The Conservation Biological Control Short Course

The Conservation Biological Control Short Course

Summary

Native insects that attack crop pests are an overlooked resource in agricultural systems. Although vast numbers of such beneficial insects are at work on farms across the world, they are eclipsed in farm education by a comparatively smaller diversity of pest species. Yet, as a large body of research now demonstrates, farmers as diverse as Christmas tree growers in Illinois to blueberry growers in Michigan benefit from natural pest control.

The Conservation Biological Control Short Course synthesizes that body of research and offers realistic solutions for enhancing beneficial insect populations on farms. Specific course topics include beneficial insect biology, designing habitat enhancements, pesticide risk mitigation, securing financial support through USDA programs, and real-world case studies.

This project, the outgrowth of a 6-year research initiative conducted by the Xerces Society and university research partners, for the first time ever presents conservation biological control as an easy-to-adopt framework for multiple crop systems.

The project will be promoted through multiple channels, as well as in partnership with relevant agencies and State SARE Coordinators. Qualitative and quantitative post-course feedback from participants will be incorporated on an ongoing basis.

Based upon the overwhelmingly successful results of a prior PDP project using this same model (related to pollinator conservation), we are confident this project will foster widespread adoption of course concepts across the region.

At this time, we have experienced no major obstacles to the successful completion of our project. We are excited to be bringing this course content to our audience of IPM specialists, Extension personnel, NRCS conservation planners, Soil and Water Conservation District technicians, state departments of agriculture, crop consultants, and sustainable agriculture organizations. We continue to be grateful for North Central SARE’s support of this important training opportunity.

Objectives/Performance Targets

During this 3-year project, we will deliver 12 Conservation Biological Control Short Courses in all NCR SARE states, providing training for more than 350 participants including farmer educators, conservation agency staff, crop consultants, farm professionals, and other stakeholders. Participants will receive in-depth training in the latest science-based strategies of ecological pest control. Individual workshop goals include: 

• At least 30 participants per course
• Conservation practices adopted on at least 1,000 acres per course
• New enrollments in USDA conservation programs resulting from each course

Accomplishments/Milestones

The Xerces Society has begun planning for the delivery of the Conservation Biological Control Short Course in the North Central SARE states. The following tasks have been initiated: 

• Finalizing course curriculum for each of the six 45-minute modules that constitute the Conservation Biological Control Short Course;
• Identifying possible locations for the first three courses in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota;
• Confirming the availability of invited guest lecturers;
• Refining our administrative systems for course promotion and registration; and
• Hiring an IPM specialist who will be the lead instructor for these courses.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

We expect that these short courses will be very popular, based on the initial sales of Farming with Native Beneficial Insects, which was released in August 2014. The publisher’s sales figures are not yet available, but the Xerces Society has directly sold 700 copies of the book already. Every short course participant will receive a copy of this publication, which is the most comprehensive book ever developed on the subject of natural pest control.

By completing the Conservation Biological Control Short Course, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of beneficial insect ecology, the design and installation of habitat features that support those insects, and concepts for balancing the needs of beneficial insects with farm practices.

The broader, long-lasting impact of this train-the-trainer approach will be greater adoption of conservation biological control by farmers, greater adoption of new pesticide risk mitigation practices, increased participation in USDA conservation programs, and enhanced biodiversity in rural communities.

Collaborators: