Note: This site is for reviewing legacy plan of work data from 2007-2011. If you are looking for the current plan of work interface, visit pow.nmsu.edu.
Impact Report
| For plan | Integrated Pest Management Systems (Bernalillo County) |
| Date | October 26, 2011, 7:17 pm |
| For Objective | Short-term Show short-term objectives |
| Impact Report | Activities related to pest management include facilitating Master Gardener trainings. The trainings include formal presentations during the Master Gardener classes from NMSU specialists on insects, Integrated Pest Management, and plant pathology. She trains Master Gardeners informally on a daily basis by advising them in answering pest questions while they are on the hotline. Site visits with green industry professionals almost always include a discussion about pest management (ex: what to do about sycamore scale, anthracnose, how to get rid of bagworms, what to do about wood boring insects, and aphids, etc.). These professionals include employees from TruGreen, Waterwise Landscapes, Albuquerque BioPark, HeadsUp Landscaping, Baca’s Trees, Eric’s Tree Care, A-Ron’s Pest Control, Continual Growth, and Plants of the Southwest. The agent can often advise homeowners and professionals against the use of chemicals or advise the client as to the best timing of application so that they eliminate or minimize the amount of pesticide being applied. The agent informs clients of less toxic alternatives to chemicals if there is one available. For example, she has convinced several clients to use spinosad instead of carbaryl for codling moth in apples. Walk-ins run the gamut from homeowners to green industry professionals. They usually bring in a sample or a picture that the client and agent can both look at and identify/diagnose on the spot or with the aid NMSU specialists. Master Gardener classes: Pre and post training evaluations revealed a 20 percent increase in knowledge (on average) after attending the 2011 Master Gardener training. However, the bulk of knowledge gained by Master Gardeners comes during volunteer activities such as manning the hotline. After a year of volunteering, a Master Gardener is likely to report a much higher percentage of knowledge gained. Based on the survey results, the participants had a good educational foundation to start their volunteer activities. Regarding the horticulture agent's day to day interaction with clients, here is an example of some feedback,“Perfect, Cheryl. Thank you for taking such a close look at my plants. I'll keep a close eye on things this coming spring and summer and contact you as soon as I notice any damage. I really appreciate your taking the time to help me.” - Sam Mon 10/25/2010 |