Extension

Extension Projects

• Development of an International Study Center in South Africa for Studies in Agriculture and Related Sciences
  The primary purpose of this project is to build upon our relaionships with the University of the Free State (UFS) to expand the opportunities for collaborative reserach, teaching, extension, and student exchange activities in southern Africa. The specific objectives of the proposal are to expand and revitalize our current student exchange program, lay the foundation for development of an Internation Study Center at UFS, develop an internship and training program for extension agents that will enhance their capabilities and promote knowledge transfer back to Virginia farmers, and develop internship programs that will provide work experience for students in agriculture. The proposed activities wil strengthen the global competence of scientists, extension agents, and educators, and enhance the capabilites of Virginia Tech to conduct collaborative research in South Africa.
  
  
• Granulated ambrosia beetle
  Granulate ambrosia beetle management is of great concern to the wholesale nursery industry. Tree losses can be severe. Seasonal trapping for this insect has led to management strategies that reduce risk of crop losses.
  
  
• Improvements in Baiting Technology for Household Pest Management
  Over the last decade gel bait bait formulations have become the preferred method of German cockroach control. The single greatest advantage of using gel baits is that they have been highly attractive to German cockroaches so that bait consumption and subsequent mortality result in superior control. However, within the last decade there have been documented cases of "bait aversion" among field populations of German cockroaches. Bait aversion is manifested by cockroaches avoiding a bait formulation that they would previously consume. This avoidance develops as the result of selection for aversion to the food ingredients within the bait matrix rather than to the active ingredients. Most of these populations were from locations where poor sanitation was a problem and baits had been used for extended periods to keep chronic cockroach infestations to a minimum. As the bait aversion behavior becomes more widespread there is an urgent need for new baits to be formulated that provide all of the advantages of the older formulations, but do not elicit aversion response. Bait manufacturers have been re-formulating their bait matrices to replace ingredients that cause the averse behavior. Our laboratory has been evaluating these new formulations and their sugar attractants to determine how "bait averse cockroaches" respond to them.
  
  
• The Efficacy of Bed Bug Management Products and Strategies
  Virginia Tech is currently one of two universities in the nation that is rearing bed bugs for research. Bed bugs promise to be a very important area of research because they are blood feeders, prolific, and difficult to control. The liability issues associated with bed bug presence have already resulted in hundreds of thousands of dollars being awarded to people who have been bitten by bed bugs. My research has focused on evaluating the efficacy products labeled for bed bug control and those that have potential as a bed bug management tools.
  
  
• Beneficial insectary plants to enhance arthropod natural enemies in vineyards
  In spring 2007, we will establish plantings (~0.1 acre) of each of three commercial insectary plant mixes in randomized complete blocks with 4 replications in vineyards in Virginia (The Vineyard at Point Breeze, Belle Haven, VA) tfoster populations of natural enemies.
  
  
• Virginia Apiculture Program: IPM of Honey Bee Colonies, Queen Breeding and Pollination
  Virginia beekeepers have suffered serious colony losses due to the introduction of parasitic mites. The Apiculture Program is designed to improve the pest management practices utilized by beekeepers through the development of research and extension programs. The program will also involve the development of queen breeding programs within the state, and the initiation of programs to improve and promote the use of honey bees for pollination. In addition the program will involve the development of an Africanized Honey Bee Response Plan in collaboration with VDACS.
  
  
• Antifeedants, Repellants, and Organic Controls for Tarnished Plant Bug and Japanese Beetle on Caneberries → website
  This project deals with efficacy of pesticides that are appropriate given the restrictions imposed by preharvest intervals for pests that attack ripening berries. A related resources is a web page (linked below) that was supported by the North American Bramble Growers Association.
  
  
• Christmas Tree IPM → website
  An ongoing project providing scouting, identification, and control information to Christmas tree growers regarding insect and mite pests.
  
  
• The Cost of IPM for German Cockroach Control in Public Housing
  The long-term costs and efficacy of two treatment methods (traditional pesticide spray applications and IPM) for German cockroach control were compared in a Virginia Public Housing facility. The results idicated that the cost of IPM was significantly greater than that of the spray applications with the majority of the cost being attributed to technician time. However, the efficacy of IPM was als signficantly greater. Cockroach trap catch in the IPM treatment was signficantly reduced by month 4 and the populations remained supressed for thrououth the year. Trap catch in the apartments that received monthly spray applications tripled during the sumer months and were not reduced at any time during the study.
  
  
• Cotton insect pest management program
  Cotton acreage has increased dramatically in Virginia in the last few years. It is a viable alternative to other less profitable row crops and fits well into crop rotation programs in the areas it is grown. In Virginia, cotton is in its northernmost location in the US and therefore experiences a unique combination of insect pest problems. Each year, numerous field experiments are conducted at the Tidewater AREC to evaluate common pests (primarily tobacco thrips and cotton bollworm) and to develop management programs. Among the many objectives are evaluating compensation ability and yield impact after pest damage, determining the most efficient timings and application systems for standard pesticides, evaluating GMO insect-resistant varieties and new alternative pesticides, and developing and improving control decision guidelines.
  
  
• Embedded Systems Mobile Computing Data Collection in the National STS Program
  The "Trapper Gadget" is an integrated Pocket PC-based device coupled with a GPS receiver. We have written custom software in Visual Basic in the pocket PC operating system environment that incorporates the trapping protocols of the STS program. The unit is designed as a tool carried by the gypsy moth trapper that facilitates rapid, accurate, and error-free data collection. The Gadget references its internal STS trapping database and thus has complete access to all activities associated with a gypsy moth trap site. Through the GPS receiver, the Gadget associates the trapper's location with its database of sites and allows the trapper to perform legitimate trapping operations.
  
  
• Integrated Pest Management of Specialty Crops in Eastern Europe → website
  
  
  
• Ecology and management of wireworms
  Wireworms are the larval stage of click beetles and can be serious underground pests of many crops particularly potatoes. A number of research grants have been obtained by Dr. Kuhar to study the management of this important pest group. Projects include the following: 1) Monitoring species complex, 2)Evaluating sampling methods, 3) Investigating habitat preferences, 4)studying the phenology of wireworms with potato crop development, and 5)Evaluating novel insecticide chemistries and timings for control.
  
  
• Tree Fruit Pest Management Updates → website
  This extension project uses the Tree Fruit Pest Management website and e-mail updates to growers, consultants, reseachers and extension agents to disseminate timely data on pest phenology and degree-day accumulations. This information is intended to assist growers in making optimal management decisions for direct and indirect pests of apple and peach.
  
  
• European corn borer and lace bug resistance
  Identification of leaf pubescence as a morphological character lead to cultivar identification of lace bug resistance by azalea and cotoneaster. Studies identified stem diameter in garden chrysanthemums as a key factor in European corn borer resistance.
  
  
• Evaluating novel insecticides on vegetable crops
  Novel pesticides, including many biological compounds and biorational chemistries are evaluated annually for control of the major arthropod pests of potato, sweet potato, cucurbit vegetables, cole crops, sweet corn, tomatoes, snap beans, peppers, asparagus, and spinach. Research results help the development of new products and label registrations for the vegetable grower.
  
  
• Evaluation of organic or environmentally selective methods to control Japanese beetle on fruit crops
  The objective is to determine insecticides that will control Japanese beetles on several fruit crops grown in Virginia. Materials will be determined that control Japanese beetles either by killing adult beetles or by preventing their feeding, that meet current days-to-harvest restrictions on commodities where the beetles commonly feed on fruit just before harvest.
  
  
• Extension - Commercial Turfgrass IPM
  There are over 1.7 million acres of maintained turf in Virginia with nearly 40% of this total in commercial turf farms, golf courses, parks, schools, and industrial sites according to an August 2006 survey published by Virginia's Turfgrass Industry. As society becomes more urbanized, the need for expanded educational opportunities emphasizing environmental stewardship in turfgrass management are being realized. In 2006, the Virginia Tech Turf Team working with the Virginia Turfgrass Council has begun to address these educational opportunities by continuing to offer several Turfgrass workshops around the state and the week long Turf Short course held in Blacksburg every year. In addition, the Virginia Turfgrass Field Day, which also is held annually in Blacksburg, was expanded to a two-day educational event. The first day featured an equipment demonstration component and expanded tours of the applied research at the Virginia Tech Golf Course, Glade Road Research Center, and the Turfgrass Research Center. The second day took a new look in that specific research tours for the four primary segments of the turfgrass industry (Golf, Sports Turf, Lawn/landscape, and Sod Production) were showcased.
  
  
• Fructans: inclusive of inulins, levans, and related fructofuranosides as subterranean termite feeding attractants in termite baiting systems.
  Currently, there are no attractants or consumption enhancement compounds available for use in subterranean termite baiting systems. Therefore, it takes weeks and often months for termites to begin feeding at the bait stations in significant numbers. The addition of these fructofuranoside polymers to the termites bait matrix would be a significant enhancement to these termite bait systems. The addition of compounds like inulin would cause termites to feed preferentially on the bait matrix rather than other local food resources, and influence those termite workers to recruit additional termites to the bait stations.
  
  
• Sampling methodologies for IPM of Forest and Shade Tree Insects → website
  A website was developed and a publication produced that includes references and summaries of sampling procedures for forest and shade tree insects. Phase II of this project has just begun.
  
  
• HWA Bibliographic Database → website
  A searchable online database for publications relating to hemlock woolly adelgid has been created and is maintained in cooperation with the USDA Forest Service.
  
  
• Assessing the Value of IPM in Virginia Public Housing
  The goal of this project is to change pest management practices in Virginia public housing from monthly pesticide applications to IPM. In 2002, I conducted a research project designed to answer the question, "What is the cost of IPM?" Many researchers had speculated that IPM would be initially more expensive than monthly pesticide treatments but that the cost would decline as pest populations decreased. However, no dollar figure was ever put on these costs. A year-long study comparing the costs (and efficacy) of IPM to monthly spray applications was conducted in Portsmouth public housing. We concluded that IPM was far more effective at killing cockroaches, but the cost was significantly higher ($4.06/ per unit per month) than that of spray applications ($1.50 per unit per month). In 2005, we conducted a face-to-face survey of public housing residents to introduce them to the IPM concept and benefits. We then asked how much they would value an IPM program. Of 816 respondents, 462 indicated that they would pay an additional $11.32 (average) per month for IPM. These responses indicated that public housing residents did value a superior, reduced toxicity method of pest control. In fact, most placed more value on IPM than the actual cost of the program ($4.06). In 2006, a cost/benefit analysis will be conducted, which will weigh the IPM cost data, and the resident response data, against a risk assessment. A policy brief will be presented to the Virginia division of Housing and Urban Development and other interested parties, in an attempt to interest those individuals in adopting an IPM policy in place of the standard practice of accepting low-bidder pest control.
  
  
• Project Planning Proposal: West African Regional Consortium of IPM Excellence
  Faculty from Virginia Tech, University of California-Davis, Purdue University and Fort Valley State University developed a proposal designed for collaboration with research and extension units from five West African countries in a project featuring Integrated Pest Management (IPM) research on a variety of commodities.
  
  
• Integrated pest management on tobacco.
  This program encourages tobacco farmers to produce their crops more efficiently, while reducing pesticide use, and improving environmental quality. Growers are taught how to use field scouting and economic thresholds, the proper methods and timing of pesticide applications, and the importance of cultural controls and beneficial organisms for managing tobacco insect pests. The use of new and safer insecticides for managing pests on tobacco is emphasized. Since most tobacco transplants are now produced in greenhouses, growers are taught integrated management techniques for greenhouses. Farmers are being informed of recommended pest management practices through publications (Flue-Cured, Burley, and Dark Fire-Cured Tobacco Production Guides, the Pest Management Guide), production meetings, field days, farm tours and indirectly through farm supply dealer and Extension agent training.publications, production meetings, field days, farm tours, farm test demonstrations, and indirectly through farm supply dealer and Extension agent training. There is close cooperation and exchange of information with entomologists from other tobacco-producing states.
  
  
• Long term effects of vineyard surroundings of three vineyard pests, and short term control → website
  This proposed project addresses management of grape berry moth (GBM), a key pest of grape throughout Virginia, grape root borer (GRB), a pest that has been sporadic in occurrence but locally severe, and Pierce?s disease (PD), a sharpshooter-borne disease that is of critical concern in the southeastern part of the state. The objectives attempt to deal both with short-term control options, as well as ecological factors that can be used to manage these pests more effectively in the long term. 1. Evaluate role of vineyard surroundings and management approach on incidence of GBM, parasitism of GBM, climbing cutworm pest pressure, diversity of arthropod predators, and abundance of sharpshooter vectors of Pierce?s disease, 2. Compare efficacy of low-risk insecticides for grape berry moth, 3. Evaluate mating disruption technologies, as well as three non-organophosphate pesticides: azadirachtin (botanical), methoxyfenozide (insect growth regulator) and paraquat (herbicide) for control of GRB, 4. Evaluate three trap designs leading towards a GRB monitoring program, 5. Evaluate efficacy of two neonicotinoids for prevention of PD infection.
  
  
• Mid-Atlantic Photo Insect ID Guide
  Accurate identification of insect pest and beneficial species is essential to practicing IPM. However, proper identification of insect pests continues to challenge growers and agriservice personnel involved in pest management in field crops. An IPM survey of Virginia corn, soybean, and wheat growers found that many often misidentified insect pests. Inaccurate pest identifications often lead to unnecessary or off-label pesticide applications. Photographs of insect pests are available in numerous books, but they often include many insects not found in this region, and omit some of our major pest species. Likewise, several Internet sites with high-quality photographs exist, but results of the recent Virginia IPM survey show that a small percent of growers are accessing these sites. With this stakeholder identified need, I was successful in obtaining two outside grants (USDA-CSREES-SRIPM and VDACS) totaling $32,066 to develop a simple, pocket-sized, full color, durable field ID guide for insect pests and beneficials common to the Mid-Atlantic region. In cooperation with Extension specialists in Virginia, Delaware and Maryland I developed a coil bound, laminated, pocket-sized guide with clear, high-resolution full-color photos of 40 insect pests and 10 benefical insects of soybean, corn and small grains. Insects are grouped by commodity, along with keys for easy separation of most commonly misidentified species. Ten thousand copies were produced and are being distributed across the mid-Atlantic region.
  
  
• Orange striped oakworm
  Implementation of IPM strategies including targeted scouting and use of microbial insecticides led to an 85% reduction in insecticide usage after 2 years and 100% reduction after 12 years.
  
  
• Optimizing the management of direct pests of tree fruit → website
  As tree fruit pest management practices evolve from the application of broad-spectrum pesticides on a "calendar spray" schedule toward the use of more physiologically and ecologically selective materials and tactics, growers must rely increasingly on specialists for information. One key piece of data that growers can use is information on the accumulation of degree-days (DD)from "biofix" dates for key pests. Pesticides can achieve optimal effectiveness against key pests like oriental fruit moth and codling moth when they are applied at critical times in the life cycle of the target pest. Different classes of pesticide have different optimal application timings, based on their mode of action and the stage of the pest being targeted. This project provides tree fruit growers in the northern part of Virginia with timely updates about when biofix has been established for key pests,the seasonal phenology of pests based on trapping and DD accumulation, and about optimal periods for controlling key pests based on critical DD accumulation. The information is delivered weekly via web-based access and at frequent intervals through the growing season via e-mail transmissions.
  
  
• Peanut insect pest management program
  Peanut is an important commodity in southeast Virginia supplying both in-shell and gourmet kernel markets. A variety of insect pests have the potential to reduce kernel quality and gross pod yields. One of the most challenging is southern corn rootworm, a soil pest that feeds on developing pods reducing yield and allowing entry of secondary rotting organisms. An IPM program has been developed that uses a risk index to aid growers in mangement.
  
  
• Reduced Pesticide Use in Bee Hives through the Development and Promotion of an IPM Program for Mite Parasites
  The U.S. beekeeping industry has faced serious challenges after the introduction of the parasitic mites, Varroa destructor and Acarapis woodi. The mites have lead to a significant delcine in the number of managed colonies. Effforts to control the mites have lead to an over-reliance on acaracides and chemical fumigants. Our goal, therefore, is to develop and promote an IPM program that not only provides beekeepers with alternative approaches for the management of mite parasites, but reduces pesticide use and the potential for honey and wax contamination. We will also sample hives (honey and wax) for miticide residues to allow us to monitor changes in hive product contamination.
  
  
• Risk Avoidance and Mitigation Program (RAMP)
  The USDA "Risk Avoidance and Mitigation Program" (RAMP) is intended to address and assist growers with the transitions stemming from ongoing pesticide regulatory changes under the Food Quality Protection Act (FQPA). A collaborative effort among tree fruit entomologists from seven eastern states has been supported by two consecutive RAMP grants, designed to develop arthropod pest management programs that rely exclusively on “reduced risk” and “organophosphate-replacement” products and tactics. Our ultimate goal is to develop programs that are effective and affordable to the grower and that conform to the tenets of less risk to the consumer, the agricultural worker and the environment.
  
  
• Southern Pine Beetle Internet Control Center → website
  A web-based clearinghouse for southern pine beetle information, control strategies, and ongoing research and activities.
  
  
• Sampling for the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
  Ongoing investigations to provide a statistical basis for making population estimates and pest management decisions for HWA
  
  
• IPM in Virginia Public Schools → website
  IPM for Virginia Public Schools: In 1999, all Virginia schools were treated monthly with insecticides regardless of whether they had a pest problem or not and schools kept no records of these applications. IPM is not mandated in Virginia, but is a critical need to improve pest management practices. To meet this need, I have developed the School IPM program. The purpose of the IPM program is to teach Extension agents and school personnel how to help their local schools convert from their current pest control practices to an IPM program.
  
  
• Soybean Insect Pest Management Program
  Soybean is one of the most important row crops in Virginia with almost 500,000 acres planted annually. The primary insect pest is the corn earworm that feeds directly on pods. A large-scale IPM program is in place to promote good management practices that includes annual monitoring, weekly pest advisories and a web-based economic threshold calculator. New projects are in place to develop management programs for invasive species inlcuding the soybean aphid and the brown marmorated stink bug.
  
  
• Strengthening the Environmental Quality Laboratory of the Central Veterinary Laboratory, Bamako, Mali
  Virginia Tech has committed to an Integrated Pest Management Collaborative Research Support Program (IPM CRSP) 5-year project to provide assistance in developing the capabilities of the Environmental Quality Laboratory (EQL) as a leader in pesticide analytical techniques in Mali and West Africa. Another component of the project is pesticide safety education. Pesticide safety will promote personal and environmental safety. Delivery of pesticide safety lessons will be coordinated with demonstrations of IPM practices developed for horticultural crops in Mali. Proper pesticide use will allow the laboratory to function in a quality assurance role. Several Virginia Tech Personnel are providing technical and educational assistance to this laboratory.
  
  
• Extension - Management of Soil and Stalk Boring Insects on Field Corn
  Field corn harvested for grain and silage serves as a high quality source of feed for the beef, dairy cattle, and poultry industries in Virginia. Cash receipts for corn grain production in 2005 totaled more than $89 million, in addition to $68 million in gross value for corn silage production (2006 Va. Agric. Statistics Bull.). The primary insect pests on corn in Virginia are the western corn rootworm and European corn borer. In addition to these, several secondary pests, such as annual white grubs, wireworms, and seedcorn maggot continue to be a main focus area for my extension and applied research efforts.
  
  
• Extension - Alfalfa and Grass Hay Pest Management → website
  Alfalfa serves as a high quality source of feed for the beef and dairy cattle industries in Virginia. A total of 110,000 acres of alfalfa were grown in Virginia in 2005, which produced 396,000 tons of hay valued at $50 million (2006 Va. Agric. Statistics Bull.). Grass hay production is another important livestock feed for Virginia. In 2005, grass hay production on 1.2 million acres produced 2.6 million tons of hay valued at $270 million. Alfalfa weevil and potato leafhopper are the main insect pests on alfalfa, whereas bluegrass billbug and Japanese beetle (one of the most damaging of the annual white grub species) are the main pests on grass hay and pasture fields. Grass hay pest management represents a new direction for my lab. This is largely in response to the bluegrass billbug and Japanese beetle outbreak on tens of thousands of acres of Virginia orchardgrass in 2005.
  
  
• Extension - Large Animals and Poultry Pest Management
  The 2005 cash receipts for all livestock, poultry, and associated products (e.g., milk and eggs) totaled more than $2.52 billion for Virginia producers (2006 Va. Agric. Statistics Bull.). More specifically, the combined cash receipts for cattle and calves, broilers, turkeys, hogs, and sheep and lambs totaled $2.16 billion for 2005. The major insect pests of all Virginia animal production operations are biting flies, lice, and nuisance flies associated with improper waste management.
  
  
• Managing Red Imported Fire ants in Virginia
  The first report of red imported fire ants (RIFA), Solenopsis invicta Buren, in Virginia was recorded in 1989. Since that time, several thousand mounds have been identified in the southeastern, coastal regions of the state. The Virginia Department of Agriculture is currently responsible for all RIFA control in Virginia. However, limited resources and the possibility that the RIFA has become established within the coastal regions of the VA has led the Virginia Department of Agriculture (VDACS) to consider placing certain Virginia counties under the Federal RIFA quarantine. One consequence of the quarantine implementation is that FIRA control being transferred to homeowners and pest management professionals within the quarantine areas. Because these individuals have no experience in FIFA control, the Virginia Cooperative Extension services has undertaken a study to evaluate RIFA control products for efficacy.
  
  
• Right-Of-Way Pest Control for Nebraska
  A recertification (required continuing education) program for professional applicators certified in right-of-way pest control (Category 6) was produced for use and distribution in Nebraska by University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension educators.
  
  
• The National Gypsy Moth Slow the Spread IPM Project Information System → website
  The STS Project Information System is the primary information management system for gypsy moth population data from the ten states involved in the National Gypsy Moth Slow the Spread Project. We are responsible for processing, quality control, and distribution of trap catch data in a format usable by project personnel for management decisions. In addition, we are responsible for codifying all aspects of STS Project components into an information systems framework that serves as the structure for seasonal project activities.
  
  
• Virginia Ag Pest Advisory
  A new electronic newsletter, the Virginia Ag Pest Advisory, was created to improve dissemination of IPM information. In the past, clientele could receive a jumble of information regarding pest management, often from several different sources. In July 2004 we launched the Virginia Ag Pest Advisory (http://www.sripmc.org/virginia) in cooperation with the Southern Region IPM Center in Raleigh, NC. The advisory is a database-driven website that compiles pest updates from multiple IPM specialists. Specialists enter their update(s) at a time that is convenient and each entry is categorized by commodity and pest group and identified by a brief title. The compiled advisory in a newsletter format is automatically emailed once a week to the recipient list (currently over 350 individuals). Individual entries can be viewed, or the entire newsletter. The advantage of this system to the recipient is that it is a single-source provider of updated pest information?everything is in one location and users become accustomed to having it delivered at the same time each week.
  
  
• Virginia IR-4 Minor Use Pest Control Clearance Program → website
  The IR-4 Minor Use Pest Control Clearance Program was established in 1963 by the state land-grant university agricultural experiment stations. IR-4 is a partnership between agricultural producers, land grant universities, government, and chemical manufacturers. Today, IR-4 conducts research on chemical and biological pest controls. Virginia Tech pest management faculty are active in the IR-4 Project. This involves the indentification of grower needs for pest controls to maintain their minor crops (64% of Virginia crops are minor crops) and research to support the registration of chemical and biological pesticides and animal drugs.
  
  
• Virginia Pest Management Information Program (VPMIP) → website
  The Virginia Pest Management Information Program (VPMIP) is the Virginia component of the Southern IPM Center. VPMIP was originally part of the USDA National Agricultural Pesticide Impact Assessment Program (NAPIAP) established in 1977 to collect pesticide benefit use data for EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs and the USDA Office of Pest Management Policy. PIAP was a joint effort of USDA and the state Land-Grant University - Agricultural Experiment Stations and Cooperative Extension Services. The Southern IPM Center was established at North Carolina State University in 2003. The program is funded by the IPM Center through grants supporting a "Virginia State Contact Project (SCP)" and collaboration with stakeholders through the development of crop pest management profiles and pest management strategic plans.
  
  
• Virginia Pesticide Safety Education Program → website
  Pesticide Safety Education (PSE) in Virginia is a statewide educational program with an overall goal to protect the environment and the public health from improper pesticide use through applicator and public education. The primary target audience includes certified and non-certified pesticide applicators of all kinds, farmworkers, and the general public. Most of the program activity involves training support for a group of approximately 21,000 pesticide applicators who seek training in order to comply with federal and state pesticide certification and licensing requirements. Program efforts are coordinated with other states, state and federal pesticide regulatory agencies, agricultural organizations, manufacturers of pesticide chemicals and alternative control technology, application equipment and engineering control companies, and other related cooperators. The program is supported by Extension agents and specialists from across the Commonwealth. In 2004, Extension agents from over 90 Virginia localities dedicated their time and resources to this program. That group is responsible for holding over 300 annual training meetings and field days designed to benefit pesticide applicators across Virginia and the region. The agents train applicators, develop training media and programs, answer public inquiries, and advise the public on proper and safe pesticide use and the selection of proper pest management strategies including non-chemical alternatives to pesticides.
  
  
• Virginia Termite Task Force
  The members of the Virginia State Termite Task Force were appointed by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS), Pesticide Control Board to address the issues associated with misapplications of preconstruction liquid termiticide treatment.