Research: Integrated Crop and Pest Management

Research in this focus area emphasizes integrated and innovative agronomic cropping systems that reduce the loss of nitrogen and phosphorus, reduce or eliminate pesticide use, and improve soil and crop quality thereby improving water quality in New England ground and surface waters.

New England research projects with links to their CRIS records are found here.

Integrated Crop Management
Riparian Buffers
Integrated Pest Management

Integrated Crop Management

tractor in field Organic Forage and Grain Cropping Systems for New England Dairy Farms
In New England, organic milk production has been the fastest growing agricultural sector. There are new opportunities to reduce the risks of pesticide contamination and new challenges to manage nutrients.

Reducing Off-farm Grain Inputs on Northeast Organic Dairy Farms
Beginning in 2005, UMaine, UNH and USDA ARS ME were awarded a joint USDA CSREES Integrated Organic Program grant, to reduce off-farm grain inputs on Northeast organic dairy farms. This project evaluates the barriers to grain production in New England, including analyses of the current and future supply of feed concentrate to the organic dairy farms in the region and the potential for improved profitability. Farmer collaborators in both states will assess grain production, storage and utilization options. The study will also develop basic production data on organic grain systems in the Northeast by conducting strip trials on commercial farms and replicated small plot experiments at sites in Maine and Vermont.

sign that reads:"University of New Hampshire Burley-Demeritt Farm" The Nation's First Land Grant University Organic Dairy Herd
The new organic dairy farm is located on a 200-acre parcel of certified-organic land at UNH. The farm will be an applied research center for integrated organic production and management as well as an education center for organic dairy farmers, farmers undergoing or considering transition to organic, and students of sustainable agriculture.

For additional information visit:
UMaine CE Water Quality Program
UVM CE Crops and Soils
UNH CE Dairy

Nutrient Management on organic farms
The use of manure and other organic nutrient sources can result in conditions that create nutrient deficiencies or excess depending on management. Particularly, phosphorus levels can build up in the soil when organic nutrient sources are used to supply adequate nitrogen causing water quality risks. Research is being conducted at UConn to develop organic vegetable production systems that reduce excessive P loading.

Research on Alternative Crops and Techniques with Potato Production
Current research at the University of Maine focuses on alternative crop rotations such as barley and canola, mulching techniques that build soil organic matter and moisture in potato production, and using livestock manure as nutrient sources. UMaine also provides research and extension on organic potato production and produced a non-chemical pest management section for the potato pest management guide. For more information, visit the UMaine CE Water Quality Program web site.
UMaine partners with the USDA ARS New England Plant, Soil and Water Laboratory
UMaine is also sharing information on potato research with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

cover crops in field Research on the use of cover crops to reduce nutrient loss
University of Massachusetts (UMASS) research during the 2004 and 2005 growing seasons aimed to evaluate the role of cover crops in nutrient planning and end of season nutrient uptake in field corn. The study considered cover crop planting dates and varieties that are effective in utilizing residual nutrient levels in the soil after harvest, as well nutrients from fall applied manure. The study also focused on improving soil erosion control (which further reduces potential phosphorus loss). The project brought together UMASS faculty and Extension, USDA NRCS and farmers.

This research at UMass will continue for two additional 2 years (2006-2008) with a USDA NE SARE grant entitled: Conserving end-of-season N with effective seeding dates for cover crops based on fall growing degree days. On farm trials and field tours are planned and will be advertised regionally.

Research, education and outreach on cover crops will be continued in 2008 as part of a grant from the Mass. Agricultural Innovations Center and UMASS Extension to improve on-farm feed and nutrient balance on MA farms.

For more information contact Stephen Herbert and visit the UMASS Crops, Dairy, Livestock website.

Research on sustainable bio-fuel crops
UMAINE and UVM received a joint Northeast SARE grant for $78,867 (2007) to continue research on canola as both a rotation crop for dairy and potato cropping systems and as an alternative, sustainable bio-fuel crop.
researcher sampling groundwater in riparian zone

Riparian Buffers

Riparian buffers can be an important tool in nutrient and pesticide management. Buffer research is being conducted at the Universities of Connecticut , New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont .

Integrated Pest Management

Pro New England is a collaborative of the six New England Land Grant Universities and their Cooperative Extension programs working together to communicate pest management research and information with a regional focus. Their goal is effective, economical, environmentally-sound, and socially-sensitive pest management for New England.

The Northeastern IPM Center organizes new and existing information for decision makers and establishes research, education and regulatory priorities in the region. Their science based approach focuses on managing pests by combining biological, cultural, physical, and chemical tools in a way that improves water quality and promotes economic, environmental, and human health benefits.

In addition, each New England Land Grant University has an Integrated Pest Management program. The goal of the programs are to provide research-based information, education, and cost effective techniques to farmers, agricultural service providers, and others to use in producing high yields of quality products and maintaining crops. These programs are enhancing the adoption of IPM practices throughout New England thereby improving and protecting water quality.
University of Connecticut Cooperative Extension IPM
University of Maine Cooperative Extension IPM
University of Massachusetts Extension IPM
University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension IPM
University of Rhode Island Cooperative Extension IPM
University of Vermont Extension IPM

researcher working in potato field To learn more about research at New England Land Grant Universities related to Nutrient and Pesticide Management visit the following websites:

University of Maine Cooperative Extension Water Quality Program:
University of Maine Cooperative Extension: Sustainable Agriculture
University of Massachusetts Extension: Crops, Dairy, Livestock
University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension: Water Quality Programs in Agriculture
University of Vermont:
Center for Sustainable Agriculture
Crops and Soils
Phosphorus Management on Your Farm
Nutrient and Manure Management
CropMD Computer Software

USDA Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program
The following table lists USDA-CSREES sponsored research projects in New England pertaining to Integrated Crop and Pest Management.

Project ID	Title	Investigator(s)	Affiliation
0174938 >	QUANTIFYING INFECTION PROBABILITY TO IMPROVE INTEGRATED MANAGEMENT OF APPLE SCAB	Aylor, D. E.	CT Agricultural Experiment Station
0157396	SEASONAL AND CUMULATIVE NITRATE LEACHING LOSSES FROM CORNLAND AND INTENSIVELY GRAZED PASTURE	Guillard, K. , Allinson, D. W. , and Warner, G. S.	UNIV OF CONNECTICUT
0173398	SOIL MANAGEMENT EFFECTS ON POTATO/WEED INTERFERENCE	Gallandt, E. R.	UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
0189597	MANAGERIAL ASPECTS OF THE POTATO INDUSTRY	Leiby, J. D.	UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
0155295	ECOLOGICAL PEST AND SOIL MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR POTATOES IN MAINE	Porter, G. , Alford, A. R. , and Donahue, D. W.	UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
0192801	CROP ROTATION, SOIL MANAGEMENT, AND PEST MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR POTATO.	Porter, G. A. , Alyokhin, A. , Alford, A. R. , Dalton, T. , Erich, M. S. , Gallandt, E. , Groden, E. , Lambert, D. H. , Osher, L. , and Smith, S. N.	UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
0132136	REFINEMENT OF SOIL AND NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR POTATO CROPPING SYSTEMS	Porter, G. A. and Sisson, J. A.	UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
0190168	RE-INTEGRATING CROP AND LIVESTOCK ENTERPRISES IN THREE NORTHERN STATES	Smith, S. N.; Black, J. R.; Dalton, T.; Flora, C.; Kersbergen, R.; Liebman, M.; Snapp, S.; White, G.	UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
0187874	APPLICATION OF SEWAGE BIOSOLIDS TO AGRICULTURAL SOILS IN THE NORTHEAST: LONG-TERM IMPACTS AND BENEFIT USES	Barker, A.	UNIV OF MASSACHUSETTS
0181223	NH PESTICIDE IMPACT ASSESSMENT RESEARCH AND DATA ANALYSIS	Lord, W. G.	UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
0190136	USING ORGANIC AMENDMENTS TO IMPROVE SOIL QUALITY, NUTRIENT AND WEED MANAGEMENT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE CROPPING SYSTEMS	Trumble, W	UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
0174333	RHODE ISLAND'S 1997 CSREES NAPIAP PROGRAM	Alm, S. R.	UNIVERSITY OF RHODE ISLAND
0193947	EVALUATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A PHOSPHORUS INDEX TO ASSESS P RUNOFF POTENTIAL FROM AGRICULTUREAL FIELDS IN VERMONT	Jokela, W. , Magdoff, F. , and Carter, J.	UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
0169381	REGULATION OF NUTRIENT USE IN FOOD PRODUCING ANIMALS	Knapp, J.	UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
0178209	BALANCING ECONOMIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF PHOSPHORUS MANAGEMENT	Parsons, R. , Jokela, W., Meals, D. , Budd, L. , and Wood, L.	UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
0165843	SOIL TEST DEVELOPMENT FOR IMPROVING PHOSPHORUS MANAGEMENT ON VERMONT'S DAIRY FARMS	Magdoff, F. , Aleong, J. , and Jokela, W.	UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
0409239	DEVELOPMENT OF BASE POPULATION TO SELECT FOR DURABLE LATE BLIGHT RESISTANCE IN PROCESSING POTATOES	BENNETT A R; GANGA Z	AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE
0199644	POTATO BREEDING AND VARIETY DEVELOPMENT TO ENHANCE PEST RESISTANCE AND MARKETING OPPORTUNITIES IN THE EASTERN UNITED STATES	Porter, G.; Ganga, Z.; Bushway, A.; Lambert, D.; Sewell, G.	CSREES MAINE
0193431	SUSTAINABLE STRATEGIES FOR MANAGING RHIZOCTONIA SOLANI IN POTATO	Tavantzis, S.	CSREES MAINE
0401424	POTATO PRODUCTION AND DISEASE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS FOR THE NORTHEAST	HONEYCUTT, C W, LARKIN R P, VACANT, GROVES C L, VACANT, and GRIFFIN T S	AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH SERVICE
0200996	FOOD SECURITY AND OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION THROUGH INTEGRATED CROP/LIVESTOCK GRAZING SYSTEMS	Carroll, J. E.	UNIVERSITY OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
0205089	REDUCING OFF-FARM GRAIN INPUTS ON NORTHEAST ORGANIC DAIRY FARMS	Reberg-Horton, S. C.	UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
0201265	PROFITABILITY AND TRANSITIONAL ANALYSIS OF NORTHEAST ORGANIC DAIRY FARMS	Parsons, R. L.	UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT
0197139	DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF ORGANIC PEST MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES FOR LOWBUSH BLUEBERRIES	Drummond, F.	UNIVERSITY OF MAINE
0187821	IMPROVED WEED CONTROL THROUGH RESIDUE MANAGEMENT AND CROP ROTATION	Ashley, R. A.	UNIV OF CONNECTICUT