presentations

The discussion starts with the identification of the geographic regions: Northeast, Southern, and Western regions.
Importance of understanding regional needs for pest control projects.
- Assess the specific needs and requirements of pest control in these areas.

Requests for product testing are prioritized based on regional needs.
Companies approach the program to test their pest control products.
Mention of specific crops, such as blueberries, located significantly in the northern area.

Discussion of a grant-funded project focused on apple crops.
- Applies mating disruption techniques to control pest populations, particularly codling moth and oriental fruit moth.
- The implementation involved specific sections of the orchard.
Description of color-coded programs for assessing efficacy:
- Green: Bio pesticide program.
- Yellow: Threshold-based approaches based on track catch counts.
- Blue: Untreated control group.
- Red: Grower standard treatments.

Methodology for assessing plant damage at harvest:
- Examination of collected fruits for signs of damage or larvae presence.
- Quantitative data collection regarding pest damage across different treatment groups.
Graphical representations were introduced to communicate findings from the assessment:
- Comparison of treated vs. untreated fruits to illustrate damage rates.

Notable findings of damage detected in the untreated control group versus treated groups.
Visual data supporting the effectiveness of mating disruption strategies.

Role of fruit phenology in agriculture:
- Monitoring bud development dates and phenological stages for effective pest management.
Collaboration with researchers and staff for timing product applications based on phenology.
- Important to time sprays with growing seasons for optimal pest control.

Implementation of a wildflower project to encourage pollinator populations:
- Site evaluation including soil testing for pH levels.
- Tilling the area to prepare it for seeding with appropriate wildflower species.
- Focus on supporting pollinators crucial for fruit crop pollination.

Inquiries about past low pollination rates affecting crops like cherries due to environmental conditions (e.g., cold weather during bloom).
- Lack of pollination had detrimental effects on crop yield.

Discussion of personal goals in pest management:
- Pursuing pesticide certification to be authorized for applying pest control products.
Future aspirations to work with various crops, including those with different blooming schedules to enhance pest management effectiveness.

Moving towards softer pest control products:
- Discussion on public and corporate interests in biopesticides and the evaluation of their registration with the EPA.
- Potential for biopesticides to reduce reliance on harsher conventional products and manage pest populations more sustainably.
Example product called Maydex targeting pests such as codling moth and ransolder moth, emphasizing safety and effectiveness.

Cost comparisons between biopesticides and conventional products remain uncertain:
- No clear answer on the comparative markup on biopesticides at this time.
- Concerns about long-term financial sustainability for growers as product efficacy and safety standards evolve.

Main pest concerns such as the Spotted Wing Drosophila affecting a variety of crops, notably blueberries and cherries.
- Major concern in cherry production due to market demands for pest-free fruit.
Discussion about pest management meetings to track grower concerns and adjust product testing accordingly.

Current issues with invasive species like the lanternfly:
- Managing potential threats, including monitoring and trapping.
Discussed the importance of preparedness against invasive pests.

Use of bird netting and sound deterrents to mitigate bird damage to fruits.
- Mention of operational challenges with netting during maintenance activities.

Collaborative research efforts to monitor pests, such as Georgia beetle and other farm-specific pest species.
- Data collection led by graduate students examining the effects of pests and potential control strategies.

Emphasis on the importance of continual research, monitoring pest trends, and adaptability in pest control strategies.