Progress 08/01/09 to 07/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Integrated Pest Management (IPM) provides a sustainable approach to managing pests. Government agencies have strong policy mandates and legal requirements to increase adoption and implementation of IPM. The IPM3 Training Consortium was formed to meet the diverse IPM training needs of federal agencies. IPM3 is made up of IPM practitioners from land grant university institutions and federal agencies. The University of Minnesota is the lead institution; the Universities of Arkansas and Purdue, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the General Services Administration, and the US Department of Agriculture are partners. IPM3 provides an accessible opportunity for individuals to become proficient in the principles and application of IPM as taught by leading IPM authorities in diverse disciplines from various U.S. universities. IPM3 is consistent with the National Roadmap for Integrated Pest Management, which identifies strategic directions for IPM research, implementation and measurement. These are needed to ensure that the economic, health, and environmental benefits of IPM adoption are realized. Through the period ending 7/31/2011, content for the IPM Modules discussed below was completed. The Modules were initially uploaded into the University of Minnesota WebVista Classroom Management System. The University of Minnesota is phasing out of WebVista and is switching to The Moodle CMS System. The content for the existing Modules was re-formatted into the Moodle System. Completed Modules include: the IPM Core Concepts Module, the IPM Pest Biology-Weeds Module, the IPM Pest Biology-Plant Diseases Module,the IPM3 Imported Fire Ants Module, IPM3 for Facility Managers and Supervisors, and the IPM Invasive Species Module. PARTICIPANTS: The primary workers on this project were Mark Ascerno (Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota) Steering Committee Co-Chair and PI; and Michael McDonough (Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota) Project Coordinator and Co-PI. Partner institutions include the Purdue University and the University of Arkansas. Non-formal collaborators include: Robert Nowierski (USDA NIFA) Steering Committee Co-Chair; and Steering Committee members: Al Greene (GSA); Doug Holy (USDA NRCS); Douglas Jardine (Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University); Tiffany Parson (DOI FWS); Roger Sheley (USDA ARS); Robert Wiedenmann (Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas); Steve Yaninek (Department of Entomology, the Purdue University). TARGET AUDIENCES: The audience for IPM3 Modules includes: federal, state and local staff, Crop Consultants, Pest Management Professionals, and a wide array of Green Industry Professionals. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
The IPM3 Program is designed to provide a web-based, distance delivery opportunity for individuals to become proficient in the principles and application of IPM as taught by leading IPM authorities in diverse disciplines from various U.S. universities. Increasing the quality and consistency of IPM training and implementation, initially among federal agencies and subsequently for an expanded audience of practitioners, will help ensure that the most economically feasible, environmentally sound and sustainable programs are developed for the management of pests. To this end, an online IPM training system has be designed to meet training needs over a wide geographic area and to a diverse audience. Multiple sessions of the online modules were offered. The IPM Core Concepts Module was offered 6 times, the IPM Pest Biology-Weeds Module was offered three times, the IPM Pest Biology-Plant Diseases Module was offered twice,the IPM3 Imported Fire Ants Module was offered twice, IPM3 for Facility Managers and Supervisors Module was offered four times, and the IPM Invasive Species Module was offered four times. These offerings contributed to: assisting rural communities to create prosperity so they are self-sustaining, repopulating, and economically thriving; ensuring our national forests and private working lands are conserved, restored, and made more resilient to climate change, while enhancing our water resources; and helping America promote sustainable agricultural production and biotechnology exports as America works to increase food security.

Publications

• No publications reported this period

Progress 08/01/09 to 07/31/10

Outputs
OUTPUTS: Ascerno and McDonough presented an update on the IPM3 Program to stakeholders from EPA, USDA APHIS, US FWS, and USAID in Washington DC in April, 2009. The next day, an update on the IPM3 Program was presented at the IPM Centers Directors Meeting. The IPM3 website was brought online in October, 2009. The IPM Core Concepts Module was completed and the first six-week online class session was held from 2 November to 11 December 2009. Survey evaluation of the first class session is underway. A second offering is scheduled to begin in January 2010 and additional offerings will be scheduled throughout the year, based on demand. Substantial progress was made on other modules. Rick Foster from Purdue University is developing course content and has agreed to be the instructor for the Arthropod Pest Biology Module. The first Arthropod Pest Biology class session will be held in early 2010. The Plant Pathology Pest Biology Module is nearly complete and will be uploaded into WebVista in early 2010. Discussions are being held to select an instructor for the Plant Pathology Pest Biology Module. The Invasive Species Module is complete and is in the process of being uploaded into WebVista. Nadilia Gomez, from the University of Minnesota, is the instructor and the first class session will be offered in January, 2010. The IPM3 Facility Supervisors and Managers Course is nearing completion and the first class session will be offered in January, 2010. Steve Kells from the University of Minnesota, is the instructor. Discussions for a prospective Weed Biology Module have begun with the Center for Invasive Plant Management at Montana State University. PARTICIPANTS: The primary workers on this project were Mark Ascerno (Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota) Steering Committee Co-Chair and PI; and Michael McDonough (Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota) Project Coordinator and Co-PI. Partner institutions include the Purdue University and the University of Arkansas. Non-formal collaborators include: Robert Nowierski (USDA NIFA) Steering Committee Co-Chair; and Steering Committee members: Al Greene (GSA); Doug Holy (USDA NRCS); Douglas Jardine (Department of Plant Pathology, Kansas State University); Tiffany Parson (DOI FWS); Roger Sheley (USDA ARS); Robert Wiedenmann (Department of Entomology, University of Arkansas); Steve Yaninek (Department of Entomology, the Purdue University). TARGET AUDIENCES: Increasing the quality and consistency of IPM training and implementation, initially among federal agencies and subsequently for an expanded audience of practitioners, will help ensure that the most economically feasible, environmentally sound and sustainable programs are developed for the management of pests. The expanded audience of practitioners includes: Regional Extension Educators state/county/city employees, Master Gardeners, and workers in the Green Industries. Most of the individuals who need IPM training are not academics and need practical information so they can implement IPM in day-to-day pest management decisions. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Nothing significant to report during this reporting period.

Impacts
The IPM3 Program is designed to provide a web-based, distance delivery opportunity for individuals to become proficient in the principles and application of IPM as taught by leading IPM authorities in diverse disciplines from various U.S. universities. Increasing the quality and consistency of IPM training and implementation, initially among federal agencies and subsequently for an expanded audience of practitioners, will help ensure that the most economically feasible, environmentally sound and sustainable programs are developed for the management of pests. To this end, an online IPM training system has be designed to meet training needs over a wide geographic area and to a diverse audience. The training system is a hierarchy of content modules organized into three tiers: an IPM Core Concepts Module, four Pest Biology Modules (entomology, plant pathology, weed science, and vertebrates), and content-specific Specialty Modules. The 3-tier structure was adopted to avoid duplicating introductory content. The curricula emphasizes practical content, academic content is included to the extent necessary to support the understanding of practical content and to provide the student a knowledge base that will enable them to acquire additional IPM knowledge in the future. Relevant case studies are included as appropriate. The first session of the IPM Core Concepts Module included students from a Land Grant Institution, USDA APHIS, FWS, and four Regional Extension Educators

Publications

• No publications reported this period