Greenhouse IPM

Program Leader: Leanne Pundt, Extension Educator

UConn Greenhouse Pest Messages

24 greenhouse pest messages focusing on pest and disease issues, biological controls and IPM decision making were send out via email to 280 growers, retailers and allied members of the greenhouse ornamental horticulture industry and posted on the UConn Greenhouse IPM website under pest messages. http://ipm.uconn.edu/pa_greenhouse/pestMessages.php

Bedding Plants – Spring 2020.

Statewide program, held in two locations, on Feb 7th in Vernon, CT and Feb 11th in Torrington, CT.

Speakers included Dr. Rosa Raudales, Greenhouse Extension Specialist, UConn; Dr. Yonghao Li, plant pathologist from CAES; Abby Beissinger, Plant Pathologist, UConn Plant Diagnostic Laboratory, Candace Bartholomew, Pesticide Safety Educator, UConn Extension; and Leanne Pundt, Extension Educator, UConn Extension. 61 attended.

Of those that filled out evaluation forms, 100 % rated the conference as useful to very useful, 97 % were very or moderately likely to adopt a new practice as a result of attending these programs.

Atendee Comments

I liked the way this class was done, I enjoyed how Rosa used FAQ and how Leanne went over what to look for in the upcoming season.

Great Job! Thanks for presenting up-to-date relevant topics that growers can relate to.

Thank you, always well put together and informative.

IPM Scouting Tips for Herbaceous Perennials

International Intern Training, June 24, 2020, Casertano Greenhouse, Wallingford, CT. 5 interns attended.

Greenhouse Biological Control Conference

Due to COV-19 restrictions, the Greenhouse Biological Control Conference scheduled for June 23, 2020 was not held. The Jones Auditorium at CAES was also not available for meetings. Proposed speakers were contacted and informed of this decision.

Season Long Hands-on Training 2020

58 site visits were conducted when requested by growers (number was reduced due to COVID). Growers were reached via phone calls, email and text messages in response to their questions and concerns.

Additional Greenhouse Programming:

NE 2021-22 Floriculture guide coverPundt wrote three trade journal articles, three Crop Talk Newsletter articles, twenty-two factsheets, and was editor of the 2021-2022 New England Greenhouse Floriculture Guide

Raudales, R. and L. Pundt. (Ed.) 2021-2022. New England Greenhouse Floriculture Guide. A Management Guide for Insects, Diseases, Weeds and Growth Regulators. 248 pages. Available online at: http://negfg.uconn.edu/

The 2020 IPM Team Annual Report is Available

The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program is a collaboration between UConn Extension and the Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture. Since its inception in 1980, the UConn IPM Program has made great strides in developing and implementing sustainable methods for pest control throughout Connecticut. Integrated Pest Management applies multiple tactics in a variety of settings through the selection of appropriate tools and the education of agricultural industry members and Connecticut citizens to provide sustainable, science-based approaches for the management of plant pests (insects, mites, diseases, wildlife, and weeds, including invasive plants). The UConn IPM Program incorporates all possible crop management and pest management strategies through knowledgeable decision-making, utilizing the most efficient landscape and on-farm resources, and integrating cultural and biological controls. Program objectives include maintaining the economic viability of agricultural and green industry businesses, enhancing and conserving environmental quality and natural resources, educating participants on the effective use of cultural practices to mitigate pest problems, of biological control agents, and educating pesticide users about bee and other pollinator safe materials, least toxic options, and the safe use and handling of organic and synthetic pesticide products. The 2020 IPM Program Team included Mary Concklin (fruit and IPM Coordinator), Leanne Pundt (greenhouse), Victoria Wallace (school, invasive, pollinators, turf and landscape), Jacob Ricker (nursery), Ana Legrand (vegetables), Shuresh Ghimire (vegetables), Abby Beissinger (diagnostician, resigned August 2020), Miriah Kelly (program evaluation, resigned August 2020) and Candace Bartholomew (pesticide safety education, retired fall 2020).

The goal of IPM is to reduce the dependence of agricultural producers and green industry professionals, Connecticut citizens, and schools on pesticides while maintaining or improving productivity, crop quality, and quality of life. The IPM Program has educated growers statewide about the judicious and safe use of organic and synthetic pesticides and alternative pest control methods.

Broader adoption of IPM practices enhances responsible pest management and reduced management and production costs; minimizes adverse environmental and economic effects from pests and pest management; results in improved ecosystem quality and plant performance; and improves plant health, quality, yields, and aesthetics. The use of IPM includes cultural controls; biological control agents; biological fungicides; physical and mechanical controls; the use of resistant cultivars; regulatory controls; behavioral modification; and, only when necessary, chemical controls, with the selection of least toxic products. IPM partners and collaborators include State and Federal agricultural and environmental/non-governmental agencies and organizations; State, New England, and Northeastern fruit, greenhouse, grounds keepers, nursery, turf, landscape, and vegetable associations; industry suppliers/dealers; regional universities; educators; schools and municipalities; individual growers, farmers, and producers; Master Gardeners; and the general public.

COVID-19 impacted many outreach programs usually conducted face-to-face. However, our team members quickly adapted and offered many programs virtually, while others have been postponed until 2021 and 2022. In 2020 pre-COVID-19 and in “normal” years, IPM Program team members conduct intensive on-site educational training for fruit and vegetable producers, garden center owners, greenhouse growers, nursery producers and retailers, and turf and landscape professionals. Growers and green industry professionals receive information on the current status of and recommendations for important plant pests and training via pest messages, email alerts, webinars, newsletters, articles in national trade journals, management guides, websites, social media, consultations and counseling via phone and text, site visits to their operations, workshops, field demonstrations and research projects, conferences, exhibits, and short courses. IPM programs are evaluated through pre- and/or post-program surveys and evaluations, needs assessment surveys, focus groups, key informant interviews, testimonials, and unsolicited comments.

View the full 2020 IPM Team Annual Report.