New England
Pest Management Network

Stakeholder Feedback Meeting

Wednesday, April 3, 2002:  9am-3 pm
Portsmouth Holiday Inn, Portsmouth New Hampshire

     The New England Pest Management Center hosted a meeting among all facets of pest management in New England.  There were 2 objectives for this meeting:

      1) Collect feedback from pest managers and other interested parties on EPA, USDA, and state pesticide control board regulatory programs; and University education programs addressing pest management.

      2) Introduce and get guidance for the New England Pest Management Network and the PRONewEngland.org web site.
          The report from this meeting will be posted as a link on this page in late April.  Copies will also be sent to contacts at each of the agencies and programs mentioned above.

For more information contact:
Glen Koehler, University of Maine
Tel: 207-581-3882
email gkoehler@umext.maine.edu
 

Agenda: 
9:05 - 9:20 
1. Welcome
2. Introduce participants and the New England Pest Management Network (NEPMNet)

3. Review Objectives of the meeting
   a) Collect feedback from pest managers and other interested parties on:
       i) What messages do you have for federal and state pesticide regulatory agencies (EPA and state government) about communications regarding their regulatory actions?

       ii) Broadening to pest management overall (not just pesticide regulation), what are the barriers impeding progress towards better pest management in New England?  What suggestions are there to improve University IPM and Pesticide Applicator Training programs?

        iii) What do you think about the New England Pest Management Network activities planned for 2002 and 2003? 
         What should be included in the work plan beyond 2003?      

    b)  Prioritize that feedback into lists to send to the respective programs.

9:20-10:00           The current national and regional framework for pesticide regulation and funding for pest management research and Extension programs. - Jim Van Kirk of Cornell University & coordinator of the Northeast Pest Management Center.

10:00-10:30          What the New England Pest Management Network is doing in 2002 and 2003.  Tour of the PRONewEngland.org web site.  - Glen Koehler of University of Maine, co-director of the New England Pest Management Network (NEPMNet).

10:30 - 11:00          Full group discussion:  Topic I.   What messages do you have for federal and state pesticide regulatory agencies (EPA and state government) about communications regarding their regulatory actions?  Facilitator:  Candace Bartholomew, University of Connecticut, NEPMNet Connecticut state liaison.

11:00-11:30           Full group discussion:  Topic II.  Broadening to pest management overall (not just pesticide regulation), what are the barriers impeding progress towards better pest management in New England?  What suggestions are there to improve University IPM and Pesticide Applicator Training programs?  Facilitator:  Jim Dill, University of Maine, NEPMNet co-director.

11:30-12:00          Full group discussion:  Topic III.  What do you think about the New England Pest Management Network activities planned for 2002 and 2003?  What should be included in the work plan beyond 2003?  Facilitator:  Bill Lord, University of New Hampshire, NEPMNet New Hampshire state liaison.

12:00-1:00  Lunch

1:00- 1:20         Break into 3 sub-groups to brainstorm list items for Topics I, II, III.  Facilitator:  Peggy Siligato, University of Rhode Island, NEPMNet Rhode Island state liaison.

1:20- 1:40         Second round of small groups, participants moved to a different Topic.  Second round began with output of the first round as starting point. Facilitator:  Ann Hazelrigg, University of Vermont, standing in for Alan Gotlieb NEPMNet Vermont state liaison.

1:40-2:00           Third round of small groups, participants.  Third round began with output of the first 2 rounds as starting point. Facilitator:  Natalia Clifton, University of Massachusetts, NEPMNet Massachusetts state liaison.

2:00 - 2:45          Whole group reconvened.  Small group facilitators reviewed input from the morning and afternoon sessions.  All participants then had 7 stickers to place on the flip charts for each topic as votes for importance of each item.

2:45 - 3:00    Closing.  Feedback on the meeting. 

Agricultural food industry:
   Blueberry
   Cranberry
   Field corn/forage/agronomic crops
   Strawberries and other small fruit
   Tree fruit
   Vegetables (including Maine potatoes)
   Environmental group
   EPA
   Golf course / Turf managers
   Greenhouse/Ornamentals industry
   Lawn care industry
   Organic farmers and gardeners
   Pest control operators / Residential pest management service
   Pesticide dealers and manufacturers
   Public health (e.g. mosquito control)
   Right of way managers
   School IPM
   State and Federal regulatory agencies
   Univ. IPM Programs
   Univ. Pesticide Safety Education Programs
   Univ. IR-4 (minor use crops) Programs
   USDA Northeast IPM Program
   Northeast Pest Management Center
   Biotechnology
   Entomology
   Plant pathology
   Weed science