Web site - New Coordinator Continues Partnership for Pennsylvania IPM Program

New Coordinator Continues Partnership for Pennsylvania IPM Program - December 2004

December 15, 2004

UNIVERSITY PARK, PA - Cathy Thomas, a biocontrol specialist for the Pennsylvania IPM Program, was recently named as the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture's IPM coordinator for the statewide program. Ed Rajotte continues to fill the role of Penn State's IPM coordinator in a partnership between the agency and university that is the Pennsylvania IPM Program (PA IPM).

IPM, or integrated pest management, aims to manage pests -- such as insects, diseases, weeds and animals -- by combining physical, biological and chemical tactics that are safe, profitable and environmentally compatible. PA IPM is part of a nationwide educational effort started in 1971 to promote safer and more economical ways of addressing pest issues in agriculture and natural resource management as well as in the home and garden.

Thomas has over 15 years of experience working in greenhouse IPM and biocontrol programs. Thomas says she first learned about IPM while finishing her bachelor's degree in horticulture at Penn State. "After doing some consulting in tree fruit and becoming an extension agent with Penn State, I decided to pursue my master's in entomology," she says.

Since obtaining her degree, Thomas has developed and implemented a statewide IPM program for commercial greenhouse potted plants, bedding plants, poinsettias and vegetable production in the Susquehanna River Valley, Lancaster County, and most recently, the southwestern Pennsylvania. In addition, she has written and produced two pest management-training videos for statewide use and compiled her biocontrol advice into a publication, "Bug vs. Bug." The sixty-six page, full color manual can be found on the PAIPM Web site at http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/317.htm. She has also been involved in scientific collaborations with various state federal agencies and grower associations for the advancement of research and educational pest management programs.

Thomas will draw upon her extensive experience and expertise to expand outreach and education in all areas of IPM. Initially, Thomas will focus on building upon the success of the greenhouse IPM in the southwest by including more greenhouses in the program. PA IPM will also be hiring a greenhouse IPM specialist to continue Cathy's work.

Broadening this concept, Thomas would like to replicate the greenhouse program and establish an IPM and biocontrol program for woody ornamentals, such as Christmas trees. "Several of the greenhouses we work with also have nurseries and are interested starting a program. That way, they can begin monitoring, scouting, and using biocontrols and natural enemies like they do in their greenhouses," says Thomas. The biocontrol program would initially target the black vine weevil, a common pest of woody ornamentals. Thomas says the emphasis on educating growers about the alternatives to pesticides is especially important right now, because many of the traditional pest controls for woody ornamentals can no longer be used.

Additionally, Thomas would like to establish a program working with vocational ag teachers who have greenhouse responsibilities. "In working with many schools in the past, I've seen that teachers need more direction in starting IPM and biocontrol programs," says Thomas. This effort will tie in with PA IPM's "IPM in Schools" initiative that help Pennsylvania public schools integrate the new IPM Academic Standard into the existing K-12 curriculum.

In her spare time, Thomas enjoys outdoor activities such as gardening, hiking and fishing. Thomas can be contacted at (717) 772-5204 or by email at caththomas@state.pa.us.

The Pennsylvania IPM program is a collaboration between the Pennsylvania State University and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture aimed at promoting integrated pest management in both agricultural and nonagricultural situations. For more information, contact the program at (814) 865-2839, or Web site http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/. To view our archived news releases, see Web site http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/10.htm.