Feb 8, 2012

MSU to host IPM academy Feb. 20-21

Michigan State University Extension’s Integrated Pest Management Academy will focus on introducing IPM concepts and preparing participants to implement IPM in the field or garden.

The academy is designed to assist newcomers to pest management but can be a valuable review for growers, nurserymen, gardeners or landscapers looking to brush up their IPM skills or bring new farm workers up to speed. This event could also help job seekers develop valuable skills to support Michigan’s ever-growing agricultural sector.

To kick things off, Barry Jacobsen from Montana State University will deliver the keynote speech on the philosophy and history of IPM. Jacobsen is an IPM scholar and sits on the board of directors for the IPM Institute of North America.

Additional topics covered on the first day will prepare participants to adopt the latest IPM practices through introductory discussions covering entomology, scouting, plant pathology and more. On the second day of the program, participants will have the opportunity to opt into two concurrent sessions that address pest and disease issues and identify IPM resources in the following cropping systems:
•Blueberries
•Field crops; corn and soybeans
•Grapes
•Hops
•Pome fruit
•Small grains and forages; wheat, alfalfa and mixed hay
•Stone fruit
•Strawberries and raspberries
•Vegetables; cucurbits, cole crops, onions, celery and carrots
•Vegetables; peas, beans, sweet corn, asparagus, tomatoes and peppers
•Woody ornamentals; conifers and Christmas trees
•Woody ornamentals; deciduous trees and shrubs

The academy will be held Feb. 20-21 at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center in East Lansing, Mich. Registration for this two-day program is $225 when you register between Jan. 3 and Feb. 13. Registration includes a notebook with handouts, breakfast, lunch, parking and Wi-Fi connection both days. Certified crop adviser credits (9) and pesticide recertification credits (16) will be available.

Online registration opened Jan. 3, and space is limited. For more information, visit the IPM Academy website at http://www.ipm.msu.edu/ipm-academy.htm. Pre-registration is required; walk-ins cannot be accommodated. For more information, email Erin Lizotte at [email protected], or call 231-944-6504.