The 2015 Tree Fruit IPM School will take place in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Feb. 18-20, 2015. Register before Jan. 14 to receive an early bird discounted rate!
Posted on December 16, 2014 by Julianna Wilson, Michigan State University Extension, Department of Entomology, and Emily Pochubay, MSU Extension
Join Michigan State University Extension staff and researchers at the 2015 Tree Fruit IPM School, designed for growers, farm managers and field scouts involved in the decision-making process of pest management in tree fruit. The focus for this two and a half day program will be on how to develop and implement season-long horticultural and integrated pest management (IPM) strategies – from establishment, dormancy, bloom through harvest and post-harvest, to supporting a healthy and productive orchard over the course of its lifetime.
Tree Fruit IPM School participants will learn about the latest pruning and training systems for high-density apples and cherries, blossom and fruit thinning using precision orchard management techniques, how to use pheromone puffer dispensers for codling moth mating disruption, cover cropping for biofumigation and soil biology diversification, and more!
There will be an invasive species workshop in which participants will receive training on the identification of spotted wing Drosophila and brown marmorated stink bug, two significant new insects that are becoming pests in Michigan orchards. This year’s Tree Fruit IPM School’s special guest is Janna Beckerman from Purdue University, who will present on managing the development of disease resistance to fungicides and using surfactants to improve apple scab efficacy.
Early bird registration is $175 per person and ends Jan. 14, 2015. Regular registration is $225 per person and begins Jan. 15. Online registration closes Feb. 13, after which only onsite registration at $275 per person is available. Registration by mail is only possible through Feb. 2.
Registration includes breakfast, lunch and breaks on Wednesday and Thursday, breakfast and breaks on Friday, and a binder with all course materials. Dinner and lodging are on your own. Attendees will have the option of obtaining Certified Crop Advisor Credits and/or Pesticide Applicator Recertification Credits (RUP) for attending this program.
To register by mail, download, print and fill out a registration form and send it with a check made payable to Michigan State University to:
Jackie Baase
NW MI Horticultural Research Center
6686 S. Center Hwy
Traverse City, MI 49684
For more information, please contact the 2015 Tree Fruit IPM School coordinators: Julianna Wilson at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 517-432-4766, or Emily Pochubay at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or 231-946-1510.
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