Agreement Number
6933A717087
Awardee Name
Virginia Tech
Grant Type
State
Project Title
Impact of Farm Management Practices on Arthropod Predator Communities and Slug Feeding Injury in Corn and Soybeans
Awardee State/Territory
Virginia
Involved States/territories
Virginia
Award Year
2017
Start Date
End Date
Award Amount
$75,000.00
Production/Use
Farmland Agricultural
Resource Concern (Broad)
Soil
Resource Concern (Specific)
Plant productivity and health
Conservation Practice(s)
Conservation Crop Rotation
Cover Crop
Project Background
The purpose of this award is for VA Tech to test the hypothesis that no-till corn and soybean production systems with limited insecticide usage and associated conservation practices like cover cropping can have increased arthropod predator abundance and diversity, which in turn can lead to reduced slug pest pressure. The specific objectives of this project are: (1) Evaluate and demonstrate the impact of arthropod predators on slug pests and associated crop injury caused by slugs, (2) Identify best management practices for preserving and enhancing populations of predators of slugs while decreasing slug injury to crops, and (3) Disseminate project results and lessons learned to a wide range of audiences, including growers, crop advisors, and government personnel.
Project targeted to Historically Underserved producers?
No