School IPM Outreach and Research Activities, NYS IPM Program, 2004

Integrated pest management in schools is needed to reduce risks to children and others from both pests and the overuse of pesticides. The NYS IPM Program was involved in several extension and applied research activities at schools in 2004. In the lower Hudson River Valley, we initiated a “learning community” approach. Four school districts are working with extension and school peers to assist each other in the development of model IPM programs. This was the last year of a three year “systems” project where comprehensive and innovative approaches to grounds IPM were implemented at a cooperating school district. The first year of a study of the application of compost tea to an athletic field suggested that the application may improve plant vigor. However, the standard rate of application may give weeds a competitive edge. On-site interviews of schools on their pest management policies and practices brought the total number of interviews to 32. We organized a meeting of the Statewide School IPM Committee and attended a meeting of private school administrators. We worked with a BOCES district to hold a school IPM workshop in Watertown. On Long Island, we worked with a tick problem at a school