Fourth National IPM Symposium


Fourth National IPM
Symposium/Workshop
2003



 Session: Opportunities for IPM Implementation in the New Farm Bill
Wednesday 1:45 PM - 5:00 PM
Organizer(s):
John Vickery (jvickery@mcg.net)


The following presentations are in this session:

1:45 PM - 1:55 PM Opportunities for IPM Implementation in the New Farm Bill: introduction to the session John C. Vickery [Download Presentation/Summary ]


1:55 PM - 2:25 PM National perspectives: presentation #1 Melvin Womack [Download Presentation/Summary ]


2:25 PM - 2:45 PM National perspectives: presentation #2 Joseph K. Bagdon and [Download Presentation/Summary ]
    USDA - Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) policy requires site-specific environmental risk analysis and appropriate mitigation for all pest management activities that pose substantial risk to natural resources. Surface water bodies and groundwater that are in close proximity to pesticide application areas often need special consideration for adequate resource protection. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) can be an ideal way to mitigate pesticide environmental risk. Conservation planners and other farm advisors can use the NRCS Windows Pesticide Screening Tool (WIN-PST) to evaluate site-specific pesticide environmental risk. WIN-PST qualitatively ranks the potential for pesticide transport via leaching below the root zone and runoff beyond the edge of the field. It then combines these exposure potentials with long-term pesticide toxicities to humans and aquatic life. The final results are hazard potentials to humans and fish from non-point source exposure. Working in partnership with other IPM practitioners, NRCS planners will use WIN-PST to guide producer selection of mitigating conservation practices and management techniques that help protect water quality.



2:45 PM - 3:00 PM National perspectives: presentation #3 Michael Fitzner [Download Presentation/Summary ]


3:30 PM - 3:40 PM State Perspectives: presentation #1 Tony Bailey [Download Presentation/Summary ]
    Indiana producers have utilized the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) in the past to implement the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) pest management standard (595), which includes IPM. As a result of the new Farm Bill, the Indiana EQIP Ranking Procedure for FY 2003 was re-done to address identified resource concerns. The statewide ranking criteria includes a water quality resource concern including 14 digit hydrologic unit codes on the 303(d)list, watersheds with community surface water supplies and soils with a high leach potential. EQIP '03 includes pest management incentive payments which can be used to assist in addressing the EQIP water quality resource concern. IPM activites are an important part of the pest management standard.



3:40 PM - 3:50 PM State Perspectives: presentation #2 Thomas W. Fuchs [Download Presentation/Summary ]


3:50 PM - 4:00 PM IPM and NRCS in New York Curtis Petzoldt [Download Presentation/Summary ]
    New York farmers have had experience with EQIP and SP-53 reimbursement programs for the practice of IPM. Generally these programs provided benefit to IPM adoption in New York but were quite limited in scope. The new opportunities for increases in NRCS funding for IPM adoption have potential for additional benefit but also raise some questions that we are addressing in cooperation with our state NRCS staff. IPM Elements that have been developed for many crops in New York are viewed as a good starting point for evaluating the practice of IPM. However, these are crop specific and they have not yet been developed for some important crops. The New York IPM Program may also be interested in serving as a technical service provider for some unique types of IPM service such as operating weather networks or providing training to NRCS staff and funding applicants. The New York IPM Program is optimistic that the NRCS project will benefit the overall IPM adoption picture in the state.



4:15 PM - 4:25 PM Private Sector Perspectives: presentation #1 Lori Berger [Download Presentation/Summary ]


    California is a major Ag state that grows over $30 B worth of specialty crops each year (e.g., lettuce, tomatoes, citrus, grapes, stone fruits, etc.). Despite the importance of these commodities, they have not had access to nor participated as widely in Farm Bill programs as compared to major crops such as corn, soybeans, rice, and cotton. Provisions of the 2002 Farm Bill indicate that many new and exciting opportunities might exist for specialty crop agriculture relative to resource conservation and pest management. While integrated pest management (IPM) has been practiced for many years, additional technical assistance and financial assistance could facilitate greater adoption of these practices; there are many benefits to be realized by consumers, growers, and the environment if more integrated approaches were taken to manage insects, weeds, and diseases in these intensively managed crops. Natural resources are tremendously impacted by farming and pest management activities and improvements could be made in the areas of water quality, air quality, and soil quality. The specialty crop community is very willing to work with NRCS and USDA as new priorities and programs are developed to address needs in these critically important areas. Crop production, crop protection and environmental stewardship efforts could be more effectively coordinated in all specialty crops with the support through programs such as EQIP, CRP, and CSP.



    For further or more detailed information, please contact: Lori Berger, Director of Technical Affairs, California Minor Crops Council, 4500 S. Laspina St. Suite 214, Tulare, CA, 93274. Ph: (559)688-5700 E-mail: lori@minorcrops.org




4:25 PM - 4:35 PM Private Sector Perspectives: presentation #2 Robin A Spitko [Download Presentation/Summary ]
    Although Massachusetts is a small state geographically, its agriculture is very important. The state produces mostly high-value, minor use crops particularly fruits and vegetables. Due to the high degree of urban proximity, many farms pest management activities are highly visible to the public. As a result, IPM has always had a high priority in Massachusetts agricultural policies. There are many opportunities for EQIP funds to enhance IPM implementation. IPM guidelines have been developed for most crops grown in the state. These are suitable for writing plans for NRCS-sponsored cost share programs. Coordination between NRCS, private-sector advisors, and Cooperative Extension to identify grower needs can build effective, lasting IPM programs for growers. Speficific opportunities and barriers were discussed in the presentation which is available at this website.



4:50 PM - 5:00 PM Summary and Closing Comments John Vickery and Joseph Bagdon [Download Presentation/Summary ]