SCG > Sustainable Agriculture & Forestry Programs > Integrated Pest Management Program > Funding > 2004-2005 Final Reports > Holmes

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2004 - 2005 CUIPM Grants -
Final Reports

Commercial Landscape Pest Management School, Clemson Extension Service, Aiken County

Suzanne Holmes, Clemson University Extension-Aiken County, 1555 Richland Avenue East, Aiken, SC 29801.

A Landscape Integrated Pest Management school was held in Aiken to educate landscape and maintenance professionals in the horticulture industry on pest biology and management practices in order to have less and more judicious pesticide use, have better scouting procedures, identify pests correctly, reduce nonpoint pollution of our water supply, and have a more environmentally friendly product for their clientele. The school was held on seven nights in March and April at Aiken Technical College. Seventeen people participated in the school. Extension specialists and county agents were the presenters. The attendees received the Georgia Pest Management Handbook, Pest of Landscape Trees and Shrubs, and a hand lens.

Presenters and topics discussed were as follows:

Suzanne Holmes
County Agent-Aiken		 Principles of IPM
Insect Diagnosis and Control Strategies
Pesticide Safety
Tony Watson
County Agent-Edgefield		 Disease and Control Strategies
Dr. Ted Whitwell
Clemson University
Horticulture Department		 Weed Identification and Control Strategies
Bryan Smith
County Agent-Laurens		 Water Management
In evaluating the program, a pre-test and post-test and evaluation sheet were used. Fourteen people took the test and post-test. Nine people made 60 or below. Of these, all passed the post-test with a score of eighty or above. One person made a 10 and increased his score to 70. Four made a 70 or better on the pre-test and increased their score by 10 to 30 points. The participants also completed an evaluation on the speakers and effectiveness on the program. The results are graphed below.

Ten pesticide applicator recertification credits were given for these classes.

As a result of these classes, pest identification by the landscape professional was increased. They also indicated that instead of reaching for a chemical, they will look for alternative measures from the integrated pest management approach. Also, some of the class indicated that they were increasing the amount of scouting as a result of the program. Another positive outcome is that they have engaged my expertise as a county agent more and also use of the plant problem clinic. Of particular appeal to them was the chapter in the Pests of Landscape Trees and Shrubs book on Problem Solving Tables. The guides in this chapter summarize damage symptoms that occur on common landscape genera, the probable causes, and comments which direct them to pictures and control options. The Integrated Pest Management School helped me reach a clientele that I feel needed more education on Integrated Pest Management. Also as a result of this school, we are forming a Green Industry Association to hold meetings on a regular basis on topics that are of interest to them.

Photos Taken at the Commercial Landscape Pest Management School

Photo 1. Landscape Pest Management students trying to identify Ted Whitwell’s “killer weeds”.
Image depicts students trying to identify weeds supplied by Dr. Whitwell.



Photo 2. Dr. Whitwell giving a crash course on weed identification techniques.
Image depicts Dr. Whitwell talking to a student about weed identification techniques.



Photo 3. Carl Singley looking at a plant sample to identify the problem.
Image depicts a student looking at a plant sample to identify the problem.



Photo 4. Landscaper James Darley using the microscope to find spores on a diseased leaf.
Image depicts student using a microscope to view spores on a diseased leaf.



Evaluation of Landscape IPM Workshop The following seminars were rated according to the usefulness to the attendee: excellent, good, average, fair, poor.

This graph indicates that 50% of students ranked the usefulness of the Integrated Pest Management (IPM) seminar as excellent, 36% ranked it as good and 14% ranked it as average.

This graph indicates that 50% of students ranked the usefulness of the Insects seminar as excellent, 43% ranked it as good and 7% ranked it as average.

This graph indicates that 64% of students ranked the usefulness of the Plant Disease seminar as excellent and 36% ranked it as good.

This graph indicates that 86% of students ranked the usefulness of the Weeds seminar as excellent, 7% ranked it as good and 7% ranked it as average.

This graph indicates that 57% of students ranked the usefulness of the Water Management seminar as excellent and 43% ranked it as good.

This graph indicates that 50% of students ranked the usefulness of the Pesticide Safety seminar as excellent, 36% ranked it as good and 14% ranked it as average.

Questions or comments:
Amy Nichols
Associate Coordinator
IPM and
Sustainable Agriculture
Programs
Contact

Dr. Geoffrey Zehnder
Professor of Entomology, Soils & Plant Sciences
IPM and
Sustainable Agriculture
Programs
114 Long Hall, Box 340315
Clemson, SC 29634-0315
864 - 656 - 6644
Contact

Last revised:
8/4/2006
Clemson University Cooperative Extension Service offers its programs to people of all ages, regardless of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital or family status and is an equal opportunity employer.