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Funded Project

Funding Program: Enhancement Grants - State Contacts/IPM Documents

Project Title: Tennessee / Kentucky Pest Management Information Network

Project Directors (PDs): Darrell D Hensley [1] James P Parkman [2]

Lead State: TN Lead Organization: University of Tennessee

Undesignated Funding: $40,000

Start Date: Jul-01-2006 End Date: Jun-30-2007

Summary: The University of Tennessee seeks funding for continued development and maintenance of a State Contact Project (SCP) for Tennessee and Kentucky. If funding is received, The University of Tennessee, Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology will continue to assist the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center (SRIPMC) in maintaining a communication network that will enhance and facilitate the flow of resources and information in integrated pest management on a statewide basis as well as a regional basis. The University of Tennessee Entomology and Plant Pathology Department, Tennessee Pest Management Information Network (TPMIN) will serve as a primary resource for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides in Tennessee and Kentucky. Responses to informational requests made through the SRIPMC will be forwarded to an online reporting system developed by the SRIPMC. The TPMIN will establish and maintain a stakeholder network to continue to develop Tennessee’s and Kentucky’s priorities. An annual state contact meeting will be held with stakeholders to aid in developing state and regional priorities. The University’s IPM Coordinators, Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) coordinators and IR-4 coordinators; industry representatives; grower groups and growers will be asked for their input in developing separate state priorities for Tennessee and Kentucky. Developed priorities for both Tennessee and Kentucky will be placed online for public access. Stakeholder information will be displayed within a developed web site. The State Contact Project will provide oversight of state-developed Crop Profiles and Pest Management Strategic Plans (PMSP). Developed crop/pest profiles and PMSPs will conform to the Center’s standards for content, format and distribution. Occasionally, information concerning pests, outcomes and successes will be reported in annual reports and on the network’s web site. The SCP will contribute to each university’s programs by supplying information concerning pest management and pesticides. This information will be distributed across the state in the form of newsletters, pest alerts and e-mailings. Objectives: 1) Informational contact: The Tennessee / Kentucky Pest Management Information Network housed at the University of Tennessee in the Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology will serve as Tennessee’s and Kentucky’s SCP or primary contact for regulatory questions related to pest management and pesticides. 2) Activities and documentation: The SCP will document activities related to pesticide and pest management inquires from entities other than the Center, USDA and EPA. 3) Communications and Networking: Darrell Hensley will be the principal investigator of Tennessee’s and Kentucky’s Pest Management Information Networks and serve as the State Contact Project (SCP) for the Southern Region IPM Center. The SCP will continue to facilitate the flow of critical pest management and pesticide information to proper entities through newsletters, e-mailings and critical pest alerts. The SCP will continue to cooperate with SRIPMC and other states in gathering and disseminating pest management related information. The SCP will inform and consult with state stakeholders of EPA’s priorities and contact stakeholders for their input. The SCP will request state IPM coordinators, Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) coordinators, IR-4 representatives, 1890s university IPM program representatives, state department of agriculture and environmental conservation, county extension personnel and commodity groups to provide input in each state network. Individuals may be contacted via email, newsletters, direct phone contact or annual advisory meetings. 4) Oversight: The SCP will provide coordination and oversight of crop pest profiles and PMSPs developed within the state by assisting with development and providing guidance, if necessary. Crop profiles and PMSPs developed will be for commodities either listed on EPA’s priority list or noted as a priority by the state advisory committee. Developed crop profiles and/or PMS plans will follow guidelines as posted on the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center’s web page. 5) Annual Assessment: An annual assessment prioritizing crop profiles and PMSPs for each state will be covered by this project. This assessment will require that stakeholders review currently developed crop profiles and PMSPs to determine if they are sufficiently up-to-date and which are needing updating The production of new documents and updating of existing documents will be prioritized by their need. This information will be available to the SRIPMC by November 1, 2006. 6) Informational resources: Information sources such as IPM coordinator, area specialists, state specialists and research will be provided to the SRIPMC. 7) Web page development and Pest Alerts: The Entomology and Plant Pathology Department at the University of Tennessee will continue to maintain Kentucky’s project web site. This web site will be updated to clearly address regional priorities established by the Southern IPM Center. Other activities will be conducted by the SCP, such as posting IPM success stories and State IPM projects. The SCP will assist in maintaining and providing materials pertaining to pest management and pesticides for a departmental pest alert newsletter “Kentucky Pest News.” The SCP will also assist the areas of entomology, plant pathology and weed science at the University of Kentucky by providing critical information concerning pest management related issues. 8) SRIPMC meeting participation: The SCP or representative from the University of Tennessee will attend an annual state contact meeting arranged by the Center.

Website: Tennessee Pest Management Information Network

Interim Report: Oct-15-2007

Serve as primary contact for federal regulatory inquiries (State Contact only, required) Tennessees Pest Management and Information Network (TN-PMIN) is a state program which has supplied information to state extension specialists, researchers, extension agents, and grower groups. During 2006-07, Darrell Hensley served as the state contact for both Tennessees and Kentuckys joint projects. Tennessees center served as a coordinator of information for each state. Information and informational requests were sent to state specialists and grower groups concerning pesticides, pesticide reviews and environmental issues that originated from the Southern Regions Center. From July 1, 2006 until June 30 of 2007, approximately 15 requests of information were received from the Southern Region Integrated Pest Management Center located at NCSU. These requests were forwarded to state extension specialists, researchers and grower groups. Tennessees extension specialists responded to two of the 15 requests. Also, Kentuckys extension specialist responded on two other of the 15 requests. On September 26, 2006, Tennessee responded to the request concerning malathion use in Christmas tree production. Malathion is used in Tennessee Christmas tree production, however use is not heavy due to alternative pesticides available for control of aphids and other common pests found in Christmas tree production. The rates and number of applications per year recommended for malathion by the EPA is currently acceptable for Tennessee producers. Another request regarding soil fumigation in orchard establishment was made February 13, 2007. Steve Bost, a state extension specialist, indicated that products listed in the soil fumigant request were not of a great concern, due to the low orchard acreage within the state. Two responses were made by state specialists located in Kentucky. These requests included use of aldicarb in sweet potato production and malathion usage in blueberry production. Specialists reported that sweet potato production in Kentucky was very minimal and aldicarb was not important in sweet potato pest management. However, due to pest pressure in blueberry production, three applications of malathion would be of benefit since the product has a 1 day or less PHI and it provides some control of Japanese beetles. Informational requests received from the SR-IPMC are forwarded to state extension specialists and when appropriate, to state grower groups and industry representatives. Occasionally, information contained within requests may be included on the web or in production newsletters. When informational requests are determined critical to Tennessees production system, Darrell Hensley emails and/or calls state specialists and asks for their assistance. Generally, state specialists only respond if the request is extremely critical to the state and/or if the informational requests time line allows them appropriate time to respond. Often the informational requests turn around time is short and state specialists have other duties of higher priority, therefore no response may be obtained.

Document responses to other entities (State Contact only, strongly encouraged) Tennessees state information network continually keeps a communication network with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Regulatory Services. Two key contacts within this agency include: Mr. Gray Haun and Ms. Annie Self. Tennessees program has had several communications concerning Asian soybean rust, daylily rust, tropical soda apple, plum pox, Asian long horned beetles, emerald ash borer, Ralstonia solanacearum, hosta virus-x, and sudden oak death and the effects these pests could have on Tennessees production systems. Collaborative efforts include reviewing possible state pesticide registrations by Tennessees regulatory agency, Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS), Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Tennessee Pest Management Information Network. The use of two fungicides in soybean production was considered by each of the above groups and their benefits were evaluated among the groups. Through these effective communications, state registrations were permitted for use. The state program also provides information to Tennessees 1890 institute, Tennessee State University (TSU). All information received through the SR-IPMC was forwarded to TSUs integrated pest management specialists and small farms program administrators.

Establish and maintain a stakeholder network (State Contact only, required) In October of 2006, a phone conference was held with Tennessees state advisory members, to discuss education, research and regulatory priorities. An advisory committee was formed and included; the state Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Coordinator, Pesticide Safety and Education Program Coordinator, the IR-4 Project contact and various other state and county extension personnel as well as state producers. Contact information may be found at: http://web.utk.edu/~extepp/TNPMIN/Tennessee-contacts.htm. Individuals either contributing via email or by attending the phone conference included: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Coordinator: J. Patrick Parkman, Pesticide Safety and Education Program Coordinator: Edward "Gene" Burgess, and the IR-4 Project contact Angela M. Thompson. Other members included; Keith Hart - Extension Agent, Mike Nidiffer - Producer, Carter County, Steve Bost - Extension, Plant Pathologist, Frank Hale - Extension, Entomologist, Bob Moncier - Extension, County Agent, Melvin Newman - Extension, Plant Pathologist, Scott Stewart - Extension, Entomologist, IPM, Sharon Rice - Jefferson County Producer, David Lockwood - Extension, Agronomist, Gray Haun - Tennessee Department of Agriculture. Also, during October 2006, a phone conference was held with Kentucky to allow advisory members to voice their opinions and discuss state needs for educational, research and regulatory projects. Dr. Doug Johnson obtained information from other state specialists and growers concerning priorities of Kentucky. Dr. Doug Johnson, Ms. Patty Lucas, and Dr. Russ Patrick from Tennessee attended the phone conference.

Coordination and oversight of IPM Documents in the state (State Contact only, required) Due to funding related issues, no IPM documents were developed during this cycle. However, information concerning the state priorities listing and related issues were posted on the state developed website. Serving as State Contact, Darrell Hensley would have been happy to assist anyone who was interested in preparing or planning to develop IPM Documents. State priorities were determined during the phone conferences.

Annual assessment prioritizing Crop Profiles and PMSPs (State Contact only, required) Crop profiles that are up-to-date include: Brambles, hay, field corn, cotton, soybeans, beef cattle, and sorghum. Existing PMSPs which are up-to-date include; beef cattle, Christmas trees and turfgrass. Existing crop profiles that need minor updating include; apples, peaches, tomatoes, pumpkins, cantaloupes, squash, snapbeans and sweet corn. Existing PMSPs which could use some minor modification include; cucurbits, sweet corn and strawberry IPM documents that are highly important include: crop profiles for leafy greens, grapes, tobacco, dairy cattle and wheat and are underway for 2007-08. A crop profile is needed for leafy greens since this crop type has had an increased interest in production over the past few years. A dairy cattle profile is needed to indicate to specialists, industry representatives and producers the importance of pest management tools our state currently utilizes and help retain them for future use until alternatives can be found. Crop profiles for grapes, wheat and tobacco are extremely out of date and need to be updated.

Expertise List (State Contact only, required) A file containing updated IPM expertise for the 1862 Land Grant universities covered by this project was sent to SRIPMC on 10-10-07.

Web Site (State Contact only, required) Tennessees project website may be viewed at: http://web.utk.edu/TNPMIN/TNPMIN.htm. Priorities for Tennessee and Kentucky are listed below. Required attributes of the project website follows the SR-IPMCs guidelines. A description of the project may be found at: http://web.utk.edu/~extepp/TNPMIN/TNPMIN.htm Tennessee priorities http://web.utk.edu/~extepp/TNPMIN/TN-Priorities.htm Kentucky priorities http://web.utk.edu/~extepp/TNPMIN/KY-Priorities.htm A listing of state contacts for Tennessee are included at: http://web.utk.edu/~extepp/TNPMIN/Tennessee-contacts.htm Tennessees program accomplishment report may be found at: http://web.utk.edu/~extepp/TNPMIN/accomp.htm The state web site was developed to comply with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act Amendments to the Workforce Investment Act of 1998. The site also addresses regional priorities established by the Southern Region IPM Center and state priorities compatible with regional and national IPM Center sites to the extent that information on the site can contribute seamlessly to the larger information databases maintained regionally and nationally. Links are included to the Southern IPM Center and other appropriate entities. The home page prominently displays, near the project or site heading, the phrase "Tennessee Pest Management Information Network is a component of the Southern IPM Center." It also includes the statement "This site is supported, in part, with funding from the Southern IPM Center." All the currently created web pages of the site include the phrase "Tennessee is a component of the Southern IPM Center," and the words "Southern IPM Center" is hyperlinked to the Center web site. The date created or the most recent update (whichever is more recent), and the name of a person responsible for maintaining the page are also posted on all of the currently created web pages.

Annual Meeting (State Contact only, required) Darrell Hensley attended the annual State Contacts meeting, held for this cycle at Orlando, Florida on February 1, 2007.

Additional Activites (State Contact only, optional) Darrell Hensley, the state program representative, attended two state field days, and three state field crop recommendation meetings. Also, he was a guest lecturer for two courses (IPM and Pesticides) taught at the University of Tennessee, and spoke to two groups of master gardeners during this time frame. He assisted with development of a switchgrass proposal submitted to the SR-IPMC and a stored grain project proposal that was submitted to the SR-IPMC in 2006-07. He assisted other specialists and county extension personnel on numerous occasions, by finding and obtaining information concerning various pesticides and their availability for specific uses. Darrell worked with Tennessees state regulatory agency, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture (TDA), Division of Regulatory Services, assisting with the development of two state local needs labels during 06-07. On two occasions, he assisted the Pesticide Safety and Education Program Coordinator with training sessions. Darrell Hensley also serves as co-chair of Extension's Agroterrorism Taskforce. Information concerning agroterrorism related issues is forwarded to extension personnel and researchers located within the state.

Discussion (State Contact and IPM Documents, optional) As Tennessees coordinator, I have received several positive responses regarding the communication efforts of the program. State Extension Specialists are continually working closely with county extension personnel, grower groups and industry representatives. Information made available via Tennessees network is a valuable asset for state recommendations and often aids Tennessee programs in retaining needed pest control tools. Often, information requests made through the SR-IPMC require a rapid turn around. Sometimes it is difficult to obtain necessary information in a timely fashion from specialists due to their travel, other obligations and being out of pocket. However, having a network in place for each state provides the most efficient means to obtain information in a timely manner, as compared to having someone coordinating efforts on a national or regional scale. Obtaining information via a national or regional coordinator would require an extreme amount of effort to contact each states specialists, state regulatory personnel, grower groups and industry representatives. Especially, when there is turnover in, or changes in responsibilities for these positions.

IPM Documents Produced (IPM Documents only, required) No IPM documents were produced during this funding period.

Final Report:

IPM Documents Produced (IPM Documents only, required) No IPM documents were produced during this funding period.

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