Western Pest Management Center Rick Melnicoe Director Western Region Pest Management Center University of California, Davis (530)

Pest Management Centers Formalize existing relationships Formalize existing relationships u Other USDA pest management programs u Commodity groups u Non-Land Grant colleges and universities u Work with university scientists on cooperative projects u Establish advisory committees to advise and prioritize issues

Address Elements of the 1998 Farm Bill Inclusion of stakeholders Inclusion of stakeholders Integration of research, extension, and education Integration of research, extension, and education Encouraging multi-state activities Encouraging multi-state activities Multi-disciplinary approaches to problem solving Multi-disciplinary approaches to problem solving

Creation of the Western Region Pest Management Center Grant from CSREES Grant from CSREES Steering Committee priorities Steering Committee priorities State programs State programs Stakeholder involvement Stakeholder involvement

Link With Other Agencies and Local and Regional Stakeholders u Growers u Other USDA and federal agencies u State agencies u Commodity and grower groups u Crop consultants u Environmental groups

Link Regional Pest Management Issues with USDA Programs/Resources Integrated Pest Management Integrated Pest Management Minor Crops IR-4 Program Minor Crops IR-4 Program Pesticide Applicator Training Pesticide Applicator Training Multi-State Research Projects Multi-State Research Projects Sustainable Agriculture Sustainable Agriculture Organic Agriculture Organic Agriculture Water Quality Water Quality Invasive Species Invasive Species Food Safety Food Safety

Pest Management Centers Can Be a Means to: u Strengthen connection with production agriculture, research and extension programs, and agricultural stakeholders in the U.S. u Respond to information needs of the public and private sectors. u Help USDA and partner institutions identify, prioritize and coordinate a national pest management research, extension, and education program that is implemented on a regional basis.

Special Projects Ecological regions Ecological regions Pest Management Strategic Plans Pest Management Strategic Plans State collaborations State collaborations

Ecological Regions Issues oriented Issues oriented May cross state lines May cross state lines Limited longevity Limited longevity Multi-disciplinary Multi-disciplinary

Pest Management Strategic Plans Priorities set by the workgroup Priorities set by the workgroup Identify pests that drive use of pesticides Identify pests that drive use of pesticides Identify currently used means of control and those that are being developed Identify currently used means of control and those that are being developed Identify timing of pest controls Identify timing of pest controls Work out a strategy and timeline for transitioning away from “riskier” strategies to “less risky” Work out a strategy and timeline for transitioning away from “riskier” strategies to “less risky” Create “To Do” list Create “To Do” list

State Collaborations Pacific Northwest Pacific Northwest u Ecological region data sources u Water quality u PMSPs Colorado and Wyoming Colorado and Wyoming u Crop profiles and PMSPs u Organizing growers u Networking growers on issues

State Collaborations American Pacific Pest Information Network American Pacific Pest Information Network u First collaboration in West u Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, Micronesia and Northern Marianas Unique Issues Unique Issues u Water Quality u Tropical agriculture u Limited access to inputs

State Collaborations California and Arizona California and Arizona u Lettuce PMSP u Desert cotton PMSP u Desert vegetables PMSPs

PMSPs Planned Avocados - CA Avocados - CA Cotton – AZ, CA Cotton – AZ, CA Cherries – CA Cherries – CA Kiwifruit – CA Kiwifruit – CA Lettuce – AZ/CA Lettuce – AZ/CA Grapes, Table - CA Grapes, Table - CA Melons – CA Melons – CA Nectarines - CA Nectarines - CA Pears - CA Pears - CA Peas & Lentils – PNW & CN Peas & Lentils – PNW & CN Plums – CA Plums – CA Potatoes – PNW Potatoes – PNW Strawberries – CA Strawberries – CA Tomatoes, Fresh - CA Tomatoes, Fresh - CA Wheat or Corn – CO Wheat or Corn – CO

PlansPlans Retain state-level emphasis for funding Retain state-level emphasis for funding Encourage multi-disciplinary collaborations Encourage multi-disciplinary collaborations Encourage multi-state projects Encourage multi-state projects Develop additional PMSPs and Crop Profiles Develop additional PMSPs and Crop Profiles Update existing Crop Profiles and PMSPs, as needed Update existing Crop Profiles and PMSPs, as needed

Next Grant Call for Proposals After October 1, 2002 Call for Proposals After October 1, 2002 Retain 4 Administrative Units Retain 4 Administrative Units Emphasize Collaborations? Emphasize Collaborations? Multi-state Proposals with Division of Responsibilities? Multi-state Proposals with Division of Responsibilities?

Closing Comments Evolving process Evolving process Shown concept can work Shown concept can work Next steps dependent upon funding Next steps dependent upon funding u Status quo or expand?