EORGANIC: COLLABORATIVE DEVELOPMENT OF ECOLOGICALLY BASED PEST MANAGEMENT INFORMATION FOR EXTENSION

eXtension is a new national, web-based, information source for Land-grant University Extension agents and faculty to consolidate research findings and outreach materials. Within the framework of eXtension, eOrganic is being developed as the new organic agriculture Extension Service website to provide accurate and up-to-date information for agricultural professionals, researchers, and organic and conventional farmers. eOrganic will offer searchable content consisting of brief articles; nationally compiled FAQs; an interactive Ask-the-Expert tool; regionally-specific case studies; certification resources and decision tools; and a portal to in-depth information available from other sources. eOrganic content is being developed in three key areas of organic certification; dairy production and marketing; and vegetable production and marketing, and additional support is needed to develop information on ecologically-based pest management for vegetable crops. The proposed project will support the development of pest management content for eOrganic; i.e. create a new Community of Practice (CoP) for ecologically-based pest management. The project will facilitate interdisciplinary collaboration among pest management workers throughout the U.S. and the content will be applicable for organic and conventional vegetable pest management systems in all regions of the country. The eOrganic pest management content will strengthen the ability of CSREES to actively address national needs in Extension IPM programming for disease, insect and weed pests, and will help pest managers implement IPM methods that will enhance farm conservation efforts and the protection of natural resources. Given the national scope of eOrganic outcomes from this project will have wide scale impact and benefits. The project leverages resources from a variety of organizations in the public and private sectors.