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 From the DirectorI am privileged to have served as the Interim Director for UC IPM for the past 12 months. The search is under way to find a replacement for Director Rick Roush, who left UC IPM to take the post of Dean of University of Melbourne, Agriculture and Food Resources in Australia. We appreciated Rick’s dedication and service and wish him the best in his new position. During the past year, the program completed its strategic plan for the next five years. The plan was developed as part of a program review required of all ANR statewide programs. The plan gives us a roadmap to help us to prioritize our resources to provide the best IPM research, extension, and outreach to Californians. Our vision statement is simple: Making ecosystem-based integrated pest management the way Californians manage pests. Results of a review of the UC IPM Program in late 2006 were commendable. The Review Team consisted of IPM experts from California, New York, and Wisconsin, and included land grant university representatives and members from the private sector and public agencies. They praised UC IPM as the “Gold Standard” for IPM worldwide, and they said that California should be proud of the quality of the program and the extraordinary dedication of its members. Along with the good news, the Review Team noted that some areas needed improvement. They noticed a lack of research and extension in urban and community IPM. The team felt that with the large urban population in California, we were missing an opportunity to provide IPM to a big audience. In response, we developed a plan and are dedicating resources to reach this group. We also restructured staff reporting and approved three associate directors. Another strength the Review Team noted was that the research grants program helps keep California agriculture competitive. In recent years, funding has decreased, limiting the number of IPM research projects. Despite this, UC IPM secured funding for grants to support field trials that demonstrate and compare IPM practices. Finally, our extension outreach was recognized as a key component to our success. The IPM advisors continue to serve as an integral part of applied research, critical extension, and essential linkages, within and outside of ANR’s pest management program. As Interim Director, my message from UC IPM to our clientele throughout ANR and California has been “How can UC IPM help you achieve better pest management?” Thank you for your interest and support of this unique resource.
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