Bhadriraju Subramanyam Department of Grain Science and Industry Kansas State University Manhattan, KS 66506 Entomology Research and Extension Update November.

Bhadriraju SubramanyamBhadriraju SubramanyamDepartment of Grain Science and IndustryDepartment of Grain Science and Industry

Kansas State UniversityKansas State UniversityManhattan, KS 66506Manhattan, KS 66506

Entomology Research and Extension UpdateEntomology Research and Extension UpdateNovember 27, 2007November 27, 2007

Producer Perceptions About Producer Perceptions About Postharvest Pest Postharvest Pest

ManagementManagement

Understanding Producer Issues and Understanding Producer Issues and Challenges in Postharvest Pest Challenges in Postharvest Pest

ManagementManagement Survey of end-usersSurvey of end-users Focus group meetingsFocus group meetings OtherOther

Commodity groupsCommodity groups Informal commentsInformal comments

KSU Survey of Producer KSU Survey of Producer PerceptionsPerceptions

Conducted in 2004Conducted in 2004Objective:Objective: Understand producer perceptions Understand producer perceptions

about loss of organophosphate (OP) grain about loss of organophosphate (OP) grain protectants used on stored wheatprotectants used on stored wheat

PartnersPartnersKansas Wheat CommissionKansas Wheat CommissionHigh Plains JournalHigh Plains JournalFarmer Direct Foods (Jan. 30, 2004, Hays)Farmer Direct Foods (Jan. 30, 2004, Hays)Kansas Crop Improvement Association Kansas Crop Improvement Association

Certification Seed Grower’s Annual Meeting (Feb. Certification Seed Grower’s Annual Meeting (Feb. 10, 2004. Colby) 10, 2004. Colby)

Survey InstrumentsSurvey Instruments

Questionnaire (10 questions)Questionnaire (10 questions)Mailed as an insert in KWC NewsletterMailed as an insert in KWC NewsletterMailed as an insert in HPJ Mailed as an insert in HPJ Distributed in person (KCIA)Distributed in person (KCIA)Total mailed, 17,000Total mailed, 17,000

Focus group meeting (Jan. 30, 2004)Focus group meeting (Jan. 30, 2004)

ResultsResults

236 surveys from 73 counties236 surveys from 73 countiesFarm size of respondents: 80 – Farm size of respondents: 80 –

20,800 acres (avg., 2132 acres)20,800 acres (avg., 2132 acres)

Question 1Question 1

Are you aware of an Act passed by Are you aware of an Act passed by the US Congress in 1996 called the the US Congress in 1996 called the Food Quality Protection Act?Food Quality Protection Act?

Yes-60%Yes-60%No-39%No-39%Did not respond-1%Did not respond-1%

Question 2Question 2

Is control of insects in your stored Is control of insects in your stored wheat important to you?wheat important to you?

Yes-97%Yes-97%No-2%No-2%Did not respond-1%Did not respond-1%

Question 3Question 3

Which of the following insect species are Which of the following insect species are troublesome in your stored wheat (Rank 1 as troublesome in your stored wheat (Rank 1 as being most important and 5 as least important)being most important and 5 as least important)

Weevils-1.4 Weevils-1.4 Indianmeal moth-2.4 Indianmeal moth-2.4 Red flour beetle-3.5Red flour beetle-3.5 Lesser grain borer-3.23Lesser grain borer-3.23 Rusty grain beetle-4.5Rusty grain beetle-4.5

The number of responses varied by insect speciesThe number of responses varied by insect species

Question 4Question 4

Which of the following statements Which of the following statements best describes your stored wheat best describes your stored wheat insect control with chemicals?insect control with chemicals?

55% (n=236) apply protectants to grain 55% (n=236) apply protectants to grain at the time of bin filling or as it is turnedat the time of bin filling or as it is turned

44% apply phosphine fumigant44% apply phosphine fumigant1% did not respond1% did not respond

Question 5Question 5

Do you currently use any of the grain Do you currently use any of the grain protectants to treat stored wheat?protectants to treat stored wheat?

Malatrhion-48%Malatrhion-48%Reldan-28%Reldan-28%Diatomaceous earth-5%Diatomaceous earth-5%Phosphine-5%Phosphine-5%Storcide-2%Storcide-2%Did not know-12%Did not know-12%

Question 6Question 6

If malathion and Reldan are no If malathion and Reldan are no longer available for treating stored longer available for treating stored wheat, what new protectants would wheat, what new protectants would you use?you use?

Did not know-93%Did not know-93%Phosphine-5%Phosphine-5%Diatomaceous earth-1%Diatomaceous earth-1%Tempo-1%Tempo-1%

Question 7Question 7Regardless of whether or not you use Regardless of whether or not you use

malathion and Reldan, which of the malathion and Reldan, which of the following statements best describes your following statements best describes your opinion about the current status of opinion about the current status of potential alternatives?potential alternatives?

No potential alternatives have been No potential alternatives have been identified-37%identified-37%

Some potential alternatives have been Some potential alternatives have been identified-29%identified-29%

Satisfactory alternatives exist today-20%Satisfactory alternatives exist today-20% Did not respond-17%Did not respond-17%

Question 8Question 8

If there are alternatives to malathion and If there are alternatives to malathion and Reldan, which of the statements below Reldan, which of the statements below best describes your reason for using it to best describes your reason for using it to treat your stored wheat?treat your stored wheat?

Is safe to humans and the environment-Is safe to humans and the environment-54% (n=243, multiple responses)54% (n=243, multiple responses)

Is more effective than malathion and Is more effective than malathion and Reldan in controlling insects (38%)Reldan in controlling insects (38%)

Degrades quickly on grain (8%)Degrades quickly on grain (8%)

Question 9Question 9

If there are products better than If there are products better than malathion and Reldan would you use malathion and Reldan would you use it on your stored wheat?it on your stored wheat?

Yes-93% (n=236)Yes-93% (n=236)No-5%No-5%Did not respond-2%Did not respond-2%

Question 10Question 10

Are you willing to participate in a Are you willing to participate in a research trial on your farm to show the research trial on your farm to show the benefits of a new protectants that are benefits of a new protectants that are alternatives to malathion and Reldan?alternatives to malathion and Reldan?

Yes-43% Yes-43% No-56%No-56%Did not respond-1%Did not respond-1%

Focus Group Meeting, 2004Focus Group Meeting, 2004

White Wheat Grower Annual Meeting, White Wheat Grower Annual Meeting, January 30, 2004 in Hays, KSJanuary 30, 2004 in Hays, KS

The focus group consisted of 12 producersThe focus group consisted of 12 producersQuestion:Question: What information do you need What information do you need

to start using a new grain protectant such to start using a new grain protectant such as spinosad?as spinosad?

Comments Made by Focus Group ParticipantsComments Made by Focus Group Participants

Product efficacy should be demonstrated by an Product efficacy should be demonstrated by an independent third partyindependent third party

Product should be tested in farmer-managed trialsProduct should be tested in farmer-managed trials Product use information should be made available Product use information should be made available

in an easily understandable format (video)in an easily understandable format (video) Limitations of the product should be disclosedLimitations of the product should be disclosed Product information should be delivered through Product information should be delivered through

crop consultantscrop consultants Cost is not an issue if the product is effective; Cost is not an issue if the product is effective;

willing to pay 0.5-5 cents/bushelwilling to pay 0.5-5 cents/bushel Product should be available in both liquid and dry Product should be available in both liquid and dry

formulationsformulations ““We will use a new product only if we are able to We will use a new product only if we are able to

market (export) our grain”market (export) our grain”

Importance of Understanding End-Importance of Understanding End-User Issues and ChallengesUser Issues and Challenges

Design research projects that address end-Design research projects that address end-user needsuser needs

Develop relevant educational programs Develop relevant educational programs Implement IPM programs and measure Implement IPM programs and measure

their successtheir successHelp pesticide registrants develop relevant Help pesticide registrants develop relevant

product stewardship programsproduct stewardship programsBenefits:Benefits:

Identify cooperators and sites to conduct field Identify cooperators and sites to conduct field researchresearch

Obtain letters of support for USDA grantsObtain letters of support for USDA grants