2013 Highlights: UC IPM Annual Report

(Photo by M. Martino)

From the Director

Welcome to UC IPM's 2013 Highlights annual report. The report briefly describes many of the program's recent accomplishments which include training, development of outreach material, extension of IPM programs to practitioners, and research to solve important pest problems facing California's agricultural, urban, and natural resource environments.

The year brought a significant change for UC IPM. In November the program moved to ANR's new building a few miles from the UC Davis campus. Our staff members are finally housed together in one space after more than 30 years in two old buildings separated by 2.5 miles. We expect that being co-located will generate energy and efficiencies that will help us be more productive.

In the past year we have expanded our ability to deliver IPM programs and conduct research. Entomologist Dr. Kristen Tollerup joined us as an IPM advisor at ANR's Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center. Dr. Jeremy James, weed specialist for ANR, is now affiliated with us. Lead Programmer Chinh Lam will be helping us to develop more IPM products to be available in ways most useful to our clientele. In addition, we are in the process of recruiting a new IPM advisor to serve the Sacramento Valley.

There is great demand for extending IPM work in agricultural and urban communities, and I expect 2014 to bring new opportunities through permanent and grant-funded projects. We will re-evaluate our strategic goals in the next year; as part of this process, we will work closely with our Program Advisory Committee, stakeholders, and the University to make sure that we address the priorities for California as outlined in the ANR Strategic Vision. We are very interested in your input in this process.

I want to recognize and thank Cheryl Gould, Business Manager, who retired after 35 years with University of California. Cheryl provided exceptional service to UC IPM during her 25 years with the program and we will miss her leadership, input, and dedication. I also want to thank Roger Baldwin for serving UC IPM as wildlife IPM advisor. We wish Roger the best in his new position as wildlife specialist for ANR and UC Davis, and look forward to a long association with him in this new role.

Finally, I extend my gratitude to our extraordinary academic and staff members who have continued their dedicated service to the IPM Program and ANR.

—Kassim Al-Khatib, Director