Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/11

Outputs
OUTPUTS: The three NNF Fellows who pursued Doctor of Plant Medicine (DPM) degrees in the University of Florida Plant Medicine Program learned how to grow plants and diagnose plant pests and diseases for maintaining healthy crops. Plant biosecurity was a primary focus of the NNF fellowships, so all three students earned a certificate in Plant Pest Risk Assessment and Management. Kirk Martin has graduated and currently is serving as the Bio-Containment Operations Manager for USDA, APHIS, PPQ, CPHST, NPGBL in Beltsville, Maryland. Prior to graduating, he cooperatively produced Extension training materials and a study guide on the major agricultural pest insects in Florida for the UF Institute of Food and Agriculture Plant Medicine Program. He also researched the major insects to be included in a Lucid key for identifying citrus pests, as well as partially produced thirty-nine fact sheets of the listed insects. In addition, he completed an internship within the international standards section of USDA, APHIS, PPQ, CPHST analyzing the history and issues associated with quarantine probit-9. Ken Johnson progressed with his coursework and should graduate in 2012. He completed an internship with the USDA, APHIS, CPHST New Pest Advisory Group, generating a report on Heterarthrus vagans. He has almost completed a CD on the major plant pathogens in Florida to be used as a Plant Medicine Program study guide. He completed an internship in Senegal for the Farmer-to-Farmer Program, National Cooperative Business Association/Cooperative League of the USA (http://www.ncba.coop/ncba-clusa/our-work/farmer-to-farmer). He also represented IPM Florida at a statewide Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference. Rafael Vega excelled in his coursework and has completed a herbicide study guide, along with editing the IPM toolbox for Master Gardeners. He also completed an internship with the USDA, APHIS, PPQ, CPHST working on degree day modeling and mapping for pest emergence. He delivered presentations on integrated pest management at a statewide Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference, as well as the statewide Master Gardener's Conference. In addition, he has maintained and edited the IPM Florida, DPM and Agronomy Soils Club websites. He has completed all of his examinations for a DPM degree and will graduate in spring 2012 after completing one more course, Agricultural Law. The outputs are being disseminated primarily via the UF/IFAS Extension Digital Information System (EDIS) and were available at the Florida Small Farms and Alternative Enterprises Conference. Additional outlets include the IPM Florida website (http://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu), graduate courses, Extension in-service training, and secondary circulation by stakeholders. PARTICIPANTS: Individuals: Dr. Norman C. Leppla, Project Director, UF/IFAS, Professor and Director, IPM Program (graduate committee chair, K. W. Martin, K. L Johnson and R. A. Vega); Dr. Robert J. McGovern, Co-PI, UF/IFAS, Professor and Director, Plant Medicine Program; Dr. Kirk W. Martin, Doctor of Plant Medicine, NNF Fellow, the Bio-Containment Operations Manager for USDA, APHIS, PPQ, CPHST, NPGBL; Kenneth L. Johnson, Doctor of Plant Medicine candidate, NNF Fellow; Rafael A. Vega, Doctor of Plant Medicine candidate, NNF Fellow; Partner Organizations: USDA, NIFA, IPM Program; USDA, APHIS, PPQ; Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry; Farmer-to-Farmer Program, National Cooperative Business Association/Cooperative League of the USA; New England Fruit Consultants in Massachusetts (NEFCON); University of Georgia; Collaborators: Dr. Denise D. Thomas (Debusk), Doctor of Plant Medicine, NNF Fellow, Natural Resource Specialist, NAVFAC Atlantic; Dr. Amanda C. Hodges, UF/IFAS, Assistant Professor, Co-Director, Southern Plant Diagnostic Network; Dr. Jeffrey G. Williamson, UF/IFAS, Professor Horticulture, graduate committee (K. W. Martin); Dr. Russell F. Mizell, UF/IFAS, Professor Entomology, graduate committee (K. W. Martin;) Dr. Katherine L. Stevenson, U. GA, Professor Plant Pathology, graduate committee (K. W. Martin;) Dr. Johathan H. Crane, UF/IFAS, Professor Horticulture, graduate committee (K. W. Martin); Dr. James C. Marois, UF/IFAS, Professor Entomology, graduate committee (K. L. Johnson); Dr. Danielle D. Treadwell, UF/IFAS, Assistant Professor Horticulture, Co-chair graduate committee (R. A. Vega), graduate committee (K. L Johnson); Dr. Philip F. Harmon, UF/IFAS, Assistant Professor Plant Pathology, graduate committee (R. A. Vega); Dr. Kenneth F. Buhr, UF/IFAS, Professor emeritus, Agronomy graduate committee (R. A. Vega) TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences for the UF Plant Medicine graduates include conventional and organic agriculture producers, managers and workers, food processors, food distributors and retailers, importers and exporters, consumers, state and county Extension and other faculty members, small farmers, cooperators in government institutions, e.g., Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Division of Plant Industry and other divisions; USDA, ARS, APHIS and others; EPA; water management districts; natural area managers, tribal organizations; members of commodity associations; allied industry representatives; schools and others. Additional target audiences are pest management organizations, and allied industries (wholesalers and retailers of agricultural products, etc.). Government institutions, especially regulatory agencies and those responsible for environmental quality are primary audiences. Primary areas of stakeholder activity include the following: specialty crops (vegetables and fruit, etc.), citrus, pasture and forage, sugarcane, tobacco, soybeans, sorghum, peanuts, corn, cotton, ornamentals and turf, natural areas, waterways and wetlands, cattle and horses, and small farms. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: The project was not modified.

Impacts
The three NNF Fellows have almost become broadly trained plant doctors who can rapidly and accurately diagnose plant health problems and recommend management strategies. The agricultural pests CD is being used in several graduate programs, including the DPM program. The university IPM housing guide is supporting the training of pest management professionals on university campuses in Florida and nationally. The Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers, the primary association of its kind in North America, is disseminating the guide to purchasing and using natural enemies to promote the industry. The guide is the only current compendium to help homeowners and growers select appropriate biological control agents for pest problems they are experiencing. The Citrus Lucid Key is being completed by another student and along with the associated fact sheets will assist in detecting alien invasive species. Probit-9 standards and alternative treatments and measures to improve phytosanitary security are needed continuously to determine the risks associated with importing commodities. The CD of important plant pathogens of Florida will be used by students, Extension agents, and others to become familiar with the signs and symptoms of plant pathogens commonly occurring in the Southeast. The report on the potential threat posed by an alder sawfly is supporting the work of the CPHST, New Pest Advisory Group. The IPM toolbox is assisting Master Gardeners in Florida and other states to teach IPM and biological control principles. The herbicide study guide is helping students learn about pesticides. The IPM and DPM websites are providing essential information globally.

Publications

• Martin, K. W. and D. D. Thomas. 2009. Floridas Major Agricultural Pests. A CD with PowerPoint slides of 100 major insect pests. (http://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu)
• Juneau, K. J., J. L. Gillett-Kaufman, N. C. Leppla, K. W. Martin and A. W. Walker. 2010. Integrated Pest management Policy and Treatment Options for University Housing. UF/IFAS Extension Guide. (http://ipm.ifas.ufl.edu)
• Leppla, N. C. and K. L. Johnson, II. 2010. Guidelines for Purchasing and Using Commercial Natural Enemies and Biopesticides in Florida and Other States. UF/IFAS, EDIS IPM-146 (IN849).
• Vega, R. A., F. M. Fishel and N. C. Leppla. 2011. Herbicide Study Guide: A PowerPoint Compendium describing the properties of more than 70 chemical herbicides used to control weeds in Florida. UF/IFAS, EDIS (in press).
• Johnson, K. L. II. 2011. Plant Pathogen CD: A PowerPoint Compendium describing the properties of Floridas major crop pathogens. UF/IFAS, EDIS (in review).

Progress 01/01/10 to 12/31/10

Outputs
The three NNF Fellows who are pursuing doctoral degrees in the University of Florida, Plant Medicine Program are learning how to maintain healthy crops for local consumption, as well as national and international trade. Plant biosecurity is a primary focus. Kirk Martin is progressing with his coursework and is expected to graduate in the spring. He has researched the major insects to be included in a Lucid key for citrus pests, as well as partially produced thirty-nine fact sheets of the listed insects. In addition, he completed an internship within the international standards section of APHIS-PPQ-CPHST looking at the history and issues associated with Probit-9 use within the USDA-PPQ, and how systems approaches might be incorporated into international trade to reduce pest introductions. Kirk also attended the Pathway Risk Analysis Symposium and Workshop in Raleigh, NC. He has been assisting with the production of a CD on the major plant pathogens of Florida (plant viruses). Ken Johnson is progressing with his coursework. He completed an internship with the New Pest Advisory Group and generated a report on Heterarthrus vagans. He has made significant progress on producing a CD on the major plant pathogens in Florida to be used as a study guide and reference. He has assisted in editing the IPM toolbox for Master Gardeners found on the IPM Florida website, as well as representing IPM Florida at a statewide Small Farms Conference. He has also been elected President of the Doctor of Plant Medicine Student Organization. Rafael Vega is excelling in his coursework. Rafael has completed a pesticide study guide along with editing the IPM toolbox for Master Gardeners on the IPM Florida website. He also completed an internship with the USDA-APHIS-PPQ-CPHST working on degree day modeling and mapping for pest emergence. He represented IPM Florida at a statewide Small Farms Conference as well as the statewide Master Gardener's Conference. In addition, he has been maintaining and editing the IPM Florida, Doctor of Plant Medicine, and Agronomy Soils Club websites. He has been elected Vice-President of the Doctor of Plant Medicine Student Organization. PRODUCTS: Kirk Martin partially completed thirty-nine arthropod pests of citrus fact sheets for the Citrus Lucid Key. He also completed a research paper for the USDA-APHIS-PPQ-CPHST on the history and issues associated with Probit-9 use in regulatory agriculture and the potential for alternative measures and treatments to concurrently improve phytosanitary security and facilitate international trade. Ken Johnson has completed a report for the New Pest Advisory Group entitled, "Heterarthrus vagans Fallen: Alder Sawfly, Common Sawfly." He has also assisted in upgrading the IPM Toolbox for Master Gardeners. Rafael Vega has completed a pesticide study guide describing the properties of over 70 chemical herbicides used to control weeds in Florida. He has upgraded the IPM Toolbox for Master Gardeners and produced a report for the USDA-APHIS-PPQ-CPHST entitled, "Degree Day Model and Mapping Data for Emergence of Helicoverpa armigera in the United States." OUTCOMES: The Citrus Lucid Key fact sheets on arthropod pests of citrus will assist in detecting alien invasive species. Probit-9 standards and alternative treatments and measures to improve phytosanitary security are needed continuously to determine the risks of importing commodities. The CD of important plant pathogens of Florida will be used by students, Extension Agents, and others to become familiar with the signs and symptoms of plant pathogens commonly occurring in Florida. The report on the potential threat posed by an alder sawfly is supporting the work of the CPHST, New Pest Advisory Group. The IPM toolbox is assisting Master Gardeners in Florida and other states to teach IPM and biological control principles. The herbicide study guide is helping students learn about pesticides. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The Lucid key for arthropod pests of citrus that Kirk Martin has worked on will be widely distributed nationally by the USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine. His report on Probit-9 was provided to the International Standards Section of the USDA, PPQ, Center for Plant Health Science and Technology. The Guidelines for Purchasing and Using Commercial Natural Enemies that Ken Johnson created was placed on the UF/IFAS Extension Digital Information System (EDIS) as well as the IPM Florida website, and was available at the Florida Small Farms Alternative Enterprise Conference. His report on Heterarthrus vagans was disseminated throughout the New Pest Advisory Group as well as others in CPHST. Rafael will continue to maintain the IPM Florida website, a critical source of information that received a total of 164,245 sessions in 2010. The IPM toolbox for Master Gardeners has been placed on the IPM Florida website. His report on Helicoverpa armigera was disseminated throughout CPHST. FUTURE INITIATIVES: Ken Johnson and Kirk Martin will continue their work on the Important Plant Pathogens in Florida CD. Kirk will be working on converting the guide, "Integrated Pest Management Policy and Treatment Options for University Housing" to an EDIS document. Rafael Vega will be developing EDIS guides on IPM for blueberry stem blight and herbicides. He will continue his work on the IPM Florida and Doctor of Plant Medicine websites with the continued assistance of Ken.

Impacts
The Guidelines for Purchasing and Using Commercial Natural Enemies has been used to help homeowners and growers select appropriate biological control agents for pest problems they are experiencing. The IPM toolbox for Master Gardeners is being used by Master Gardeners and Extension agents around the state to teach people about IPM. The IPM and DPM websites are providing essential information globally.

Publications

• Leppla, N. C. and K. L. Johnson, II. 2010. Guidelines for Purchasing and Using Commercial Natural Enemies and Biopesticides in Florida and Other States. UF/IFAS, EDIS IPM-146 (IN849).
• Juneau, K.J., J. L. Gillett-Kaufman, N. C. Leppla, K. W. Martin and A. W. Walker. 2010. Integrated Pest management Policy and Treatment Options for University Housing. UF/IFAS Extension Guide.

Progress 01/01/09 to 12/31/09

Outputs
The three NNF Fellows who are pursuing doctoral degrees in the University of Florida, Plant Medicine Program are learning how to maintain healthy crops for local consumption and national and international trade. Plant biosecurity is a primary focus. Kirk Martin is progressing with his coursework and increasing his understanding of fruit and nut crops. He is becoming more proficient in accomplishing his work, e.g., completing a CD on the major agricultural pests in Florida as a study guide, representing IPM Florida at a statewide Small Farms Conference, editing and formatting most of a housing IPM guide, and initiating a project on identification of citrus pests. Kirk also presented a poster at the National Plant Diagnostic meeting in Miami, Florida. Ken Johnson is progressing with his coursework and learning how to conduct clinical trials in plant pathology. He has continued monitoring pasture insect pests and is collaboratively drafting an article on purchasing and using commercial natural enemies. He was elected vice-president of the Doctor of Plant Medicine Student Organization. Rafael Vega is excelling in his coursework. This year he maintained the IPM and Plant Medicine websites (e.g., completed some restructuring, posted updates, fixed broken links), made considerable progress on upgrading the IPM Toolbox, and has almost completed a study guide for the UF-IFAS pesticide course. Rafael also presented a poster and participated in the second Joint NNF and Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Grants Program (MSP) Project Directors and Beneficiaries Meeting held in the Waterfront Centre, Washington, D.C. PRODUCTS: Kirk Martin distributed his CD, Florida's Major Agriculture Pests, a pictorial review of Florida agricultural pests and placed it on all of the Plant Medicine Program computers to be used as an Entomology final exam review aid. He provided the presentation in two forms, an educational version and a quiz style format to test knowledge. He located and integrated visuals, learned and utilized Microsoft InDesign, and helped with editing the guide, Integrated Pest Management Policy and Treatment Options for University Housing. Kirk's most recent accomplishment was a poster presentation for the NPDN on his Citrus Lucid key entitled, On the horizon: a Lucid matrix-based key for rapid and stream-lined preliminary identifications of major endemic and exotic arthropod pests of U.S. citrus. Since Ken Johnson was appointed an NNF Fellow in August 2008, he has co-authored a 17-page comprehensive Extension publication that is in review, Guidelines for Purchasing and Using Commercial Natural Enemies in Florida and other States. Rafael Vega completed his first year as an NNF Fellow in December and has assumed responsibility for full management of the IPM Florida and Plant Medicine Program websites. His poster at the NNF conference in Washington D.C. was titled, Plant Doctors Responding to National Needs. He has upgraded the IPM Toolbox for Master Gardeners, including an excellent introductory PowerPoint presentation. OUTCOMES: Kirk Martin has improved his ability to prepare and distribute Extension and education materials, and secondarily to assemble information for distance education curriculum. This has enabled him to take responsibility for a more challenging 2-year project to develop a Lucid key to citrus pests of the U.S. Kirk is participating in an intensive internship on IPM in blueberry using both conventional and organic systems. Ken Johnson provided valuable assistance with clinical trials of fungicides for vegetable crops and learned how to conduct experiments on disease management. He gained experience in data acquisition as well as collaborative writing. Rafael Vega attended the Florida Small Farms Alternative Enterprise Conference in Kissimmee, Florida where he moderated a symposium and presented a talk. He and Kirk organized and manned a joint IPM-DPM booth. Rafael presented information about IPM Florida and its connection with the educational activities of the Plant Medicine Program. Rafael imparted his knowledge on IPM and conservation as an invited speaker at Zoo New England in Boston, Massachusetts. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: The CD on Florida's agricultural pests was distributed to all Florida county Extension offices and UF research centers, and continues to be provided to students and Extension clientele via the IPM Florida website and CDs. The campus housing IPM guide will be used to train new and current employees of the UF Department of Housing and Resident Education, Pest Control Services. His Lucid key to arthropod pests of citrus will be widely distributed nationally by the USDA, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine. Information generated by Ken Johnson on pasture insect pests was disseminated by means of Forage Calendars produced by the Agronomy Department. Results of the clinical trials in which he participated were reported by faculty members in the Plant Pathology Department. The guide to using commercial natural enemies will be available as a UF-IFAS Extension Digital Information System (EDIS) publication and placed on the IPM Florida website. Rafael will continue to maintain the IPM Florida website, a critical source of information that received a total of 150,069 sessions in 2009. His pesticide study guide is being used by the instructor and students to facilitate learning this essential information. FUTURE INITIATIVES: All three NNF Fellows will complete a two week internship next summer at the USDA, APHIS, Center for Plant Health Science and Technology in Raleigh, North Carolina to learn how to conduct risk assessments for some key agricultural pests that could enter and become established in the U.S. The students will initiate projects to be completed after returning to the University of Florida. Within current projects, Kirk Martin and Rafael Vega will increase emphasis on improving their writing skills. Ken Johnson will cooperatively produce a CD containing information on Florida's Plant Pathogens, along the lines of the CD created by Kirk Martin on Florida's agricultural pest arthropods.

Impacts
Plant Medicine students are using the arthropod pests CD to study for final examinations, and Extension Agents are using it to become familiar with pest insects and mites. The housing guide is being used by the IPM Institute of North America to begin certifying IPM programs for university housing across the U.S. The Forage Calendars have been widely distributed across Florida and are being used to anticipate and be prepared for pest problems. The IPM and DPM websites are providing essential information globally.

Publications

• Juneau, K. J., J. L. Gillett-Kaufman, N. C. Leppla, K. W. Martin, and A. W. Walker. 2009. Integrated Pest Management Policy and Treatment Options for University Housing. UF, IFAS Extension Publication. 40 p.

Progress 01/01/08 to 12/31/08

Outputs
The goal of this USDA,CSREES, National Needs Fellowship project is being met: to increase national and international crop biosecurity through specialized education and training in plant health risk management. This is accomplished primarily by providing: 1) Broad based doctoral level training of students in prevention, detection, diagnosis, monitoring, and integrated management of plant health problems, 2) Specialized graduate level instruction in plant pest risk assessment and mitigation, and 3) Opportunities to apply this knowledge by working in a statewide Extension IPM program. Three fellows have been recruited nationally for this graduate program within the University of Florida, Integrated Pest Management and Plant Medicine Programs and they also are studying for the Certificate in Plant Pest Risk Assessment and Management. The NNF fellows are Kirk Martin from Massachusetts, Ken Johnson from Tennessee and Andy Vega from Connecticut. They are learning how to maintain healthy crops for local consumption and national and international trade. Biosecurity is a primary focus. PRODUCTS: Kirk Martin has produced a 100 pest insects of Florida screensaver for use by Plant Medicine and Entomology students. OUTCOMES: Kirk Martin was appointed in May and since has completed three summer semesters and one fall semester. His work assignment is to prepare and distribute Extension and education materials and secondarily to assemble information for distance education curriculum. Recent accomplishments include transcribing and reformatting a series of FAO, Caribi-Agri IPM listserv postings into a document suitable for the IPM Florida website and attending a library workshop to learn searching techniques and tools for maintaining references. Ken was appointed in August and is progressing with his coursework. His assignment is flexible, involving field work on insects, data acquisition and management, and collaborative writing. Andy was appointed in December and has begun to manage our IPM Florida website. DISSEMINATION ACTIVITIES: Ken Johnson collected pasture insects for a season and provided the data to collaborators in the Agronomy Department and local dairymen. Andy Vega prepared a series of IPM success stories for the IPM Florida website, Grants Showcase. FUTURE INITIATIVES: For the foreseeable future, Kirk Martin will participate in cooperative IPM projects, such as pesticide drift prevention or maximizing the effectiveness of biological control agents. The specific projects will depend on available funding. Ken Johnson has shown an exceptional capability to obtain and manage entomological data. To gain experience, he will continue to participate in a study of pasture insects and a project to enhance IPM in graduate student housing. Andy Vega will assume full responsibility for the IPM Florida website and initiate improvements.

Impacts
Three plant doctors will be fully trained and experienced to diagnosis of all types of plant health problems and be able to recommend sustainable strategies for their management. They will be knowledgeable in abiotic plant problems and the biology, epidemiology and management of indigenous and exotic pests of economic significance to U.S. agriculture. They will be capable of serving virtually any aspect of agriculture, e.g., production, agrichemicals, consulting, etc., and will be ideally suited for careers in USDA, DHS, or state departments of agriculture to help protect the food supply of our nation. This capability is a national need.

Publications

• No publications reported this period