Vegetable Pest Management Workshop, Wapello County
NOTE: Dear participants, due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, this workshop will not be offered on site. We are evaluating options to offer this workshop virtually (Zoom, Webex, etc.).
AMES, Iowa – A vegetable Integrated Pest Management Workshop will be held at the Wapello County ISU Extension and Outreach, Ottumwa, IA on April 9, 2020. The workshop is designed to help growers, local foods coordinators, extension staff, county horticulturists and industry representatives learn about managing common insects, diseases, and nutritional issues in high tunnel vegetable production systems.
Topics include insect, disease, and nutrition management, beneficial insects, and sensor-based technologies to manage high tunnels. Workshop presenters include Ajay Nair (Vegetable Extension Specialist), Donald Lewis (Entomologist), Lina Rodriguez-Salamanca (Pathologist) and Joe Hannan (Commercial horticulture specialist with ISU Extension and Outreach).
Participants will get an opportunity to visit a local high tunnel vegetable grower (Molly Larking) and engage in hands-on activities (scouting, installing soil moisture sensor, etc.). The workshop is supported by a professional development grant by USDA North Central Sustainable Research and Education. Workshop time is from 9-2:30pm. Below is a tentative agenda
- 9:00 Welcome and icebreaker (15 min)
- 9:15 Common Insect Challenges (45 min)
- spider mites, aphids, flea beetle, horn worm, whitefly
- pollinators for cucumber (honey bees vs bumble bees)
- 10:00 Common disease and nutrient challenge (45 hour)
- 10:45 Break (15 min)
- 11:00 Using technology to manage your high tunnel (45 min)
- 11:45 Round robin discussion (45)
- 12:30 Lunch (BBQ)
- 1:15 Leave for Molly Larking (Field)
- Please provide information below to register. Registration must be completed by April 3, 2020. There is no cost for the workshop. Lunch and refreshments will be provided.
