Minnesota: IPM Program Helps Wheat Growers Face Threat From Orange Wheat Blossom Midge

In 1995, an unprecedented outbreak of the orange wheat blossom midge in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, and North Dakota concerned Minnesota wheat growers and their agricultural advisors. Both knew little about this relatively obscure insect or its management.

Concerns abounded because:

• Growers and their advisors lacked management experience with this pest
• No local wheat midge research was available to help growers evaluate production risks ot make management decisions
• Insufficient numbers of crop consultants, ag chemical dealers, and extension staff exist to monitor 2.5 million acres of wheat over a one- to two-week period
• Field monitoring is difficult and must be conducted as sunset (1-2 hours/day)

What midge biology and unpredicatble infestations posed an educational dilemma. Should a massive winter-time educational effor be launched for a pest problem that might not materialize? Higher wheat prces and lack of in-season response time encouraged proactive educational efforts.

A multifaceted educational program, initiated to create awareness of this pest, taught monitoring methods, control methods, and threshold levels. Activities included:

• Three ag professional workshops featuring Saskatchewan entomologists with wheat midge experience
• 2,500 copies of a new wheat midge publication sent to every Minnesota wheat grower
• 100 videotapes on wheat midge biology and management sent to extension educators, ag dealers, and crop consultants
• Winter meetings held to increase grower awareness of the potential problem
• Evening field meetings, hosted by extension specialists and county educators in ever northwestern Minnesota county, to help growers with identification and monitoring
• Seven insecticide trials to evaluate control and thresholds

In 1996, a low to moderate wheat midge outbreak occurred. When infestation appeared, approximately half of the Red River Valley's spring wheat acreage was susceptible. An estimated 150,000 acres were treated with insecticide to control infestation. Although economic information is not yet available, growers and advisors appreciated the warning and educational efforts. Response to this crisis also illustrates that international, regional, and local IPM programs can cooperate to meet a serious production threat such as the orange wheat blossom midge.