pest management
NIFA to offer $4M in grants for IPM research
The USDA's National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has made $4 million available to support research and extension efforts to mitigate pest issues and increase crop protection practices for the agricultural community. This funding is... more »
Pacific Spider Mite present in Washington vineyards
A survey of mites on wine grapes in Washington during 2013 to 2015 provided some interesting results. The most startling find was that California’s number one spider mite pest of grapes, the Pacific Spider Mite... more »
Pest alert: green fruitworm, rosy apple aphid
We are seeing indications that numbers of green fruitworms and rosy apple aphids will be high this season. Both pests tend to flare in a cool, wet spring due to suppression of predators and other... more »
SWD survey seeks grower responses
A new survey is seeking responses from growers regarding spotted wing drosophila (SWD) management. The survey is part of the "Sustainable Spotted Wind Dosophila Management for U.S. Fruit Crops" project, funded by the USDA National... more »
Methyl bromide transition program accepting applications
The National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) has released the Methyl Bromide Transition (MBT) Request for Applications (RFA). The MBT program supports the discovery and implementation of practical pest management alternatives for commodities and uses affected by... more »
Time to monitor black stem borer
The black stem borer (Xylosandrus germanus) is a small (2 millimeters) ambrosia beetle that becomes active in spring after one or two consecutive days of temperatures 68 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, often coinciding with forsythia... more »
Broad spectrum insecticides can flare spider mites
Broad spectrum insecticides, including materials like pyrethroids (IRAC Group 3 materials), organophosphates (IRAC Group 1B), and carbamates (IRACvGroup 1A) have been demonstrated by our laboratory and lots of other entomologists to flare spider mite populations... more »
SWD damage observed in South Carolina strawberries
Last week, South Carolina cooperative extension personnel issued a pest alert for drosophila damage in strawberries. It is impossible to visually distinguish drosophila larvae between species, but if fruit appear otherwise undamaged (meaning they have no holes,... more »
Native predators impact BMSB more than expected
Research recently appearing in the journal Biological Control may change how we view native predators of the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB). BMSB is an invasive species that was accidentally introduced to the United States... more »
SWMREC to host Spring Kick-Off Meeting for grape growers
Berrien County Michigan State University Extension announced the first of several in-season Integrated Pest Management meetings for grape growers. The Spring Kick-off Meeting, will be on April 4, at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Center in... more »
