3
Vermont ANR Department of Environment Conservation
Principal Investigator: A. Hazelrigg
Accomplishments & Outputs:
3
CropLife Foundation
Principal Investigator: A. Hazelrigg
Accomplishments & Outputs:
3
Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR)
Principal Investigator: S. Hurley
Accomplishments & Outputs:
3
Hatch
Principal Investigator: S. Hurley
Accomplishments & Outputs:
3
Hatch
Principal Investigator: J. Molofsky
Accomplishments & Outputs:
Molofsky, J. 2014. Invited Conference Talk on Plant Invasions and Impact, European Plant Biology Congress, Dublin Ireland June 22-June 26, 2014.
Palacio-Lopez, K and J. Molofsky 2014. Invited Poster Presentation. American Genetics Association Special Symposium Evolution and Plasticity. Seattle, WA June 27-29.
Publications:
Molofsky, J ; Keller, SR ; Lavergne, S ; Kaproth, MA; Eppinga, MB 2014 Human- aided admixture may fuel ecosystem transformation during biological invasions: theoretical and experimental evidence ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION 4:899-910. DOI: 10.1002/ece3.966
3a - Entomology and Integrated Pest Management
3a
Hatch
Principal Investigator: Y. Chen
Accomplishments & Outputs:
Publications:
Izzo, V., D. J. Hawthorne, Y. H. Chen. 2014. Geographic variation in winter hardiness of a common agricultural pest, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, The Colorado potato beetle. Evolutionary Ecology 28:505-520.
Izzo, V. and Y. H. Chen. 2014. Time of the Season: Effect of photoperiodism on host-mediated cues for diapause induction in Leptinotarsa decemlineata. Ecological Entomology. 39(1):75-82.
Izzo, V.*, D. J. Hawthorne, Y. H. Chen. 2014. Geographic variation in winter hardiness of a common agricultural pest, Leptinotarsa decemlineata, The Colorado potato beetle. Evolutionary Ecology 28:505-520. IF = 2.37. 3a
Hatch
Principal Investigator: H. Darby
Accomplishments & Outputs:
We held our annual research farm field day on July 24, 2014 (225 attendees). The potato leafhopper impact experiment was a stop in our morning farm tour. Figure 1 was presented. The downy mildew crowning trial and weed control study were main highlights of our afternoon hop specific workshop.
3a
National Institute of Food and Agriculture/Department of Agriculture
Principal Investigator: A. Hazelrigg
Accomplishments & Outputs:
3a
National Institute of Food and Agriculture/Department of Agriculture
Principal Investigator: A. Hazelrigg
Accomplishments & Outputs:
3a
Cornell University
Principal Investigator: A. Hazelrigg
Accomplishments & Outputs:
3a
University of Massachusetts
Principal Investigator: A. Hazelrigg
Accomplishments & Outputs:
3a
Hatch
Principal Investigator: A. Hazelrigg
Accomplishments & Outputs:
3a
Green Mountain Power Corporation
Principal Investigator: D. Neher
Accomplishments & Outputs:
3a
Hatch/MultiState
Principal Investigator: D. Neher
Accomplishments & Outputs:
Publications: 3a
Agricultural Research Service/Department of Agriculture
Principal Investigator: B. Parker
Accomplishments & Outputs:
Publications:
Kim, J.S., S.J. Lee, M. Skinner & B.L. Parker. 2014. A novel approach: Beauveria bassiana granules applied to nursery soil for management of rice water weevils in paddy fields. DOI 10.10002/ps.3817.
Skinner, M., B.L. Parker & J.S. Kim. 2014. Role of Entomopathogenic Fungi in Integrated Pest Management, Chapter 10, pp. 169-192. In, D.P. Abrol (ed.), Integrated Pest Management, Current Concepts and Ecological Perspective. Invited author, Elsevier/Academic Press.
Gouli, V., S. Gouli, J.A.P. Marcelino, M. Skinner & B.L. Parker. 2013. Entomopathogenic fungi associated with exotic invasive insect pests in northeastern forests in the USA. Insects 4: 631-645 doi:10.3390/insects4040631.
Skinner, M., C.E.F. Sullivan, S. Gouli & B.L. Parker. 2013. Granular Formulations of Insect-killing Fungi in Combination with Plant-mediated IPM Systems for Thrips. 2013. American Floral Endowment Special Research Report #216: Insect Management.
3a
Environmental Protection Agency
Principal Investigator: M. Skinner
Accomplishments & Outputs:
3a
University of New Hampshire
Principal Investigator: M. Skinner
Accomplishments & Outputs:
3a
Pennsylvania State University
Principal Investigator: M. Skinner
Accomplishments & Outputs:
3b - Nutrient Runoff and Water Quality
3b
Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR)
Principal Investigator: S. Hurley
Accomplishments & Outputs:
3b
Hatch/MultiState
Principal Investigator: D. Ross
Accomplishments & Outputs:
3c - Environmental Management
3c
Vermont Sustainable Jobs Fund
Principal Investigator: S. Bosworth
Accomplishments & Outputs:
3d - Forest Resources
Compost Bioassay
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Several gardeners purchased compost contaminated with persistent pesticides in 2012. The pesticides inhibited growth of plants in gardens where it was applied. Testing for the pesticides using chemical analysis is very costly and not practical in this situation. UVM developed a compost bio assay using indicator plants under controlled conditions to test batches of commercial compost for presence or absence of the pesticides. The results of the bio assays are shared with the individual compost company to help them provide a product that is safe to use. We have finished 150 compost bio assays.
The UVM Pesticide Education and Safety Program Improvement Initiative
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The goal of this project is to develop a business plan to help identify barriers and opportunities to make the Vermont Pesticide Education and Safety program more financially sustainable. National funding for the state programs has diminished over the past several years. A stakeholder team involving Extension and the VT Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets has been established. A statewide advisory board will be developed in the next year to help identify opportunities for the program. Preliminary work has begun on cost analysis of the program. This will continue for 2 additional years.
An Evaluation of Potential Nutrient Leaching From Six Types of Compost
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The Vermont Agency of Natural Resources funded Dr. Stephanie Hurley and PhD students, Paliza Shrestha and Amanda Cording, to evaluate nutrient leaching from compost that has been saturated. Six compost types from different regional vendors were compared in the laboratory when exposed to saturated conditions ranging from ten minutes to ten days, to mimic different intensity and durations of precipitation and flooding events. Analysis of the results is presently underway.
In response to Vermont's new Universal Recycling Law, composting of green waste will soon be required in Vermont. With more compost available to be spread on the land, it is important to identify uses which may or may not be desirable, in light of concerns about phosphorus pollution in Lake Champlain and other waterways. This research contributes to an ongoing dialog about the best uses of compost in the landscape.
Reporter Joshua Brown with UVM Communications has written an online article describing the intent of the grant.
Climate Change Best Management Practices on Vermont Farms
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This project seeks to better understand the land management by Vermont farmers in the context of climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies and implementations, i.e. climate change best management practices- CCBMPs. In the Northeastern United States, climate change is expected to impact farming through precipitation increases, changes in crop suitability (e.g. apples) and decreases in milk production capacity. The recent devastation of tropical storm Irene has brought to the forefront the need to develop land management strategies that respond to extreme climate events. Our transdisciplinary approach integrates methodologies including agroecological analysis, greenhouse gas sampling, and alternative futures scenario visualization. We will disseminate our findings through farmer-to-farmer workshops that focus on sharing knowledge on and implementation of CCBMPs. Results will also be shared with policy makers and other stakeholders through facilitated workshops. Expected outcomes include: (1) Developing a transdisciplinary research methodology to address climate change in agricultural landscapes; (2) Identifying and evaluating promising CCBMPs; (3) Creating opportunities for farmer-to-farmer interactions regarding CCBMPs; (4) Using scenario visualizations to describe and compare the spatial impacts of alternative climate change mitigation and adaptation practices on farms; and (5) Informing an emerging dialogue about the influence of climate change on agricultural practices in Vermont and the region.
In the second year of this project our team has continued field data collection and given several public presentations. We have continued one on one interviews with local farmers working with a diverse array of crops. We have completed a detailed literature review on twenty CCBMPs including evaluating their suitability for landscape visualizations. We have developed a photo library of these CCBMPs by visiting numerous Vermont farms and gained permission from the farmers to take photographs and catalog them to be used as foreground and background imagery in photovisualizations. In the summer of 2014 we sampled for greenhouse gases (N2O, CH4, CO2) at three farms in conjunction with an ongoing effort from a separate UVM Food Systems grant. We also had a booth describing our greenhouse gas research at the UVM Extension Farmer Field Day event in Alburgh VT.
Researchers from our team presented in February at the annual NOFA conference on the topic of (1) Agricultural resilience in a changing climate and (2) Visualizing climate change best management practices on Vermont Farms (The Northeastern Organic Farming Association of Vermont Winter Conference, Burlington, Vermont.)
Eco-Evolutionary Feedbacks and the invasive success of introduced Phalaris arundinacea
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The purpose of this project is to understand how introduced species continue to evolve after they have been introduced into new areas and how this continued evolution can create individuals who are more invasive than those that were first introduced. Our work has shown how seemingly small changes at the genomic level have resulted in changes in several plant traits such as biomass production and how these changes in biomass production can lead to situations in which a previously intact wetland community has been transformed into an invader dominated wetland.
Gaertner, M; Biggs, R; Te Beest, M; Hui, C; Molofsky, J; Richardson, DM 2014 Invasive plants as drivers of regime shifts: identifying high-priority invaders that alter feedback relationships. DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS 20:733-744.DOI: 10.1111/ddi.12182
5 projects
Genetic factors associated with insecticide resistance in Colorado potato beetle
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Leptinotarsa decemlineata, or the Colorado potato beetle (CPB) is the major herbivore afflicting potatoes globally, and is notorious for its ability to repeatedly evolve resistance to insecticides, including the organic insecticide used within Vermont. Field reports and laboratory bioassays strongly indicate that Eastern and Western CPB populations vary in their evolvability for pesticide resistance. Although US beetle populations that feed on potatoes are related by descent, insecticide resistance is a problem in the Eastern US, but not in the western US.
We hypothesize that geographic CPB populations may vary in their ability to evolve insecticide resistance due to genetic differences among populations that arose from their colonization history. In particular, we propose to: 1) examine how Eastern and Western beetle populations differ in standing genetic variation and 2) test hypotheses on the colonization history of the beetle. We have begun sampling Eastern and Western beetle populations. We have populations from Oregon, Colorado, Texas, and Northern Mexico. From the Eastern populations, we have collected samples from Maine, Maryland, New York, Virginia, and Wisconsin. We have collected several Leptinotarsa species that overlap in their geographic range with L. decemlineata.
The CPB genome has been sequenced, assembled, and has undergone automatic annotation. With Dr. Sean Schoville, I am coordinating the manual annotation of the beetle genome. The availability of the genome will allow us to identify where SNPs occur, and whether they appear to be differentially selected within different populations. We are annotating the genome for insecticide resistance traits, P450s, diapause, heat-shock proteins, and potato host use. Following the full annotation of the beetle genome, which we anticipate will occur in the spring of 2015, we will align the genome resequencing data against the annotated genome. This step will allow us to test patterns of colonization.
Dr. Schoville and I submitted a grant to the USDA Exploratory Research Program, Plant Health and Production and Plant Products. The title of the submitted grant is: Do hyper-diverse genomes run the pesticide treadmill: resequencing Colorado potato beetle genomes to understand rapid pest evolution and improve sustainable pest management. This program funds high-risk and potentially transformative projects.
Izzo, V., N. Mercer, J. Armstrong, Y. H. Chen. 2014. Variation in host usage among geographic populations of Leptinotarsa decemlineata, the Colorado potato beetle. Journal of Pest Science 87(4): 597-608.
Hop varietal tolerance to potato leafhopper (Empoasca fabae)
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Public interest in sourcing local foods extends into beverages, and the demand for local hops continues to rise. IPM strategies for hop culture have been developed for the Pacific Northwest region where large-scale hop production currently occurs in an arid environment, mirroring neither the scale nor climate of hop production in the northeast. This project aims to look at more environmentally friendly crop production systems that use sustainable pest management strategies that promote environmental stewardship while remaining economically viable. There is a need specifically for management of potato leafhopper, hop downy mildew, and various weed species in hops grown in the Northeast. Applied research was conducted to evaluate hop varietal resistance or tolerance potato leafhopper, mechanical crowing to control downy mildew, and cultural control of weeds in hops.
First year results indicate that hop varieties in their first year of growth respond similarly to leaf hopper pressure. However, our preliminary results show that adult leafhoppers feeding decreases overall leaf photosynthesis, stomatal conductivity, and transpiration on hops.
Our preliminary data suggests that plants crowned on the earliest date, April 14, 2014, exhibited the lowest number of basal spikes but the highest incidence of aerial downy mildew spikes. Downy mildew damage to the hop cones will be the final indicator to determine if crowning can reduce downy mildew in hops.
Cultural control of weeds provided varying results. Four weed control strategies were implemented in the organic hopyard. These included tillage, organic herbicide (citric acid), steam weeding, and mulch. The treatments are to be applied by early June following training and pruning of the hops. Weed biomass levels were more greatly impacted by hop plant size than the weed control system. There was a trend towards lower weed biomass in the mulch and organic herbicide treatments.
The 5th Annual Hops Conference was held on February 27th, 2014 in Burlington, VT. There were 279 attendees. The newly funded Hatch project was highlighted and plans for upcoming research were delivered to the audience.
Blog posts on the Whats Hoppening Blog were posted on May 20th, June 9 and July 14, 2014. These blog posts were focused on downy mildew management and reminders to begin scouting for insects the first week in June, and a hop pesticide usage survey. The goal of the survey is to document pesticide useage information in regards to types, rates, and frequency of applications to hops. We will use this data to monitor impact from our project.
The blog post can be found here: http://blog.uvm.edu/hoppenin/
The survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/hopsurvey
A Comprehensive, Interdisciplinary Vermont Extension IPM Program Addressing Stakeholder Priorities and Needs
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The purpose of this project is to offer integrated pest management (IPM) education, programming and outreach in a wide variety of crops essential to Vermont's economy. Crops include hops and grain crops, tree fruits and grapes, vegetables and berries, greenhouse crops, home gardens and landscapes. Education and outreach activities include workshops, meetings, lectures, field days, webinars, one-on-one discussions through email, phone and on-site visits, information on websites, through newsletters and outreach events including Fairs, Flower shows and Farmers markets. Significant accomplishments include increased ability to identify arthropod pests and diseases, increased understanding of cultural practices to limit pest and disease outbreaks, increased understanding of choices of current management options. Accomplishments also include increased understanding and use of control measures that have the least impact to the environment, human health and non-target organisms. These activities will continue in future years and will continue to address IPM issues in important and emerging crops, current and emerging diseases, arthropod pests and weed problems important to growers in Vermont.
The Transdisciplinary Vermont Extension IPM Program Addressing Stakeholder Priorities and Needs for 2013-2016
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The purpose of this project is to offer integrated pest management (IPM) education, programming and outreach in a wide variety of crops essential to Vermont's economy. Crops include hops and grain crops, tree fruits and grapes, vegetables and berries, greenhouse crops, home gardens and landscapes. Overarching programs include the UVM Plant Diagnostic Clinic and the Extension Master Gardener program. Education and outreach activities include workshops, meetings, lectures, field days, webinars, one-on-one discussions through email, phone and on-site visits, Plant Diagnostic Clinic samples, information on websites, through newsletters and outreach events including Fairs, Flower shows and Farmers markets. Significant accomplishments include increased ability to identify arthropod pests and diseases, increased understanding of cultural practices to limit pest and disease outbreaks, increased understanding of choices of current management options. Accomplishments also include increased understanding and use of control measures that have the least impact to the environment, human health and non-target organisms. These activities will continue in future years and will continue to address IPM issues in important and emerging crops, current and emerging diseases, arthropod pests and weed problems important to growers in Vermont.
National Plant Diagnostic Network for the Food and Agriculture Defense Initiative
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The Northeast Plant Diagnostic Network (NEPDN) is a consortia of plant diagnostic labs throughout the US working to identify arthropods, diseases and weeds that are invasive and/or are of import/export significance. All diagnostic samples for all Vermont crops, home gardens and landscapes are logged into a national database. Once the sample is identified, the grower is contacted and biology of the pest or disease is shared and recommendations for management based on integrated pest management (IPM) principles are discussed. Over 300 samples are processed in the UVM Plant Diagnostic Clinic in addition to several hundred samples of email pictures, phone calls and one on one visits requesting help with id and management.
Fruit and Vegetable Pest Scouting Calendar
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Vegetable and fruit growers need timely and accurate pest and disease information through weekly scouting of farms. UMASS, URI and UVM cooperated and scouted 2 vegetable/fruit farms in each state on a regular basis throughout the growing season and reported findings to the farmers, and to weekly Pest Alerts through UMASS veg newsletters and the VT vegetable and berry listserve. This project will be continued next summer with the end goal of developing a pest scouting calendar and procedures for beginning farmers in the northeast.
Comparison of Three Organic Apple Managment Systems on Disease and Arthropod Pests
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The purpose of this project is to compare 3 organic apple disease and arthropod management systems using standard organic fungicides and novel agricultural biostimulants. The ultimate goal is to help identify new disease/pest management tools for organic apple growers in the northeast. Two years of research data have been collected and evaluated and the results are currently being summarized. Some of the papers from this work will be published in 2015. The results will be shared with apple growers in the northeast in meetings and newsletters.
Plant Toxicity Tests
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Digestate solids produced from anaerobic digestors was evaluated for two potential uses, as a 1) potting medium for vegetable seedlings, and 2) organic amendment to soil for suppression of root diseases. First, plant toxicity tests were conducted for sensitive plant species, including lettuce (Latuca sativa) and tomato (Lycopersicon esculenta). Plants were grown in a gradient of digestate mixed with potting media at concentrations of 0, 25, 50 and 100%. The replicated experiment was conducted with pasteurized digestate and repeated with non-sterile digestate. Plant toxicity occurred in both pasteurized and non-sterile digestate at all concentrations. Second, a greenhouse experiment was conducted to evaluate the ability of digestate to suppress root disease prior to seed germination or in seedlings. Fungal pathogen, Rhizoctonia solani, on radish served as a model system. Approximately, 20% reduction of disease severity (compared to controls) was observed for plants grown in mixtures of 5% digestate in field soil infested with Rhizoctonia solani. In conclusion, digestate may be useful in suppression of root pathogens of plants in small doses but is phytotoxic to plants in concentrations of 25% or higher.
Plant-Parasitic Nematode Management as a Component of Sustainable Soil Health Programs in Horticultural and Field Crop Production Systems
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Three projects contributed to the multistate objective to evaluate cultural management procedures for their impacts on the sustainability of soil health. First, in collaboration with University of Ghent (Belgium), nematode community indicators were validated as tools to quantify the successional maturity of compost. Second, high throughput genetic sequencing was applied to compare soils that are naturally suppressive or conducive to soybean cyst nematodes in the Midwest. Differences in community composition were not statistically different among treatments. Third, a suite of biological indicators were compared for their ability to predict suppression of Rhizoctonia damping-off disease on radish in a bioassay. The best predictors of disease suppression were respiration (immature compost) and an in vitro plate assay to quantify suppression of R. solani growth (mature compost). Third, a new project was initiated to evaluate 'designer' compost teas for their ability to suppress black rot disease on cabbage. Results of the project were presented at the 2014 Vermont Organic Recycling Summit and the 2014 California Polytechnic State University Compost Symposium (San Luis Obispo, CA).
Neher, D.A., Weicht, T.R., and Dunseith, P. 2014. Compost for management of weed seeds, pathogen, and early blight on brassicas in organic farmer fields. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems. DOI:10.1080/21683565.2014.884516.
Entomopathogenic Fungi for Management of Pear Thrips, Western Flower Thrips and Other Related Insect Pests with Soil - Inhabiting Stages in Greenhouses and Forests
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Curating the University of Vermont Entomology Research Laboratory Worldwide Collection of Entomopathogenic Fungi requires constant attention. This includes inspecting isolates currently held in -80 dec. C storage to ensure they are viable, and preparing newly isolated cultures for long-term storage. Several dozen fungal cultures including Beauvaria bassiana , Metarhizium anisopliae , Isaria sp. and Paecilomyces fumosoroseus . Several as yet unidentified fungi were also purified and prepared for identification and long-term storage. Around 50 fungal cultures were isolated in the current year mainly from hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA), different species of scales (elongate hemlock scale and round scale) and thrips. The several cultures were isolated from HWA populations associated with a period of mass mortality. Two typical isolates were sent to Dr. Roger Shivas (well-known mycologist from Biosecurity Queensland Department of Agriculture, Australia). He informed us that he could not provide a clear diagnosis, but believed that they are undescribed Dothideomycetes. Several isolates from insects (HWA) and from internal tissues of hemlock twigs were also prepared for storage. DNA extracts were prepared from 10 of these isolates and sent for molecular analysis and identification by Dr. Stephen A. Rehner USDA-ARS Systematic Mycology and Microbiology Laboratory. Further information regarding this analysis is pending. New and old fungal cultures are prepared to be sent to an ARS USDA Collection of Entomopathogenic fungi as a back up to the UVM collection.
Parker, B.L., M. Skinner & M. El Bouhssini. 2014. Entomopathogenic Fungi for IPM: A Manual for Development. 2014. International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas, Aleppo Syria. 170 pp.
Scouting to Reduce Chemical Pesticide Use in Greenhouse Ornamentals
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The goal of this project was to help growers of greenhouse ornamentals in Northern New England establish scouting programs by training seasonal workers, thereby reducing growers use of agrochemicals and increase their adoption of integrated pest management (IPM) and biological control. Two training programs were held attended by over 45 growers from ME, NH and VT. Over 60 percent of participants were staff, the primary target audience. The rest were owners or head growers. The 1-day training sessions included sections on establishing a scouting program, developing data sheets and entering data, insect and damage identification, disease diagnosis and soil and water testing methods and nutrient deficiency symptoms. Each participant developed an individualized scouting plan for their greenhouse operation, which they were to implement. Surveys were sent to participating growers before the workshop to gain baseline needs data. The surveys indicated that over 108 greenhouses were operated by workshop attendants totaling over 2.1 mil sq ft used for production of ornamentals and/or vegetables. Aphids, thrips and whiteflies were the most problematic insect pests for growers to manage. Powdery mildew, botrytis blight and bacterial leaf spots were the most challenging diseases. Environmental control and fertility issues were the top production issues that troubled attendants. Around 88 percent of attendants indicated that they used biological controls, and 94 percent said they planned to use chemical insecticides and/or fertilizers in the upcoming growing season. Over 88 percent of growers said they use sticky cards, disinfect areas, remove weeds and use new soil for pest management purposes. After the sessions, over 85 percent of the participants indicated they learned new skills they intend to use during the upcoming growing season. Almost 90 percent said they made new contacts they will draw on for information in the future. Growers indicated they liked the small size of the sessions, which allowed for more hands-on learning. One grower said she learned more in one hour of this training session than she learns in a whole day at most other workshops. Over 93 percent of the attendees used biological control in the last year, 51 percent used some form of a chemical pesticide. A listserv was established among growers to encourage interaction among the group. As a result of the session, growers that had fertilizer issues modified their type and rates and now monitor their water and fertilizer rates more frequently. Some purchased new meters. Many growers designed new scouting routines or modified existing ones to monitor pests and diseases more effectively. Others indicated that they are more diligent in their pest management decisions choosing less toxic chemical insecticides if needed. Growers indicated that they would like to keep having hands on workshops and some indicated more IPM for vegetable production. It was clear from the outcome that small interactive workshops are more effective at disseminating information about IPM than large lecture-style conferences, though the smaller sessions are more labor intensive and expensive to organize.
Dynamics of Naturally Occurring Fungal-Induced Epizootics of Hemlock Wooly Adelgid
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This project assesses the efficacy and persistence of the entomopathogenic fungus, Myriangium sp. Samples from HWA-infested sites in VT, NH, and ME were collected in 2011 but no indication of a fungal epizootic was detected. Several cadavers showed fungal mycosis linked with a new fungus tentatively identified in the classDothideomycetes . DNA analysis is underway to identify it. This is a new fungus impacting HWA. In 2012 and 2013 we received twigs infested with HWA and elongate hemlock scale (EHS). Myriangium sp. was isolated from symptomatic EHS, which shows that while Myriangium sp. occurs in areas of HWA infestations, conditions have not been suitable for an epizootic. In 2012 and 2013, four different spray trials were conducted at infested sites in Vermont. Each trial was designed to adjust for conditions at the specific site. The objectives for these experiments: demonstrate the virulence ofMyriangium sp. against HWA; and show that after sprayed on HWA-infested branches, Myriangium sp. persists and spreads to other adjacent unsprayed twigs causing HWA mortality.
In general 74-92 percent mortality of HWA was observed 1 mo after treatment with a fungal spray. This demonstrates that Myriangium sp. is highly virulent to HWA but, our goal is to determine if, once applied, the fungus persists and spreads, causing an epizootic. Samples collected outside the treated area 5 wk after fungal treatment contained 23-52 percent infected HWA, compared with 2-25 percent on untreated twigs. Our observation, based on differences in HWA mortality, was thatMyriangium sp. naturally dispersed from the treatment area in all directions, but only a short distance.
In 2013 a spray trial was conducted on a 3-m tall hemlock hedge located 2 m from heavily infested dominant hemlock trees. Last year the hedge showed no signs of infestation, but in 2013 the trees at the north end were infested. Myriangium sp. was sprayed on infested trees and HWA is being tracked along the hedge to determine its spread to other trees in the hedge. Mortality was high at all test sites in summer 2013 on treated and untreated trees. Isolations indicated the primary cause was the fungus detected in NH. In May 2014, samples were collected in so. VT and assessed for live and dead HWA and number of eggs per female. Dead individuals were examined for fungal infection. Winter mortality of all life stages was 85-95percent. Dead insects showed evidence of the same fungus seen in our trials causing significant mortality. The occurrence of this fungus and its impact on HWA in 2013 went largely unreported. High mortality of HWA in the spring of 2014 was generally thought to be caused by cold winter temperatures in 2014. In fact it is likely that most were already killed by the fungus in 2013. This demonstrates that the impact of fungi on forest pests often goes undetected because special skills and sampling methods are needed to isolate the microscopic disease-causing organisms. Though adult HWA mortality was high in 2013, the adults that survived laid an average of 30-118 eggs. This enabled the population to rebound within 1yr.
Developing an IPM Program for Western Bean Cutworm, a New Corn and Dry Bean Pest in the NE Region
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This is a collaborative project with Cornell Univ. and Penn State evaluating the risk posed by the western bean cutwormStriacosta albicosta (Smith) (WBC). The abundance and range expansion of WBC was assessed using pheromone traps in field corn and dry bean fields in three northwestern and central Vermont counties. If large numbers of moths were observed, the fields were inspected for larval infestations and damage. During 2012-2014, twelve corn fields across 4 western VT counties: 5 in Franklin, 1 in Chittenden, 3 in Rutland and 3 in Addison were monitored. One green bucket trap was hung on posts at each site to trap male moths. The traps contained a WBC pheromone lure to mimic a female and attract male moths. An insecticidal strip was placed in the traps to kill the moths. In 2013 at two of the sites, the traps had to be relocated to another nearby corn field due to crop rotation from corn to hay. Traps were checked every 1-3 wks from mid-June to early-Sept in 2012 and every 2 wks from late-May to early-Sept. in 2013 and 2014. Data was entered into the web-based PestWatch pest tracking system.
A total of 204 moths were collected over the 3-year sampling period. In 2012, 82 moths were collected, compared with 22 in 2013, and 100 in 2014. When data from all sites were combined, the average number of WBC/trap was 8.3 in 2014, 1.8 in 2013, and 6.8 in 2012, and the peak flight period was from mid-June to mid-August. In all 3 years, most of the WBC were collected in Addison County (133 moths). Franklin County had the second highest total with 38 moths, followed by Rutland Country with 29 moths, and Chittenden County with 4 moths. For the first two years, Rutland County had the second highest number of moths and Franklin County the least. However, in year 3, twice as many moths were collected in Franklin County than in Rutland County. In 2013 and 2014, no moths were collected in Chittenden County, whereas a few were observed in 2012. In all years, no larvae were observed in the fields nor was there evidence of feeding damage at any sites. It is very possible that WBC is established in VT and can survive over the winter. Many of the moths collected from the traps from all years exhibited minimal damage, suggesting that they may have overwintered here and emerged from local fields, rather than being blown in from New York or Canada. The weather over the three seasons may have been a factor in differences observed in the annual number of moths collected. Though WBC populations remain low compared with those in New York, in most locations at least a few were collected each year, suggesting that a pest reservoir exists in this state, which could increase to damaging levels given suitable conditions. It cannot be predicted how this pest could impact crops in the future or where its populations are highest in the state of VT. At this time, there is no reason for concern about WBC in the areas of Vermont surveyed, based on the numbers of moths collected over the past 3 years. These data provide baseline information from which management approaches could be developed if this pest reaches damaging levels in the future.
13 projects
Implementing Low Impact Development in Waitsfield, Vermont
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Ecosystem Restoration Program Funds from the State of Vermont were used to monitor and evaluate several pre-determined high-priority sites for stormwater runoff concerns in the developed areas of Waitsfield, Vermont, and to design, construct and monitor a project that would target control of stormwater runoff from one of these properties.
In collaboration with sub-contractors Watershed Consulting Assoc., Friends of the Mad River, and Winooski Natural Resources Conservation District, and graduate student Dana Allen Dr. Hurley selected the parking lot of Village Square, a shopping development in Waitsfield near State Route 100, to be retrofitted as a stormwater bioretention demonstration project.
The project was designed during the spring of 2013 and construction was completed in August 2013. Eight parking spaces were removed from the site to dig an approximately square (30 x 32 ft) area of parking lot and replace it with a sand-based bioretention soil. Native plants were planted throughout the bioretention raingarden and interpretive signage was installed to describe the project to passersby. A maintenance plan was developed and agreed upon with the property managers.
The project timeline was extended into early 2014 in order to obtain stormwater runoff samples at the outflow of the bioretention system, which has shown to significantly reduce sediment pollution reaching the storm sewer network and ultimately the Mad River.
Dr. Hurley presented on this project in a talk entitled From Concept to Construction: Parking Lot Bioretention in Waitsfield Vermont, at a conference in Burlington, VT on the Raising the Bar for Green Stormwater Infrastructure in April 2014.
Multistate Research Coordination Northeastern Region
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The overarching goal of this project was to understand the effects of land-use history and current land management on both carbon sequestration and soil nutrient supply. The focus in the final year was on the distribution of phosphorus across stream corridor soils. Analysis of a suite of phosphorus measurements was completed on soil samples previously taken from Black Creek and Hungerford Brook in the Missisquoi Watershed and the Mad River in the Winooski Watershed. Samples were taken from the stream bank edge, the riparian buffer (if present) and the adjacent land use. Land use varied widely and included active dairy farms, relatively inactive farm land (e.g. unimproved pasture and meadow) and forest areas. Relative to findings in less agriculturally-intensive watersheds, the transect soils in the Missisquoi had elevated concentrations of total phosphorus and greater phosphorus saturation (a measure of the capacity of the soil to retain phosphorus and limit its bioavailability). These high concentrations may reflect a history of phosphorus additions and may create the potential for greater P transport into the lake. The total concentration of P appeared to have less variation with position (i.e. stream bank, buffer or field) than soil test P, likely the legacy of pre-buffer P additions. Results are being shared with cooperating farmers, Extension specialists and other researchers at both state-wide and international conferences (e.g. at the recent 16th Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network meeting).
2 projects
Grass Biomass Project
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At the end of a previous four-year grass energy project, we had three to four years of data on the biomass production and quality of various warm season grass species and cultivars. Based on these results, some grass species and cultivars were identified to have potential for biomass energy in Vermont. All the reports from the previous project can be found at the UVM Vermont Grass Energy website, http://pss.uvm.edu/vtcrops/?Page=energycrops.html. The primary purpose of this project has been to continue the maintenance and monitoring of these trials in order to verify the sustainability of the stands of these potential cultivars. Our results have confirmed that Cave-N-Rock is the best yielding switchgrass cultivar across the three locations of this study while other cultivars perform well in some locations. Overall, our best cultivars have continued to yield 9 to 10 metric tons per hectare into their fourth and fifth year. We have also verified that some cultivars that looked promising in the first three to four years, have now shown a decline in stand density and biomass production either at two or all three locations. Another objective of this project was to gather an additional year of data on a nitrogen response trial of switchgrass. Over the course of the study, we found that switchgrass only responded to additional N in three out of six site-years. The greatest response occurred when the stand was three to four years old and less response before and after that time. A third objective of this project has been to evaluate the effect of fall verses spring harvest management on switchgrass yield and biomass quality. The results are still being evaluated. The results of this project will be posted, along with past project reports, on the Vermont Grass Energy website. Our overall conclusions are that switchgrass either grown in monoculture or in a mixture with other native warm season grasses can have potential for biomass production in Vermont provided the economic climate for growing, processing and utilization of this energy resource is available. The next phase of this project is to investigate the variation in fuel quality characteristics such as ash content, potassium and chloride that we have found across our three diverse sites.
1 project