Northwest gets big potato IPM grant

Farm and Ranch June 26, 2009 Potato related entomologists in the Pacific Northwest put together a major grant proposal to the USDA in May and Andy Jensen, Director of Research for the Washington State Potato Commission, says word came this week that the grant was funded.

Jensen: And it will be funding Integrated Pest Management research in potatoes for insects and mites. It was funded at the rate of just over two-million dollars for three years. It will involve in the neighborhood of ten entomologists in the northwest working on all aspects of pest management.”

Jensen says the Potato Commission funds research on pest management every year but there is still much to learn.

Jensen: “One of the things that always been wanted but is lacking is more information on the biology of the pests and when they are actually needed to control. How many pests is it enough to warrant control and under what circumstances, and also the role biological control can actually play in the field. We know something about all those topics but we don‘t know enough to really tell growers how to implement some integrated pest management practices.”

The project will involve people from the University of Idaho, Oregon State University, Washington State University, USDA Agricultural Research Service and Jensen himself.

That’s the Northwest Farm and Ranch Report. Brought to you in part by the Washington State Potato Commission. Nutrition today! Good health tomorrow! I’m Bob Hoff on the Northwest Ag Information Network.