Survey Results

Page: Purpose and Confirmation

1. I understand that the information I am about to give will be used to focus IPM research and Extension program delivery. Every effort will be made to protect this information and my confidentiality. Any public reports of study findings will be based on grouped data and will not reveal individual responses. Results of this study may be used for publications, presentations, or shared with industry or agri-business. There will be no penalty against me for NOT taking or completing this survey.
	answered question		10
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
I understand and agree		100.0%	10
I decline to participate (exit survey now, click Exit Survey link in upper right hand corner)		10.0%	1

Page: Educational IPM Considerations - Section 1/9

2. How do you maintain and update your pest management knowledge? Select all that apply. Pest refers to insects, diseases, weeds, & nematodes. Pesticide refers to herbicides, fungicides, & insecticides
	answered question		10
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
Join Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board (mandatory)		60.0%	6
Annually attend state or regional vegetable meetings (Great Lakes Expo), including field days		100.0%	10
Annually obtain the latest state or regional vegetable production guide		80.0%	8
Maintain additional reference materials (books, manuals, bulletins, etc.) on crop pest management		80.0%	8
Experiment with new IPM practices on your farm (new varieties, new scouting techniques, etc.) and gauge their success		80.0%	8
Explore alternative markets that encourage less pesticide use (organic, eco, or IPM labels)		30.0%	3

3. Select all that are appropriate. If you receive the state vegetable pest management newsletter, how does it arrive?
	answered question		10
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
by FAX		10.0%	1
by e-mail (actual newsletter or link to internet site)		20.0%	2
by postal mail		70.0%	7
by local code-a-phone		20.0%	2
DO NOT receive newsletter		0.0%	0

4. Please rank the following as primary sources of pest management information
	answered question					10
	skipped question					0
	never	rarely	occasionally	usually	Rating Average	Rating Count
Extension specialists	0.0% (0)	0.0% (0)	20.0% (2)	80.0% (8)	3.80	10
Independent crop consultants	0.0% (0)	30.0% (3)	20.0% (2)	50.0% (5)	3.20	10
Industry representatives (processor fieldmen, chemical, or fertilizer dealers)	0.0% (0)	10.0% (1)	10.0% (1)	80.0% (8)	3.70	10
Other farmers	0.0% (0)	0.0% (0)	55.6% (5)	44.4% (4)	3.44	9
Internet searches	37.5% (3)	25.0% (2)	25.0% (2)	12.5% (1)	2.13	8

5. How else do you learn about disease, insect, or weed management practices?
	answered question	2
	skipped question	8
		Response Count
		2

Page: Record keeping for IPM - Section 2/9

6. Select all the different forms of record keeping performed on your farm in 2005.
	answered question		10
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
Weed field maps (in season or after harvest to guide herbicide applications)		10.0%	1
Pesticides used (fungicides, herbicides, insecticides)		100.0%	10
Planting dates		80.0%	8
Field locations		100.0%	10
Cultivars planted		50.0%	5
Fertilizer applications		90.0%	9
Harvest yields		70.0%	7

7. How are your records (pesticides & pests) usually kept?
	answered question			10
	skipped question			0
	Never	Sometimes	Usually	Rating Count
Written on paper (notebook)	0.0% (0)	10.0% (1)	90.0% (9)	10
Recorded in a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant)	83.3% (5)	16.7% (1)	0.0% (0)	6
Recorded in a computer	42.9% (3)	28.6% (2)	28.6% (2)	7
Records kept by custom applicator	50.0% (3)	33.3% (2)	16.7% (1)	6
Other means not listed	40.0% (2)	20.0% (1)	40.0% (2)	5

Page: Pre-plant IPM Considerations - Section 3/9

8. Please select as many of the following that apply to your farm operation in 2005. Pest refers to insects, diseases, weeds, & nematodes. Pesticide refers to herbicides, fungicides, & insecticides
	answered question		10
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
Soil test fields annually; amend soil with fertilizer according to state guidelines		70.0%	7
Apply lime at least one year prior to planting		80.0%	8
Select cultivars well adapted for your growing area		80.0%	8
Buy virus free seed		40.0%	4
Use previous field history and pest pressure to guide field selection		80.0%	8
Use a combination of fall/spring tillage and fall/spring herbicide application to control established perennials		70.0%	7
Plant asparagus after a herbicide resistant crop for decreased weed pressure		50.0%	5
Select herbicides and plan other weed management practices based on your knowledge of weeds present in the field		90.0%	9
Apply residual herbicide for control of annual and perennial weeds before, at, or after planting as directed by label		100.0%	10
Use stale seedbed (fallow seed bed) technique		20.0%	2
Use drip irrigation and plastic mulch for weed and disease control		0.0%	0
Use cover crops or plastic mulch for weed, disease, and moisture management		80.0%	8
High-pressure wash machinery shared between fields (w/ or w/o disinfectant) to prevent spread of pests		40.0%	4
Calibrate pesticide sprayer(s) annually		90.0%	9
Use proper spray application equipment (nozzle type, drop nozzles, etc.)		100.0%	10
Take steps to minimize non-target pesticide drift (nozzle pressure, boom height, wind speed, etc.)		90.0%	9

9. Did we miss something in the above section? Is there a tactic or practice that you would like to share with us? If so, fill in the box. If not, please continue on with the survey...
	answered question	2
	skipped question	8
		Response Count
		2

Page: At-planting IPM Considerations - Section 4/9

10. Please select as many of the following that apply to your farm operation in 2005. Pest refers to insects, diseases, weeds, & nematodes. Pesticide refers to herbicides, fungicides, & insecticides
	answered question		8
	skipped question		2
		Response Percent	Response Count
Select fields that have never grown asparagus to minimize fusarium		62.5%	5
Select fields that have not grown asparagus in the last 3 years to minimize fusarium		87.5%	7
Plant into loamy sand or lighter texture soil fields to minimize phytophthora		100.0%	8

11. Did we miss something in the above section? Is there a tactic or practice that you would like to share with us? If so, fill in the box. If not, please continue on with the survey...
	answered question	1
	skipped question	9
		Response Count
		1

Page: In-season IPM Considerations - Section 5/9

12. Please select as many of the following that apply to your farm operation in 2005. Pest refers to insects, diseases, weeds, & nematodes. Pesticide refers to herbicides, fungicides, & insecticides.
	answered question		10
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
Control nearby weeds that may be hosts for insects and diseases		80.0%	8
Train pickers to recognize asparagus beetle damage		90.0%	9
Train pickers to recognize cutworm damage		80.0%	8
During fern season, scout for rust and apply fungicides to fern if threshold is exceeded		100.0%	10
Spot spray perennial weeds		90.0%	9
Use cultivation, hoeing, or hand pulling to control weeds in planting year		80.0%	8
Apply postemergence herbicide to control annual and perennial weeds		90.0%	9
Apply post harvest herbicide to control annual and perennial weeds		90.0%	9
Remove uncommon or new weeds from the field prior to seed production		70.0%	7
Scout 1st and 2nd year plantings at fern stage up to 12 times per year for pests, treat if threshold is exceeded		60.0%	6
Scout 3rd year and older plantings at fern stage up to 9 times per year for pests, treat if threshold is exceeded		70.0%	7
Use TOMCAST (w/ or w/o a consultant) to control purple spot		60.0%	6
Protect bees during bloom by properly timing sprays (late evening & early morning, temperatures below 65 F)		90.0%	9
Select insecticides less toxic to bees, including formulation considerations (EC preferred over WP)		70.0%	7

13. For the following chart, select all pests that are scouted for and treated if the threshold is exceeded
	answered question		9
	skipped question		1
	Scout for	Treat if threshold is exceeded	Rating Count
Common asparagus beetle	100.0% (9)	88.9% (8)	9
Cutworms (white and dark sided)	100.0% (8)	75.0% (6)	8
Tarnished plant bug	100.0% (8)	62.5% (5)	8
Onion thrips	100.0% (2)	50.0% (1)	2
Asparagus miner	100.0% (5)	40.0% (2)	5
Rust	100.0% (8)	87.5% (7)	8

14. Did we miss something in the above section? Is there a tactic or practice that you would like to share with us? If so, fill in the box. If not, please continue on with the survey...
	answered question	1
	skipped question	9
		Response Count
		1

Page: Harvest IPM Considerations - Section 6/9

15. Please select as many of the following statements that apply to your farm in 2005.
	answered question		9
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Use postemergent herbicides to control annual weeds and escaped rye cover crop		100.0%	9
Kill rye cover crop to reduce sand abrasion and purple spot		100.0%	9

16. Did we miss something in the above section? Is there a tactic or practice that you would like to share with us? If so, fill in the box. If not, please continue on with the survey...
	answered question	1
	skipped question	9
		Response Count
		1

Page: Post Harvest IPM Considerations - Section 7/9

17. Please select as many of the following that apply to your farm in 2005. Pest refers to insects, diseases, weeds, & nematodes. Pesticide refers to herbicides, fungicides, & insecticides
	answered question		9
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
Apply contact and residual herbicides immediately after last harvest		88.9%	8
Identify and evaluate successful practices, incorporate them in future years		100.0%	9

18. Did we miss something in the above section? Is there a tactic or practice that you would like to share with us? If so, fill in the box. If not, please continue on with the survey...
	answered question	0
	skipped question	10
		Response Count
		0

Page: Training needs for IPM - Section 8/9

19. Would you like to receive more training and education on pest management (scouting, pest monitoring, trapping, etc.)?
	answered question		10
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
Yes		90.0%	9
No		10.0%	1

20. How do you usually scout this crop? Select only one.
	answered question		10
	skipped question		0
		Response Percent	Response Count
Scout and monitor crop yourself		30.0%	3
Hire a consultant to scout and monitor the crop		20.0%	2
A mixture of self scouting and crop consultant		80.0%	8
Do not scout myself; Do not hire a crop consultant		0.0%	0
Other (please specify)		10.0%	1

Page:

21. Listed below are possible reasons for NOT scouting or hiring a crop consultant. Please select all appropriate responses.
	answered question		1
	skipped question		9
		Response Percent	Response Count
Too busy to self scout		100.0%	1
Not familiar enough with pests and scouting methods		100.0%	1
Too expensive to hire a crop consultant		0.0%	0
No crop consultant in my area		0.0%	0
No crop consultant working in my crop		0.0%	0
Other (please specify)		0.0%	0

Page: Last Section!

22. What is your primary market?
	answered question		7
	skipped question		3
		Response Percent	Response Count
Conventional fresh market produce		71.4%	5
Conventional processing		100.0%	7
Organic fresh market produce		0.0%	0
Organic processing		0.0%	0
Specialty label (IPM or Eco label, etc.)		0.0%	0

23. What percentage of your crop is for
	answered question		8
	skipped question		2
		Response Percent	Response Count
Conventional fresh market produce		87.5%	7
Conventional processing		100.0%	8
Organic fresh market produce		12.5%	1
Organic processing		0.0%	0
Specialty label (IPM or Eco label, etc.)		0.0%	0

24. If you had to choose one area that causes you the most difficulty in producing asparagus, what would it be?
	answered question		8
	skipped question		2
		Response Percent	Response Count
Insect Management (common aparagus beetles, cutworms, etc.)		0.0%	0
Disease Management (rust, purple spot, fusarium, etc.)		62.5%	5
Weed Management (annual and perennial weeds)		0.0%	0
Fertility (starter mixes, split applications, rates, etc.)		0.0%	0
Equipment (sprayers, planters, transplanters, etc.)		0.0%	0
Other (please specify)		37.5%	3

25. My asparagus acreage in 2005 was...
	answered question		8
	skipped question		2
		Response Percent	Response Count
0.1 - 5 Acres		0.0%	0
6 - 20 Acres		12.5%	1
21 - 50 Acres		0.0%	0
51 - 100 Acres		37.5%	3
>100 Acres		50.0%	4

26. My total vegetable acreage in 2005 was ...
	answered question		7
	skipped question		3
		Response Percent	Response Count
0.1 - 5 Acres		0.0%	0
6 - 20 Acres		14.3%	1
21 - 50 Acres		0.0%	0
51 - 100 Acres		14.3%	1
>100 Acres		71.4%	5

27. I have been growing vegetables for...
	answered question		9
	skipped question		1
		Response Percent	Response Count
less than 5 years		0.0%	0
6 - 10 years		0.0%	0
over 10 years		100.0%	9

28. My county is... (optional)
	answered question	8
	skipped question	2
		Response Count
		8

29. If you wish to be entered into the drawing for a vegetable production guide or sweat shirt, please enter the following data so we can contact you if your name is drawn. Your contact information will be removed and disassociated from the survey data when it is received to protect your confidentiality. Name AND phone number or Name AND email address
	answered question	5
	skipped question	5
		Response Count
		5

30. If you have any general comments about the survey, please add them in the box provided below. If you have no additional comments, please click on the DONE link to complete the survey. Thank you again for your time. Preliminary results for this survey will be announced through your State's vegetable newsletter in the spring of 2006. If you have additional questions about the survey, please contact Jim Jasinski, jasinski.4@osu.edu.
	answered question	0
	skipped question	10
		Response Count
		0