Project Number: 3607-21620-008-25
Project Type: Specific Cooperative Agreement

Start Date: Jun 24, 2011
End Date: Aug 30, 2014

Objective:
Assist development of an expert system for the intelligent sprayers by investigation of top insects and diseases in ornamental nurseries and field experiments to test the new spray system.

Approach:
Literature and research reports will be reviewed and nursery fields will be surveyed to determine top insects and diseases in midwest and northeast region ornamental nurseries for the development of models to predict top insects and disease pressures; field experiments in an Ohio leading nursery will be conducted to evaluate performances of new intelligent sprayers to control the top insects and diseases with reduced pesticide rates; educational materials will be delivered through workshops, field demonstrations and grower meetings to teach spray applicators how to use the new spray technologies.