Publications/Outreach

2010: Western IPM Center Funds Six Publications/Outreach Projects Totaling $69,950

Innovative Outreach for City Parks to Implement IPM Strategies (1 year)
Principal Investigators: Shelly Connor, Northwest Coalition for Alternatives to Pesticides, Oregon; Tim Stock, Oregon State University

The project's goal is to develop innovative, interactive tools and conduct outreach to increase the implementation of IPM strategies among city park employees across the West. This is a multistate project covering Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, and California. Investigators will develop user-generated content and officially launch a professional network Web site, Sustainable Parks Information Network (SPIN), to support city park managers in learning and implementing IPM techniques. Content will be generated in the form of blogs, a video library of IPM techniques used in the region, and a discussion forum where network members can learn, share, and discuss IPM techniques.

Objectives: 1) By June 2010, officially launch an online professional network site for the parks network (SPIN) that hosts a blog, discussion forums, resource list and other social networking features, where city park managers will share information and resources on proven, successful IPM strategies used in managing parks; 2) by July 2010, NCAP and OSU Extension interview at least five city park managers to create at least 12 blog posts on proven, successful IPM strategies to publish on the parks network (SPIN) Web site; 3) by January 2011, NCAP and OSU Extension create five, 3-5 minute videos on specific IPM practices used in maintaining city parks and post on the parks network (SPIN) website.

Translation of the University of California Touch-Screen IPM Kiosk into Spanish (1 year)
P.I.: Mary Louise Flint, University of California

 In 2007 the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program (UC IPM) in collaboration with the Healthy Garden/Healthy Home Project (HGHH) managed by UCCE San Diego County developed a user-friendly, stand-alone, touch-screen IPM Kiosk to help educate home gardeners in solving pest problems, preventing runoff from residential landscapes, and protecting the environment. The IPM Kiosk contains information in English on approximately 60 common home and garden pests, their identification and management, least toxic pest control, alternatives to pesticides, and safe use and disposal of pesticides, as well as proper watering, fertilizing, and avoiding runoff of garden chemicals. The kiosks are loaned out to UC Cooperative Extension (UCCE) offices, retail stores, and public agencies and have been displayed at retail nurseries and garden centers, public libraries, county fairs, farmers' markets, home and garden trade shows, and other events sponsored by UCCE and Master Gardeners.

According the 2008 U.S. census polls, about 36 percent of the population of California is of Hispanic origin. Approximately two thirds of these households speak a language other than only English at home. Given this demographic, it is important to broaden outreach to the Spanish-speaking population in California. Translating the kiosk into Spanish will provide Spanish-speaking audiences with pest management information that they may not otherwise have access to. Because the kiosks are placed in a wide range of locations and venues in many counties, this method of IPM information dissemination is ideal for reaching Hispanic residents and home gardeners.

Objectives: 1) Translate all content in the UC IPM kiosk into Spanish; 2) build a Spanish navigation branch for the kiosk to be loaded on existing kiosk machines; 3) do a preliminary evaluation of the Spanish kiosk at several types of user locations.

Development of IPM Outreach Materials for Utah and Colorado Tree Fruit Growers (2 years)
P.I.s: Marion Murray and Diane Alston, Utah State University; Harold Larsen, Colorado State University

The primary purpose of this grant is to develop, produce, and disseminate tree fruit IPM outreach educational materials for commercial and backyard growers in Utah and Colorado. Investigators will produce the first comprehensive commercial tree fruit production guide for the Utah-Colorado region, addressing a need for regional efforts in tree fruit IPM. Copies will be distributed to all commercial growers in both states, and a Web site will be created where the guide can be offered in an easy to search format and updated yearly. To supplement the written and online versions, investigators will also produce a series of short, Web-ready videos on tree fruit pest monitoring techniques and key pest identification, designed to target commercial and hobbyist growers.

Objectives: 1) Produce and distribute regional Utah-Colorado Tree Fruit Production Guide in print and online; 2) produce Web-enabled video shorts of IPM tree fruit pest identification and scouting techniques; and 3) develop Web site to house tree fruit production guide and scouting videos.

Demonstration and Implementation of IPM in the Production of Bedding and Container Color Plants (1 year)
P.I.: Mike Parella, University of California

The ornamental plant market has high aesthetic standards, and plants are subject to heavy pesticide use in production. The bedding and container color plant sector of this industry produces plants year round for outdoor planting in flower beds. This sector is unique in that the crop cycle is only 8 weeks, resulting in the perception among growers that integrated pest management (IPM) is not feasible. Typically at least three pesticide applications are made weekly for the entire crop cycle. Many bedding plant IPM tools exist and have been shown to work for individual pests. IPM can be successful for the entire suite of crop pests if growers are shown how to use these tools, along with some novel methods, in a short cropping cycle. A project team that has extensive experience solving problems for the bedding plant industry will work with cooperating growers to measure IPM adoption over a 1-year period. The goal for this project is to reduce the number of pesticide applications per crop in the collaborating greenhouses by 15 percent at the end of the one-year project.

Objectives: 1) Form a collaborative, interdisciplinary team that will use a systems approach to develop more effective pest management solutions for bedding and color plant production. The team members are in place and their first meeting was held in December 2009. Meetings will take place every one to two months during the project. These meetings will be open to both the management team and team partners; 2) enhance pest identification and monitoring skills as well as understanding of pest thresholds and tolerances among collaborating growers; 3) promote wider use of arthropod biological control through the release of natural enemies and the use of entomopathenogenic fungi; and 4) introduce the use of irrigation monitors to direct water applications to times and areas when they are needed.

Multimedia Bilingual English and Spanish Publications on Vineyard Pests (1 year)
P.I.: Lucia Varela, University of California

A key component of an Integrated Pest Management Program is the correct identification and monitoring of pests. Well-trained workers can provide growers with prompt pest detection needed for the effective use of alternatives to pesticides. Trained employees can also provide vineyard managers an additional resource to keep track of impending problems and to monitor the effectiveness of pest management practices. Spanish-speaking vineyard personnel have a wide range of literacy. Providing information through different media with different levels of sophistication may enhance the probability that the message reaches this very diverse audience. Investigators propose to develop educational materials using different media to reach a diverse audience with different levels of literacy and knowledge of pest management. The widest possible dissemination of IPM methods should result in reduced use of pesticides and a stronger protection of the environment.

Objective: 1) Translate Vineyard Pest Identification and Monitoring Cards into Spanish (41 cards); 2) create bilingual Vineyard Pest Notes for the 10 major pests of grapes; and 3) develop Spanish- and English-language short videos (YouTube) on how to monitor for key pests in California vineyards.

Idaho Pest Management Center IPM (1 year)
P.I.: Ronda Hirnyck, University of Idaho

Homeowners are increasingly interested in reducing pesticide use; however, there are few resources available to educate them about IPM. The project's goal is to educate homeowners about IPM and reduce pesticide runoff, exposure, and misuse.

Objectives: 1) Develop a series of online publications on IPM topics for homeowners. The first three publications will cover a general overview of IPM, biological control, and pest prevention through proper maintenance of lawns and gardens; 2) develop better methodology for the table of insecticides registered for homeowner use, as well as revise and update the information to include on the Homeowner Information section of the Pest Management Center Web site; and 3) meet with the Master Gardener topic team to determine additional IPM questions and concerns for homeowners that can be addressed with future Homeowner IPM Series publications.

*You need Adobe Acrobat Reader version 4 or later to view or print this PDF. If this software is not installed on your computer, you can download a free copy of Acrobat Reader.

WIPMC Includes: AK · AS · AZ · CA · CO · FM · GU · HI · ID · MP · MT · NM · NV · OR · UT · WA · WY ~ IPM In Other States · Find an Expert

Choose one of these to access another site in the national network:
NATIONAL | NORTHEASTERN | SOUTHERN | NORTH CENTRAL