Farming With Native Beneficial Insects
for Pest Control:
Conservation Biological Control Short Course

Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center
295 Morris Drive
Americus, GA  31719

October 25th, 2018
9:00 am - 4:00 pm

Learn a science-based strategy that seeks to integrate beneficial insects for natural pest control!

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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: 

• The importance of beneficial insects - predators and parasitoids that attack insect pests.
• Overview of conservation biological control and integrated pest management (IPM).
• Become familiar with the most common beneficial insect groups.
• 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 habitat installation guidelines and other relevant publications, and the Xerces' book, Farming with Native Beneficial Insects.

 *Continuing Education Credits Available*

• Pesticide Applicator (Pending Approval )
• Certified Crop Advisor (5.5 CEUs) 
• Society of American Foresters (5 CFE credits)
• The Wildlife Society (5.5 contact hours)   

COURSE AGENDA

Welcome and Announcements 

Module 1 - Farming with Beneficial Insects: Conservation Biological Control (CBC)

• Overview of conservation biological control and integrated pest management
• Status of beneficial insect conservation & summary of conservation biocontrol case studies

Module 2 - Common Beneficial Insect Groups

• Introduction to beneficial insects and the ecological services they provide
• Summary of beneficial insect biology and habitat needs
• Profiles of common predators and parasitoids and the insect pests they attack

Lunch Break - Please bring your own lunch and a refillable water bottle

Module 3 - Conservation Biocontrol Research in Georgia

• Overview of current issues and conservation biological control research in Georgia
• Highlights of agricultural, ecological, and forest related issues

Module 4 - Assessing Baseline Farm Conditions for Beneficial Insects

• Overview of habitat diversity values
• Introduction to the Beneficial Insect Habitat Assessment Guide to Inform CBC Planning

Module 5 USDA Farm Bill Programs Supporting Beneficial Insects & Other Wildlife in Georgia

• USDA Conservation Programs and Practices supporting pollinators, other beneficial insects, and & other wildlife in Georgia

Module 6 - Farm Practices for Beneficial Insects

• Overview of common farm practices and their impact on conservation biocontrol
• Mitigating potential negative impacts of farm practices on beneficial insects

Module 7 – Designing and Restoring Habitat for Beneficial Insects

• Conservation practices that support beneficial insects (beetle banks, buffers, windbreaks, cover crops, field borders, hedgerows, insectary strips, wildflower meadows, and more)
• Habitat conservation methods (site preparation, propagation, and maintenance)
• Farm case studies

Additional Resources and Wrap-Up

• Questions & Evaluations

Visit the Plant Materials Center --  We hope to visit the PMC during the workshop, but may take some additional time to learn about plantings and equipment on site following the workshop.

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

Richard Barrett, Jimmy Carter Plant Materials Center Manager, USDA NRCS, Americus, GA
Richard has worked as Soil, District, and Resource Conservationist with NRCS in Georgia and North Carolina. Since he started working as the Plant Materials Center Manager, the center has focused on work to improve soil health.  

Elizabeth Benton, Forest Health Specialist, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, Athens, GA
Specializing in forest and aquatic entomology, insecticide use in trees, and environmental risk of insecticides, Elizabeth works with stakeholders across the state to improve forest health. Her Ph.D. work focused on insecticide impacts in hemlock forests.

Jackie Busby, NRCS District Conservationist, Americus Field Office, Americus, GA
Responsible for NRCS conservation efforts in Schley, Stewart, Webster and Sumter Counties in South Central Georgia, primarily supporting agricultural row crop production and forestry activities. Jackie farms on an 85 year old family farm and holds an Animal Science degree. 

Jason M. Schmidt, , Assistant Professor, Biocontrol--Arthropod Ecology and Trophic Interactions, Entomology Department, UGA, Tifton, GA
The Schmidt research lab focuses on the interactions between different management strategies and beneficial insects in agroecosystems. Jason's Ph.D. focused on predator-prey interactions in soybean and corn systems. 

Patricia Glynn Tillman, Research Entomologist, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Tifton, GA
Glynn’s research developing sustainable systems for integrated pest management of stink bugs and other key pests in row crops includes extensive investigation of how best to support natural enemies of crop pests. Glynn’s Ph.D. is in entomology.

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