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Funded Project

Funding Program: IPM Partnership Grants

Project Title: Conservation Activity Plans: An Opportunity for IPM

Project Director (PD): Thomas Green [1]

Lead State: WI Lead Organization: IPM Institute of America, Inc.

Undesignated Funding: $8,000

Start Date: Aug-01-2009 End Date: Jul-31-2010

Area of Emphasis: NRCS, education, curriculum

Summary: NRCS has launched a Conservation Activity Plan (CAP) pilot program for FY 2009. The plan provides a 75% cost-share to producers for preparation of conservation plans by qualified, pre-approved, private-sector Technical Service Providers (TSPs). A 90% cost-share is available to historically underserved producers. We propose to ensure effective participation in CAP program to advance adoption of IPM. Objectives: We propose to ensure effective participation in CAP program to advance adoption of IPM. Our specific objectives include: create a new national working group composed of Extension, NRCS, state lead agency, EPA, IPM Centers and industry professionals and focusing on CAPs infrastructure development to maximize opportunities for IPM; develop training curriculum for private-sector consultants to qualify as TSPs and to write CAPs; determine realistic cost-share rates to attract the private-sector; create an outreach plan to increase awareness among growers, private sector consultants and IPM professionals; and develop model IPM CAPs and evaluate pilot results and recommend improvements. Proposal

Final Report:

Outcomes Due to Working Group efforts, 13 states chose IPM as one of their Conservation Activity Plans: California, Indiana, Maine, West Virginia, Rhode Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Florida, New York, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Arizona and New Hampshire. Additional states may be offering IPM CAPs in 2010, but are not listed here. The deadline for choosing CAPs was extended indefinitely, and there is no centralized reporting within the NRCS for states to submit their selections. Maryland and Delaware have committed to choosing IPM CAPs in 2011. TSP Coordinators in these states cited lack of trained TSPs for their decision to put off offering IPM CAPs until 2011. Both states intend to host training sessions in 2010 to certify TSPs. In January of 2010 the working group held a training at the National Alliance of Independent Crop Consultants association's annual meeting in Orlando, Florida. This one day event was designed to answer questions and provide an overview for individuals seeking IPM CAPs TSP certification. The instructors at the event were Dr. Thomas Green, IPM Institute; Mark Parson EQIP Program Specialist, NRCS; Tim Pilkowski, Maryland State Conservation Agronomist, NRCS and Steve Boetger Florida State Conservation Agronomist, NRCS. Important topics covered during the event were requirements for IPM CAPs TSP certification, components of an IPM CAP and plan writing along with use of other USDA NRCS conservation planning tools. The Working Group website that was developed is an important resource for in informing TSPs of the various incentives available to them via IPM CAPs including and provides them with other important information relating to IPM CAPs TSP certification. The website can be viewed at: www.ipminstitute.org/IPMCAPs/home.htm. Additional important outputs include the sample IPM CAP that was developed for a Minnesota orchard (Appendix B) and the IPM CAPs training curriculum (Appendix E).

Impacts Helping conservation planners become an IPM CAPs certified TSP and encouraging the adoption of the IPM CAPs program by states continues to be a unique challenge. As a result of our efforts 13 states did elect IPM CAPs for 2010 and Maryland and Delaware are committed to the program for 2011. However many states continue to be resistant to the program because of a lack of certified TSPs. Concurrently, many conservation planners have expressed a lack of interest in IPM CAPs because of the complicated TSP certification process and minimal number of participating states in the program. This project has been successful in improving collaboration among Federal and State level NRCS staff, crop advisors, extension staff, IPM experts and others. Collectively, we've increased awareness of IPM CAPs incentives and access to information and tools to make certification for TSPs achievable and applicable. With the merger of the working group into the NRCS and IPM Working Group, it is anticipated they will continue to build on the accomplishments of this working group to increase states adoption of IPM CAPs and encourage more conservation planners seek IPM CAPs TSP certification. Number of attendees at IPM CAPs training: Eight Educational materials delivered: 14 different training and educational materials/resources were distributed to participants at the national IPM CAPs training event. Website traffic: Our website does not currently track user visits.

Report Appendices Final Report 2010 [PDF]

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