Conservation Biological Control
Short Course

University of Wisconsin–Madison Arboretum
Madison, Wisconsin
Friday June 19th, 2015
9:00 am - 4:00 pm CT

Learn how to attract beneficial insects to farms and orchards
for natural pest control!

Register Now!

Beneficial insects contribute to natural pest suppression and potentially save $4.5 billion annually in pesticide costs. Yet the contribution of insects that prey upon or parasitize crop pests is largely overlooked. 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 insecticides. This strategy is based upon ongoing research that continues to demonstrate a link between the conservation of natural habitat and reduced pest problems on farms, orchards, and gardens.

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 & Objectives

This workshop will cover:

• The importance of beneficial insects - predators and parasitoids that attack insect pests.
• Overview of conservation biological control and integrated pest management (IPM).
• How to identify beneficial insects and distinguish them from other insects.
• How to recognize the habitat needs of beneficial insects and identify habitat deficiencies.
• The design and implementation of habitat improvements, including site preparation, insectary strip plantings, hedgerows, beetle banks, and more.
• The current best management practices that minimize land-use impacts on beneficial insects and mitigate exposure to insecticides.
• How to access USDA conservation programs for financial and technical support.

Participants will receive the Xerces Society's Conservation Biological Control Toolkit which includes Xerces' book, Farming with Native Beneficial Insects, as well as habitat installation guidelines and other relevant publications.

*Continuing Education Credits Available*

• Society of American Foresters  (5 CFE credits)
• The Wildlife Society (5.5 contact hours)

Course Agenda

Welcome

Module 1 – Farming with Beneficial Insects: Conservation Biological Control

• Overview of conservation biological control and IPM
• Conservation status of beneficial insects
• Case studies of conservation biocontrol in action

Module 2 – Common Beneficial Insect Groups

• Introduction to common beneficial insect groups
• Overview of beneficial insect biology and identification

Module 3 – Farm Practices for Beneficial Insects

• Farm practices to support beneficial insects
• Mitigating pesticide risks to beneficial insects
• Protecting overwintering and nesting sites

Break

GUEST SPEAKER – Professor Claudio Gratton, UW-Madison

• Landscape-level impacts on conservation biological control

Module 4 – Assessing Baseline Farm Conditions for Beneficial Insects

• Introduction to the Beneficial Insect Habitat Assessment Guide to inform CBC planning

Lunch – Bring a sack lunch!

Field Tour with Sarah Foltz Jordan and Thelma Heidel-Baker

• Using the Beneficial Insect Habitat Assessment Form and Guide (Sarah Foltz Jordan)
• Field observation of beneficial insects and plants  (Thelma Heidel-Baker)

Module 5 – Designing and Restoring Habitat for Beneficial Insects

• Strategies for incorporating habitat on farms
• Site preparation and planting techniques for native wildflowers and woody plants
• Farm case study

GUEST SPEAKER – Pat Murphy, State Resource Conservationist, NRCS

• USDA programs and practices for pollinator & beneficial insect conservation
• Accessing technical and financial support

Module 6 – Wrap Up

• Additional Resources
• Questions
• Evaluations
• Raffle

INSTRUCTORS

Sarah Foltz Jordan – Pollinator Conservation Specialist, Midwest Region, The Xerces Society
Sarah Foltz Jordan is the Xerces' Society's Pollinator Conservation Specialist for the Great Lakes Region, where she works with local farmers, agencies, and conservation planners to promote pollinators and other beneficial insects on farms and in natural areas. Based out of central Minnesota, Sarah works with growers to identify pest control and pollination needs, and provide technical support in the planning, installing, and managing of pollinator habitat on farms. Sarah frequently works in partnership with the NRCS to develop Pollinator Conservation Activity Plans for Midwest farms. She also works with agency staff and research partners to conduct outreach events and develop technical materials to guide pollinator conservation efforts.

Thelma Heidel-Baker – IPM Specialist, The Xerces Society
Thelma Heidel-Baker is the IPM Specialist for the Xerces Society. She has extensive experience working on biological control and IPM in agricultural cropping systems. Based out of eastern Wisconsin, Thelma provides support to farmers, agencies, and Xerces staff for developing pest management programs with reduced risks to beneficial insects. She also develops technical materials used by farmers, crop consultants, and university extension to recommend best management practices for conserving beneficial insects in pest management. Thelma received her Ph.D. in entomology from the University of Minnesota where she conducted research on improving IPM of the soybean aphid.

GUEST SPEAKERS

Claudio Gratton – Professor of Entomology, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Dr. Claudio Gratton is a professor in the Department of Entomology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His research group works broadly in the field of landscape ecology in both agricultural and natural systems.  In Wisconsin agriculture, he has been interested in understanding how beneficial insects, such as pollinators and lady beetles, utilize the landscape and carry out important functions such as pollination of crops and suppression of insect pests.  His work in agroecology has included studying insect landscape ecology and conservation in potatoes (as part of the Healthy Grown Eco Potato project), rotational grazing, soybeans, cranberries and apples.  He has worked with growers to understand how to best manage non-crop “natural” areas in the landscape in order to enhance and conserve beneficial insects.

Pat Murphy – State Resource Conservationist, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)
Pat Murphy is a graduate of UW–Stevens Point where he received degrees in Soil Science and Water Resources. Pat works for the Natural Resource Conservation Service, as the State Resource Conservationist in Madison, WI. He oversees the developmentand implementation of NRCS nonengineering practice standards, interprets programand conservation planning policy, oversees technical training of staff, and performs quality control activities. Pat is a Certified Crop Advisor as well as Conservation Planner.

About The Xerces Society

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.

Register Now!