Geneva, NY - In an effort to assist New York agriculturists in managing pests and crops more precisely than ever before, the Integrated Pest Management Program has started the Northeast Weather Association, offering to subscribers daily faxes or electronic transmissions containing crucial agricultural weather data for apples, grapes, onions, and potatoes. Pest and weather data are downloaded at five regional computer sites from 54 electronic weather instruments, and daily forecasts are provided by Weather Track, Inc., for six regions of New York.
A partnership among Wegmans, Comstock Michigan Fruit, grower-suppliers who agreed to follow IPM protocols for their crops, and the IPM Program made IPM-labeled produce available to New York's consumers in 1996. For the first time ever, Wegmans' shoppers were able to stock their carts both with fresh, IPM-grown sweet corn and a variety of frozen and canned vegetables with labels bearing the IPM logo. The story behind the new labels is one of partnership, pride, and environmental gains for New York's citizens.
At 36 golf courses in 15 counties, Extension agents, scouts, and superintendents have practiced IPM techniques for turf, resulting in reduced chemical applications, decreased risk to the environment, and improved turf health.
More than 100 farmers and business people from 16 counties have been part of Tactical Agriculture teams. In 1995, the newest participants influenced 9,000 acres of field corn and alfalfa.
For more information, contact:
Jim Tette, Director
NYS IPM Program
102 Integrated Pest Management
Geneva, NY 14456
Telephone: 315-787-2208
e-mail: jpt1@cornell.edu
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