MSU survey aims to measure SWD impacts

Michigan State University researchers are part of a recently funded project, “Sustainable Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD) Management for United States Fruit Crops,” and the team is surveying fruit growers with two goals:

1. Measure the impact of SWD throughout the United States.
2. Guide our project activities over the next four years.

This five-year project, coordinated by North Carolina State University, is developing national research and Extension projects to minimize the impacts of SWD. They include new management tactics and programs, improved insecticide efficacy for SWD and information and training on SWD for growers, extension agents and others. In order to achieve this and ensure the research and extension efforts match the needs of growers, the project is collecting information on the impacts of SWD on fruit growers, current management practices and preferences, and your requirements for better management of SWD. Participation is voluntary and the survey does not collect personally identifying information. The data will only be analyzed and reported in aggregate form.

We would like to get feedback from as many growers as possible! So, please complete the survey here: Sustainable SWD Management Grower Survey

Contact me at isaacsr@cns.msu.edu for additional information.

Funding for this project is provided by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture Specialty Crops Research Initiative under Agreement No. 2015-51181-24252.

— Rufus Isaacs, Michigan State University

Source: Michigan State University Extension