MN Fruit & Vegetable IPM News - Vol. 1, No. 1

Bill Hutchison, Dept. of Entomology, University of MN, St. Paul, MN, Jean Ciborowski, Ag. Resources Management and Development Division, MN Dept. of Agriculture, St. Paul, MN, and Suzanne Wold-Burkness, Dept. of Entomology, University of MN, St. Paul, MN

Welcome to the first issue of the new 2004 Minnesota Fruit & Vegetable IPM News. This year we have combined two newsletters into one. Our new publication replaces the former MN Vegetable IPM Newsletter and the MDA Apple & Strawberry Report. We have been given the opportunity to combine these two publications with funding provided through partnership agreements with the Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and the United States Department of Agriculture – Risk Management Agency (RMA) and the RMA Community Outreach and Assistance Partnership Program. As in previous years, we plan to maintain the newsletter as a partnership between the University of Minnesota Extension Service (U of M) and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA).

Our primary goal is to alert growers and processors of pest outbreaks, and timely management recommendations. When relevant, we also provide newsworthy topics related to biotechnology and specialty crops, nutritional benefits of fruits and vegetables, food safety, impacts of the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA), produce marketing, and articles of broad interest concerning the benefits of Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and sustainable agriculture.

The MDA would like to thank all of the apple and strawberry growers participating in this year's pest monitoring program. Fourteen apple growers (see map) and two strawberry growers (Fair Haven and White Bear Lake) have agreed to participate in the program. Their willingness to cooperate is very much appreciated. Our field staff person, Abdalla Ibrahim, will be collecting data at several of the locations. Other sites will be self monitored by the growers. Mark Abrahamson, MDA Plant Pest Survey Program Coordinator, will be producing degree day and apple scab tables.

The Minnesota Fruit & Vegetable IPM News is published weekly from May through August. The News will be posted on the U of MN VegEdge site in htm format at: www.vegedge.umn.edu/MNFruit&VegNews/mnindex.htm and the MDA web site in pdf format at: www.mda.state.mn.us/biocon/fruitreports/default.htm every Friday afternoon during the season.

If you have suggestions and/or comments, please let us know. Contributions and field observations from growers are also welcome. Send your contributions by 4 p.m., Wednesdays to Jean via email: jeanne.ciborowski@state.mn.us

We hope you will find this publication useful to your enterprise! We wish you the best for a productive and profitable growing season!

Return to index

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Co-Editors: Bill Hutchison, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, hutch002@umn.edu
Jeanne Ciborowski, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, Ag. Resources Division,jeanne.ciborowski@state.mn.us
Suzanne Wold-Burkness, Department of Entomology, University of Minnesota, woldx018@umn.edu

The Newsletter is published weekly from May through August, cooperatively, by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the University of Minnesota (U of MN). Reports are posted on the U of MN and MDA web sites on Fridays. If you have suggestions and/or comments, please send your contributions by 4 p.m., Tuesday to Jeanne Ciborowski, 651-297-3217, jeanne.ciborowski@state.mn.us , MDA, 90 W. Plato Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55107-2094. You can access the Newsletter at the U of MN web site in htm. format at: www.vegedge.umn.edu/MNFruit&VegNews/mnindex.htm and at the MDA web site in pdf. format at: www.mda.state.mn.us/biocon/fruitreports/default.htm

Partial funding for this publication is provided through partnership agreements with the Minnesota Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association and the United States Department of Agriculture – Risk Management Agency (RMA) and the RMA Community Outreach and Assistance Partnership Program. These institutions are equal opportunity providers.

DISCLAIMER

References to products in this publication is not intended to be an endorsement to the exclusion of others which may have similar uses. Any person using products listed in this publication assumes full responsibility for their use in accordance with current manufacturer directions.

Last Revised May 7, 2004.
The University, including the Minnesota Extension Service, is an equal opportunity educator and employer. ©1999-2003 Minnesota Extension Service, University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. Contact copyright@extension.umn.edu for information on reproduction or use of this material.