The Cultivating Tomorrow’s Orchard: Evolving and Enhancing IPM in Eastern Tree Fruit Systems project team met in Kearneysville, West Virginia March 3 – 5, 2026 to share their findings from the first year and a half of the project with 20 members of their stakeholder advisory panel. Advisory panel members included apple and peach growers, extension faculty, and crop consultants representing Wisconsin, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia. Research team members presented on their pest management research (entomologists), cost/benefit analysis (agricultural economist), and Dr. Alexa Lamm and Dr. Chin-Ling Lee shared their findings from the qualitative analysis of seven listening sessions they had conducted with peach and apple growers across the eastern seaboard.
Lamm and Lee shared what would most likely impact adoption of new or enhanced integrated pest management (IPM) strategies for the team and advisory panel to consider. Overall findings implied costs/economics, wariness to adapt or change from traditional methods that work, regulatory constraints, and changing weather patterns were the primary drivers of adoption or lack of adoption.
Some of the slides shared included direct quotes from focus group participants and a breakdown of the participants’ perceptions of IPM characteristics which will drive adoption. Perceived complexity of IPM was the greatest barrier the team needs to reduce to encourage adoption; therefore, a well developed, strategic communication and extension plan will be needed for project success.
Lamm and Lee also facilitated the advisory panel’s discussion surrounding the stengths, areas for growth, and future expectations for the project team. When researchers and panel members were brought back together, the advisory panel offered wonderful suggestions to improve upon already strong research, extension, and communication efforts and resulted in an excellent full team discussion on how to ensure success. We are excited to see how Lamm Lab contributions continue to help this project reach its potential.
