In 2003, the Center for Agricultural Partnerships (CAP) published "Working From The Ground Up," a blueprint for organizing projects that increase the use of innovative, environmentally sound practices. In 2005, CAP applied the blueprint to the task of organizing field-level projects that reduce pesticide risks in agricultural and non-agricultural settings. Working with talented people and organizations and in collaboration with EPA staff, CAP facilitated the development of five projects that shared a common methodology. As of early 2006, work in these projects, funded through a cooperative agreement with the EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs, was successful and the impact was overwhelmingly positive.

At a glance

The projects were implemented to solve important problems in five areas with key organizations:

• In Michigan, the National Grape Cooperative and Michigan State University grape research-extension team implemented a grape IPM scouting program with growers in southwest Michigan. The long-term goal was to demonstrate a program that could be adopted widely in grape production in Michigan and across the eastern United States to reduce the cost and environmental impact of grape production.READ MORE


• In Florida, the task was to implement and evaluate the effectiveness of five safer alternative pesticides–including four biochemical products–to control mosquitoes on Parrot Jungle Island in Miami.READ MORE


• The New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association sought to increase the adoption of a field scouting program and the use of biopesticides and reduced-risk pesticides among New England sweet corn growers.READ MORE


• To prevent and control potentially devastating codling moth infestations, the Hood River Grower-Shipper Association in Oregon embarked on a public awareness and incentive program. The goal was to have 75 percent of the area’s non-agricultural fruit tree owners remove or manage their trees to prevent pest infestations.READ MORE


• Wisconsin Apple Growers association aimed for the wide grower adoption of strong IPM programs. Their project focused on providing technical and financial assistance to 28 growers for scouting their orchards through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP). In addition to the field scouting, the project involved collaboration with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) in refining EQIP opportunities to support an integrated orchard management program.READ MORE