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Funded Project

Funding Program: Regional IPM Grants (S-RIPM)

Project Title: A Multi-State Network for Predicting Pest Activity in Pecans

Project Directors (PDs): Allen Knutson [1] Bill Ree [2] Mark Muegge [3] John Jackman [4]

Lead State: TX Lead Organization: Texas Cooperative Extension

Extension Funding: $40,000

Research Funding: $44,500

Start Date: Jun-01-2005 End Date: May-31-2008

Pests Involved: pecan nut casebearer

Site/Commodity: pecans

Summary: This project will integrate research and technology and the energy of volunteers interacting via a web site to develop a network of reliable and current information on pecan pest activity across the major pecan growing regions of Texas and Oklahoma. The outcome will be an increased awareness among growers of the optimum timing for orchard scouting and the application of pest management tactics. This proposal addresses a high priority issued identified by pecan growers through surveys conducted in 1991, 1994 and 1997 and reported by Harris et al. 1998. Growers identified the pecan nut casebearer as the single most damaging pest of pecans and responsible for an estimated 6.7% annual yield loss. These clientele surveys clearly document the importance of this single pest to profitable pecan yields. Pecans are grown in most of the Southern Region states, with Texas and Georgia leading in production nationwide. We address this problem by developing and validating a new degree-day model to predict activity of pecan nut casebearer. The model will be validated through field research at three sites in Texas and one in Oklahoma. This model, initiated on date of first moth capture, will alert growers to optimum dates for orchard scouting and if necessary, insecticide application. Pilot model validation shows historic temperatures, rather than current temperatures which are difficult to acquire, can be used to generate reliable predictions. To meet the need for pheromone trap data from many locations across both stats, we will train and organize volunteer growers (MasterTrappers) to monitor pheromone traps. This network of MasterTrappers will upload trap catch data to a web site which will generate predictions on a countywide basis. These predictions will be immediately and widely available to all producers and County Extension agents so that pest management practices can be implemented on a timely basis across a large production region. Objectives: The overall objective of this project is to integrate new technology (biofix model and pheromone traps) and the collective energy of volunteers organized as MasterTrappers with the accessibility of the web to develop a network of reliable and current information on PNC activity across all of the major pecan growing areas of Texas and Oklahoma. The outcome will be increased awareness among growers of the optimum timing for orchard scouting and the application of pest management tactics. Better pest management information should reduce economic loss due to pecan nut casebearer and minimize the use of insecticides. Specific objectives are: 1. Validate the pecan nut casebearer biofix model at additional sites in all of the major pecan producing regions in Texas and Oklahoma through an intensive data collection effort. Model validation is needed to verify its application across the great geographic and ecological range of pecan production in these states. 2. Develop a MasterTrappers program to organize, train and support volunteer pecan growers and County Extension Agents to monitor PNC pheromone traps in local orchards and upload dates of first significant moth capture to a web site. The web site will generate the predicted dates from the biofix model for first PNC egg and first nut entry. These predications will be available to all pecan producers via the web site. The goal is to have at least1-2 trained MasterTrappers in each of the 46 major pecan growing counties in Texas and Oklahoma. 3. Develop an internet web site for MasterTrappers to enter trap catch dates, generate model predictions using historic temperature data for the nearest weather station and interact with program managers. The web site will disseminate local (county level) predictions of PNC activity and pest management information which will be available to all pecan producers.

Final Report:

Results PROGRESS: 2005/06 TO 2008/05 OUTPUTS: The first output was a degree-day model of pecan nut casebearer PNC development (oviposition and nut entry) initiated by capture of the first moths in pheromone traps. We monitored moth flight, egg abundance and nut entry by larvae in pecan orchards and related the timing of these events to temperature recorded at the nearest weather station. These events represent casebearer activity most relevant to managing this pest. Cumulative heat units, beginning at first moth capture, were determined for 10,25,50,75 and 90% oviposition and nut entry for each orchard. Heat unit accumulations were used to create a model predicting dates of PNC oviposition and nut entry. The model is initiated on the date when the first moths are captured in traps and a base temperature of 38 F (Ring et al 1983). This model is named PNCforecast to emphasize to growers that, like a weather forecast, the model output depends upon weather (high and low temperatures) and is therefore subject to change. The second output was validation of the PNCforecast in Texas and Oklahoma before releasing this program for grower use. This was achieved by training volunteer pecan growers, Master Gardeners, County Extension Agents and others to monitor pecan nut casebearer flight with pheromone traps. This effort built on a trapper network initiated earlier by Texas AgriLife Extension(Ree). Trapping data were used to generate a PNCforecast and the orchard was subsequently sampled for eggs and nut entry.Dates of oviposition and nut entry as actually observed were compared to the dates predicted by the PNCforcast. This validation effort found the PNCforecast highly reliable and superior to previous methods of using calendar days or "frost-free" days to predict casebearer activity. The third output was an interactive web site, (http://pncforecast.tamu.edu/ or via http://pecankernel.tamu.edu/) to allow growers to generate PNCforecasts for their own orchards. Currently, the PNCforecast site provides mean high and low temperature data (mean for recent15-20 years) for about 65 weather stations across Texas and Oklahoma. The grower enters the date of first moth capture and selects the nearest weather station. The output lists the predicted dates of oviposition and the date of first nut entry. The PNCforecast web site also provides PNCforecasts for sites in Texas and Oklahoma which are based upon trap data generated by trained volunteer trappers and reviewed for quality control by project coordinators (Knutson, Muegge and Ree). The outcomes of this project were presented by Knutson (2006), Muegge (2007) and Knutson (2008) at 3 annual meetings of the Texas Pecan Growers Association and by Mulder (2007) to the meeting of the Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association and presented to pecan growers attending numerous county and regional Extension educational programs. An article on the PNCforecast system was published in the Pecan South magazine and distributed to local newspapers statewide. Extension programs help growers understand the value of the PNCforecast, while the web site is the primary means by which the products of this project are being disseminated. PARTICIPANTS: Allen Knutson, Professor and Extension Entomologist, Texas A&M. Project Coordinator. Mark Muegge. Associate Professor and Extension Entomologist, Texas A&M. John Jackman. Professor and Extension Entomologist, Texas A&M, Bill Ree. Extension Agent-Entomology IPM. Texas AgriLife Extension Phil Mulder. Professor and Extension Entomologist, Oklahoma State Univeristy Robin Williams. Web site designer. Entomology Dept. Texas A&M Partner Organizations: Texas Pecan Growers Association Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association. Both participated by including speakers from this project on the program for their statewide annual conferences. Advisor to project: Marvin Harris, Professor, Entomology Dept. Texas A&M TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audience are commercial pecan growers in Texas and Oklahoma and extension specialists and agribusiness that advise and work with these growers. Efforts to inform growers of the PNCforecast system included presentations on this project at three annual meetings of the Texas Pecan Growers Association and the annual meeting of the Oklahoma Pecan Growers Association. Annual attendance at the Texas meetings is ca. 250 pecan growers. In addition, the PNCforecast system was presented to pecan growers attending numerous county and regional Extension educational programs conducted by Ree, Muegge and Knutson. An article on the PNCforecast system was published in the Pecan South magazine and distributed to local newspapers statewide through the Texas AgriLife Office of Ag Communications. Extension training programs help growers understand the value of the PNCforecast, while the web site, pncforecast.tamu.edu, is the primary means by which the products of this project are being shared and disseminated. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period. IMPACT: 2005/06 TO 2008/05 The most significant outcome is that pecan growers now have access to a reliable, temperature-driven model of pecan nut casebearer activity and can use the interactive web site to generate a PNCforecast for their orchard using their own pheromone trap data and local temperatures. Because the PNCforecast is based upon trap capture in their orchard, the output should be very reliable. A second important outcome is the new knowledge growers have for managing PNC as a result of the PNCforecast system. This knowledge helps growers plan management activities (orchard scouting, insecticide application) and therefore reduces crop losses resulting from poorly timed treatments and avoids multiple insecticide applications due to uncertainty in proper timing. Our validation studies found that the earliest dates on which sufficient eggs are present to make a treatment decision is at 25-50% oviposition. Prior to these dates, too few eggs have yet been deposited for the grower to make a reliable decision regarding the need to apply an insecticide. Identifying this optimum time to scout the orchard to assess egg infestation saves the grower time and provides a level of confidence that avoids needless scouting prior to the period of significant oviposition. If egg abundance does not reach the treatment threshold at 25-50% oviposition, then the grower must scout again. If at 90% oviposition, sufficient eggs are still not present to justify an insecticide application, the grower has the confidence that the oviposition period is essentially complete and that the casebearer infestation does not justify treatment. Pecan growers have new knowledge of when to expect the first casebearer larvae to begin tunneling into nutlets. This date of "first nut entry" is important as insecticides are should be applied 2-3 days prior to this date to protect nutlets from injury. The PNCforecast model generates the date of first nut entry. Growers can use this date to anticipate when to apply an insecticide and to prepare equipment and obtain insecticide. Our guidelines make it clear that the "first nut entry" date is not a spray date. We emphasize that the PNCforecast is a tool to plan management activities and that optimum spray dates will depend on actual scouting results on egg and nut entry and orchard-specific considerations regarding expected rainfall, insecticide selection and the number of days required to treat the orchard. Pecan growers have new knowledge about pecan nut casebearer activity across Texas and Oklahoma. As a result of volunteer trappers, dates of first moth capture are used by project coordinators/Extension entomologists (Knutson, Muegge, Ree) to generate and post PNCforecasts for counties in which cooperators provide reliable trap data. This information is posted on a map showing counties with PNCforecasts. During 2008, PNCforecasts were posted for about 20 locations in Texas and Oklahoma in 2008. Growers who do not monitor pheromone traps can access this site and gain information on PNCforecasts generated nearest their orchard. The PNCforecast system is being considered for incorporation into a pecan impPIPE project. PUBLICATIONS (not previously reported): 2005/06 TO 2008/05 1. Hallberg, Rosemary and Allen Knutson. 2008. Degree-day technology enhances options in PNC arsenal. Pecan South. May. p. 10-11. 2. Ree. B. 2008. Pecan IPM Newsletter. On-line at http://pecankernal.tamu.edu. 3. Knutson, Allen. 2008. The on-line pecan nut casebearer forecast system. Texas AgriLife Extension fact sheet. 2 p.

Outcomes N/A

Impacts From report by the PI to USDA CRIS report system The most significant outcome is that pecan growers now have access to a reliable, temperature-driven model of pecan nut casebearer activity and can use the interactive web site to generate a PNCforecast for their orchard using their own pheromone trap data and local temperatures. Because the PNCforecast is based upon trap capture in their orchard, the output should be very reliable. A second important outcome is the new knowledge growers have for managing PNC as a result of the PNCforecast system. This knowledge helps growers plan management activities (orchard scouting, insecticide application) and therefore reduces crop losses resulting from poorly timed treatments and avoids multiple insecticide applications due to uncertainty in proper timing. Our validation studies found that the earliest dates on which sufficient eggs are present to make a treatment decision is at 25-50% oviposition. Prior to these dates, too few eggs have yet been deposited for the grower to make a reliable decision regarding the need to apply an insecticide. Identifying this optimum time to scout the orchard to assess egg infestation saves the grower time and provides a level of confidence that avoids needless scouting prior to the period of significant oviposition. If egg abundance does not reach the treatment threshold at 25-50% oviposition, then the grower must scout again. If at 90% oviposition, sufficient eggs are still not present to justify an insecticide application, the grower has the confidence that the oviposition period is essentially complete and that the casebearer infestation does not justify treatment. Pecan growers have new knowledge of when to expect the first casebearer larvae to begin tunneling into nutlets. This date of "first nut entry" is important as insecticides are should be applied 2-3 days prior to this date to protect nutlets from injury. The PNCforecast model generates the date of first nut entry. Growers can use this date to anticipate when to apply an insecticide and to prepare equipment and obtain insecticide. Our guidelines make it clear that the "first nut entry" date is not a spray date. We emphasize that the PNCforecast is a tool to plan management activities and that optimum spray dates will depend on actual scouting results on egg and nut entry and orchard-specific considerations regarding expected rainfall, insecticide selection and the number of days required to treat the orchard. Pecan growers have new knowledge about pecan nut casebearer activity across Texas and Oklahoma. As a result of volunteer trappers, dates of first moth capture are used by project coordinators/Extension entomologists (Knutson, Muegge, Ree) to generate and post PNCforecasts for counties in which cooperators provide reliable trap data. This information is posted on a map showing counties with PNCforecasts. During 2008, PNCforecasts were posted for about 20 locations in Texas and Oklahoma in 2008. Growers who do not monitor pheromone traps can access this site and gain information on PNCforecasts generated nearest their orchard. The PNCforecast system is being considered for incorporation into a pecan impPIPE project.

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