Integrated Crop and Pest Management TAg Teams in Northwest New York

Abstract

Tactical Agriculture Teams (TAg) have proven effective for teaching farmers, agri-business representatives, and extension personnel the principles of integrated pest management (IPM) as well as nutrient management and improved crop cultural practices. Since 2000, the NWNY Team has successfully developed fourteen TAg teams with dairy producers throughout Yates, Ontario, Seneca, Monroe, Livingston and Wayne Counties. In 2006, three teams were developed in the Finger Lakes region in Seneca, Yates, and Livingston Counties. These teams were very diverse in farming backgrounds and ranged from traditional, Mennonite and Amish producers. Despite the diversity, the hands-on approach of the TAg program was an effective teaching model across all types of farms. This was the first attempt to introduce extension programming to some of these audiences and was viewed as a great success.