Expanding Livestock Integrated Pest Management in the Northeast: An IPM Training Opportunity for Northeast US Animal Agriculture Industry Personnel

Two IPM educational opportunities were offered to train northeast US cooperative extension and other animal agricultural industry outreach personnel in an overview of livestock Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The first training was a two day “hands-on” workshop offering participants a mixture of IPM classroom, laboratory and practical field experience. The second training was a distance learning event via a webcast format. The initial “train the trainer” workshop held September 28-29, 2004 targeted key personnel involved in animal agriculture including, but not limited to, cooperative extension, state veterinarians, milk inspectors, and other multipliers responsible for local on dairy producer contacts. Participants learned IPM principles and practices as they relate to dairy production and enhance animal and human health, improve net profitability and minimize neighborhood concerns associated with off site migration of livestock fly pests. A combination of classroom, laboratory and on-farm activities were employed to train participants in current livestock pest concerns, techniques and management opportunities Participants received training to help them acquire knowledge and develop skills to assess livestock pest problems and effectively manage these pests using the latest IPM principles and techniques. Participants were trained in identification, evaluation and management of filth fly pest problems of confined dairy livestock. They also became familiar with IPM resources, and better equipped to effectively assist their clientele in addressing confined dairy fly pests. Participants were surveyed pre and post participation to better assess their livestock IPM needs and concerns, and to help identify interest, opportunity and need for subsequent workshops. The webcast training was held May 3, 2007. The objectives of the training were as described for the original workshop with presentations delivered as a 2 hour web broadcast. This training addressed IPM principles and practices as related to dairy production and enhancing animal and human health, improving net profitability and minimizing neighborhood concerns associated with off site migration of livestock fly pests. The program format combined a power point presentation lecture by two Veterinary Entomologists and an IPM specialist and discussion of questions from participants. Participants received training to help them acquire knowledge and develop skills to assess livestock pest problems and effectively manage these pests using the latest IPM principles and techniques. Participants were trained in pest identification, evaluation and management of filth fly pest problems of confined dairy livestock. They also became familiar with IPM resources, and better equipped to effectively assist their clientele in addressing confined dairy fly pests. A post program evaluation was conducted to assess overall impact and help identify interest, opportunity and need for subsequent workshops. It is anticipated that participants in these dairy IPM training events will help initiate and foster improved communication and networking among livestock IPM practitioners and producer clientele in the northeast US