Breaking the language barrier in IPM programs

Current production and maintenance of ornamental plants in greenhouses, nurseries, gardens and landscapes requires a lot of hand-labor. In Texas as in many other states, the majority of field workers in these plant-industries are of Hispanic origin, have little formal education (up to 65% did not complete high school), and lack simple yet essential technical knowledge required in plant production and protection. Pest and disease problems often go unnoticed until they reach levels which trigger intensive pesticide applications that could be avoided by early pest detection and regular sanitation practices within Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs. Educational programs/resources are needed to teach basic concepts and their application, at an audience-appropriate level which considers the socioeconomic, cultural and educational background of participants. This presentation will highlight one such program “Taller MIP” (Spanish for IPM- Workshop) and discuss other opportunities for delivery of audience-appropriate IPM information.