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A view of an integrated research and extension program John F. Tooker
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A view of an integrated research and extension program John F. Tooker Department of Entomology/Center for Chemical Ecology Pennsylvania State University Extension Seminar 25 Sept 2007
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A view of an integrated research and extension program John F. Tooker Department of Entomology/Center for Chemical Ecology Pennsylvania State University. Extension Seminar 25 Sept 2007. Outline My view of how extension can work Experience from Christmas trees - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of A view of an integrated research and extension program John F. Tooker
A view of an integrated research and extension program
John F. TookerDepartment of Entomology/Center for Chemical Ecology
Pennsylvania State University
Extension Seminar25 Sept 2007
Outline
My view of how extension can work
Experience from Christmas trees
Developing a integrated program for PA field/forage crops
Research
Driven by:• My interests• Funding• Collaborations• Students• Time
Extension
Driven by:• Local needs• Funding• Collaborations• Students• Time
50% research : 50% extension
• My interests & local needs• Funding• Collaborations• Students• Time
Research
Driven by:• My interests• Funding• Collaborations• Students• Time
Extension
Driven by:• Local needs• Funding• Collaborations• Students• Time
50% research : 50% extension
Balance: My interests and PA agriculture, Two bosses
How? Integrate research and extension
• My interests & local needs• Funding• Collaborations• Students• Time
Research & Extension
Driven by:• Local needs
Farmer has pest problem
County agent
Extension specialist
Research program (Basic and applied)
Local needs spur research
Driven by:• Local needs• Results
Farmer has pest problem
County agent
Extension specialist
Research program (Basic and applied)
Local needs spur researchor
Research spurs local practices
Research & Extension
Pine needle scale - Chionaspis pinifoliae (Fitch)
Pine needle scale - Chionaspis pinifoliae (Fitch)
Pests of pines in:Christmas tree farmsOrnamental landscape planting
Native insectExotic trees (Scots, Mugo, Austrian pines)
Not easy to find in woods
• Generalist predators
Pine needle scale - Chionaspis pinifoliae (Fitch)
Community ecology study
Sampled insects and assessed influence of natural enemies
Habitat PNS abundance Sp. diversity (H’) Predation rate Parasitism rate
Ornamental Highest Lowest Highest
Turf same
Wooded Lowest Highest Lowest
Findings:
Complex: high diversity low PNS
Simple: low diversity high PNS
(Tooker and Hanks 2000)
Diversify pine plantings?Parasitoids: little control
• Simple: inhospitable to NEs?
Hoot Owl & 4Es Tree Farms
• High PNS pops
• Mowed alleys (mice)
• No insecticides vs Heavy use
Weeds• Floral resources• Alternative prey• Microhabitats
Hoot Owl & 4Es Tree Farms
Conservation Biological Control program!
Hoot: Anecdotal4Es: Quantified
Scale pop. decimated
• High PNS pops
• Mowed alleys (mice)
• No insecticides vs Heavy use
Established a Conservation Biological Control
Floral resourcesAlternative preyMicrohabitats
Natural enemies live longer &kill more herbivores
Simple habitat manipulation• Saved time, money• AND pest was killed
Farmers• Had a problem• Research offered simple solution• Solution worked
Research & Extension
Driven by:• Local needs
Pest problem
Research program (Basic and applied)
Local needs complemented research
Research & Extension
Pest problem
Research program (Basic and applied)
Research spurs local practices
Driven by:• Local needs• Results
View of Extension
Hoot Owl Tree FarmLarge PNS pop.
Large parasitoid pop. (Aphytis mytilaspidis)
Few floral resources
• White clover
Hypothesis: Aphytis could benefit from white clover
Were Aphytis attracted to the smell of white clover?
Aphytis: biocontrol agents of scales and mealybugs
‘Results-driven’
Olfactometry with clover flowers and pure compounds
Volatile source N # Responding
% Response to
volatile(s)
% Responseto control 2 statistic (P)
Clover flowers 44 32 69% 31% 4.5 (P < 0.05)
Were Aphytis attracted to the smell of white clover?
Collected volatiles from white clover• SuperQ• GC-MS
Phenethyl acetatePhenethyl alcohol
Benzyl alcohol
Among the most common floral volatiles
(Knudsen et al. 1993, Teranishi et al. 1993)
Olfactometry with clover flowers and pure compounds
Volatile source N # Responding
% Response to
volatile(s)
% Responseto control 2 statistic (P)
Clover flowers 44 32 69% 31% 4.5 (P < 0.05)
Full blend of synthetic compounds
42 30 80% 20% 10.8 (P < 0.0025)
Phenethyl acetate 14 10 90% 10% 6.4 (P < 0.02)
Phenethyl alcohol 15 10 50% 50% 0.0 (P > 0.05)
Benzyl alcohol 11 10 60% 40% 0.4 (P > 0.05)
View of Extension
Hypothesis: Aphytis could benefit from white clover
Were Aphytis attracted to the smell of white clover?
YES
Data were basis of a USDA-NRI grant (Hanks & Sadof)“Conservation biological control in ornamental landscapes”
Suggests flowers can mitigate pest problems
Inspired two “armchair” ecology projects
• Floral associations of:
• Hymenopteran parasitoids (Tooker and Hanks 2000)
• Syrphidae and Tachinidae (Tooker et al. 2006)
‘Results-driven’
Research & Extension
Pest problem
Research program (Basic and applied)
Driven by:• Local needs• Results
Local needs spur research&
Research spurs local practices
PA Field and Forage CropsCounty agent
Extension specialist
A Whole-Farm Approach to Managing Pests, USDA-SAN Bulletin, April 2003
Parallel systems
“Bottom-up”
“Top-down”
Research & Extension
1. “Bottom-up”
Understanding plant resistance
Research & Extension
2. “Top-down”Why are NE (un)successful?
• Plant defenses
Community ecology
Lab-based strive for field
Field-based
• Conservation Reserve Program• Do conservation projects work?
• Weedy borders & floral resources• Native vs. exotic plants
What features enhance NEs• Role of habitat complexity?• Plant species diversity• Role of habitat manipulation
• Cover crops
Research & Extension
wheat alfalfa SolidagocornTraits Wheat / Barley Corn Alfalfa Solidago
Life cycle Annual Annual Perennial Perennial
Occurrence Monoculture Monoculture Monoculture Limited monoculture-polyculture
Habitat structure Simple Simple Simple Complex
Insect herbivores
Lepidoptera Armyworm ECB, Armyworms -- Dichomeris,Epiblema, Gnor
Dipteran Hessian fly Seed corn maggot Alf. blotch leafminer Eurosta, Rhopalomyia
Beetles Cereal leaf Flea Alfalfa weevil Trirhabda virgata
Aphids Corn leaf, English grain Corn leaf Pea aphids Uroleucon spp.
Homoptera -- P. LeafhopperSpittlebug
SpittlebugPublilia spp.
% treated w/ insecticides 2% (PA, 1998)11% (nation, 2002)
60% (PA, 2001)21% (PA, 2005)
20% (PA, 1998) --
Will need:
• Experiments at field stations
• Farm-based research
• Different types of farms, crops, and regions• Organic farms
• Sustainable ag farms
• Amish/Mennonite
• Conventional farms
Research & Extension
2. “Top-down”Why are NE (un)successful?
• Community ecology
Field-based
Research & Extension
Lancaster Co. “Garden Spot of America”
Top 15 ag. production counties in US(#1 in Alfalfa, corn, barley)
Cambria or Mercer Co. (#1 & 2 in Oats)
vs.
Will need:
• Experiments at field stations
• Farm-based research
• Different types of farms, crops, and regions• Organic farms
• Sustainable ag farms
• Amish/Mennonite
• Conventional farms
2. “Top-down”Why are NE (un)successful?
• Community ecology
Field-based
• Engage farmers (extension agents)
• Demonstrate value
Research & Extension
Lancaster Co. “Garden Spot of America”
Top 15 ag. production counties in US(#1 in Alfalfa, corn, barley)
Cambria or Mercer Co. (#1 & 2 in Oats)
vs.
Will need:
• Experiments at field stations
• Farm-based research
• Different types of farms, crops, and regions• Organic farms
• Sustainable ag farms
• Amish/Mennonite
• Conventional farms
2. “Top-down”Why are NE (un)successful?
• Community ecology
Field-based
• Engage farmers (extension agents)
• Demonstrate value
Document:‘Before and after’ effectsValue:Economic & environmental
Progress and value
Facilitates delivery of information• Farmers becomes advocates (word of mouth)• Local efforts
Reinforced by:TalksWeb-based infoPublications
Research & Extension
Sharing informationResearch papersExtension-like publicationsTalks
Sharing informationResearch papersExtension-like publicationsTalks
Silphium laciniatum L. (compass plant)
S. terebinthinaceum Jacquin (prairie dock)
Benefits:
• Eliminates exotic weeds
• Preserves endemicity of plant communities
• Plays an important role in nutrient cycling
Inse
cts
per
stem
0
10
20
30
40
50
preburn
postburn
one yearlater
preburn
postburn
one yearlater
gall wasps parasitoids
0 0
Prospect Cemetery Prairie
Native plant and prairie enthusiasts
• Shared information
• Under-appreciated, restricted insect community
• Conservation should not consider just plants
• Negative influence of fire
Research papersExtension-like publicationsTalks
Delivering Information
PSU
• Crop Management Extension Group
• Penn State Sustainable Ag Working Group
• Year-round calendars of events• Newsletters
Also potential collaborators
• Knowledge of systems
• Federal / state regulations
• Know groups of farmers interested in on-farm research
• Common interests
Funding for Research & ExtensionUSDA• USDA-Sustainable Ag Research & Education• USDA-Regional Integrated Pest Management Programs• USDA-Pest Management Alternatives ProgramNSF• Funding for IPMEPA • Strategic Agriculture Initiative Grants• EPA – Regional IPM Grant Program
Research funding will driven extension program• USDA, NSF
Research & Extension
Funding
(USDA-NRI grant “Phytohormones and Insects”)
50% research : 50% extension
Integrate research and extension
• My interests & local needs• Funding• Collaborations• Students• Time
• Engage farmers (extension agents)
• Demonstrate Progress and value
Driven by:
• Local needs & Results
