Partnerships• The IPM Program Team uses research, internal, and external partnerships

and innovative teaching and outreach methods to educate their audiences and increase their impact.

• External partners include State and Federal agricultural and environmental agencies; New England and Northeastern fruit, greenhouse, grounds keepers, nursery, turf, landscape, and vegetable associations; educators; municipalities; producers; schools; Master Gardeners; and citizens.

Outcomes1. In the past four years, the IPM Program Team has directly trained

37,665 people in IPM practices. They represent 290 businesses statewide.

2. An additional 6,182 participants received training about plant pests, pest management and decision making, and safe pesticide use and handling.

Impacts• IPM Program Extension educators prepare

beginning farmers for utilizing Best Management Practices on the farm.

• Growers learn better options for crop production and pest management to keep their businesses profitable and sustainable.

3. A total of 2,335 plant pest samples were diagnosed, and management recommendations were provided to IPM Program participants and other stakeholders during the past four years.

4. More than 300 invasive plant-related activities occurred during local, statewide, or regional events in 2017, providing approximately 10,808 hours of invasive plant training and other educational outreach to 39,365 Connecticut citizens, agency and municipal staff, and other groups.

5. The IPM website (www.ipm.uconn.edu) generated 82,276 sessions created by 69,919 visitors in 2017, representing 111,793 page views.

IPM Team member Mary Concklin conducts a fruit IPM workshop for producers.

IPM Program Team members Joan Allen (L), Mary Concklin and Donna Ellis (C), and Candace Bartholomew (R) provide educational outreach.

Agriculture Program Specialist Stacey Stearns (L) and IPM Team member Leanne Pundt (R)organize an annual biological control conference for ornamental horticulture industry partners.

SignificanceProgram participants benefit from intensive on-site IPM training, which includes the inspection, monitoring, and diagnosis of ornamental and food crops for plant pests and natural enemies, monitoring reports with management recommendations, and overall discussion on plant health care.

www.ipm.uconn.edu

AbstractIntegrated Pest Management (IPM) applies multiple tactics in a variety of settings through the selection of appropriate tools and the education of members of the agricultural industry and Connecticut citizens to provide sustainable, science-based approaches for plant pest management.The IPM Program incorporates pest management strategies through knowledgeable decision making, utilizing the most efficient landscape and on-farm resources and integrating cultural and biological controls. The Integrated Pest Management Program Team

(L. Pundt, A. Chiriboga (no longer with UConn), A. Legrand, M. Concklin, V. Wallace, J. Allen, D. Ellis, and J. Boucher (retired 2017); not pictured: C. Bartholomew).

ConclusionBroader adoption of IPM practices enhances responsible pest management and reduced production costs; minimizes adverse environmental effects from pests; results in improved ecosystem quality and plant performance, and improves plant health, quality, yields, and aesthetics.

IPM Program Coordinator Donna Ellis leads a School IPM guided tour.

Victoria Wallace (L), Ana Legrand (C), and Jude Boucher (R) conduct IPM Programs.

Introduction

• UConn’s IPM Program Team began in 1980, and each year program efforts expand to serve more businesses, communities, and citizens in the state.

• Program objectives include maintaining the economic viability of agricultural and green industry businesses, enhancing and conserving environmental quality and natural resources, educating participants on the effective use of biological control agents, and educating pesticide users about the safe handling and use of pesticide products.

U N I V E R S I T Y O F C O N N E C T I C U T O F F I C E O F P U B L I C E N G A G E M E N T