The objective of this effort was to improve the timely statewide communication of pest management and crop production among field crop CCE personnel during the growing season.
Over the three seasons of field crop conference calls, CCE personnel with field crop responsibilities took advantage of the weekly opportunity to share observations, gain insights, acquire and present practical knowledge and technical information in an in-house professional development environment. These timely efforts enhanced field crop extension personnel (educators and faculty) communication and awareness on current pest and crop conditions. In addition the timely forum allowed for discussion of anticipated pest, crop and weather issues, integrated pest and crop management and potential extension programming opportunities. The majority of those involved were repeat participants each year with new extension field staff joining in the discussions with more experienced field staff. Nearly 25 individuals regularly participated and contributed to the effort and it’s success over it’s three year duration. Participants found value in the timely updates, discussion, professional development and team building aspects of the conference calls that could then be used to increase potential extension outreach impacts with stakeholders.
The primary benefit of the program lies in the enhanced communication and professional development of the extension personnel involved. Stakeholders ultimately benefit from this effort through the potential enhanced extension outreach impacts related to increased timely awareness of pest issues, pre-emptive monitoring and management of potential pest problems that help grower stakeholders minimize or avoid pest impacts, better address pesticide use decisions, and protect net profitability.
Topics this season (2010) that contributed to outreach and potential impacts included: warmer than normal weather conditions (~2 weeks) contribute to earlier than historically expected pest occurrence and crop development. Major topics and activities: tracking wheat growth / development / disease incidence, stripe rust in wheat (first occurrence), early season weed control, very low incidence of alfalfa weevil, PLH, and soybean aphid; identification and management of white mold in soybean, slugs in corn & soybeans, crow damage to emerging corn. Detailed discussions of fusarium head blight prediction model, mid to late season corn weed management, western bean cutworm monitoring risk to sweet and field corn and dry bean, soybean white mold management, weed management recommendations and decision making, vertebrate damage to field crops, sharing of timely resources and field monitoring reminders. · Weekly weather outlook and pest observations were summarized in the Field Crop IPM Weekly Pest Report (http://nysipm.cornell.edu/fieldcrops/tag/pestrpt/). The intended audience for this newsletter includes CCE personnel, crop advisors, agricultural industry, farmer. Direct and multiplier effect distribution estimated at 14,000.
impact statement issue
County and regional Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) field crop educators are Cornell University’s front line in helping New York field crop producer clientele with crop production and pest management issues. Keeping CCE personnel informed on the latest information and developments helps us meet Cornell’s high standards for extension outreach and provides clientele with quality, pertinent, timely and user-friendly programs and resources that maximize our educational impacts. Regular communication between CCE county and campus personnel helps strengthen the outreach network, and is an important component of CCE’s professional development. CCE personnel translate knowledge gained from these educational opportunities into outreach materials and other resources to effectively meet needs of clientele.
Integral to regular communication and team building is an open exchange of information between individuals with varying levels of experience. Seasoned experts are able to help new extension personnel gain a statewide perspective of production issues and opportunities in real time. Regular dialogues provide a forum for review and discussion of new information and technologies, including strengths, weaknesses, and advantages of adoption. Frequent communication assures our unified vision and strengthens our consistent outreach message. These exchanges are often instrumental in helping to identify applied research needs, local demonstration opportunities, and the development of outreach resources / programs.
impact statement response
A series of twenty-one conference calls were held weekly (April 30–Oct. 1) in 2010 to improve campus and field staff communication regarding field crop pest and crop management issues during the growing season. Each 45-minute conference call involved CCE field crop educators and faculty sharing information updates on statewide observations of crop growth/development, pest status and selected pest management and other topics. Conference calls were open to all CCE personnel with field crop responsibilities. A total of 19 CCE educators participated over the course of the growing season. Approximately 10 extension educators with field crop and general agriculture responsibilities participated per meeting. The conference call series provided CCE personnel the opportunity to share current statewide field observations and discuss questions and management recommendations. Meeting activities and agenda included: participant introductions, weekly weather outlook, discussion of county and statewide pest observations and crop growth and development, and other selected pest management topics. Meetings concluded with a special topic presentation or suggested IPM activities for week. Links and supplemental information discussed during the conference call were shared with participants via follow up email.
impact statement summary
Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) educators are Cornell University’s front line in helping New York field crop producer clientele with crop production and pest management issues. Keeping CCE personnel informed on the latest information and developments helps us meet Cornell’s high standards for extension outreach and provides clientele with quality, pertinent, timely and user-friendly programs and resources that maximize our educational impacts. Enhancing communication opportunities between CCE county and campus personnel helps strengthen the outreach network, and is an important component of CCE’s professional development. 2010 marked the third and final year for this project. A series of twenty-one conference calls were held weekly to improve campus and field staff communication regarding field crop pest and crop management issues during the growing season. Each call averaged approximately 10 participants and lasted forty-five minutes. Conference call participants were better equipped to conduct their outreach efforts and meet the field crop pest management needs of their stakeholder. Summaries of pest observations and follow up articles were included in the NYS IPM Program On-line newsletter the Weekly Pest Report. Articles from this newsletter were used in many CCE county and regional newsletters reaching an estimated 14,000 subscribers.
