MSUES – Integrated Pest Management Report

2006

Agriculture dominates Montana’s geography, with 60.1 million total acres in farms and ranches, representing 64% of the total state's land area and ranking second nationally in farm and ranch acreage. Montana farms and ranches are large, ranking fourth nationally in average farm size, with the average operation comprising 2,146 acres. The agriculture sector dominates Montana's cash receipts at $2,602 million dollars per year, out pacing other industrial sectors including mining, gas and oil, tourism and wood and paper products industry. Crop receipts represent 36.8% of the agricultural sector in 2001. Wheat is Montana’s most important crop representing 20.5% of the total agricultural crop receipts (crops and livestock) followed by barley 4.2%, hay 5.3% and sugarbeets 2.2%.

The wheat crops in Montana include winter, spring, and durum wheat crops. Montana ranks sixth nationally in all wheat production and ranks 2nd in durum and 3rd in spring wheat production. Nationally, Montana ranks 13th in barley production, 15th in alfalfa hay production and 6th in sugarbeet production. These crops represent the major commodities because of their impact on Montana's and the nation's economy. However, canola, lentils, seed potatoes and garbanzos are important alternative crops with special needs for pest management. Many pests are sporadic in their occurrence cycling with environmental conditions such as dry or wet cycles. However, major insect pests such as alfalfa weevil, wheat stem sawfly, wireworms, cutworm species, grasshoppers and cereal leaf beetle are likely to attain pest status in the state each year. Pest management is central to economical and sustainable crop and livestock production, maintenance of Montana's natural resources, and individual home, garden and health issues. Issues such as food safety, crop and livestock productivity, farm and ranch economic well being, human health and environmental concerns are important to a responsive Integrated Pest Management Program.

In Montana, the MSUES Integrated Pest Management Program (IPM) provides funding for the Insect, Weed and Disease Diagnostic Laboratories that identify insect and disease pests and provide biological and management information, free of charge to Montana clientele. Pest management information is delivered through an extensive series of programs, workshops, timely pest alerts and publications. A Crop Pest Management School and a series of Pest Management Training programs are delivered each year. Specialized programs such as Forage Production Workshops, Commercial Vegetable Production, and other topical workshops are developed as needs/interest arises. County Extension faculty, agricultural professionals, consultants, County weed personnel and CCAs are trained through the wide array of programs that MSUES – IPM provides.

Other specialized programs such as Museum IPM, IPM in schools, and urban IPM issues continue to be developed as needed. Focus projects; Alfalfa Stand Longevity, Pest Recommendation Delivery to Remote Users, Regional Cutworm Monitoring and Survey Program, and others have been funded through the USDA, CSREES, Western Regional IPM Grants Program, Region VIII USEPA and Western Regional Sustainable Agriculture (WSARE) during recent years. The disciplinary diversity reflects the commitment of MSU faculty in working together to achieve competitive grants funds for IPM research and education.

Goals of the Montana IPM program

1. To optimize grower profitability through the use of appropriate pest management techniques.

2. Develop sustainable IPM programs for Montana citizens that consider environmental issues and risks.

3. Demonstrate IPM techniques through on-farm trials and educational programs.

4. Encourage implementation of IPM strategies.

Montana IPM Program Resources

MSU IPM Diagnostics / Plant Diagnostic Information System (PDIS) (weeds, diseases, insects) (<IPM.montana.edu> Diagnostic and Testing Labs)

MSU Pest Recommendation Database and related web pages including AgNotes, Cropland Weeds, Cropping Systems. Delivery of weed, plant disease and insect identification and educational services for MSU County Extension.

• Will Lanier: Insect diagnostician (<IPM.montana.edu> Diagnostic Labs)
• Nina Zidak: Plant disease diagnostician
• Cathy Seibert: Weed identification

The Insect, Weed and Plant Disease Diagnostic Labs are partially supported by MSUES-IPM funds and regular formula Extension funds. Approximately 500 insect samples, 500 weed samples and 1000 plant disease samples are submitted and identified each year. These labs have been crucial to the identification of agriculture, home and garden pests and also to the detection of invasive species. The MSU-ES-IPM Diagnostic Labs are in contact with other similar labs through the Great Plains Diagnostic Network (GPDN). The GPDN provides access to the PDIS a web based networking application which allows electronic specimen submittal, record tracking and diagnosis using digital images, funds for first detector training, important for Montana because of its international border. First detector training provides key County Extension faculty with in-depth training allowing them greater ability to detect new, potentially harmful pest species.

Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory <Diagnostics.montana.edu/PlantDisease/>

The Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab offers identification of plant and non-infectious diseases and provides biological and management information for appropriate management tactics. Frequently laboratory tests are needed in order to correctly identify causative organisms. In general submitted samples for plant disease analysis are 38.5% biotic and 61.5% abiotic. Of the abiotic diseases 69.1% were environmental / physiological, 11.4% herbicide, 6.5% nutritional and the remainder was cultural, chemical or unknown. The majority of biotic diseases are caused by fungal, 77.0%; bacterial, 13.0%; viral, 7.2%; agents with the remainder caused by vertebrates, nematodes, mycoplasma or others. Approximately 500 PDIS samples were submitted in 2005 and 600 in 2006.

By suggesting cultural, biological control or other non-chemical options for management, a client is able to implement appropriate management strategies that modify underlying conditions that promote the plant disease or environmental conditions. IPM training sessions help County Extension faculty and other agricultural personnel to identify plant pathogens and conditions that promote plant diseases.

Recently, specialized procedures for determining Ascochyta infection in lentils, chickpeas and field pea seed lots is a current focus of the lab in conjunction with the MSU Seed Testing Laboratory. These crops are relatively new to Montana and seed sanitation is an important factor in introducing disease organisms. In addition, soil assays are being conducted for sugar beet cyst nematode. These procedures are available to help producers plan their pest management needs for upcoming seasons.

Insect Diagnostic Laboratory (<Diagnostics.montana.edu/Insects)

The Insect Diagnostic Lab offers timely insect identification, biological and life cycle information and safe, effective and appropriate management strategies for agricultural, home gardeners and general public audiences. An average of 450 samples are identified each year that include in decreasing order of submission numbers: yard, household, home garden, turf cropland, and rangeland. On the other hand the economic value represented by each submittal in decreasing order is: cropland and rangeland, turf, home garden and yard. Approximately 45% of arthropod samples identified are of concern or are of economic consequence to clientele.

Response time is important in providing information in a timely manner, particularly for those situations where the arthropod has economic or health considerations. Identifications are made within 24 hours so that by US Postal service turn around occurs within 4 working days by regular mail or 24 to 48 hours using PDIS electronic transmission.

By suggesting cultural, biological control or other non-chemical options for management, a client is able to choose the most appropriate method and reduce chemical use. Contributing County Extension faculty are encouraged to develop a local collection that can be used to reference specimens that are submitted to their office. A software application (Pest Recommendation Database) that can sort records based on county and seasonal historical submission data and identifying characteristics is being developed for County Extension faculty. Currently deployed is an identification aid that uses Lucid software. The Lucid High Plains IPM Guide Pest ID Key and Key to Insect Orders have been installed in approximately 10 Extension offices. Under development is a Key to Insect, Disease, and Abiotic Problems associated with Wheat Production. Wheat Symptoms Key training sessions are underway to test the Key under practical conditions and help County Extension faculty and other agricultural personnel to identify pests.

Plant Identification (<Diagnostics.montana.edu/Plant/)

The Plant Identification service offers timely plant identification, biological and life cycle information and safe, effective and appropriate management strategies for agricultural, home gardeners and general public audiences. An average of 350 samples are identified each year that include in decreasing order of submission numbers: yard, home garden, turf cropland, and rangeland. On the other hand the economic value represented by each submittal in decreasing order is: cropland and rangeland, turf, home garden and yard. Approximately 65% of samples identified are of concern or are of economic consequence to clientele.

Response time is important in providing information in a timely manner, particularly for those situations where the arthropod has economic or health considerations. Identifications are made within 24 hours so that by US Postal service turn around occurs within 4 working days by regular mail or 24 to 48 hours using PDIS electronic transmission.

By suggesting cultural, biological control or other non-chemical options for management, a client is able to choose the most appropriate method and reduce chemical use. Contributing County Extension faculty are encouraged to develop a local collection that can be used to reference specimens that are submitted to their office.

Impacts:

• ~2000 samples per year are identified and management information provided by the three diagnostic labs/year to Montana residents.
• Current GPDN grant to MSU-ES $50,000 (P.I. M. Burrows)
• Correct identification and knowledge of the damaging portion of a pest life cycle can result in eliminating or reducing pesticide interventions. When advising urban clients not to treat with pesticides an estimated savings of $2,500 per year can be realized when 250 clients each save $10.
• In agricultural situations a $10 per acre pesticide application, saved on an average field size of 200 acres can result in a savings of $2,000.

Crop and Commercial Vegetable Pest Management Schools (IPM.montana.edu/Training/)

The Crop Pest Management School (CPMS) has been conducted annually since 1991 and has become a standard for agent training for MSUES. In 2006 requested portions of the school were delivered via Adobe connect, a web based meeting service, to interested counties and their clients. The most viewed sessions are archived for future access. The school averages 35 County Extension faculty and agricultural professionals per year in a 3 day, intensive hands-on training that utilizes the Plant Growth Center greenhouses and individual research laboratories. Specialty areas are emphasized each year with the 2006 school emphasizing bioenergy and a commercial vegetable pest management school tailored to Commercial vegetable producers was conducted.

Impacts:

• 35 (CPMS) and 12 (CVPMS) individuals are intensively trained in IPM techniques each year
• 35 and 12 participants @ $200 = $7,000/year (CPMS) @ $200 = $7,000/year (CVPMS)

Pest Management Training Summary 2006

(IPM/PAT) (<IPM.montana.edu/Training>)

The Pest Management Training (PMT) program was developed to combine Integrated Pest Management (IPM) training with Pesticide Applicator Training (PAT) to provide a more integrated and high quality program for Montana producers and agricultural professionals. PMT is scheduled each fall and rotated among the five pesticide re-certification districts (I – V). The PMT program is a self-supporting program that allows us to include MSU campus-based research, teaching and research center faculty in PMT programs and cover their costs for travel and lodging (if needed). The goal of PMT is to deliver a high quality program, tailored to local needs, effective use of faculty travel resources and that offers 6 pesticide re-certification credits to attendees and.

The fall program timing allows County Agents to encourage participation by those individuals who have not accrued their re-certification points in the prior five year period.

Participation costs for each program speaker over the three years that the program has been offered range from $26 to $54. The average cost per attendee was $9.30, $6.84 and $8.83 for Districts I, II and V, respectively and overall costs per attendee was $8.10. Total attendance for each year has increased 53%: since the program’s beginning in 2002.

Impacts:

• 2002 Program costs assessed: $437 X 5 sites = $2,185
• 2003 Program costs assessed: $592 X 5 sites = $2,960
• 2004 Program costs assessed: $437 X 7 sites = $3,059
• 2005 Program costs assessed: $260 X 9 sites = $2,336
• 2006 Program costs assessed: $452 X 7 sites = $3,167
• Number of participants trained:
  2002 = 210
  2003 = 291
  2004 = 322

2005 = 453

2006 = 311

• MSUES - IPM programs delivered to under-served counties and Extension offices with new or no agents.
• Collaborations for program development among counties in each district are encouraged.
• Collaborations among County Agents, private and public agencies are encouraged
• Support is provided for campus-based faculty to participate
• Locally-driven programs are adapted to County needs
• Integrates pest-based programs and provides a more seamless program to participants

High Plains IPM Guide <HighPlainsIPM.org>

Colorado, Montana, Nebraska and Wyoming have combined their efforts to cooperatively produce the High Plains IPM Guide (Bulletin No. 564A). Originally a paper publication, MSU has provided the leadership for converting to a web-based resource. Web publications has allowed, frequent updates to be accomplished and delivered without costs and web delivery has been designed to consider the needs of predominately rural users with limited or low quality internet access including slow modems, error-prone (static) phone lines and costly service providers. The High Plains IPM Guide on the web has recently included color identification aids for individual pests, keys to identification, search by keyword capabilities and linkages to related information.

County Extension faculty, independent agricultural consultants, agribusiness personnel, growers and others rely upon pest management recommendations compiled and made available through Extension delivery. However, the High Plains IPM Guide provides a brief summary of identification characteristics including life cycle and seasonal history, plant response, monitoring guidelines, damage symptoms and complete management approaches for individual insect and disease pests. Management options include include biological, varietal, cultural and chemical controls.

Impacts:

· Average visits per day in 2006 are 1,165, compared to 2005 of 1,328

· Average page views per day in 2006 are 564, up from 2005 of 538

· Lanier, William; Brewer, Michael; Hein, Gary; Peairs, Frank; Schwartz, Howard; Campbell, John; Blodgett, Sue. 2006 Development and Assessment of an On-line High Plains Integrated Pest Management Guide for a Regional Audience. American Entomologist, 52(1), Spring 2006. pp 30 – 35.

· USDA-CSREES, WRIPM. 2001-2003. Web publication of the High Plains IPM Guide. S. L. Blodgett, W. T. Lanier and G. D. Johnson. $28,207.

• EPA Region Vlll $23,200 MT ($60,000 grant total), S. Blodgett & W. Lanier $23,200 (MT subcontract)

Montana IPM Contact (Internet accessible) and Pest Information Network

There are several sources of pest and pest management information within Montana and the High Plains region that offer resource for Montana and High Plains users, however, these resources are not well integrated. Agricultural producers face numerous challenges related to pest control such as finding current agricultural or specialist contact information.

The IPM Contact Network database was created to expedient the flow of information between producers and state and national agencies for the purpose of increased collaboration. The database was initially created using Microsoft Access. The contact information of ~1000 individuals was combined from six different sources and organized into thirteen groups. All redundant information was removed from the database. Each contact was found in the original source data only once but has membership in one or multiple groups. The database allowed users to have rapid access to all necessary information and update information when possible. However, limitations of a MS-Access database in a multiple user environment and the need for a dynamic web database were quickly discovered. The initial database’s source data table was incorporated into an database generation system suitable for internet delivery. The new database is internet accessible, can be maintained by one or more user groups with password protection, and can be managed by non-programmers.

The Montana Pest Information Network serves as a pesticide use resource for Montana production systems. Pest management information by commodities is available through the High Plains IPM Guide a regional, collaborative effort of Colorado, Nebraska, Montana and Wyoming. The Great Plains Diagnostic Network is a source of timely pest alert information that emphasizes invasive species. Other unique state-based resources and development of new county-based pest resources will improved integration and incorporation of underutilized pest resources will improve coordination and increase delivery and impact.

OBJECTIVES:

1. Improve integration of state-based pest management and pesticide information through linkages between MPIN and the High Plains IPM Guide community.
2. Develop a comprehensive information response network for Montana that includes High Plains IPM Guide contributors.
3. Maintain and update current listing of pest management stakeholders for a formal advisory committee and used for the identification of critical issues.
4. Maintain, update and develop well-integrated pest management databases and webpages that include project contact information and linkages to appropriate resources
5. Update the current Montana Pest Information Network webpage with links to the WIPM webpage, a statement of sponsorship and new graphics that reflect the appearance of the WIPM webpage.
6. Develop a comprehensive IPM Contact Network database of individuals that can serve as resource for pesticide information.
7. Develop a database of individuals that can provide information for surveys of IPM tactics, crop profiles and PMSPs.

Impacts:

• Western Region IPM Center. 2006-2008 Montana Pest Information Network Proposal. S. L. Blodgett, W. T. Lanier. Amount $24,228.
• Western Region IPM Center. 2004. Montana Pest Management Center Proposal for Supplemental Funding for the PNW Livestock Pest Management Strategic Plan. S. L. Blodgett, and W. T. Lanier $19,700.

· USDA-CSREES, WRIPM. 1999-2002. Regional cutworm survey and forecast. S. L. Blodgett, W. T. Lanier and G. D. Johnson. $49,331.

· Participation in the Alfalfa and Clover Seed PMSP (Pest Management Strategic Plan), the Wheat and Barley PMSP and Sugarbeet PMSP

AgAlerts (<IPM.montana.edu> Reports:)

System of timely crop pest news for Extension Agents, Ag professionals, consultants. The traditional crop health report has evolved into a series of AgAlerts available directly through GPDN. Feedback from County Agents and ag professionals has been very enthusiastic about the quality and timing of this information. A more quantitative evaluation of this program is planned.

Impacts:

• Homeland Security $80,000 MT (M. Burrows)
• 48 AgAlerts sent from 6 specialists in 2006 up from 43 AgAlerts sent by 3 specialists in 2005.

MSU-ES-IPM Web Site (<IPM.montana.edu>)

Montana IPM Center website, a comprehensive source for agriculture and horticulture related information, including diagnostic labs (searchable and report generation by county and date), HPIPM Guide, pesticide, Great Plains Diagnostic Network, individual pest and crop sites. As part of an MSU wide web site reorganization the MSU ES IPM pages were all reformatted and detailed to provide a consistent organization easily navigated by users.

Impacts:

• Easier user navigation using a three sections (IPM, Diagnostics, MSU Entomology) and improvements in site maintenance.
• Linkages to MSU Pollinators, Crop land Weeds, Cropping Systems, Diagnostics, MSU Entomology groups, Sustainable Pest Management Program and other

Museum IPM (<IPM.montana.edu> Urban: museum ipm)

The Museum IPM program provides pest identification and management information for museums in Montana and Wyoming. An IPM Plan for Grant-Kohrs Ranch and Powell County Museum and Arts Foundation and Education Video project was funded by Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (RM-CESU) and is currently available on the MSUES IPM web site.

Impacts:

· MSU Museum IPM program presentation, Mountain-Plains Museum Association Annual meeting, Missoula March 8 - 9, 2007. Contact Montana Historical Society, 225 No. Roberts Box 201201, Helena, 59620-1201.

• 5^th National Integrated Pest Management Symposium. April 4 – 6, 2006 St. Louis Missouri. Successes in On-line Integrated Pest Management Delivery, Montana’s Integrated Pest Management Program: Developing a Museum IPM Program and Regional Cutworm Forecast (38.3).

· Western Region IPM Center, Special Issues - "Distribution and Evaluation of the MSU Museum IPM Starter Kit in Montana and Wyoming" Evaluation Survey Results

· Rocky Mountains Cooperative Ecosystem Studies Unit (RM-CESU). Integrated Pest Management Plan for Grant-Kohrs Ranch and Powell County Museum and Arts Foundation and Education Video. W. Lanier PI. Amount $5,000

• Inquiries, specimen id requests have been received from Montana Historical Society, Butte Silver Bow Archives, Montana Heritage, Grant Kohrs Ranch, MSU Museum of the Rockies, Yellowstoen Art Museum, Ulm Pishkin State Park, Paris Gibson Square Museum of Art, Mountain Plains Museum Association, MSU Archives, Wild Life Fish and Parks, Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

Cutworm Survey (Annual) <Cutworm.org>

A regional cutworm monitoring program has been conducted annually since 1992 but recently, through grant funds obtained from WRIPM Grants Program, an environmental component has been added to the pheromone trap prediction model for army and pale western cutworms. This environmental component allows us to improve our ability to predict cutworm activity, time monitoring and improve decision-making. Since 1992, nine states and 1 Canadian province (Alberta) participate in the monitoring program and contribute to a web database which generates maps indicating problem sites in which monitoring should be emphasized. This forecasting program has allowed producers to focus their monitoring efforts in years and areas when they are at risk from damaging populations of the two cutworm species and to reduced unwarranted pesticide applications. Pesticide application varies from year to year but on average ranges from 50,000 to 300,000 acres.

Impacts:

• Annual Cutworm Risk Warning to Montana, 8 states and 1 Canadian province.
• USDA-CSREES, WRIPM. 1999-2002. Regional cutworm survey and forecast. S. Blodgett, W. Lanier and G. Johnson. $49,331.
• APHIS CAPS survey. 2005 Silver Y Moth presence survey. W. Lanier, L. Witham. $7,200.

Forage Working Group

Alfalfa managements including harvest timings, use of nurse crop at seeding, insect pests and plant diseases each have important impacts on forage yield and persistence. In northern areas, cutting or grazing should be avoided during a fall hardening period. Impact of nurse crops on alfalfa stands may impact longevity. Intensive harvest treatment significantly reduced total forage production by 20%, reduced total root mass by 33%, increased broadleaf weeds (predominantly dandelion, Taraxacum officinale) abundance by 170% and significantly increased the severity of crown and root rot symptoms.

Investigate factors that limit stand persistence in alfalfa crops

Impacts:

• USDA-CSREES-WSARE. 2003-2006. Factors effecting alfalfa stand longevity in Montana. Blodgett, Cash, Griffith, Phillips, Mikkelson. $139,397.
• No. individuals trained in 2005 through Northeast MT Forage Workshops, 115

The programs of the MSU Extension Service are available to all people regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation and marital or family status. Issues in furtherance of cooperative extension work in agriculture and home economics, acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Douglas L. Steele, Vice Provost and Director, Extension Service, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717.