Attend the 2016 spotted wing Drosophila berry grower training on June 30

Carlos García-Salazar, Michigan State University Extension - June 23, 2016

Take the guesswork out of your spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) control program. Learn how to use a systems approach to control SWD.

Blueberry growers learning to use Enviro-weather for SWD management.

Spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) have been trapped for several weeks, and this pest is ready to attack Michigan berry fields. It is time to prepare your control strategy to stop SWD. Early detection and action is critical for successful SWD management. To help berry growers control this pest, Michigan State University Extension has developed an intensive 2016 Spotted Wing Drosophila Workshop using information on SWD biology, insecticides, weather conditions and other tools. Integrating information and tools from different sources to create a robust system is called a systems approach and is a highly effect way to handle any problem.

This workshop will be on Friday, June 30, 2016, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Ottawa County Fillmore Complex Boardroom, 12220 Fillmore Street, West Olive, MI 49460. There is a $30 registration fee for this workshop, which includes materials and refreshments. Pre-registration is required. Four RUP credits will be available for certified pesticide applicators. For a complete description of the program and to register, go to: 2016 Spotted Wing Drosophila Workshop.

This workshop is designed for berry growers, field managers, pest consultants and anyone involved in insect pest management in berry crops. Its goal is to teach growers to manage SWD using a systems approach. Participants will learn SWD biology and behavior, recommended insecticides and their strengths and weaknesses, how weather conditions impact insecticide performance and how to use the MSU Enviro-weather website’s weather information and tools to develop a successful integrated pest management (IPM) program to control SWD.

Even if you have attended SWD trainings in the past, this training will provide new information, helping you upgrade your IPM skills. You will be able to effectively manage SWD at your fields during the 2016 season.

For more information, contact Mary Frein at the Ottawa County MSU Extension office at 616-994-4540 or frein@anr.msu.edu.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu. To have a digest of information delivered straight to your email inbox, visit https://extension.msu.edu/newsletters. To contact an expert in your area, visit https://extension.msu.edu/experts, or call 888-MSUE4MI (888-678-3464).