successful completion by the University of Massachu- 

 setts Cooperative Extension. 



Certification of Consultants 



Many growers, especially those with long-estab- 

 lished and effective IPM programs, possess enough 

 knowledge to implement an IPM program. What most 

 lack, however, is the time to monitor their fields ade- 

 quately. Hence, one of the greatest limitations to 

 successful, large-scale IPM implementation is a lack of 

 trained individuals to monitor fields and make recom- 

 mendations. 



There are currently six scout/consultants in the 

 state who offer IPM services for no more than 5000 

 acres of crops, largely apples and cranberries. Should 

 greater numbers of consultants become available, 

 growers who hire them at a rate sufficient to represent 

 a living wage, have a right to expect such consultants to 

 be well-trained and qualified, and able to be trusted 

 with a valuable crop. Certification of IPM consultants 

 would help growers make hiring decisions. 



IPM Certification Standards 



Produce to be marketed or labelled as "IPM- 

 Grown," should be grown using certain specified prac- 

 tices or standards. This project proposes to develop 

 IPM guidelines for specific crops where feasible. 

 Where IPM technology is insufficient to develop appro- 

 priate guidelines, this project will outline what infor- 

 mation is needed to develop IPM standards. 



In order for consumers to be confident that "IPM- 

 Grown" labeled commodities are true-to-name, some 

 form of performance certification will be necessary. 

 While this could take the form of a state regulatory 

 agency making spot inspections of production practices 

 to insure that they conform to specified IPM standards, 

 other options exist, including certification by the mar- 

 keting division of state government, by some private 

 entity, or by an organized grower group. The issue of 



assigning responsibility for certification inspections 

 will be difficult to resolve. 



Time Table 



This program will begin in the fall of 1989 and is 

 anticipated to run for 2 years. The IPM Certification 

 Specialist will work closely with the State IPM Coor- 

 dinator, other University faculty and staff, as well as 



consultants and growers to carry out the project, 



using the latest research-based information available 



here and in other states. 



Curricula for the first short courses will be devel- 

 oped during the Winter of 1989-90. Production of a 

 curriculum manual to accompany the short course will 

 be initiated as well. Two short courses will be pre- 

 sented and participants will be certified upon success- 

 ful completion in the Spring of 1990. 



Also in the first year, compilation of a list of com- 

 modities grown in Massachusetts, and the data needed 

 for their IPM certification will be initiated. A protocol 

 for developing IPM certification guidelines will be 

 developed and guidelines for IPM production of apples, 

 potatoes, strawberries, and sweet corn will be com- 

 pleted. Avenues of performance certification, including 

 its legal ramifications, as well as the practicality of 

 using state, federal, or other agencies for certification of 

 performance, will be explored. 



During the second year of the program, the educa- 

 tional component will continue as demand warrants; 

 two short courses will be held in the Winter. The short 

 course manual will be completed. Guidelines for IPM 

 certification of cole crops, cranberries, greenhouse 

 production, and turf will be completed, and guidelines 

 for nursery crops will be begun. Procedures for certifi- 

 cation of IPM performance will be developed, and the 

 eventual certifying agency will be assisted in imple- 

 menting the certification program. 



If you would like more information about our plan, 

 please contact either author at 413-545-2283. 



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18 



Fruit Notes, Winter, 1990 



