MAEAP Phase I credits available at 2013 Integrated Pest Management Academy
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EmailGetting verified in the MAEAP shows your peers and neighbors that you’re committed to agricultural stewardship and protecting the environment. Start the process today by attending the IPM Academy for your Phase 1 credit.
Growers are invited to attend the 2013 Integrated Pest Management Academy, a Michigan Agriculture Environmental Assurance Program (MAEAP) Phase 1 meeting, on Feb. 19-20 in Okemos, Mich. There you will fill out a MAEAP Phase 1 form to start the process. (Registration is open through Feb. 12, so register today.)
After attending the educational meeting, you will then be contacted by your local Conservation District to do a farm-specific risk assessment. Each assessment looks at the farm and evaluates different aspects, especially areas that could use updating or improvement to minimize environmental risks and pollution. The farmer then works to correct any of these areas and make necessary improvements and is visited by a Verifier who ensures the farmer has implemented environmentally sound practices.
After becoming MAEAP verified, a farm can display a MAEAP sign, signifying that MAEAP partners recognize the farm is environmentally assured. To learn more about the importance of MAEAP verification visit the website at www.maeap.org.
The Michigan State University Extension 2013 IPM Academy will address the weather challenges of the 2012 production season with the help of Dr. Jonathan Comstock from Cornell University’s Department of Horticulture. Comstock will specifically address shifting weather patterns and the related impacts affecting agricultural producers. Comstock is a climate change expert and is co-author of both the Agriculture and Ecosystems chapters of the recent New York ClimAID Report, which looks at climate change vulnerabilities and adaptation strategies. MSU experts will also be on hand to discuss irrigation, frost protection and changing weather patterns in Michigan.
On the second day of the event, participants will opt into two, half-day sessions on the topics of their choice. Morning sessions include
- Apple and Cherry IPM: Come with us on a season-long excursion where we will show how to tailor your integrated pest management decisions to produce a marketable crop in Michigan apple and cherry orchards.
- Conifer IPM: Come learn how to identify and monitor for the most destructive pests and diseases of Michigan’s conifer tree species.
- Communicating Climate Change: On Day 1, you heard about the science and concerns for farming with changes in climate. How do you talk about what you’ve learned with farmers and others in your community? Here’s how to navigate a potentially divisive subject that is important for agriculture.
- Scouting Techniques for Field Crops and Forages: Learn the basics of scouting for diseases, weeds and insects in field crops. Crop growth stages, pests life cycles, weather conditions and the date on the calendar can all impact the success of finding pests and ultimately controlling pests. Learn how each of these factors can help your success during the growing season.
- Vegetable IPM: This session takes participants through a production year on tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, sweet corn, onions, garlic and asparagus. As we go through the year, you will be introduced to the various insect and disease pests and how best to control them using IPM techniques.
Afternoon sessions include
- Check it Out – MSU Resources for Hops, Saskatoons and Chestnuts: Interested in these up and coming Michigan crops? Then join us for this introduction to these cropping systems and available MSU Resources to help get you started!
- Deciduous Tree IPM: Come learn how to identify and monitor for the most destructive pests and diseases of Michigan’s deciduous tree species.
- Emerging Issues in Field Crop Pesticide Resistance: Each growing season presents a new set of challenges. In recent years, resistant pests have threatened productions systems. In this session, participants will learn how resistance develops and discuss management practices that can decrease the risk of developing resistant strains. In addition, participants will learn what weeds, insects and diseases are positioned to pose a threat to Michigan field crops.
- IPM in Small Fruit Crops: In this session we will focus on spotted wing drosophila, fruitworms, beetles, and common disease of small fruits including blueberry, strawberry, brambles.
- Vegetable IPM: This session will guide you through a production year for vine crops, legumes snap beans and peas and cole crops with emphasis on insect and disease identification and IPM control. The session will conclude by exploring emerging IPM challenges and opportunities in vegetable crops resulting from changing conditions and technologies.
Agricultural educators and consultants will receive a complimentary IPM bulletin of their choice. For more information on what these sessions include please access the IPMA13 registration page.
The cost of this program is $225. Registration is open through Feb. 12, but space is limited so register today. For more information, or to request a paper registration form, please contact Erin Lizotte at 231-944-6504.
This program was developed with support from the Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture — National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
