Bedding Plant IPM Work: 



Man Eaton 



1997 



Normally I teach a course in integrated pest 

 management in the spring. This year, with my co- 

 instructor on sabbatic leave and the course not taught, I 

 was able to do work on bedding plant IPM. As with 

 many things I do, this effort was aided by colleagues — 

 Nancy Adams, Paul Fisher, Margaret Pratt Hagen, David 

 Seavey, Margaret Skinner (UVM), Cheryl Smith, and Stan 

 Swier. 



The first project was a scouting program. We selected 

 four greenhouses where we would pilot the program. 

 We visited weekly from early February through early 

 May. We used sticky cards and plant examinations. We 

 set out indicator plants for INSV. When diseases ap- 

 peared, we checked them out in the plant health lab. 

 We taught the growers how to identify insects on sticky 

 cards, and introduced scouting. We also learned our- 

 selves about the logistics of running a scouting pro- 

 gram. 1 learned a lot about the different plants (boy, 

 you sure grow a lot of different things!!). We also re- 

 fined tools for data collection and plotting. 



The second part of the bedding plant work was a 

 training session. We ran a session on April 10th at the 

 Plant Biology greenhouses. Fifty-nine people attended. 

 They learned many of the skills mentioned above, plus 

 got a peek at research by Drs. Paul Fisher and Margaret 

 Skinner. Response was overwhelmingly positive, so we 

 will try more sessions in the future. Perhaps we will in- 

 corporate a grower panel and more information on bio- 

 logical controls in future sessions. For now, we have 

 concentrated on basics. 



Dr. Man T. Eaton is an Extension Specialist. Integrated Pest 

 Management, at the University of New Hampshire in Durham. 

 He can be reached at 603-862-1734. 



A Coalition for All Agriculture 



B(7/ Zweigbaum 



The New Hampshire Coalition for Sustaining Agricul- 

 ture is an aggregation of agricultural groups 

 that have come together to recognize the benefit of re- 

 peating a common theme: that agriculture is a valued 

 and vital part of New Hampshire's economy, environ- 

 ment, and communities. This theme connects all as- 

 pects of farm and forest promotion into a single focus. 

 Consistent repetition of worthy attributes is the hall- 

 mark of creating a brand identity. Creating a presence 

 in the public mind that agriculture is not just vaguely 

 favorable, but clearly beneficial to society is the key to 

 sustaining agriculture in New Hampshire. As an indus- 

 try, agriculture needs to build for the future by creating 

 positive public perception, utilizing issues other than 



defensive ones. The Coalition hopes that ag-related 

 groups will see the benefit of repeating this common 

 theme when communicating their own unique stories to 

 the public. We are also interested in identifying indi- 

 viduals who are interested in serving as "Agricultural 

 Ambassadors" and who would be wiling to participate 

 in a training program we will be sponsoring in August. 

 The Coalition can be contacted through Bill Zweigbaum, 

 302B lames Hall-UNH, 56 College Road, Durham, NH 

 03824-3589, phone (603)862-4631; fax (603)862-0208. 



Bill Zweigbaum is an Extension Specialist, Agricultural Business 

 Management 



^B^^ 



The Grififn Guru 



Lverything Must Be Right 

 Before It Can Go 



The manufacturer Is responsible for getting a 

 "new" product formulated, packaged, labeled 

 (correctly, as mandated by law), and shipped to 

 their distributors so that when the news re- 

 leases and advertising hit the street. It's all set 

 to go. 



There Is one other |ob the manufacturer must 

 do If the product is a chemical — and that Is to 

 register It In each and every state In which It's 

 to be offered. That state will be the authority 

 on how and to whom It can be sold. 



As in the case of the "new" Marathon 60% 

 wettable powder, it received a federal EPA reg- 

 istration and was shipped to our warehouse and 

 It will remain In our warehouse until the prod- 

 uct has been cleared by the state. (Note: by the 

 time you read these words, we sure hope we 

 are shipping.) Even though we're receiving calls 

 every day, it is Impossible to enter a potential 

 order until we receive the proper okay from the 

 state. That's the way we protect ourselves (Grif- 

 fin) from wrongfully shipping and the way we 

 protect you from using an unlicensed product. 



The tip Is this: save the expense of calling 

 around. Ask your supplier to call you when a 

 product that has a problem like the one just 

 described Is ready to be released for your use. 

 And In the meantime, thanks for understanding 

 the problem. ..or at least trying to. 



|UNE & |ULY 1997 



