Oregon IPM Insider Summer 2020

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• IPM Insider Spotlight: USPEST.org offers weather-based prediction tools nationwide

  • Len Coop of the Oregon IPM Center has been developing and managing USPest.org, a multi-species phenology modeling platform designed to aid extension and agriculture consultants has recently been streamlined for mobile devices. 
    
     

• Oregon IPM Center and Oregon Department of Agriculture examine the state of biocontrol 

  • The two agencies have initiated a new project gather stakeholder feedback on the use and future of biological control in Oregon
     

 

• New Paper in Journal of Extension highlights the benefits of IPM Summit

  •  The paper, An Integrated Pest Management Summit for Reveals Barriers, Needs, Goals for Agricultural Extension, reports on the outcomes from the meeting, specifically the barriers, needs, and goals identified by the faculty in attendance. ​​​
     

• Lower-risk pesticides when PPE is scarce

  • Oregon IPM Center published a list of pesticides that do not require more than basic, single layer PPE (long-sleeved shirt, long pants, socks, and stout shoes, with chemically resistant gloves). This list can help to identify alternative pesticides to ones that can't be used if the required PPE is unavailable. 

 

   

• Quick Facts about Little Cherry (X-Disease) in Oregon

  Little cherry disease is currently getting a lot of attention, but there is more than a little confusion about the situation in Oregon. We reached out to Ashley Thompson, Asst. Prof of Horticulture in Wasco and Hood River County Extension, for the facts:
   
• What is little cherry disease?
  • From the PNW Pest Management Handbook: A disease that causes fruits to small, pointed, often flat-sided, and pale-red to greenish-white. Normal appearing fruit may be interspersed with affected fruit. Fruit lack maturity, flavor and/or sugar development. Little Cherry can be caused by 3 pathogens, but only the X-disease phytoplasma strain has been found in Oregon.
     
• Where is it found?
  • X-disease infested trees have been found in Wasco Co. As of June 2020, It has NOT been detected in Hood river Co. and has NOT been detected in the Willamette Valley. It has been reported in Umatilla and Malheur counties.
       
• How can it spread?
  • The X-disease Phytoplasma is transmitted by leaf hoppers and root grafting. Trees can be asymptomatic for two years but still be an inoculum source.
     
• What are some IPM options?
  • The best defense against X-disease is to scout heavily and remove infected trees to reduce the rate of new infections. Vector control (i.e. trying to control leaf hoppers) is NOT a feasible method.
     
• Who should I contact if I have more questions?
  • In Oregon, contact your local Extension Office.
     
• For more information, see this handout from OSU Extension: How to spot signs of X-disease in Cherries

   

Five things to know about: DDRP: Degree-Days Risk, and Phenological Event Mapping

Brittany Barker and Len Coop of the Oregon IPM Center, along with Tyson Wepprich and Fritzi Grevstad of OSU's Botany and Plant Pathology Department, and Gericke Cooke of USDA-APHIS recently published a paper on an amazing new technology called DDRP: Degree-Days Risk, and Phenological Event Mapping. Here’s what you need to know:
 

• What is it?

  • A new spatial modeling platform that integrates mapping of phenology and climatic suitability in real-time for insects, with the potential to add other types of organisms (e.g. non-insect invertebrates, weeds, plant pathogens).
     

• Who's it for?

  • Government agencies battling new invasive species; Anyone who want to optimize pest management actions and biological control implementation; researchers who want to predict potential impacts of pests and disease on agricultural production.
     

• What can it do?

  • Products include predictions of the number of completed generations, life stages present, dates of phenological events, and climatically suitable areas based on two levels of climate stress. Species parameters can be derived from laboratory and field studies, and from published and newly fitted CLIMEX models.
     

• One extra cool thing:

  • DDRP is written entirely in the R programming language, making it freely available, flexible and extensible.
     

• When can I use it?

  • DDRP is currently in development, with models for 15 invasive insect species completed. A grant proposal to expand DDRP’s features and increase engagement with end-users in collaboration with the USA National Phenology Network was just submitted. The team plans to develop IPM pest models for DDRP and start getting feedback from end-users in the coming months.
     

Want to know more?

Read all about it: DDRP: real-time phenology and climatic suitability modeling of invasive insects is currently in preprint and available now! 

Find our updated grants and job list here
 

Grants

• Food and Agricultural Sciences National Needs Graduate and Postgraduate Fellowship (NNF) Grants Program. USDA-NIFA. Designated for graduate degree (masters and doctoral) programs and postgraduate training of the next generation of policy makers, researchers, and educators in the food and agricultural sciences. https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=326913 Closes June 22, 2020
   
• Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Competitive Grants Program. USDA-NIFA. Provides grants to non-profits to increase the number of military veterans gaining knowledge and skills through comprehensive, hands-on and immersive model farm and ranch programs offered regionally that lead to successful careers in the food and agricultural sector. https://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=326873. Closes June 26, 2020.
   
• Urban Agriculture and Innovative Production USDA-NRCS. The competitive grants will support the development of urban agriculture and innovative production projects through two categories, Planning Projects and Implementation Projects.https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/detail/or/newsroom/releases/?c.... Closes July 6, 2020. Webinar June 3, 2020.

 

Employment Opportunities

• Head of Farm Management - IITA, Ibadan, Nigera. IITA seeks for a Head of Farm Management who will manage the research farms and plant growth facilities of IITA in support of activities of the Institute’s crop breeding programs. S/he will have responsibility for all IITA research farms and plant growth facilities in sub-Saharan Africa. Closes June 22, 2020
  https://www.carrhure.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/CARRHURE_Search-Profile_IITA_Head-of-Farm-Management_V5_6.14.2020.pdf
   
• Area Citrus IPM Advisor (Applied Research and Extension) Serving Tulare, Fresno, Madera, and Kern Counties. UCANR. Exeter, CA. The Area Citrus IPM Advisor is responsible for conducting research, extension and education programs in integrated pest management for arthropod pests of citrus with the goal of improving production and economic viability of citrus production in the San Joaquin Valley. http://www.citrusresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/Area-Citrus-IPM-Advisor-Position-Vacancy-Annoucement.pdf Closes July 20, 2020.
   
• Assistant Professor - Fresh Produce Food Safety Specialist, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama. The Department of Horticulture at Auburn University is seeking candidates for the position of Fresh Produce Food Safety Specialist – Assistant Professor. This is a 12-month, tenure-track position (75% Extension and 25% research). https://aufacultypositions.peopleadmin.com/postings/4098. Posted Mar 26, 2020. No closing date specified. 
   
• Vegetation Specialist. Sonoma County, Santa Rosa, CA. As a Vegetation Specialist, you will be responsible for assisting the Vegetation Control Advisor with the implementation of the County's Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Plan. https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/sonoma/jobs/2385898/vegetation-specialist?page=5&pagetype=jobOpportunitiesJobs. Posted here March 23, 2020. Closing date stated as continuous. 
   
• Research Entomologist. Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, CA. The appointment will focus primarily on applied research and will also assist the Director of the Strawberry Center with administrative oversight of the Center.  https://www.calpolycorporationjobs.org/postings/1479. No closing date specified. 

 

How does IPM help us battle Coronavirus? 

Oregon IPM Center put together this handout back in March to illustrate the parallels between IPM as we know it and how agencies are working to stop the spread of the coronavirus. 

  

Oregon IPM Insider

Vol I, Issue 2: June 2020.

Shortlink: https://beav.es/4zG

Produced by Oregon IPM Center, Oregon State University College of Agricultural Sciences

Questions / Comments / Ideas / Suggestions? Send to [email protected]

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Next issue: September 2020