Innovative orchard systems, new apple varieties, and decades of amassed apple IPM knowledge warranted a new delivery method to an already outstanding apple industry. The new Apple IPM School, created in 2019, did just that, thanks to a Cornell Cooperative Extension grant that offset costs for an eight-hour workshop at the 2020 Empire State Producer’s Expo.
Presenters from Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell AgriTech—Art Agnello, Mike Basedow, Juliet Carroll, Kerik Cox, Grace Marshall, Lynn Sosnoskie, and Janet van Zoeren—highlighted four key components of effective apple IPM: IPM for a Healthy Crop; Insect Targets and IPM Tactics; Diseases and IPM Defenses; and Wildlife, Weeds, and the IPM Wrap-up.
Attending growers came away with apple IPM at their fingertips through a 100-page workbook and a USB drive filled with apple IPM wisdom. These same resources are now available on the NYSIPM Program website (tinyurl.com/y525w5fo), allowing growers access to new or refresher training.
With nearly 70 people receiving a Certificate of Completion, attendance expectations were exceeded by an incredible 35%. Our audience comprised farm owners, farm managers, independent private consultants, agrichemical company personnel, cidery owners, and crop insurance personnel. They engaged in interactive learning software using smart phone Q&A, a process that allowed both immediate results and the chance for presenters to later assess learning outcomes. At day’s end, over 90% responded with intentions to use at least three key IPM tactics on their entire farm. Organizers see opportunities for additional workshops on sprayer technology, scouting records, using pest forecast models, and biological control. Not surprisingly, both growers and presenters hope Apple IPM School will be in session again soon.
Project Leader: Juliet Carroll Visit the NYSIPM Fruit IPM Page
See the full 2019-2020 Annual Report on eCommons
