Spotted wing Drosophila biology and management workshop held June 12

Learn how to monitor and manage spotted wing Drosophila in strawberries at our workshop in Fennville, Mich.

The spotted wing Drosophila (SWD) has appeared in strawberry fields very early. That makes it more important than ever that small fruit growers receive the necessary training to monitor, identify and control this pest before it get established or causes economic losses. SWD is a pest of berries and other soft fruits and will require active management by growers to minimize its economic impact. To support these efforts,MSU Extension will provide another in-depth workshop on spotted wing Drosophila biology and management on June 12.

This workshop will include the latest research information as well as hands-on training in monitoring, identification and fruit sampling. The workshop has been developed for fruit growers, scouts and crop consultants to help them integrate SWD management into their IPM programs. It will be led by members of the MSU Department of Entomology who have been studying this insect since its arrival in Michigan. There will be a classroom session from 9 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., and a field, hands-on session from 1 to 4 p.m. Growers that attended the April 24 workshop are invited to participated in the hands-on training.

There is a registration fee of $30 per person for this workshop, which covers the workshop plus attendance at the hands-on training on June 12 and lunch. Please sign up in advance if you are planning to attend. Call or email Judy Hanson at 616-994-4548 to register for the workshop. The workshop and hands-on field training will be held at the Trevor Nichols Research Center, 6237 124th Avenue, Fennville, MI 49408 (see map).

These workshops are made possible by funding from Project GREEEN and the US-EPA.

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