Pennsylvania extension integrated pest management

For more than 20 years the Pennsylvania IPM Program has continued to evolve into an internationally-recognized extension and outreach organization promoting integrated pest management awareness and practices that are economical and protective of human health and the environment. Our program reflects the needs of Pennsylvania as well as recognizes that in addition to activities in CPPM EIP, Penn State researchers and extension specialists currently deliver alternatively-funded, well-integrated IPM programming in agriculture. The proposed program anticipates the changing IPM needs in Pennsylvania including special emphasis on housing, schools and public health especially in urban environments. Also recognizing that traditional Extension organizations are changing due to new information technology, population shifts and funding, we are promoting innovative agricultural programming to accommodate this change.

OBJECTIVES: This proposal (2017-20) is an EIP project and builds on past work. Some of the activities are expansions and continuations of projects proposed in 2014 (Agronomic crops, housing, public health, and wide area monitoring. Some projects are newer (Hispanic-oriented mushroom IPM, pollinator health).IPM coordination in Pennsylvania is a collaboration between Penn State University and several state agencies including agriculture, health and education. The core functions involve promotion of IPM tactics and strategies, evaluating IPM programming, stakeholder engagement and representing PA IPM to regional and federal groups.Specific subobjectives include:IPM Implementation in Agronomic Crops Our extension efforts with agronomic crops will strive to reduce environmental and health risks in agriculture, prevent agricultural pollution, reduce pest resistance, improve productivity, reduce costs, and increase net farm income.Specialty Crops-IPM education for Hispanics in the mushroom industry Developing bilingual educational materials for mushroom producers, employees and neighboring communities for management of mushroom flies; Develop bilingual IPM educational materials for organic mushroom production; and Continuing to provide innovative culturally appropriate IPM for mushroom and Urban IPM outreach, education and training programs in English and Spanish to growers and urban communities respectively.Pollinator Health We propose to assess other Pennsylvania specialty crops (including small fruits and vegetables such as strawberries and pumpkin) and ornamental crops that either require insect pollination or are food sources for local pollinators. We will develop guidelines and educational materials for these industries as well as provide educational presentations. County-based extension educators will be trained in IPPM in a train the trainer format.IPM in Housing and in Public Health We aim to build on past efforts to continue and expand PA IPM ability to provide outreach, education, and training to the general public and non-agricultural entities on IPM for non-agricultural pests and their associated health and environmental concerns.Wide area pest monitoring Dissemination of weekly pest monitoring information generated through disease forecasting tools as well as more traditional scouting methods will enable growers to make informed pest management decisions.