Sustainable pest management in high tunnel winter greens production

Sustainable pest management in high tunnel winter greens production

Summary

During the first three months of this project we have recruited 6 farmers as cooperators, scouted at these 6 farms, collected data and applied treatments at 5 farms. We have held two field meetings with 25 attendees and planned two major winter educational meetings. Our work has concentrated in two regions of New York, the North and West. In year two we anticipate working more in the East and South, and have begun establishing contacts in those areas. The scope of the project has broadened beyond aphid management and now entails all pests (that we encounter). Our project also has undergone an evaluation review that will significantly improve the way we measure our impact.

Objectives/Performance Targets

20 high tunnel growers to adopt biological or biorational control methods to manage pests of cool season greens gaining $2000 of marketable product per season.

Accomplishments/Milestones

Our milestones are divided into 3 years beginning in September 2010. This is an annual report, however it reflects activity from only the first 3 months of the project as reporting is on a calendar basis. However, significant progress has been made toward some milestones which are listed below.

• Educational meetings reach 150 growers; introduce economic benefits of cool season vegetable crops and biological control.
-Field meetings were held at 2 farms with an approximate total of 25 growers in attendance. Educational meetings planned for January and beyond will increase this number.

•4 on-site grower trials (monitored bi-weekly), technician collects aphid numbers, aphid predation data.
-6 farms cooperated with us to allow bi-weekly scouting. Pest data was collected at 5 and treatments made at 5. The scope of this project has expanded well beyond just aphids, and we now are targeting slugs, grasshoppers, cabbage worms and any other pest growers combat.

• 4 Farmers provide percent marketable (clean) crop, and yield in pounds.
-Still waiting on this data as harvest continues through winter.

• Above data used to narrow effective treatments promoted.
-Data being collected currently, with some promising treatments.

•On-farm meetings at 2 collaborating farms demonstrate methods to 80 growers.
-2 collaborating farms did host on-farm meetings, however attendance was not 80.

• Site visits to 15 entry-level growers.
Progress continues here.

Impacts and Contributions/Outcomes

This project is off to an exciting start, and part of the reason is the situation is dynamic and we have made some changes in our activities. One important change from the original proposal is the broadening of scope beyond aphids. We are now working with any pest that the farmers are combating such as slugs, cabbage worms and thrips. This is consistent with comments from our review committee. This has been a learning experience for both us and our cooperating farmers.

Another important change is our evaluation approach. This project was selected for an internal evaluation project. Our team reviewed the project with evaluation professionals in the Cornell Office for Research Evaluation and have since greatly strengthened our evaluation methods to measure the impact of the project. Please see attached Evaluation Plan.

• for SARE review only

Collaborators: