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1-800-PENN-IPM Hotline Kicks Off 1998 Season - April 1998
April 9, 1998
UNIVERSITY PARK, PA -- Christmas tree growers, agricultural crop producers, turfgrass managers and others can get the latest pest and pest management information through a toll-free hotline (800-PENN-IPM) offered this growing season by the Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program. The hotline, entering its fifth year, provides up-to-date news on insect infestations, disease development and other pest information, as well as tips on pest management tactics.
The Christmas tree message, the first of several commodities to be offered on this year's hotline, is accessible by dialing 800-PENN-IPM. Out-of-state callers may dial 814-863-9393. Information on sweet corn, potatoes, tomatoes, ornamental plants and scheduled pesticide applicator training sessions will be added to the hotline later in the season.
These messages are updated frequently during the growing season -- sometimes as often as daily during critical management periods -- and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Pest management specialists from the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture, Penn State's entomology and plant pathology departments, and county offices of Penn State Cooperative Extension contribute their time and expertise to keep the information current and useful.
The system also includes a "fax-on-demand" function. When available, the caller simply requests a fax and indicates his or her fax number. The system then will send a fax containing in-depth information about the crop, graphs of insect activity over time and other data. Beginning in the fall of each year the same toll-free number can be used to find schedules of pesticide applicator training meetings.
EDITORS: For more information, contact Edwin Rajotte at (814) 863-4641.
IPM is an approach to managing pests such as insects, diseases, weeds and animals by integrating appropriate physical, biological and chemical tactics that are safe, profitable and environmentally compatible. The Pennsylvania IPM program is a collaboration between Penn State and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture aimed at promoting integrated pest management in both agricultural and nonagricultural situations.