Timeframe: 2014 - 2017
Our Project goal is to deliver effective and timely IPM information and recommendations to MA vegetable and fruit growers that enable these specialty crop growers to achieve increased profitability while reducing adverse risks to human health and the environment. Objectives include: providing educational programs/IPM delivery on monitoring and managing established and emerging arthropod, pathogen, and weed pests; collaborating with Regional Extension Specialists to ensure a unified approach for managing those pests that cross state lines; providing education regarding resistance management; and engaging a varied agricultural clientele including organic, women-owned, diversified, small, and family-owned farms. We will use a multi-level approach including mentor (one-on-one technical assistance) and partner farm projects (demonstration research locations) driven by stakeholder-identified needs, and reach growers on individual, farm, state, and regional levels. We will build grower confidence and knowledge for implementing IPM by providing on-farm training, delivering data, in formats preferred by the grower, collected from intensive field scouting and web-linked weather monitoring
