IPM Manual Update

A major rewrite to the IPM Manual for Turfgrass Managers, originally a resource produced in partnership between the WCTA and the BC Ministry of Agriculture in the early 2000's, is well underway.   

Funded entirely by a $35,000 grant from the BC Ministry of Environment, work began last fall after an RFP for the rewrite was circulated.  CropHealth Advising and Research, Mario Lanthier Principal, was awarded the contract to produce this free, online resource, the creation of which is being steered by the BC Allied Golf Association's 'Environmental Advocacy Committee'.

Committee Chair Keith Lyall, Sun Peaks Resort, recently submitted the following update:

"Firstly, Mario Lanthier and I had a long discussion at the WCTA’s conference in Penticton last month. He is expecting to have the legal aspects of our IPM Manual ready by the end of this month. This part will have all of the regulatory components that we need to understand and follow. The Pest Profile component will be a bit longer, no exact date yet. Mario has visited many sites collecting data and photos, has sent those samples he collected from our sites to Guelph for analysis. He has gone to three turfgrass conferences to do as he says “to catch up with the current knowledge”. There is no doubt that the information and pictures he’s acquiring will make our manual one of the best in the world. Finally, on this topic you may hear from him asking for a site visit, he wants to get out and see molds that have grown over the winter, specifically Grey Snow Mold. If you have any active, please let him or I know and so he can get some samples."

Completion of the IPM Manual is expected early this summer.