Development of a Landscape IPM Program in Puerto Rico

Hipólito O'Farrill-Nieves, Ph.D., Extension Entomologist
University of Puerto Rico Agricultural Extension Service
PO Box 9031
Mayagüez, PR 00681
787-833-7007
787-834-4590 (fax)
h_ofarrill@seam.uprm.edu

Executive Summary

Data indicates that urban watershed contamination with pesticides in as critical, if not more, than agricultural watersheds (USGS 1999). Nationally and in Puerto Rico, urban landscape maintaining use large quantities of pesticides. This contributes to no point pollution of water, danger human health and other organisms, and disruptions of ecological balances. Ignoring IPM practices for maintaining attractive trees, ornamentals, and turf is one of the origins of this pollution threat. This proposal requests $40,000.00 in federal funds to develop educational materials about IPM for ornamentals. The main objective of the proposed project is to produce a Landscape IPM Manual with an electronic presentation for each of the topics covered. The design and development of these educational resources will assist agricultural educators in training landscapers and homeowners to understand and implement effective and environmentally responsible pest management strategies for the protection of ornamental plants, lawn and turf. In addition, we propose to offer five regional IPM train-the-trainer workshops for Extension Agents and other educators of landscapers and homeowners. The outcomes of this project will lead to minimize the impacts of the landscape maintenance on the urban environment, and to reduce the potential for pest problems on ornamentals, lawn and turf. This project will complement an urban tree IPM program, recently awarded by the US Forest Service in Puerto Rico.

Objectives

The goal of this project is to promote the adoption and implementation of effective strategies to reduce the potential for pest problems on ornamental plants, turf and lawn, and to protect the urban environment from unnecessary pesticide applications.

The objectives of this proposal are the following:

Create a manual and eight electronic presentations about IPM on ornamental plants, turf and lawn. Educational materials design will include reference material and educational activities to assist agricultural educators in training landscapers, PCO´s, and homeowners to understand and implement IPM. The manual will contain all the necessary resources and information needed for a landscaper or homeowner to initiate and carry out an IPM program on ornamental plants, turf and lawn. The manual will include information on:
- Managing the Pests of Ornamental Plants, Turf and Lawn Using the IPM Approach
- Growing Healthy Plants, Lawn and Turf
- Key Pests (The biology, and the risk to plant health of insects, mites and other invertebrates.)
- Scouting, Diagnosing Pest Problems and Decision Making
- Insecticide Toxicity and Pesticide Safety
- Conventional Insecticides
- Biorationals and Alternative Insecticides
- Insecticide Application: Equipment, Calibration, and Calculations
Offer five regional IPM workshops to train Extension agents, and other agricultural educators related to landscape maintenance industry.

Justification

Puerto Rico is experiencing unprecedented rates of urban and industrial development. The National Resource Inventory of the United States Department of Agriculture indicates that between 1992 and 1997, Puerto Rico lost approximately 12,460 acres per year of agricultural and open land.

Such accelerated development triggered a boom of the landscape maintenance industry. The sector includes approximately 1,500 pest control operators (PCO's), and 1,000 landscapers. Personal interviews conducted in 2002 with PCO's, landscapers, county agents, and pesticide distributors revealed the industry represents a significant challenge and opportunity for the adoption of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach. Approximately, 80% of landscapers and their employees do not know how to monitor and diagnose key pest problems, and instead they resort to spray an insecticide on a regular basis. This situation promotes unnecessary applications of pesticides with monetary costs, destroys beneficial arthropods, and needlessly increases the load of these pollutants in the urban environment. The adoption of IPM approach is a key to diminish these negative impacts associated with the landscape pest suppression. IPM effectively reduces the potential for pest problems, is environmentally responsible and economically practical.

Unfortunately, Extension agents and other agricultural educators in Puerto Rico do not have materials required to teach environmentally responsible pest management strategies for the protection of urban vegetated areas. IPM educational materials available are in English and/or are not readily available or comprehensible to an average field employee.

Literature Review

The practicability of the integrated pest management approach for landscape plants is well demonstrated. Several research and extension-based pilot projects have showed dramatic reductions in the amounts of pesticides applied, and in the costs of pest suppression, without sacrifice to the appearance of vegetation (Olkowski et al. 1976, 1978, Davidson et al. 1981, Holmes and Davidson 1984, Raupp and Noland 1984, Smith and Raupp 1986, Stewart et al. 2002). These IPM landscape projects succeeded by implementing scouting and rule of thumb thresholds, cultural practices, spot treatments, and increasing the percentage of biorational pesticides. The success of these projects is evidence that rigorously defined and quantified decision-making rules for the suppression of key pests are not absolutely necessary for establishing IPM in urban landscapes.

The information generated by researchers and extensionists, and the public concern over pesticide use have added impetus to the implementation of alternative pest management strategies in urban areas (Koehler 1989, Paine et al. 1997, Stewart et al. 2002, Bird 2003, Sellmer et al. 2003). The number of IPM programs for landscape plants are growing. They are being mostly promoted by the Cooperative Extension System. Some good examples are the landscape IPM programs of the state universities of California, Georgia, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Maryland, Michigan, and Texas. Unfortunately, in Puerto Rico there are not research and educational projects for landscaped areas.

The information to be developed in this proposal is currently unavailable to the small and independent landscape managers that comprise the majority of the market for landscape services in Puerto Rico. The IPM Landscape Manual and the electronic presentations to be developed in this proposal will consist of the integration of the knowledge and experience of the researchers, extensionists, and landscapers participating in this proposal. Also, the project will use the information generated by Sparks 2000, Woodward et al. 2000; Stewart et al. 2002, Bird 2003, West et al. 2003, Kusel and Kamuda 2004, Morris 2004, Bio-Integral Resource Center, and other appropriate sources.

Approach and Outcomes

Objective 1

The directors and collaborators of this project will compile and integrate the information needed to create the Landscape IPM Manual. They will develop an electronic presentation with its corresponding script for each of the topics covered in the manual.

Once these materials are complete, a panel of landscapers and trainers will review them. The director and collaborators of this project will offer a workshop for landscapers and another for agricultural educators to evaluate and validate the manual and the electronic presentations. The recruitment of members for the aforementioned review panel will be through the UPRAES network, and personal contacts with state, federal and private agencies.

The regional train-the-trainer workshops will use final versions of the Landscape IPM Manual and the electronic presentations. Afterward, local Extension agents will collaborate in material distribution. A register of educational materials recipients will provide for subsequent evaluation purposes and future educational activities.

Objective 2

Project director and other personnel will implement five two-day train-the-trainer workshops, one in each of the five regions of UPRAES. Workshop participants will include Extension agents, vocational agriculture teachers, NRCS personnel, agronomists working for pesticide distributors, and other educators related to the landscape maintenance. During the workshops, project personnel will explain each module topic in detail. Instructional activities will also include a hands-on session on pest identification, scouting, monitoring, diagnosing and decision-making. The University of Puerto Rico will provide all training facilities sites.

Impact Assessment

All stages of this project will involve separate evaluation processes. A pilot group of landscapers and educators will evaluate for appropriateness the first draft of the Landscape IPM Manual and the electronic presentations, before holding the final train-the-trainer workshops.

A survey prior to initiation of the training and immediately after its completion among Extension agents and other educators will evaluate their knowledge and attitudes about landscape IPM. At the beginning of the workshops, a survey among participants will determine their awareness and confidence in IPM. This survey will also determine if the participants include any IPM information in their recommendations to arborists, landscapers, homeowners and growers. At the end of each workshop, a post activity survey will collect data about the effectiveness of the training in meeting behavior-based objectives. In particular, this survey will determine whether participants learned how to implement an IPM program on urban landscapes and if they are able to train landscapers, homeowners or other individuals in environmentally sound responsible pest management strategies.

Six months after the train-the-trainer workshops, the personnel of this project will conduct a mail survey with 20% of workshop participants to determine if they have incorporated landscape IPM in their training and educational programs. A mail-questionnaire among a sample of non-trained recipients of the IPM manual will seek the usefulness of this educational material.

Literature Cited

Bio-Integral Resource Center. http:// www.birc.org . (05/04/2004)

Bird, E. A. R. 2003. Reducing Pesticide Use and Risk in Urban Landscapes-Proposal. Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program . http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/pesp/regional_grants/2003/r5b-2003.htm . (08/22/04)

Davidson, J., J. L. Hellman, and J. Holmes. 1981. Urban Ornamentals and Turf IPM, pp. 68-72. In Proceedings of Integrated Pest Management Workshop. National Cooperative Extension. Dallas, TX.

Holmes, J. J., and J. A. Davidson. 1984. Integrated Pest Management for Arborists: Implementation of a Pilot Program. J. Arboric. 10: 65-70.

Koehler, C. S. 1987. Symptomatology in the Instruction of Landscape Ornamentals Entomology. J. Arboric. 13: 78-80.

Kusel, R., and S. Kamuda. 2004. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Based Turf and Native Plantings Pilot Project- Final Report. Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program . http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/pesp/regional_grants/2001/r5-2001-final.htm . (08/22/04)

Michigan State University. Nursery and Landscape Resources. http://www.cips.msu.edu/landscape/index.htm . (22/08/04)

Morris, J. 2004. Marketing Landscape Integrated Pest Management Services to Consumers- Final Report. Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program. http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/pesp/regional_grants/1999/r2-1999-final.htm . (08/22/04)

Olkowski, W., H. Olkowski, R. van den Bosch & R. Hom. 1976. Ecosystem Management: a Framework for Urban Pest Control. Bioscience 26: 384-89.

Paine, T. D., J. G. Millar, T. S. Bellows, and L. M. hanks. 1997. Enlisting an Underappreciated Clientele: Public participation in Distribution and Evaluation of Natural Enemies in Urban Landscapes. American Entomologist. 43:163-172.

Raupp, M. J., and R. M. Noland. 1984. Implementing Landscape Plant Management Programs in Institutional and Residential Settings. J. Arboric. 10:161-169.

Sellmer, J. C., K. M. Kelley, D. J. Suchanic, S. Barton. 2003. An Interactive Survey to Assess Consumer Knowledge about Landscape Plant Health Care and IPM Practices. J. of Extension Vol. 41. No. 2. http://www.joe.org/joe/2003april/rb4.shtml . (08/22/04)

Smith, D. C., and M. J. Raupp. 1986. Economic and Environmental Assessment of an Integrated pest management Program for Community Owned Landscape Plants. J. Econ. Entomol. 79:162-165.

Sparks, B. L. 2000. Insect Pests of Ornamentals and Turf-Grasses Identification, Monitoring and Control Strategies. pp. 3-1, 3-2. In Woodward, J. W., and Sparks, B. (Eds.). 2000. Landscape Integrated Pest Management Manual . Special Bulletin 35. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Georgia, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Stewart, C. D., K. Braman, B. L. Sparks, J. L. Williams-Woodward, G. L. Wade, and J. G. Latimer. 2002. Comparing an IPM Pilot Program to a Traditional Cover Spray Program in Commercial Landscapes. J. Econ. Entomol. 95(4): 789-796

Texas A & M University. Texas IPM Program. http://ipm.tamu.edu/ornamentals/insect.html . (22/08/04)

The University of Georgia. IPM-Turf, Lawns, and Ornamentals. http://www.gaipm.org/turf/. (22/08/04)

U. S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. 1997. National Resources Inventory . http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/technical/NRI . (08/01/1999)

U.S. Geological Survey, U.S. Department of the Interior. 1999. The Quality of Our Nation's Waters-- Nutrients and Pesticides: U.S. Geological Survey Circular 1225. http://water.usgs.gov/pubs/circ/circ1225/index.html (10/01/2003)

University of California IPM on Line. http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/ . (22/08/04)

University of Maryland. Integrated Pest Management/Total Plant Management. http://www.agnr.umd.edu/users/ipmnet/ . (22/08/04)

University of Massachusetts Amherst . Landscape Project. http://www.umass.edu/umext/ipm/ipm_projects/landscape.html . (22/08/04)

University of Minnesota. Center for Urban Ecology and Sustainability. Landscape IPM Diagnostic Site. http://www.entomology.umn.edu/cues/dx/ . (22/08/04)

West, D., K. Tilt, D. Williams, and A. Chappelka. Planning and Implementing an Urban Forestry Program. http://www.aces.edu/department/ipm/uforprog.htm . (05/01/2003)

Woodward, J. W., and Sparks, B. (Eds.). 2000. Landscape Integrated Pest Management Manual. Special Bulletin 35. Cooperative Extension Service, University of Georgia, College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Timetable

This project will begin in January 2005 and finish in January 2007. The schedule for project completion is:

January to June 2005

Compile information and photos from literature and experts (landscapers, agronomists, Extension personnel, researchers, and others). Recruit project assistant, and the scientific illustrator.

July to October 2005

Integrate the information and generate the first draft of the Landscape IPM Manual, and the electronic presentations.

November 2005 to January 2006

Offer the workshops for landscapers and agricultural educators to validate and refine the educational materials.

February to May 2006

Review process of the Landscape IPM Manual and electronic presentations developed.

June to August 2006

Print the Landscape IPM Manual. Post the manual and the electronic presentations in the UPRAES IPM web site.

September to November 2006

Offer five regional train-the-trainer workshops. Evaluate the Landscape IPM Manual, the electronic presentations, and the train-the-trainer workshops.

January 2007

Final Report.

April to June 2007

Assess the effectiveness of the manual and electronic presentations and their adoption by Extension agents and other agricultural educators. Assess materials usefulness among non-trained recipients of the Landscape IPM Manual.

Major Participants

Project Director

Hipólito O'Farrill-Nieves, Ph.D., Extension Entomologist, UPR Agricultural Extension Service

Major Collaborators

Silverio Medina, Ph.D., Ad-Honorem Research Entomologist, UPR Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Agricultural Sciences, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico

Wanda Almodóvar, M.S., Associate Extension Plant Pathologist and IPM Coordinator, UPR Agricultural Extension Service, College of Agricultural Sciences, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico

Héctor Rivera, M.S., County Extension Agent, Agricultural Extension Service, College of Agricultural Sciences, San Juan, Puerto Rico

Rudy Santos, M.S., County Extension Agent, Agricultural Extension Service, College of Agricultural Sciences, Gurabo, Puerto Rico

The director and collaborators have expertise in all the areas needed for project development and implementation. They have excellent professional relations and frequently work together as a team in extension and research activities. They have been discussing this project during a significant period. They are seriously concerned and committed with sustainability in agricultural and urban environs.

Project Budget

Funding Request
Budget Category	Funding Requested	Matching Non-Federal Funds
First Year Funding	$40,000	$15,500
Second Year Funding	0	0
Total Funding	$40,000	$15,500

Project Duration: Two years