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Wenatchee Valley College 

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Technician Program

    Pest management in the orchard industry is evolving rapidly, becoming information intensive, biologically based and systems oriented.  In order to meet the pest management needs of the tree fruit industry, Wenatchee Valley College's Agriculture Department has initiated a short term, intensive integrated pest management (IPM) technician certificate program.  this program is designed to prepare students as pest management scouts and assistants for apple, pear and cherry IPM projects.

    In a classroom and field-based setting, students will be able to identify weeds, diseases, and insect and mite pests and their natural enemies; learn about the life histories of these organisms; how orchards are scouted; and how this information is used to make pest management decisions.

    The program will consist of 200 hours of training spread over the winter, spring and summer quarters.  The winter quarter will consist of three-hour lectures and labs stressing hands-on learning two days a week in the late afternoon.  The spring and summer quarters will be field-based, consisting of two three-hour field sessions with the class and an individualized, supervised practicum implementing an IPM program in an adopted orchard.  The program will also stress data collection, record keeping, and the communication of monitoring information with IPM consultants, field people and orchardists.

    WINTER QUARTER

60 hours of classroom and lab instruction

• Integrated Pest Management
  Definitions of IPM
  IPM strategies

• Plant Sciences
  Fruit tree anatomy, morphology, physiology

• General Entomology
  Classification (insects and their relationship to other animals.
  Insect anatomy/physiology/morphology

• Orchard Entomology
  Insect and mite identification
  Biology of insect and mite pests
  Biology of natural enemies (predators and parasitoids.
  Population dynamics and life cycles of pests and natural enemies.
  Management strategies for pests

• Integrated Pest Management
  IPM strategies expanded
  Growing degree day models
  Pheromones for monitoring and mating disruption.
  Sampling strategies and placement of traps for insect monitoring.
  Field scouting, data collection and summary

• Orchard Pathology (Diseases)
  Disease triangle
  Disease organisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi, mycoplasms, etc.)
  Environmentally induced diseases
  Life cycles and phenology of diseases
  Disease and insect and mite vector interactions 
  Common diseases of apples, pears and cherries
  Use of models to predict disease outbreaks

• Plant Science 
  fruit tree anatomy, morphology, physiology
  Impact of horticultural/orchard management strategies on pest and beneficial insects
  Weed identification and biology.

Spring & Summer Quarters

• 60 hours of field-based Instruction plus 60 hours of supervised practicum per quarter, implementing an IPM program in an adopted orchard.

WORKSHOP TOPICS

• Insect and Mite Sampling

• Hands-on/Field-based workshops

  Field identification of insect and mite pests and natural enemies.
  Population dynamics, location, and distribution of insects and mites.
  

• Monitoring Techniques
  
  Placement and trap sampling.
  Leaf inspection.
  Beating trays.
  Mite brush.
  Development of observational and record-keeping skills.
  

• Time management and sampling
  
  Accurate data collection.
  Data collection and data summaries role in management decisions.
  Communication information to IPM consultant, field person or orchardist.
  Professional conduct (working with clients and colleagues).
  

• Plant Development
  
  Plant development and its relationship to insect and mite feeding and damage.
  Weed management based on weed identification and biology.
  

• Sampling for diseases
  
  Monitoring for common orchard diseases.
  Use of models to predict disease outbreaks.
  Environmental conditions impact on disease outbreaks.
  
      The field-based portion of this class will consist of 20 class sessions per quarter designed to help students track the seasonal occurrence of pest populations and introduce them to the appropriate scouting techniques, data collection and dissemination of information pertinent to the management of each pest.

• For more information on the WVC Hispanic Orchard Employee Education Program, contact Leo Garcia: 421-4100 or Francisco Sarmiento, 669-5882
  Wenatchee Valley College
  1300 Fifth Street
  Wenatchee, WA. 98801
  1-509-662-1651
  
  

• WVC AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS
  Supporting the Washington Tree Fruit Industry

• Washington Tree Fruit Program
  Bachelor of Science in Entomology with Washington State University Emphasizing tree fruit IPM.

• Tree Fruit Integrated Pest Management
  Bachelor or Science in Entomology with Washington State University emphasizing tree fruit IPM.

• Hispanic Orchard Employee Education
  Workforce training integrating English, math and communications skills with tree fruit production studies.

• Orchard Business Management
  Record keeping, financial analysis and profit maximizing skills for professional orchardists.

• IPM Technician Program
  Workforce training for IPM field scouts and technicians.
  
  http://wvc.ctc.edu
  call toll free in Washington state
  1-877-WVC-4YOU
  (1-877-982-4968)
  Wenatchee Campus
  1300 Fifth Street
  Wenatchee, WA. 98801
  North Campus
  P.O.Box 2058
  116 West Apple Ave.
  Omak, WA. 98841
  (1-509-826-7414)
  
  Notice of Nondiscrimination/Disability Policy
  Wenatchee Valley College is committed to a policy of equal opportunity in employment and student enrollment.  All programs are free from discrimination on the basis of rave, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, disability, or status as a disabled veteran or Vietnam-era veteran in accordance with state and federal laws.  Questions regarding services for students with disabilities should be directed to the special populations coordinator.