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, pest management specialists, and non-governmental conservation organization staff.
Registration is $45 per person. Course registration includes the Xerces Society's Conservation Biocontrol Toolkit and a copy of Farming With Native Beneficial Insects.
Please bring a sack lunch - lunch will not be provided.
Cancelled registrations can be refunded until Friday, September 23rd, 2016.
Friday, September 30th, 2016
9:00 AM to 3:30 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 pollinators@xerces.org by September 23rd, 2016.
The USDA and the Xerces Society are equal-opportunity providers and employers.
This Short Course is made possible with the support of the Western Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, and the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Additional support for this training is provided by the Audrey and J.J. Martindale Foundation, Cascadian Farm, Ceres Trust, CS Fund, Disney Worldwide Conservation Fund, General Mills, the Irwin Andrew Porter Foundation, Turner Foundation, Inc., Whole Foods Market and its vendors, and Xerces Society members.
Special thanks to Western NV Vollege and Holley Family Farms.
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: Pollinator habitat by Ann Louhela, Western Nevada College. Sidebar: field observation of pollinators and plants, by Jim Cairns, CA NRCS.
Farming with Beneficial Insects:
Conservation Biological Control
Short Course
Western Nevada College
Carson City Campus
2201 W. College Pkwy
Carson City, NV 89703
Friday, September 30th, 2016
9:00 am - 3:30 pm
Learn a science-based strategy that seeks to integrate beneficial insects for natural pest control!
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 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 - Farm Practices for Beneficial Insects
Break
Module 4 - Assessing Baseline Farm Conditions for Beneficial Insects
Lunch - Bring a sack lunch!
Guest Speaker - Rob Holley
Field Tour
Small groups rotate through the following activities:
Module 5 - Designing and Restoring Habitat for Beneficial Insects
Module 6 - Q&A, Additional Resources, and Course Evaluations
INSTRUCTORS
Jessa Kay Cruz - California Senior Pollinator Conservation Specialist, The Xerces Society
Since joining Xerces in 2008, Jessa has worked on agricultural lands throughout the state of California to create habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects, and to promote practices that support them. She provides education and technical support to a range of individuals and agencies, including farmers and ranchers, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, agricultural professionals, and land managers. Jessa holds a Master’s of Science in Environmental Entomology from California State University, Chico and a Bachelor’s Degree in Sustainable Farming from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. Her Master’s thesis involved developing the management of the native bee, Osmia lignaria, for almond pollination.
GUEST SPEAKERS
Rob Holley - Holley Family Farms, Dayton, NV
Rob, along with his wife and three children, raise grass-fed beef and lamb, heritage pork and organic hay and vegetables. A graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno, Rob and his family took over hisgrandfather’s ranch in Dayton which was established in the 1970s.