. To view the agenda and presentations, go to https://www.uvm.edu/extension/nwcrops/conferences-events-current-and-past

IMPACTS
  • 56% of participants that responded to end of conference survey, indicated that knowledge gained from these events helped them optimize (and reduce) fungicide applications in their hopyard.
  • 78% of participants that responded to end of conference survey, indicated that knowledge gained from these events helped them reduce insecticide applications in their hopyard.
  • 96% of participants that responded to end of conference survey, indicated that the knowledge gained from these events allowed them to better scout, identify, and manage pests with a IPM system.

The 15th Annual Grain Growers Conference, Stories of an Evolving Food System, Essex, VT. March 28, 2019. 113 attendees. To view the agenda and presentations, go to https://www.uvm.edu/extension/nwcrops/conferences-events-current-and-past

IMPACTS
  • 86% of participants that responded to end of conference survey indicated that knowledge gained from these events that helped them routinely test for mycotoxin and seedborne disease.
  • 45% of participants that responded to end of conference survey indicated that they know how to identify the proper environmental conditions and grain development stage to apply fungicides to control fusarium head blight.
  • 92% of participants that responded to end of conference survey indicated that knowledge gained from these events helped them better scout, identify, and develop IPM strategies for disease, insect, and weed pests in grains.

Extension Outreach Education

The virtual reality (VR) scouting tool was completed and presented at the 2019 Hops Conference. The VRScout Hops information on the homepage of the Hops page on the NWCS webpage, linked here: https://www.uvm.edu/extension/nwcrops/hops. The post includes an introduction to the game, the target audience, insects and diseases to identify, a link to the latest edit of the User Manual (PDF), and the game file (must email NWCS to get it – file it too large to post to the webpage).

Online proceedings for the 10th Annual Vermont Hop Conference are available online and include video recordings of presentations conducted during plenary and advanced sessions. The proceedings are housed at eXtension’s Online campus.

8 Hop Blog Posts http://blog.uvm.edu/hoppenin/

Hop Power Hour monthly webinars began April 23, 2018 and continued through October 2018. 34 participants. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNLDK7Mr0h8&t=0s&list=PLaZCgOs78cqi-5V2G3GaLRxFBNgmeM0Nb&index=1

IMPACTS
  • 94% of participants indicated they would make a change to their farming operation or how they advise farmers in regards to pest management.
  • 100% of participants indicated that they have a better understanding of how to scout for downy mildew

Next Round of Funding: we will continue extension outreach education through winter conferences, blogs, IPM briefs, IPM guide, summer field days, website updates as well as implementation of the VR Scout Tool. We will continue surveying for IPM impacts.

Additional Materials

Agronomy Field Days and Winter Conferences

Champlain Valley Hops Field Day, Starksboro, VT. September 28, 2018. https://www.uvm.edu/sites/default/files/media/092818_ChamplainVallyHops.pdf

The 10th Annual Hops Conference, Burlington, VT. February 21, 2019. https://www.uvm.edu/sites/default/files/media/HopConfFlyer2019_Final.pdf

The 15th Annual Grain Growers Conference, Essex, VT. March 28, 2019. https://www.uvm.edu/sites/default/files/media/2019_GrainConf_Full_Brochure.pdf

Conference presentations: https://www.uvm.edu/extension/nwcrops/conferences-events-current-and-past

Agronomy Extension Outreach Education

Northwest Crops and Soils Program website http://www.uvm.edu/nwcrops

Hop Blog http://blog.uvm.edu/hoppenin/ Hop Power Hour Webinar Series https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNLDK7Mr0h8&t=0s&list=PLaZCgOs78cqi-5V2G3GaLRxFBNgmeM0Nb&index=1

Julien Venne: Mastering Spring activities in the hop yard. April 23, 2018 27 participants. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O5YHly6jMqM&feature=youtu.be

IMPACTS
  • 89% of participants indicated that they would make a change to their early season practices or how they advise farmers
  • 100% of participants indicated that they have a better understanding of spring activities in the hop yard.

Erin Lizotte: Powdery mildew in the hop yard. May 21, 2018. 18 participants. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4QcMimMxDIw

IMPACTS
  • 100% of participants indicated they would make a change in scouting and treatment of powdery mildew. 100% of participants indicated that they now had a better understanding of powdery mildew and how to identify it.

Gene L’Etoile: One decade of growing hops: a farmer shares his experiences. June 25, 2018. 18 participants. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=76Qhx1U86sM&feature=youtu.be

IMPACTS
  • 100% of participants indicated that they would implement a new practice or strategy from the information gained from the webinar.
  • 67% of participants indicated that the information gained from the webinar would help to better manage fertility in their hopyard.

Trevor Hardy: Information on irrigation systems for hop production. July 23, 2018. 19 participants. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftjsGrQgxrw&feature=youtu.be

IMPACTS
  • 100% of participants indicated that they now have a better understanding of irrigation systems for hop production and how it impacts pests.
  • 82% of participants indicated that they would make a change in their current hop yard as a result of the webinar.

Lily Calderwood: Harvest timing and the effect on quality of hops. August 27, 2018. 21 participants. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5N-WufDsSk&feature=youtu.be

IMPACTS
  • 100% of participants indicated that they now feel better prepared to harvest their hops on time to maximize quality and minimize pest damage.
  • 69% of participants indicated that they would make a change in their harvest timing within their current hop yard.

10/1/18 – Melanie Lewis Ivey: Information on hop viruses and viroids. October 1, 2018. 14 participants. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sKe_Ot0pwM&feature=youtu.be

IMPACTS
  • 100% of participants indicated that they have a better understanding of and ability to identify viruses on hops.
  • 100% of participants indicated that they would make changes while scouting for and managing viruses in their hop yard.

Hop goScout surveys

Introductory Survey, topic interest. April 2018. 40 Participants.

IMPACTS
  • 25% of growers had an interest in learning more about pest identification and management, 13% of growers had an interest in learning more about proper fertilization practices, 3% of growers had an interest in learning more about timing of field operations including harvest timing, 15% of growers had an interest in learning more about each of the above categories, 3% of growers had an interest in learning more about marketing or processing, 41% of growers proffered no response.

Training, crowning, downy mildew scouting. May 2018. 17 Participants.

IMPACTS
  • 18% of growers planned to take no additional actions, 5% planned on adjusting their fertilizer applications, 18% planned on adjusting their training times, 42% planned on implementing crowning/pruning practices to reduce downy mildew inoculum, 90% planned on developing/implementing a regimented scouting schedule.

Pest and disease scouting. June 2018. 12 Participants.

IMPACTS
  • 67% of growers planned to continue scouting as part of their routine, 33% of growers planned to adjust their pesticide applications and minimize application rates.

Pest and disease scouting, irrigation. July 2018. 7 Participants.

IMPACTS
  • 60% of growers planned on adjusting their irrigation practices, 40% of growers planned on adjusting and reducing their pesticide applications, 20% of growers planned on making no change.

Pest and disease scouting, harvest timing. August 2018. 7 Participants.

IMPACTS
  • 29% of growers planned on adjusting their harvest timing, 29% of growers planned on adjusting and lowering their pesticide applications, 42% of growers planned on making no change.

Primary Priority Area: IPM Implementation in Specialty Crops: Apples and Grapes

Orchard and Vineyard Scouting Network

Twelve orchards scouted weekly during 2018 season.

Fruit sampled at harvest from eleven orchards and one vineyard; assessed for pest-related damage and defects.

Network growers surveyed for level of confidence in applying IPM practices for decision making, pesticide applications, and economic impact of scouting.

Network scouting results presented to Vermont Tree Fruit Growers Association http://www.uvm.edu/~fruit/treefruit/tf_meetings/UVMScoutingProjectVTFGA19.pdf

Third-party online reporting platform adopted; operating in testing mode for 2019 season.

IMPACTS
  • 100% of network growers used scouting in pest management decision making and reduced or delayed sprays
  • 88% or network growers had a net economic benefit (better yield quality/quantity) and/or reduce risks due to scouting
  • "With up to date scouting results I have confidence in my spray timing."
  • "Scouting allowed us to be more precise in our spray applications and reduce our use of pesticides."
  • "I am not sure of the amount of money saved, however, it was significant."

Apple and Grape IPM Guideline Assessment

iPiPE IPM Elements adopted as platform https://elements.ipipe.org/; Vermont-specific modules in development.

Extension Outreach Education

6,376 page views of UVM Fruit: Tree Fruit & 1,736 page views of UVM Fruit: Grapes from May 2018–April 2019 http://www.uvm.edu/~fruit/

171 email addresses subscribed to vtapplegrower@list.uvm.edu listserv; 277 email addresses subscribed to vermontgrape@list.uvm.edu listserv

31 UVM Fruit blog posts promoting IPM tools, Network for Environmental and Weather Applications (NEWA), and advertising IPM meetings to apple/grape growers. http://blog.uvm.edu/fruit/

74 one-on-one grower consultations (phone, email, and on-site)

New England Tree Fruit Management Guide updated to include "Cider Apples" content, February 2019. https://netreefruit.org/

Session planning and presentations:

Vermont Tree Fruit Growers Association annual meeting, Middlebury, VT. February 14, 2019 (Recap of the 2018 Season, Post-infection Management of Fire Blight Shoot Blight Stage; Guiding Apple Scab Management with RIMpro; 2018 Orchard Monitoring Project). 72 attendees. http://www.uvm.edu/~fruit/?Page=treefruit/tf_meetings.html&SM=tf_submenu.html

IMPACTS
  • 97% of participants indicated moderate/considerable general knowledge following presentation on Post-infection Management of Fire Blight (48% increase)
  • 94% of participants indicated moderate/considerable general knowledge following presentation on Implementing an Apple Scab Management (199% increase)
  • "I learned of specific software applications that can be used for scab and fire blight tracking."
  • "It was really helpful to see how the products compared; it is hard to make a choice with different products when you think everything is the same (fire blight)."
  • "It would be hard to get this information anywhere else any easier than at this meeting."
  • "Being new to growing apples, I find I get much needed direction and focus after attending."

2018 Vermont Tree Fruit Growers Association annual meeting (Managing Native Bees for Tree Fruit Pollination Trunk Problems in Vermont Apple Orchards; Constraints and Opportunities in Growing Cider Apples in Vermont; Implementing Orchard Monitoring).

IMPACTS
  • 55% of participants changed management practices to protect bees (better timing of sprays, habitat development); most often by improving timing of pest management to improve confidence in making pest management decisions.
  • 35% of participants changed trunk health management practices by improving pruning and timing of sprays, better scouting practices, guard removal, and deployment of mating disruption.
  • 14% of participants changed cider orchard management practices to diversify cultivars of cider apples and select pesticides to reduce resistance.
  • 48% of participants changed scouting practices (increased scouting, better trap timing, reduced use of certain pesticides); most often to improve timing of pest management and confidence in making pest management decisions.
  • 9% increase in knowledge on trap deployment and insect identification from previous year.
  • "Scouting completely impacted our timing of pesticide application."

Presentations (attendees):

  • Cider apple production in Vermont: Constraints and Opportunities (Production de pommes à cidre). Congrès Cidres, vins et alcools d’ici. St Hyacinthe, PQ, Canada. 3/28/2019. (80)
  • Constraints & Opportunities in Producing Cider Apples in the New Market. Montana Grape & Winery Association Annual Conference. Helena, MT. 3/23/2019 (20)
  • Orchard & Vineyard Practice that Improve Farm Sustainability. Montana Grape & Winery Association Annual Conference. Helena, MT. 3/22/2019 (75)
  • Experiences in Lebanon: Strategies for Improving Apple Markets and Implications for Vermont Growers. UVM Apple Program & VT Tree Fruit Growers Assn 123rd Annual Meeting. Middlebury, VT. 2/14/2019. (72)
  • Recap of the 2018 Season. UVM Apple Program & VT Tree Fruit Growers Assn 123rd Annual Meeting. Middlebury, VT. 2/14/2019. (72)
  • Pollinator Protection Efforts in Vermont: UVM IPM Program & VT Pollinator Protection Committee. Lecture to Greater Cabot Working Landscape Committee, Cabot VT. 01/24/2019. (24)
  • Experiences in Lebanon: Strategies for Improving Apple Markets. UVM PSS Dept Seminar Series. Burlington, VT. 10/12/2018. (18)
  • Sustainability Practices Support Vermont Orchards and Vineyards. Atlantic Seed Association Annual Convention. Burlington, VT. 10/8/2018 (32)
  • Cider Mill Setup and Operation. Commercial Cider Making Workshop, Walden, VT. 8/24/2018.

Next Round of Funding: Weekly scouting, fruit sampling at harvest. Annual survey for level of confidence in applying IPM practices (e.g. pest models, monitoring thresholds) for decision making for key pests. The number of growers conducting pest monitoring will be collected and tracked in each year. Annual pesticide applications to manage key monitored diseases and pest will be collected and tracked. Promotion of online IPM Guideline Assessment self-assessment tool. Assessment participants will obtain initial scores and identify practices to adopt. Continue newsletters, blog posts, integrate NEWA in communications, one-on-one consultations (as necessary). An on-farm apple/grape workshop will be held in 2019. Planning and presentations at regional grower meetings (with evaluation of knowledge gained and adoption of IPM practices).

Primary Priority Area: IPM Implementation in Specialty Crops: Ornamentals/vegetables in greenhouses/high tunnels and nursery settings

Tri-State IPM

22nd annual event held in ME, NH, VT with the main focus of "Stop Tooling Around With Your Pest Management Strategies". Cooperating regional specialists presented and hands-on sessions that focused on the latest IPM tools to more effectively identify and manage pests. Sessions included use of hand held microscopes and magnifiers for pest and natural enemy id, use of pH and EC meters and a disease diagnosis flow chart. This year we had several new faces, many who will be integral to the continued success of this program. This year’s featured speaker was Dr. Juang-Horng Chong, Associate Prof. & Ext. Specialist for Turf & Ornamentals at the Pee Dee Research & Education Center at Clemson University. He presented information on new chemical pesticide chemistries, many of which are compatible with biological control programs. >140 attendees. https://www.uvm.edu/~entlab/Greenhouse IPM/Workshops/2019/IPMWorkshop2019.html

IMPACTS
  • Short term:
    • 80% of the attendees learned new techniques including sanitation, pH/EC; better management of natural enemies, plant mediated IPM systems (habitat plants) and dip methods.
    • 67% of the attendees used biological control in the past year.
    • 38% of the attendees indicated they used some form of a plant-mediated IPM system in their production.
  • Medium Term:
    • 78% of attendees indicated they had attended our Tristate IPM workshops in the past. 89% of past attendees changed their management practices as a result of attending this workshop.
    • 72% of attendees who attended our past workshops indicated this event gave them resources to apply less chemical pesticides and adopt more IPM strategies (i.e. biopesticides, natural enemies, banker, trap or habitat plant use). Amount of chemical pesticide reduction by attendees is as follows: no decrease (1%); <25% (36%); 26%–50% (21%); 51%–75% (7%); >75% (19%); do not spray chemical pesticides (16%)

IPM First

2 new operations currently enrolled for 2018 (20 locations received visits over past year)

Over 50 site visits were made to IPM First sites

1 training session for greenhouse staff on pest id and scouting (10 attendees)

3 original sites surveyed for adoption of IPM strategies

IMPACTS
  • Short term:
    • 1 location for the first time is marketing plants grown "neonicotinoid free" as they transitioned away from chemical pesticides to biological control from taking part in this program.
  • Medium term:
    • 100% of growers who were original IPM First sites use plant-mediated IPM systems regularly in their production.
    • 100% of locations reduced chemical pesticides as a result of taking part in the program. 2 indicated a reduction of pesticides of 75–100%; 1 a reduction of 20%–50%.
    • 100% use biological controls more effectively after over 5 years of starting the program.

Extension Outreach Education

Over 4,650 page views on UVM greenhouse/high tunnel/landscape IPM webpages http://www.uvm.edu/~entlab/Greenhouse IPM/UVMGreenhouseIPM.html

4,050 followers on UVM Entomology Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/UVMEntomologyResearchLaboratory/?fref=ts

440 email addresses subscribed to the GreenGrower listserv used to disseminate information related to greenhouse and high tunnel IPM.

1 fact sheet (Critical Questions to Consider to Help Manage Persistent Pest Problems, link below).

8 presentations (links below) Presentation Audience: 140 (Tri-State Greenhouse IPM Workshops); 138 (High Tunnel Conference); 40 (Twilight meetings); 50 (Colombia); 100 (Beirut, Lebanon)

1 webinette viewing at Tri-State IPM Workshop.

2 IPM presentations to 50 growers of cut flowers in Colombia

IMPACTS
  • Short term:
    • 94% of webinette viewers ranked the strategy a 4 out of 5 for usefulness.

Next Round of Funding: Hold the 23rd annual Tri-State Greenhouse workshops in ME, NH and VT. Continue individualized training at IPM First site visits and visits to previous participants. Prepare fact sheets relating to greenhouse IPM; prepare additional webinette and case studies. Update website with three new pages (webinettes, case studies, plant-mediated IPM systems), continue sending messages via the GreenGrower listserv and posts to Facebook page.

Additional Materials

Greenhouse/High Tunnel/Nursery Tri-State IPM
Greenhouse/High Tunnel/Nursery Extension Outreach Education
Presentations:
  • Brining in Un-Bee-lievable Beneficials Presentation by Cheryl Frank Sullivan & Margaret Skinner VNLA/Greenworks Winter Meeting, Feb. 7, 2019 https://www.uvm.edu/~entlab/Landscape IPM/Powerpoints/BringingInUnbeelievableBeneficialsVNLA.pdf
  • Sullivan, C.E. Frank, M. Skinner & A. Wallingford. Natural Enemies & Pests Hands-on Demo. Stop Tooling Around with Your Pest Management Strategies. Tri-State Greenhouse IPM Program Hands On Workshop, Manchester, ME, Durham, NH, and Burlington, VT Jan. 8–10, 2019.
  • Sullivan, C.E.F., M. Skinner, A. Wallingford & C. Glenister. Identifying the Good, the Bad & the Ugly Hands on Pest & Natural Enemy Id session. Univ. of VT Entomology Research Laboratory, Univ. of NH & IPM Laboratories. Expand Your Tunnel Vision: High Tunnel Production Conference, Manchester, NH, December 3–4, 2018. https://www.uvm.edu/~entlab/High Tunnel IPM/Presentations/Conference 2018/High Tunnel Conf 2018 -%20Insect ID -%20UVM UNH IPM.pdf
  • Sullivan, C.E.F. & M. Skinner. Lessons Learned from 5 years of Routine High Tunnel Scouting for Insect Pests & Natural Enemies: Lightning Round Update – Univ. of VT Entomology Research Laboratory. Expand Your Tunnel Vision: High Tunnel Production Conference, Manchester, NH,  December 3–4, 2018. https://www.uvm.edu/~entlab/High Tunnel IPM/Presentations/Conference 2018/High Tunnel Conf 2018 Lightning Round -%20UVM -%20Cheryl Frank Sullivan.pdf
  • Skinner, M., B.L. Parker, C.F. Sullivan & A. Davari. 2018. Advances in IPM in Protected Agriculture: Plant- mediated IPM Systems for Thrips. 50 growers of cut flowers. Rionegro, Colombia.
  • B.L. Parker, M. Skinner & A. Davari. 2018. A New Innovative Method for Western Flower Thrips Management using UV Light. 50 growers of cut flowers. Rionegro, Colombia.
  • Sullivan, C.E.F., M. Skinner & B. Spencer. The importance of scouting for pests: tips for success. Success with Bio-control in High Tunnel Vegetables Twilight Meeting. July 26, 2018. Jericho Settlers Farm, Jericho, VT.
  • Sullivan, C.E. Frank. Greenhouse/Tomato Workshop. Aphid Management & Habitat Plants for Natural Enemies Discussion & Demonstration. May 30, 2018, Intervale Community Farm, Burlington, VT. Organized by Vernon Grubinger, UVM Extension
Fact Sheets & Articles:
  • Skinner, M., B.L. Parker & C.F. Sullivan. 2019. Chapter 31. Integrated Pest Management in Greenhouse and Other Protected Cultivation Systems. In: Current and Future Developments in IPM; Eds: M. Kogan & L. Higley, Burleigh Dodds Science Publ. Cambridge, UK. In press.
  • Habitat Plantings Harbor Happy Beneficial Bugs. Sullivan, C. Frank & Skinner, M. VT Vegetable &Berry Newsletter – compiled by Vernon Grubinger, March 12, 2019 http://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/Pubs/HabitatPlants.pdf
  • Bringing in Un-Bee-lievable Beneficials. Sullivan, C. Frank & Skinner, M. The Dirt. Winter Issue Vol. 44(4):23–24.
  • Using Biocontrols to Manage Aphids in High Tunnels. Sanchez, E., C. Frank Sullivan & M. Skinner. New Jersey Agricultural Trade Show & Convention Proceedings, Feb. 5–9, 2019, Rutgers University, NJ.
  • What have we been up to in 2018? Sullivan, C.E.F. Skinner, M. & Parker, B.L. Tri-State Greenhouse IPM Workshops. Manchester, ME., Durham, NH & Burlington, VT. 2pp.
  • Critical Questions to Consider to Help Manage Persistent Pest Problems. Sullivan, C.E.F. & M. Skinner. Univ. of VT Entomology Research Laboratory. Expand Your Tunnel Vision: High Tunnel Production Conference, Manchester, NH, December 3–4. 1p. https://www.uvm.edu/~entlab/High Tunnel IPM/Presentations/Conference 2018/Critical Questions &%20Habitat Plants UVM High Tunnels 12-2-2018.pdf
  • Sullivan, C.E.F. & M. Skinner. Attracting & Sustaining Aphid Natural Enemies in High Tunnels. Univ. of VT Entomology Research Laboratory. Expand Your Tunnel Vision: High Tunnel Production Conference, Manchester, NH, December 3–4. 1p.
Press Coverage:

Primary Priority Area: IPM Implementation in Communities

Master Gardener Course

Master Gardener Course delivered through web platform. January 18–May 10, 2019. 15 modules over 40 hours of course work. Plant Diagnostic Clinic Program Support of IPM Communities (PDC Team) delivered lectures: entomology, plant pathology and turf care. 95 participants.

356 EMG volunteers logged 12,156 hours at 86 ongoing projects and events (fairs, Ask a Master Gardener tables, Farmers Markets, other outreach), and 45 one-time events making 73,467 contacts with the public about home gardening, pesticide reduction, sustainable landscapes, pest identification and IPM strategies.

IMPACTS
  • Will be reported after the course finishes in May of 2019

Master Gardener Helpline

1,002 questions answered by phone and email

90 specimens submitted for pest identification

IMPACTS
  • Approximately 95% of calls provide IPM information (pest life cycle, non-pesticide management options) to the home gardening public.
  • "Lots of good written and in-person cultural information for reducing the problem." "I don’t know where else I would turn to if they weren’t available."" I was able to start making helpful gardening changes right away, and have a plan for better prevention for next season." "I am always impressed by the quick responses and helpful information."

Advanced Training Webinars

April 2018 Spring Pest and Disease Advanced Training for Master Gardeners. 110 views.

June 2018. UVM Extension Master Gardener Helpline Advanced Training 15 views

November 2018 Fall (End of Season) Pest and Disease Advanced Training for Master Gardeners, 22 views

IMPACTS
  • 147 people watched these advanced trainings in 2018.

Hands-On Summer Courses:

In the summer of 2018, we offered urban pest and disease walk, a forest walk focused on the safe and judicious use of pesticides for invasive plant eradication, a hands-on workshop for vegetable diseases and pests and 2 hand-on sessions using IPM strategies when fertilizing your vegetable garden. 79 participants.

Next Round of Funding: Offer EMG course in 2020. In April of 2019 the 2018 Master Gardener Course students will be surveyed to assess if they adopted an IPM practice and reduced their use of pesticides. We will survey 2019 Master Gardener Helpline clients at the end of the season to see if they adopted an IPM practice that reduced pesticide use.

Fact sheets will be developed to be used during the workshops as well as distributed to our 300 master gardeners after the course, and the general public at fairs, farmers markets and other community events around the state.

Additional Materials

Master Gardener Course UVM Extension Master Gardener Course website https://www.uvm.edu/extension/mastergardener/extension-master-gardener-course

Master Gardener Helpline UVM Extension Master Gardener Helpline website https://www.uvm.edu/extension/mastergardener/helpline

Primary Priority Area: IPM for Pollinator Health

Master Gardener Pollinator Short Course

Currently under development to launch in August of 2019 on eXtension course website.

Next Round of Funding: We are currently developing the pollinator course syllabus, reaching out to potential experts to teach various modules, developing the course website and the course advertising materials, such as the flyers website, social media posts, press releases and setting up the pre- and post-course surveys.

Orchard Pollinator Survey

Two orchard blocks (managed, unmanaged) assessed monthly during 2018 season.

Abundance, diversity, and community composition of pollinators in orchards was cataloged.

IMPACTS
  • The 2018 UVM Orchard Pollinator Survey provided baseline data for use in developing or assessing IPM programs protective of pollinators in orchard systems.

Next Round of Funding: Pan traps in two orchard blocks collected weekly; identify and catalog collected insects. Apple growers will be surveyed annually to assess level of adoption of specific pollinator protection practices such as timing and choice of pesticides.

Pollinator Habitat Program for ornamentals/vegetables in greenhouses/high tunnels and nursery settings

9 greenhouse/nursery sites trained to establish pest-fighting pollinators through habitat plantings (6 last season, 3 new for this season).

1 presentation on habitat planting for beneficials at landscape-nursery annual meeting (30 attendees to session)

1 training session on the use of habitat plantings to establish beneficial insects to international students for incorporation into growing systems overseas (12 attendees "2 Lebanese, 2 Korean, 1 biological control producer, 3 growers, 4 University personnel").

300 habitat-planting brochures prepared for participating growers for distribution from retail stores to customers.

IMPACTS
  • Short term:
    • 100% of growers trained to establish habitat plantings last season will continue the use of these systems in the next year.

Next Round of Funding: Continue to establish and monitor habitat plantings, work one-on-one with growers, produce and distribute consumer brochure and signs about protecting pollinators and beneficial insect ID, provide updates on websites and social media.

Secondary Priority Area: IPM Implementation in Pest Diagnostic Facilities

Plant Diagnostic Clinic disease/insect/weed diagnostics

~600 disease, insect and weed samples diagnosed and with IPM information provided to commercial growers, Master Gardeners, general public who submitted disease/insect/weed samples.

~150 disease, insect and weed email pictures diagnosed with IPM information provided to commercial growers

IMPACTS
  • 77% of home gardener clients chose an IPM practice as a result of the diagnosis; 60% reduced the use of a pesticide as a result of the diagnosis and average savings was $218
  • 86% of Commercial PDC clients chose an IPM practice as a result of the diagnosis; 61% reduced their use of a pesticide as a result of diagnosis and average savings was $ 1,421

Plant Diagnostic Clinic Extension Presentations/Workshops-IPM presentations meetings/workshops >1,000 attendees.

  • Initial Pesticide Applicators Meeting, Burlington, VT 4.22.19. (45)
  • Initial pesticide Applicators Meeting, White River Junction, 4.23.19 (25)
  • Commercial Pesticide Applicators Meeting, Middlebury, VT. 4.5.19 (60)
  • Eighth Annual Garden & Landscape Symposium, Ft Ticonderoga, NY. Pests and Problems in 2018 and What to Watch for in 2019 4.6.19 (100)
  • VNLA Flower Show, Essex Junction, VT. 3.1.19. Disease and pests of Vermont gardens and landscapes. (75)
  • Ecological Landscape Alliance (ELA) Conference, Amherst, MA. 3.5.19. What is wrong with my tree and when to call and arborist? (100)
  • Ecological Landscape Alliance (ELA) Conference, Amherst, MA. 3.6.19. What is eating my trees? (100)
  • New Hampshire Landscape Recertification Course, Concord, NH. 2.18.19. Diseases of landscape trees and shrubs. (50)
  • VT Master Gardener Plant Pathology Lecture webinar. 2.14.19. (160) Evaluation in progress
  • VT Vegetable and Berry Growers Association Annual Meeting, Fairlee, VT. 2.21.19. Looking back at the 2018 season – diseases and pests. (200) https://www.uvm.edu/vtvegandberry/VVBGAMeeting2019/Hazelrigg_Pest_Update.pdf
  • NH High Tunnel Conference, Manchester, NH. 12.3.18 Identifying and managing tomato diseases in high tunnels. Sideman, Smith and Hazelrigg. (200)
  • New England Greenhouse Conference, Boxborough, MA. 11.6.18. (120)
  • Advanced Training Master Gardener webinar 6.20.2018 (20)
  • VT High Tunnel Workshop 5.30.19 (50)
  • Newport Garden Club. Disease and Pest presentation 4.10.18 (35)
  • Plant Disease and IPM lecture at Master Gardener Course. (100)
  • Eight Across the Fence Extension Television programs on IPM/pests/diseases.
IMPACTS
  • 56% of field/forage pest specialists indicated increased IPM knowledge as a result of presentations at a 2019 meeting; 17% adopted a new IPM practice as a result of presentations at a 2018 meeting.

Contribution to Newsletters/Publications

Bi-weekly VT Vegetable and Berry Newsletter column on current/emerging disease/insects/weeds and IPM.

Contribution of Vermont pest and disease info for the weekly UMASS Veg Notes Quarterly articles in The Dirt on disease and pests for the VT Nursery and Landscape Association

Contributor to the New England Vegetable and Small Fruit IPM Guidelines

Secondary Priority Area: IPM Education for Pesticide Applicators

Currently in the process of developing 3 online short courses for Pollinator Health for Blueberry, apple and nursery growers and accompanying fact sheets. Course will be launched summer/fall 2019