Sugarcane Pest Management Strategic Plan: Survey And Workshop
USDA
Sugarcane Research Unit
The Southern IPM Center, LSU AgCenter, and the Sugarcane Research Unit are working together to update the sugarcane crop profile and develop a statewide sugarcane pest management strategic plan.
These documents will detail current sugarcane production statistics and management practices with emphasis on insect, pathogen, weed, nematode and other pest management needs. These documents will help align research and extension efforts with grower needs, educate new sugarcane growers, and assist in advocating for our crop with regulating and funding agencies. All documents will be made publicly available through the National IPM Database (ipmdata.ipmcenters.org).
We would like growers and agricultural consultants to participate in the development of this plan by giving their input into what the primary pest issues are that they encounter as well as what measures they currently use to address them. If you would like to participate in the survey of pest management priorities, please, go to https://ncsu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0Jqj0OnIUmI6jhI.
In addition to the survey, further input in the process is welcome via two other avenues. If you would like to receive updates on the strategic plan during its development, please contact Lacey Belanger at the Southern IPM Center - lnbelang@ncsu.edu.
Similarly, we are looking to recruit at least 15-20 participants for a 1-day workshop in Baton Rouge on July 15th (the day before the LSU AgCenter summer field day). The workshop will go through the draft strategic plan to further fine tune priority areas and will include time to interact with regulatory agency representatives (IR4, EPA, USDA, etc.). This is a good opportunity to inform them on the hurdles faced particularly by sugarcane growers so that regulators can consider these things in future decision-making processes. Please, submit your interested at https://forms.gle/Sg2HF6w5nuGPxAkJ8 if you would like to participate in the workshop.