Integrated Crop and Pest Management TAg Team in Lewis County

Abstract

The Tactical Agriculture (TAg) Team uses a unique hands-on approach for farmers to learn about IPM. Farmers who participate in the TAg Team select 2 fields (alfalfa and corn) that are scouted weekly for insects and other problems. Regular meetings are held in the field where we teach farmers ho to scout (using proven IPM methods) and discuss management options. The impact of this hands-on approach is obvious – farmers are always astonished at the amount of insects, both beneficial and detrimental, in their fields. Usually they have heard of the insects that we find but actually seeing the insect and the damage it can do really helps participants learn and remember. These field meetings often lead to discussions about other crop management topics, thus a wide variety of issues are covered in these meetings.