MID-ATLANTIC INFORMATION NETWORK FOR PESTICIDES

AND ALTERNATIVE STRATEGIES - DELAWARE

ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING, 11/10/2003

RESEARCH AND EDUCATION CENTER, GEORGETOWN

MINUTES

The Advisory Committee for the Delaware Information Network for Pesticides and Alternative Strategies met on November 10, 2003 at the Research and Education Center in Georgetown at 10:00 am.  In attendance were: Joanne Whalen (IPM Coordinator), Mark VanGessel (Weed Specialist), Grier Stayton (Delaware Department of Agriculture), and Susan Whitney King (Chair, Governor’s Pesticide Advisory Committee; Pesticide Safety Education Program; IR-4 Liaison; Technical Advisor, Delaware Pest Control Association; Information Network Project leader).  Absent were: Derby Walker (Agricultural Agent), Tracy Wootten (Horticultural agent), Ed Kee (Vegetable Specialist), Carl Davis (Agricultural Agent), Bruce Richards (Center for the Inland Bays), Bob Mulrooney (Plant Pathologist),  Gordon Johnston (Agricultural Agent), Al Chorman and Jeff Chorman (Aerial applicators).  Dean Purnell, Small Farm Specialist, has left his position at Delaware State University.  Nancy Pettit, organic grower, and Daniel Bryan, chemical industry, have asked to leave the committee. Absent members were asked to submit comments and feedback before the meeting.

The Advisory Committee Chair, Susan Whitney King, explained that the Delaware Network is part of the Mid-Atlantic Network which operates in cooperation with the Northeast Integrated Pest Management Center at Pennsylvania State University and Cornell.  Joanne Whalen, IPM Coordinator, initiated a discussion on the make up of the Advisory Committee and pointed out that today’s meeting was really a “staff” meeting.  While there is certainly nothing wrong with holding staff meetings, there is a need to have advice from growers and others in the agricultural community.  Discussion center around how to obtain grower input.  Suggestions were to meet with County Extension Advisory Committees and/or commodity organizations, such as the Vegetable Growers Association.  Whalen and King envisioned a joint presentation on the IPM Program, the Information Network, the Pesticide Safety Education Program, the IR-4 Minor use Program, and Urban Pest Control as a combined seamless package.  Whalen and King could then apply committee advice to the appropriate program.  A recommendation was made that King explore these possibilities with the three County Directors (for County Advisory Committee meetings) and Tracy Wootten (for the Vegetable Growers annual fall meeting). Of course, there would still be a need to have a body of advisors with which to communicate through e-mail on issues between meetings.

King, presented a progress report on 2003 Committee recommendations:

* Advisory Committee for Mid-Atlantic Region

This suggestion was made to the Mid-Atlantic Information Network at our summer meeting.  It is being considered.

* DDA notify King of Sec 18's & 24C’s

Grier Stayton has been doing this.

* On-line lesson for Pesticide Safety Education Training on how to use Pesticide Briefs

Done

*Post Card “How to get info”

Distributed to county offices.

* Add commodity group leaders to Pesticide Briefs mailing list

Not done.  Need list of commodity groups & addresses.

*Re-design table of contents for Pesticide Briefs

Done

Crop Profiles

A list of completed crop profiles was presented:  Apple, wheat, lima beans, snap beans, sweet corn, peaches, green peas, potatoes, spinach, squash, watermelons.  Discussion was held on which commodity to cover next:  Green Pepper, Carrot, another commodity, or revise a previous Crop Profile.  King pointed out that if a previous crop is in jeopardy, that is justification for revising our Crop Profile schedule.  It was decided to continue with the current schedule and write the next profile on peppers which might include hot peppers.

Pest Management Strategic Plans

King stated that the lima bean PMSP was completed last winter and that the joint PA/DE/MD mushroom PMSP is in progress with PA as the lead.  The Spinach Workshop has been scheduled for 1/5/04 in Harrington DE as part of the week long Vegetable Growers Meeting.  Next year we will avoid the first week in January because of the Weed Science Society Annual Meeting.  Also, King pointed out that growers do not seem receptive to a week-long vegetable growers meeting.  The insect section of the Spinach Plan is completed.  Weeds and Disease sections are in draft.

Discussion was held on which commodity to choose for the 2005 PMSP.  It was recommended that King find out what other states are planning to do.  It was decided to continue with the current schedule and hold a Pickle Workshop in early 2005.  It was also decided that a pickle grower meeting in 2004 would not be necessary since Whalen presented the PMSP concept to them at the Vegetable Meeting in ‘03, but King would ask Wootten for time on the pickle growers meeting at the Vegetable Growers Meeting in January ‘04 to jump start the PMSP. 

Whalen suggested that King evaluate the success of the lima PMSP.  While researchers benefit from these Plans when applying for federal grants, what do growers get out of them?  Mark VanGessel stated that he was able to network with the PictSweet researcher, Steve Little, at the ‘03 Workshop.  The result of that interaction was the start of a new trial of Authority which has been used in Tennessee, but not in Delaware.

Pesticide Briefs Newsletter

King said that the goal of the Pesticide Briefs newsletter is to promote informed regulatory decisions on registered pesticides.  She asked if Pesticide Briefs was meeting the needs of growers, pesticide users, and extension agents/ specialists.  Comments from the attendees were, “Looks fine.”  “Its Good, I use it!”  “I scan it for pertinent items.”  “It is in a form I can do that.”  Grier Stayton requested King check the links to 24C’s and Section 18's.  Other recommendations were: Update mailing list annually, ask for list of commodity associations from the county offices, send an e-mail to “Ag-All” asking if University of Delaware researchers and staff wish to receive Pesticide Briefs.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:45.

TO DO LIST

Advisory Committee

• Explore the possibility of meeting with County Extension Advisory Committees and/or commodity organizations, such as the Vegetable Growers Association. 
• Crop Profiles & PMSP’s
• Write a Crop Profile on peppers which might include hot peppers.
• Hold the Spinach Workshop and write the PMSP
• Find out what other states have scheduled for Crop Profiles and PMSP’s
• Hold a Pickle Workshop in early 2005. 
• Ask Wootten for time on the pickle growers meeting at the Vegetable Growers Meeting in January ‘04 to jump start the PMSP. 
• Evaluate the success of the lima PMSP. 
• Pesticide Briefs Newsletter
• Reprint the post card “How to get info”
• Ask for list of commodity associations from the county offices and add group leaders to Pesticide Briefs mailing list
• Check the links to 24C’s and Section 18's. 
• Update mailing list annually
• Send an e-mail to “Ag-All” asking if University of Delaware researchers and staff wish to receive Pesticide Briefs.
• Addendum:
• On 11/24 King met with the County Agricultural Agents in Dover at their monthly meeting.  King described the combined presentation that Whalen and King wished to make and asked if County Advisory Committees would be an appropriate resource for the Information Network.  The agents did not agree that the county committees would provide useful advice.  The committees have few agricultural members, and few total members.  Attendance at meetings is sparse.  The Agents recommended that King look to commodity & pesticide user groups for advice.
• King made a request to Wootten to meet with the Vegetable Growers Association in the fall and make the combined presentation with Whalen. King will continue to pursue this route, as well as continue to solicit advice from the Governor’s Advisory Committee on Pesticides and the Delaware Pest Control Association.