Tree Fruit IPM Specialist, Michigan State University
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I am a Michigan native and a graduate of Michigan State University with a B.S. in Horticulture (1997), an M.S. in Plant Pathology (2003), and a Ph.D. in Entomology and the Program in Ecology, Evolution and Behavior (2007).
As the Tree Fruit Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Specialist in the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University, I conduct applied research and develop extension programming with regional, national, and international collaborators to improve and implement farm management practices that will result in healthy, marketable tree fruit in support of the long-term sustainability of the Michigan tree fruit industry. My applied research and extension program depends on multidisciplinary collaborations with a focus on monitoring and managing dynamic pest complexes, orchard pollinator health, and impacts of climate change and the potential for climate mitigation in orchard systems. |
Current Research & Extension Projects
IPM of spotted wing drosophila (SWD) in tart cherries. This project includes the development of a risk model tied to tart cherry phenology (with L. Gut, J. Wise, N. Rothwell, and K. Mason), exploring the use of attract and kill methods (with J. Huang, M. Grieshop, and L. Gut), and a survey for native and exotic parasitoids (with J. Huang, N. Rothwell, M. Szucs and R. Isaacs).
IPM of brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) in orchards. This project includes trapping and behavioral studies of BMSB on apples (with L. Gut and J. Pote) and monitoring and augmentative releases of the parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus (with M. Szucs).
Behavior and chemical ecology of San Jose scale mating disruption in apple and sweet cherry. The goal of this project is to explore a pesticide alternative for a key apple pest that also affects a variety of cultivated and wild hosts (with J. Maas, L. Gut, E. Pochubay, and A. Irish-Brown).
Apple replant project at the MSU Clarksville Research Center. The goal of this project is to evaluate pre-plant practices and a resistant rootstock to determine how those affect soil health and tree vigor in an experimental orchard renovation (with T. Einhorn, M. Quintanilla, H. Chung, A. Irish-Brown, and G. Sundin).
Orchard resiliency and climate mitigation. For this project, we are evaluating native grasses in orchard row middles for increased carbon sequestration and better soil health (with A Koyama, T. Einhorn, M. Gammons, A. Wallis).
Coordinating the statewide monitoring of key invasive pests of tree fruit. The goal of this project is to provide timely information on pest occurrences and densities. I have led this team effort since 2014 with members of the MSU Extension Fruit Team working together to monitor 100+ fruit farms each season.
Promoting pollinator stewardship in orchards. This work includes translating what we have learned about wild and managed bees in orchard systems into promoting best practices for pollinator health and pollination services (with A. Heck and the Honey Bee Health Coalition Bee Integrated Demonstration Project).
IPM of brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) in orchards. This project includes trapping and behavioral studies of BMSB on apples (with L. Gut and J. Pote) and monitoring and augmentative releases of the parasitoid Trissolcus japonicus (with M. Szucs).
Behavior and chemical ecology of San Jose scale mating disruption in apple and sweet cherry. The goal of this project is to explore a pesticide alternative for a key apple pest that also affects a variety of cultivated and wild hosts (with J. Maas, L. Gut, E. Pochubay, and A. Irish-Brown).
Apple replant project at the MSU Clarksville Research Center. The goal of this project is to evaluate pre-plant practices and a resistant rootstock to determine how those affect soil health and tree vigor in an experimental orchard renovation (with T. Einhorn, M. Quintanilla, H. Chung, A. Irish-Brown, and G. Sundin).
Orchard resiliency and climate mitigation. For this project, we are evaluating native grasses in orchard row middles for increased carbon sequestration and better soil health (with A Koyama, T. Einhorn, M. Gammons, A. Wallis).
Coordinating the statewide monitoring of key invasive pests of tree fruit. The goal of this project is to provide timely information on pest occurrences and densities. I have led this team effort since 2014 with members of the MSU Extension Fruit Team working together to monitor 100+ fruit farms each season.
Promoting pollinator stewardship in orchards. This work includes translating what we have learned about wild and managed bees in orchard systems into promoting best practices for pollinator health and pollination services (with A. Heck and the Honey Bee Health Coalition Bee Integrated Demonstration Project).