The content of this course is tailored to the needs of farmers, NRCS, SWCD, Cooperative Extension, and state department of agriculture employees, as well as crop consultants, natural resource specialists, and non-governmental conservation organization staff.
Registration is $45 per person. Course registration includes the Xerces Society's Beneficial Insects Toolkit and a copy of Farming With Native Beneficial Insects.
Registration closes on August 8th - register soon!
Please bring your own lunch and a refillable water bottle.
Canceled registrations can be refunded until August 8th, 2018
Wednesday, August 29th, 2018 from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
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Jillian Vento
The Xerces Society
503-232-6639
pollinators@xerces.org
The Xerces Society provides reasonable accommodations for special events with adequate notice. To request accommodation for events, please contact nancy@xerces.org by August 22nd, 2018.
The USDA and the Xerces Society are equal-opportunity providers and employers.
This Short Course is made possible with the support of the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
Special thanks to North Carolina NRCS, North Carolina Extension, North Carolina Forest Service, North Carolina Soil & Water Conservation Districts, North Carolina Departments of Agriculture, and North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for collaborating on, hosting, and sponsoring this event.
The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation is an international nonprofit organization that protects wildlife through the conservation of invertebrates and their habitat. The Society's Pollinator Conservation Program was launched in 1996, and works with leading native pollinator ecologists to translate the latest research findings into on-the-ground conservation. More information about the Xerces Society is available at www.xerces.org.
Header: Predatory stink bug eating pest stink bug on fennel, by Debbie Roos.
Farming With Native Beneficial Insects
for Pest Control:
Conservation Biological Control Short Course
NRCS Goldsboro Field Office
3114 Wayne Memorial Drive
Goldsboro, NC 27534
August 29th, 2018
9:00 am - 4:00 pm
Learn a science-based strategy that seeks to integrate beneficial insects for natural pest control!
Learn about supporting beneficial insects that provide pest control in this full-day short course. Conservation biological control is a science-based pest management strategy that seeks to integrate beneficial insects back into cropping systems for natural pest control, ultimately reducing and in some cases eliminating the need for pesticides. Join Xerces Society's Nancy Lee Adamson, Senior Pollinator Conservation Specialist, and guest speakers as they overview conservation biological control and beneficial predators and parasitoids that attack insect pests. Participants will learn how common farm practices can impact beneficial insects and how to assess and create farm habitat for beneficial insects.
In response to growing interest in promoting beneficial insects for their pest control services on farms, the Xerces Society has authored the book Farming With Native Beneficial Insects and developed the Conservation Biological Control Short Course to educate farmers, agriculture employees, natural resource specialists, land managers, and conservation organization staff.
SHORT COURSE TRAINING SKILLS AND OBJECTIVES
This workshop will cover:
Participants will receive the Xerces Society's Conservation Biological Control Toolkit which includes habitat installation guidelines and other relevant publications, and the Xerces' book, Farming with Native Beneficial Insects.
*Continuing Education Credits Available*
COURSE AGENDA
Welcome and Announcements
Module 1 - Farming with Beneficial Insects: Conservation Biological Control (CBC)
Module 2 - Common Beneficial Insect Groups
Module 3 - Conservation Biocontrol Research in North Carolina
Module 4 - Assessing Baseline Farm Conditions for Beneficial Insects
Module 5 USDA Farm Bill Programs Supporting Beneficial Insects & Other Wildlife in North Carolina
Module 6 - Farm Practices for Beneficial Insects
Module 7 – Designing and Restoring Habitat for Beneficial Insects
Additional Resources and Wrap-Up
INSTRUCTOR
Nancy Lee Adamson - Senior Pollinator Conservation Specialist, the Xerces Society and USDA-NRCS
Nancy supports pollinator and other agriculturally beneficial insect conservation, teaching value of wildlife diversity and native plants. Nancy has a Ph.D. in entomology with a focus on bees important for crop pollination.
GUEST SPEAKERS
Brett M. Moule -State Biologist/Forestry Lead, NC Natural Resource Conservation Service, Raleigh, NC
Brett has 20 years of experience working in the southeast on private, state and federally managed lands. Much of this time has been spent restoring longleaf pine ecosystems, Carolina Bays, and recovering threatened and endangered species. Brett received his BS in Wildlife Biology, MS in Biology with aquatic emphasis, and his Ph.D. in forest resources studying alternative silviculture practices to prescribed burning.
Debbie Roos - Extension Agent, Agriculture, NC Cooperative Extension, Chatham County Center, Pittsboro, NC
Debbie is responsible for programming in the areas of commercial vegetable production, organic production, pollinator conservation, alternative agricultural enterprises, forestry, and beekeeping. She created the award-winning Growing Small Farms website (www.growingsmallfarms.org), supports area farmer’s markets, and works statewide to strengthen local food systems. She has masters degrees in applied anthropology and horticulture, and served in the Peace Corps in Senegal.
Jim Slye - Forest Health Specialist (Eastern NC), NC Forest Service
Jim’s duties include diagnosis and control of insect and disease problems on forest and shade trees and cooperation with other state and federal agencies on control of invasive insect, disease, and plant organisms.