Integrated pest management for raspberries

Washington State University Cooperative Extension - Whatcom County, received a multiyear state grant to assist the agricultural community in the adoption of an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approach to solving pest problems in the Nooksack watershed, which is wholly located within Whatcom County, Washington. The major goals of this project are to increase IPM and to adopt crop-specific IPM practices that will stay with the agricultural industry. One of the two target crops for this project is red raspberry. This project developed IPM tactics that are practical for the grower and that optimize pesticide use through improved decision-making in regards to spray needs, timing, and selection of materials. Methods used included educational workshops and grower forums, on-farm field research, field instrumentation, newsletters, publications and guides, grower mentoring, Internet website, and e-mail notification. Project evaluation data indicates an increase in raspberry grower acceptance and implementation of IPM practices.