Production, Pests, Profitability – Neighborhood On-Farm Education for Field Corn and Alfalfa

Abstract

The Pest, Production and Profit (Triple P) program was completed and was very successful! This intensive, on-farm educational program offered participating farmers the opportunity for in-depth Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Integrated Crop Management (ICM) training in an experiential, hands-on, locally adapted educational program. The program aimed to teach farmers best management techniques for addressing crop pests using scientific IPM and ICM principles and tactics. Farmers and/or farm laborer participants were actively engaged in a season-long program with timely on-farm meetings to discuss critical pest and crop management issues that arose during the growing season. Participants learned to implement specific targeted IPM and ICM practices that help with protecting the environment and enhance their own long term profitability and viability.