IPM Strategic Planning for Pears in Washington and Oregon
Author: Katie Murray, Paul Jepson, Rick Hilton
Published: 2021
Summary: We requested co-funding from the WA Tree Fruit Research Commission to support an IPM Strategic Plan update with the Pacific Northwest pear industry (Oregon and Washington). The project evaluated progress since our 2014 Pest Management Strategic Plan for Pears, incorporating our new IPM-focused format. The overall goal was to help the Pacific Northwest pear industry describe current major pests and impacts, assess progress on critical research, education, and regulatory needs over the last 5 years, and identify continuing and emerging short- and long-term pest management challenges and goals to be shared with local research and extension faculty. Our process engaged approximately 30 farmers, consultants, commission members, researchers, and extension agents representing four main regions across Oregon and Washington (Southern Oregon, Mid-Columbia, Wenatchee, and Yakima). This group became our formal workgroup, which was engaged via email and in person in a months-long consultation. Our in-person meeting took place in March of 2020 in Hood River, Oregon, with 21 attendees. The workgroup we brought together reached consensus about the major pest management activities, challenges, and priorities. Information gathered at this meeting was compiled into a final publication that outlines current pest management activities for the whole production season, as well as critical pest management needs for research, regulation, and education, and IPM advancement.
