ESA meeting in San Diego

There was a lot going on at the 2010 ESA National Meeting in San Diego. I was part of an undergraduate taskforce that included a team-building workshop, symposium and paper/poster competition. I also presented a 10-min talk on the soybean aphid podcasts Matt O'Neal and I create all summer. There was also a special symposium tribute for Dr. Jon Tollefson where an entire afternoon was dedicated to his many years of service to entomology.

It was great to catch up with old lab mates and see how much we still have in common. And for once, I don't think I committed for the next annual meeting.

Sign up for the 2010 ICM Conference

The ISU Integrated Pest Management Conference is one of the most popular extension programs that focus on field crops production. Registration is required and now available online: www.aep.iastate.edu/icm/registration.html  The program almost always sells out, so be sure to sign up early. I will be speaking about host plant resistance for soybean aphid.

Regional extension teleconference continues

Great news - our North Central Region working group for field crop extension entomologists is funded for another year! This grant helps us communicate throughout the summer via weekly teleconferences and an annual meeting in the fall. This working group helps me keep up-to-date with migratory insects possibly moving into Iowa in the summer and relay that message to clientele. Our group is thankful to the North Central IPM Center for the funding!

Extension Entomology meeting

I'm in St. Louis for our annual meeting for extension entomologists in the North Central Region. Thanks to Bob Wright (UNL) for organizing the 2-day event. We had a great conversation about corn traits and corn rootworm resistance in our growing region. We also covered some of the insect highlights from 2010. We are tentatively organizing a symposium to discuss the implications of plant health labels in field crops.

trying my phone

So I really want to use my new smartphone to make updates and post pics/video. Here is my first attempt.

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Getting started

I recently attended an extension annual conference in Nebraska last week. Jeff Bradshaw invited Brian McCornack and me to speak about technology in entomology. It really got me thinking how I could better connect with people using other means of communication. Since my printing/postage/travel budget is non-existent, I am wondering if a blog might be the way to go.

Initially, I am curious if anyone will want to read or follow my posts. But I also am thinking it might help me advertise upcoming events, and get the word out about late-breaking insect issues during the summer. So why not give this FREE technology a try...