Rebecca Schmidt-Jeffris, USDA-ARS Wapato is spearheading a new project investigating the potential for natural enemy releases to improve orchard pest control. If you are interested in providing input on this new project join us at meetings in Omak, Yakima and Wenatchee over the next month. Schmidt-Jeffris will share the highlights from new research conducted in 2021 and gather your input to design further projects. Come prepared to discuss your current practices regarding beneficial insects, where you see the most opportunity for beneficial releases and what barriers limit current use.
To participate register below. Registration is required and limited to 20 people per session. Lunch provided via a grant from Western IPM.
Beneficial Insect Release Stakeholder Input Sessions
Omak – November 8, 2021 @ noon to 2:00 pm – Okanogan Horticulture Association Monthly Meeting – Magoos, 24 N Main St, Omak, WA 98841. Register at here.
Yakima – November 17, 2021 1:00 pm to 2:30 pm – Yakima County Extension Office – 2403 S 18th St Suite 100, Union Gap, WA 98903 Register here.
Wenatchee – December 16, 2021 noon to 2:00 pm – Mercantile – Ellis-Forde Conference Room – 14 N. Wenatchee Avenue, Wenatchee, WA 98801 Register here.
If you have not participated, please respond to the following survey, which is designed to determine what current grower practices are regarding releasing beneficial insects for pest control in orchards and how research and extension can improve their programs to meet grower needs in this area. https://wsu.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6FnbDUe88ASGbye
Input from stakeholder sessions and surveys will help Schmidt-Jeffris design experiments that are most useful to the industry and compete for USDA grant funding.
