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 is being 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 North Central 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

During the reporting period, we conducted 3 short courses that were attended by a total of 74 participants. The primary audiences at all of these events were staff from the NRCS, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Extension, and sustainable agricultural organizations as well as a number of individual farmers, researchers, crop consultants, master gardeners, naturalists, and non-governmental conservation organization staff. Planning is underway for additional short courses. 

To support hands-on learning in the field, during the grant period we also developed a farmscape-level Beneficial Insect Habitat Assessment Tool. Using this tool, our instructors lead guided field tours at course locations where participants quantify and score the relative habitat value of different landscape features. Along with the habitat assessment tool, we are currently in the process of developing a companion Beneficial Insect Monitoring Protocol. The protocol will guide participants through a field sampling process to collect, classify, and calculate beneficial insect populations on farms.

Specific accomplishments include delivering Conservation Biological Control Short Courses in the following states:

WISCONSIN
On June 19, 2015, we conducted a short course at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum in Madison, Wisconsin. Thirty-one people attended, including eight agricultural support staff. As part of this short course, Xerces Society staff conducted an in-depth field-based habitat assessment training and beneficial insect identification session. Guest speaker Claudio Gratton, Professor of Entomology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, discussed landscape-level impacts on conservation biological control, and Pat Murphy, State Resource Conservationist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, presented on how to access technical and financial support through USDA programs and practices for pollinator and beneficial insect conservation.

MINNESOTA

Conservation Biological Control Short Course participants in Farmington, Minnesota learn how to identity beneficial insects in the field and assess farm conditions for beneficial insect habitat. Photograph by Sarah Foltz Jordan, The Xerces Society.

On July 28, 2015, we conducted a short course at the NRCS Farmington Field Office in Farmington, Minnesota. Twenty-seven people attended, including nine agricultural support staff. This short course featured a field tour of three local farms. Farmers from each of the farm sites showed participants beneficial insect habitat they had installed, and with Xerces Society staff, shared information on installation and site preparation methods. Participants also had the opportunity to use the Beneficial Insect Habitat Assessment Tool in the field, and observe beneficial insects and plants during the farm tour. The course also included presentations from guest speaker Professor Mary Rogers, from the University of Minnesota, on biological control research in horticultural crops and from Michelle Wohlers, District Conservationist at the Natural Resources Conservation Service, on USDA conservation programs and resources.

IOWA
On August 21, 2015, we conducted a short course at Iowa State University Field Extension Education Laboratory in Boone, Iowa. Sixteen people attended, including nine agricultural support staff. During the field tour, Xerces Society staff guided participants in identifying beneficial insects and plants, and in using the Beneficial Insect Habitat Assessment tool. Other highlights included guest speaker Matt O’Neal, Associate Professor of Entomology at Iowa State University, who discussed best practices for conserving beneficial insects.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

Through this project, we are impacting the way that agricultural support staff and farmers incorporate conservation biological control practices into their work. Conservation Biological Control Short Course participants are gaining 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.

Of the agricultural support staff who responded to the day-of-course evaluation, 100% (24 of 24) said that the Conservation Biological Control Short Course changed how they would advise farmers about farm management practices to support beneficial insects. Among those reporting, 100% (23 of 23) said they would incorporate beneficial insect habitat enhancement into existing trainings on Farm Bill programs and 58% (14 of 24) said they would encourage farmers to enroll in NRCS conservation programs for beneficial insects.

While the short course specifically targets agricultural support staff, a number of farmers attended each event. Among them, 100% of the farmers responding to the day-of-course evaluation (13 of 13) said that attending the short course changed how they would support beneficial insects on their farms. 38% (5 of 13) of the course participants reported that they intended to enroll in NRCS conservation programs for beneficial insects. These farmers reported to collectively manage approximately 698 acres of land.

Feedback from short course participants to date has been very positive. Examples of specific comments from this reporting period include:

“Science based information. Excellent materials & presentation.” – Participant, Madison, WI short course

“This was a great training. Thank you very much for the great handouts and presentations.” –Agricultural Support Staff, Farmington, MN short course

“I like the new Beneficial Insect Assessment Guide! Great resource!” – Farmer, Madison, WI short course

“Expected top quality presenters and got them!” – Participant, Madison, WI short course

“Went above and beyond expectations.” – Agricultural Support Staff, Boone, IA short course

“To learn how to incorporate natural environment with production land and yes—I enjoyed this so much. I look forward to attending more.” – Agricultural Support Staff, Boone, IA short course

Collaborators: