Pesticide Use and Risk Reduction: An Investment in the Future of Wisconsin Agriculture

Posted June 2003

The Pesticide Use and Risk Reduction (PURR) Project was initiated in 1998 to help farmers anticipate the effects of more restrictive federal pesticide regulation. Fourteen agricultural organizations participated in this project. The project built new, lasting partnerships between the participating institutions, farm organizations and nonprofit groups. As a result of these partnerships and the resources invested by the project, the following outcomes were realized:

Participants identified common goals on issues of pest management, and worked together to research and address these issues.

Wisconsin’s agricultural sector was granted access to additional resources
to address pest management research and outreach needs.

Wisconsin producers increased their IPM knowledge. The PURR Project
supported workshops, on-farm trials, field guides, scorecards, roadside signs, and the Think IPM Web site.

Project researchers and their farmer-clients learned about the effectiveness of biological, cultural, physical, and low-risk chemical controls for pests.

Read the full report (pdf file)

Register Now for Flower Growers School

The Wisconsin Cut Flower Growers School offers practical information on how to grow and sell flowers using organic and sustainable production practices and manage a cut flower business. It will be held February 18-19 on the UW-Madison campus. More information is available here.


CIAS in the community

CIAS recognized for work on value chains

The Journal of Agriculture, Food Systems and Community Development has recognized CIAS and Agriculture of the Middle as "influential initiatives" working on value chains over the past ten years. Value chains are strategic alliances between farmers, processors, distributors, retailers and other partners in the food supply chain. These partners work together to deliver high quality, differentiated food to the marketplace and share profits equally. CIAS has researched and developed teaching materials on value chains. CIAS researcher Steve Stevenson contributed to two articles in the value chain issue of JAFSCD; view the abstracts here and here.

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