Project Overview

Reports

Commodities

• Nuts: pecans

Target Pests

• Target Pests: ants, aphids, bacterial diseases, brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB), fungus, insects, lepidoptera, nematodes, other, spider mites, various

Practices

• Pest Management: behavioral control, biological control, biorational pesticides, chemical control, competition, cultural control, decision support system, disease vectors, economic threshold, eradication, exclusion, forecasting, genetic resistance, habitat modification, host resistance, mating disruption, mechanical control, modeling, monitoring/scouting, pesticide application timing, pesticide resistance management, pesticides, precision pesticide use, prevention, trap crops, traps, weather monitoring

• Crop Production: application rate management, cover crops, crop improvement and selection, intercropping, plant breeding and genetics, water management

• Production Systems: agroecosystems, organic agriculture

Problem. Established and/or new/emerging pathogens (diseases) and arthropods (e.g., insects and mites) are constant pecan production threats throughout the pecan-producing regions of the United States. There is an ongoing need to evaluate and develop effective pecan pest management recommendations, including increasing the use of integrated pest management (IPM). Pecan producers and other stakeholders lack knowledge and/or want more information on pecan pests, pest management, and IPM practices and decision-making tools, and must continually be educated to remain up to date on the most effective,  economically-friendly, and safe pest management recommendations. The ability to effectively address these needs through research and educational opportunities for stakeholders has become challenging due to reductions in the number of researchers and Extension specialists/educators with pest management responsibilities for pecan. Approach. The highlighted problems discussed above will be addressed through the development of a Pecan IPM Working Group (PIPMWG, objective 1), the development and/or expansion of new and/or existing pecan pest management resources (objective 2), and increased opportunities for stakeholder education (objective 3). The PIPMWG will hold quarterly meetings during the project period and will develop a list of prioritized research and Extension needs for pecan IPM and determine the best methods to increase IPM adoption in commercial pecan production to help direct and create collaborative efforts. At least five new resources on pecan pests and IPM in pecans will be developed and distributed to stakeholders across the pecan industry. These resources will be shared on the Ag Pest Monitor: Pecans website; the goal is to make Ag Pest Monitor: Pecans a comprehensive repository for pecan IPM information. The existing MyIPM smartphone app modules for pecans will be expanded to include new pest profiles to make this a more comprehensive resource and decision-making tool. Several presentations and workshops, largely focused on pecan insect IPM, will be developed and delivered throughout the pecan belt. Additionally, Pecan Insect IPM Kits will be distributed to scientists and/or Extension educators in states without strong pecan programs to provide the tools necessary for delivery of educational events for stakeholders. Impact. This project will lead to increases in stakeholder knowledge of pecan pests, IPM practices, and IPM resources and decision-making tools as well as increases in the use of the resources and tools. Increased stakeholder knowledge will lead to increased adoption of IPM practices in pecan pest management. Increased IPM adoption in commercial pecan production will ultimately lead to improved pest management, increased nut yields and quality, reduced pesticide use, and reduced negative impacts to non-target organisms and the environment for both individuals and the pecan industry as a whole. Successful pest management is a requirement for successful and sustainable production of quality pecans that meet industry standards of American pecans and consumer demand.