Organic Agriculture Teaching and Learning in 2025: Transforming the Future Learning Landscape

University instructors are compelled to anticipate future changes in farming and food systems that will impact their students. Sixteen educators met in 2018 to envision the future of organic agriculture courses needed by 2025. Likely future global issues include food access, especially for people of limited economic means; climate change; and fossil fuel costs. Changes that will impact education are increasing demand for quality food, more organic production, and globalization of food systems due to consolidation. Probable course content changes are increasing focus on whole farm systems; designing for resilience in changing physical, economic, environmental, and political climates; and increasing diversity of systems and emergence of the urban and peri-urban food sector. Expected changes in teaching methods include more practical, hands-on learning; face-to-face interactions with farmers; guided practical apprenticeships; and student-driven learning activities. We were surprised by the difficulty that workshop participants confronted in discussing transformational change, often opting for fine-tuning the current system. We identified a need for developing and practicing skills for future visioning, currently a challenge for instructors and for many students

Women Farmers: Pulling Up Their Own Educational Boot Straps with Extension

Women comprise a rapidly growing segment in agriculture. In this article, we examine how a network of women farmers, Extension educators, and researchers responded to the significant increase in women farmers in one state by creating a membership organization that draws on the expertise and resources of the land-grant university and Extension in Pennsylvania to create educational events with networking opportunities. We report 4 years of evaluation data for 37 events indicating educational impact, expansion and enhancement of the network, and marketing strategies for Extension to improve participation of women

Weeds in Cover Crops: Context and Management Considerations

Cover crops are increasingly being adopted to provide multiple ecosystem services such as improving soil health, managing nutrients, and decreasing soil erosion. It is not uncommon for weeds to emerge in and become a part of a cover crop plant community. Since the role of cover cropping is to supplement ecosystem service provisioning, we were interested in assessing the impacts of weeds on such provisioning. To our knowledge, no research has examined how weeds in cover crops may impact the provision of ecosystem services and disservices. Here, we review services and disservices associated with weeds in annual agroecosystems and present two case studies from the United States to illustrate how weeds growing in fall-planted cover crops can provide ground cover, decrease potential soil losses, and effectively manage nitrogen. We argue that in certain circumstances, weeds in cover crops can enhance ecosystem service provisioning. In other circumstances, such as in the case of herbicide-resistant weeds, cover crops should be managed to limit weed biomass and fecundity. Based on our case studies and review of the current literature, we conclude that the extent to which weeds should be allowed to grow in a cover crop is largely context-dependent.This work was supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Organic Research and Extension Initiative under Project PENW-2015-07433 (Grant No. 2015-51300-24156, Accession No. 1007156) and the National Science Foundation (Grant No. DGE1255832)

Soil Microarthropods and Soil Health: Intersection of Decomposition and Pest Suppression in Agroecosystems

Two desirable functions of healthy soil are nutrient cycling and pest suppression. We review relevant literature on the contributions of soil microarthropods to soil health through their intersecting roles in decomposition and nutrient cycling and direct and indirect suppression of plant pests. Microarthropods can impact soil and plant health directly by feeding on pest organisms or serving as alternate prey for larger predatory arthropods. Indirectly, microarthropods mediate the ability of crop plants to resist or tolerate insect pests and diseases by triggering induced resistance and/or contributing to optimal nutritional balance of plants. Soil fauna, including microarthropods, are key regulators of decomposition at local scales but their role at larger scales is unresolved. Future research priorities include incorporating multi-channel omnivory into food web modeling and understanding the vulnerability of soil carbon through global climate change models

FIELD OBSERVATIONS ON HOST PLANT ASSOCIATIONS ENEMIES OF DIABROTICITE BEETLES (CHRYSOMELIDAE: LUPERINI) IN VERACRUZ, MEXICO

Host plant associations of diabroticite beetles were observetí under fieid conditions (June 1 993-August 1 994). Adult insects were sampled in four locations in two ctmatic zones in the State of Veracruz, México. Incirience of parasitism and predation was recorded, Seventeen species of diabroticites were found. The two climatic zones differed in numbers of species present, Acalymma spp. were exclusively collected from cultivated and wild cucurbits, whereas Diabrotica spp. showed distinct host plant assocíations. Tfie most impurtaiil factor influeiiciiiy insect presence and abundance was the phenolotjical stage of the host plant. Flowering stage and number of flowers of cucurbits determinetí the number of insects and species diversity. The most abundant parasitoid encountered was a tachinid fiy, Celatoria compressa Wulp. Parasitism by nematodes (Mermithidae) and fungi (laboulbeniales) occurred. Predation by several hemipteran species (Reduviidae) and spiders (Oxyipidae) was observed at several occasions.La asociación de diabrolicinas con plantas hopederas fue observada en condiciones de campo (junio 1993 - agosto 1994). los insectos adultos fueron colectados en cuatro localidades de dos zonas climáticas en el estado de Veracruz, México. la incidencia de parasitismo y depredación fue documentada, Diecisiete especies de diabroticina fueron encontradas. las dos zonas climáticas difirieron en el número de especies presentes. las Aca/ymma spp. fueron exclusivamente colectailds de cucurbitáceas silvestres y cultivadas, mientras que las Diabrotica spp. mostraron asociaciones con distintas plantas hospederas. El factor más importante que influyó en la presencia y abundancia de insectos fue el estado fenológico de la planta hospedera. El estado de floración y el número de flores de cucurbitáceas, determinó el número de insectos y la diversidad de especies. El parasitoide más abundante encontrado fue una mosca de la familia Tachinidae, Celatoria compressa Wulp. Se encontró parasitismo por nemátodos (Mermithidae) y hongos (laboulbeniales). Depredación por varias especies de hemópteros (Reduviidaei y arañas (Oxyopidae) fue observada en varias ocasiones. Palabras Clave: Acalymma. Diabrotica, Celatoria, Cucurbitaceae, laboulbenia, Mermithidae

Observations on the Relationships between Endophytic Metarhizium robertsii, Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), and Maize

Fungi in the genus Metarhizium are entomopathogens that can establish endophytically inside plants and benefit them through growth promotion and pest suppression. Lab- and greenhouse-based experiments were conducted to examine the effects of endophytic M. robertsii colonization in maize (Zea mays) on fall armyworm (FAW) (Spodoptera frugiperda). Maize seeds were inoculated with M. robertsii conidia, plants were evaluated for endophytic colonization, and then relative growth rate (RGR) and feeding behavior of larval FAW fed leaves from inoculated and uninoculated maize were measured. Endophytic M. robertsii was recovered from 60.5% of inoculated maize. In feeding bioassays, the RGR of larval FAW fed leaves of inoculated maize was no different than the RGR of larvae fed leaves from uninoculated maize. The RGR of larval FAW was positively correlated with the proportion of endophytic colonization of maize leaf and root tissues; however, in feeding assays, FAW larvae demonstrated no preference for consuming leaf tissue from inoculated or uninoculated maize. The proportion of leaf tissue consumed was unrelated to the proportion of M. robertsii-colonization of leaf or root tissue from source plants. We discuss possible reasons why FAW were not affected by endophytic M. robertsii in the context of assay methodology, FAW physiology, and induced maize defenses

Entomopathogenic Nematodes as a Model System for Advancing the Frontiers of Ecology

15 páginas, ilustraciones y tablas estadísticas.Entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) in the families Heterorhabditidae and Steinernematidae have a mutualistic– symbiotic association with enteric g-Proteobacteria (Steinernema–Xenorhabdus and Heterorhabditis–Photorhabdus), which confer high virulence against insects. EPNs have been studied intensively because of their role as a natural mortality factor for soil-dwelling arthropods and their potential as biological control agents for belowground insect pests. For many decades, research on EPNs focused on the taxonomy, phylogeny, biogeography, genetics, physiology, biochemistry and ecology, as well as commercial production and application technologies. More recently, EPNs and their bacterial symbionts are being viewed as a model system for advancing research in other disciplines such as soil ecology, symbiosis and evolutionary biology. Integration of existing information, particularly the accumulating information on their biology, into increasingly detailed population models is critical to improving our ability to exploit and manage EPNs as a biological control agent and to understand ecological processes in a changing world. Here, we summarize some recent advances in phylogeny, systematics, biogeography, community ecology and population dynamics models of EPNs, and describe how this research is advancing frontiers in ecology.Peer reviewe

Extension Educators\u27 Perceptions of the Educational Needs of Women Farmers in Pennsylvania

The number of women farm operators has steadily increased in the United States, comprising 30% of all farm operators (2007 Census of Agriculture). The increasing diversity of farmers presents new audiences for Extension and for whom programs should be developed according to their educational needs. We report results from a survey of Extension educators in Pennsylvania. We identify how Extension educators perceive women farmers, the factors that influence these perceptions, and how these perceptions influence educational programming. We recommend ways to reach women farmers with programs that are appropriate in both content and delivery

Forward and reverse primer sequences for the genes tested in this study and actin (endogenous control).

Forward and reverse primer sequences for the genes tested in this study and actin (endogenous control).</p

Water Stress and Black Cutworm Feeding Modulate Plant Response in Maize Colonized by <i>Metarhizium robertsii</i>

Plants face many environmental challenges and have evolved different strategies to defend against stress. One strategy is the establishment of mutualistic associations with endophytic microorganisms which contribute to plant defense and promote plant growth. The fungal entomopathogen Metarhizium robertsii is also an endophyte that can provide plant-protective and growth-promoting benefits to the host plant. We conducted a greenhouse experiment in which we imposed stress from deficit and excess soil moisture and feeding by larval black cutworm (BCW), Agrotis ipsilon, to maize plants that were either inoculated or not inoculated with M. robertsii (Mr). We evaluated plant growth and defense indicators to determine the effects of the interaction between Mr, maize, BCW feeding, and water stress. There was a significant effect of water treatment, but no effect of Mr treatment, on plant chlorophyl, height, and dry biomass. There was no effect of water or Mr treatment on damage caused by BCW feeding. There was a significant effect of water treatment, but not Mr treatment, on the expression of bx7 and rip2 genes and on foliar content of abscisic acid (ABA), 2,4-dihydroxy-7-methoxy-1,4-benzoxazin-3-one (DIMBOA), and gibberellin 19 (GA19), whereas GA53 was modulated by Mr treatment. Foliar content of GA19 and cis-Zeatin (cZ) was modulated by BCW feeding. In a redundancy analysis, plant phenology, plant nutrient content, and foliar DIMBOA and ABA content were most closely associated with water treatments. This study contributes toward understanding the sophisticated stress response signaling and endophytic mutualisms in crops