Vegetable IPM Advisory Vegetable IPM Advisory Group: Focus AreasGroup: Focus Areas

Joseph Ingerson-MaharJoseph Ingerson-Mahar

Vegetable IPM CoordinatorVegetable IPM Coordinator

ProjectsProjects

PASTPAST Sweet Corn Sweet Corn PeppersPeppers TomatoesTomatoes CURRENTCURRENT Tomato PEG grantTomato PEG grant

Mission StatementMission Statement The Vegetable IPM Program is The Vegetable IPM Program is

dedicated to developing and dedicated to developing and improving integrated pest improving integrated pest management techniques and management techniques and practices that will enhance practices that will enhance vegetable production in the state vegetable production in the state of New Jersey. of New Jersey.

Statement continuedStatement continued

Program objectives are Program objectives are accomplished through the accomplished through the development and delivery of pest development and delivery of pest monitoring and field scouting monitoring and field scouting programs, grant-funded and programs, grant-funded and sponsored research, and sponsored research, and educational outreacheducational outreach. .

What is the focus for the What is the focus for the Vegetable IPM Program?Vegetable IPM Program?

Need to be relevant Need to be relevant Major focus area?Major focus area? Many smaller projects possibleMany smaller projects possible Need for an advisory committeeNeed for an advisory committee

Advisory Committee Advisory Committee MakeupMakeup

farmersfarmers consultantsconsultants agribusiness peopleagribusiness people opinions on research, training and opinions on research, training and

education, transfer of information education, transfer of information to private sectorto private sector

Suggested Priorities - Suggested Priorities - ResearchResearch

Focus on high value crops Focus on high value crops (pumpkins)(pumpkins)

Anticipate future regulations Anticipate future regulations (nutrient management)(nutrient management)

Identify crops with pesticide Identify crops with pesticide overuse (butternut squash)overuse (butternut squash)

Cooperate with other Cooperate with other institutionsinstitutions

Priorities continuedPriorities continued

Focus on strengths of our institution: Focus on strengths of our institution: fresh market vs processingfresh market vs processing

Develop growers’ season-end Develop growers’ season-end questionnaire on pest concerns and questionnaire on pest concerns and costscosts

Collaborate with NJDA on biological Collaborate with NJDA on biological control projects control projects

Suggested Priorities - Suggested Priorities - Training/educationTraining/education

Need consumer education about Need consumer education about IPMIPM

Scout and farmer IPM trainingScout and farmer IPM training Twilight meetingsTwilight meetings

Priorities continuedPriorities continued

Regional training Regional training Training materialsTraining materials CommunicationCommunication

Suggested Priorities - Suggested Priorities - Program transferProgram transfer

Public versus private scouting Public versus private scouting programsprograms

Lack of private services in some Lack of private services in some areas areas

Private/Public CompetitionPrivate/Public Competition

How we are responding to How we are responding to these suggestions?these suggestions?

Preparing a proposal for educating Preparing a proposal for educating general public in IPM - IPM postergeneral public in IPM - IPM poster

More projects involving biocontrolMore projects involving biocontrol Development of a weather network Development of a weather network

providing more useful temperature providing more useful temperature data for predictive models and data for predictive models and degree day accumulations degree day accumulations

Your comments?Your comments?