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.

Integrated Pest Management Systems (Bernalillo County)

Plan Goal

To provide education about, and advice based on, solid IPM principles, including proper plant selection and care, accurate pest identification, and appropriate control measures.

Situation Statement

Bernalillo County is the largest urban county in the state (estimated 2010 population is 662,564), though one of the smallest in geographical terms (1,166 square miles). Population growth continues, with many newcomers moving in every year (19% increase from 2000 to 2010). A significant proportion of these people are not aware of some of the potential plant pest challenges to be found here. At the same time, many long-time residents are not aware of these challenges either, and/or are not aware that control options and recommendations have greatly changed in recent years. In fact, the agent has found that a fair number of pest control professionals lack sufficient knowledge to accurately identify and thus control various common and uncommon pests.
The Albuquerque Area Extension Master Gardeners, whose membership numbers just over 200, is one part of the solution, through their interaction with the gardening public. This body is being further trained towards Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches in areas as diverse as lawn, ornamental tree and shrub, and home vegetable/fruit garden.
Existing venues for educational outreach in which the agent is heavily involved include annual conferences such as Think Trees, the Xeriscape Conference, and the Southwest Turfgrass Association.

Target Audience and Actions

Main target audiences include: homeowners, pest control businesses, small urban farms, local government employees, and Master Gardeners.
Actions will include: one-on-one consultations over the phone, in person (walk-ins and site visits), e-mail, PowerPoint presentations at various trainings and events, short publications to be developed and made available through the Extension Office and local plant nursery outlets, and participation in several local and regional conferences such as Think Trees, the Xeriscape Conference, and the Southwest Turfgrass Association.

Short-Term Objectives

Persons having one-on-one consultations with agent will self-report a qualitative increase in their knowledge of potential or actual pests, the potential for damage from such pests, and the optimal control strategies for their situation, following the consultation.
Participants in workshops and other group programming will self-report an increase (of no less than 10%) in understanding approaches to minimizing pest pressures pro-actively and in controlling such pests appropriately when they do occur. In the case of Master Gardeners, they will self-report an increase of no less than 10% in their knowledge of locally common plant pests, the symptoms such pests cause, and best treatments.

Medium-Term Objectives

Persons obtaining written materials will self-report an increase in their knowledge and understanding of local pest problems, their identification and control, of at least 10%.
Persons attending conferences such as Think Trees will self-report an increase of at least 10% in their knowledge and understanding of major pest issues and the appropriate control methodologies.

Long-Term Objectives

Pest control personnel will self-report an average increase of at least 10% in their knowledge and understanding of local pests of importance and the most appropriate control strategies, using IPM methods and principles.
Master Gardeners will self-report an average increase of at least 10% in their general knowledge of arthropods, potential pests, likely symptoms, and appropriate treatment options.

Evaluation Plan

Pre-post training surveys are administered to the Master Gardener classes. Written evaluation forms will be developed for major programs and projects. Agent will gather qualitative input from one-on-one clients.