By Ryan Adams
iPiPE is a set of online tools, information products and expert commentary for the detection and management of pests that threaten US crops. By enabling sharing about pest observations and other data, iPiPE builds local and regional capacity to manage crop pests, reducing unnecessary pesticide applications, enhancing farm profitability and contributing to national food security.
A free monthly newsletter is now available to connect people involved in pest management with tools to help them. The newsletter shares updates from iPiPE participants including Extension staff around the country and their student interns, and is for those already involved with iPiPE as well as newcomers. Updates highlight how Extension programs are using the iPiPE infrastructure to communicate actionable pest management information to growers in their region.
The January newsletter highlights the Mid Atlantic tree fruit crop-pest program and how they are using iPiPE to improve monitoring of new and invasive pests like spotted lanternfly and brown marmorated stinkbug and communicate time-sensitive information to growers to precisely time insecticide applications.