8th International IPM Conference

This past week was the 8th International IPM Conference in Salt Lake City. Because it was so close I was elected to represent Syngenta PMP at this event.
I started the conference by joining the urban IPM tour. We visited the Hillside Middle School in Salt Lake City. It is located at about 19th south and Foothill drive. We were there because they have a model School IPM program. During the tour we were taken into the custodian work room where they had a bulletin board with identification charts for all their common pests. Right above the board we found this.

Mud tubes of Reticulitermes hesperus

Termites! It was ironic because they didn't realize that they had termites in the building. They were coming out of the junction of two solid concrete walls and were eating the acoustic ceiling tiles. It just proves the point that when inspecting for insect pests you have to look both down and up.
After the school we visited the Frog Bench Farms that is located right behind the school. The farm is built on an old church site. I would guess it is about two acres. They have a 6000 ft2 house and 2800 ft2 greenhouse. They catch all the rainwater from the roof of the house and greenhouse and store it in their basement for use in the green house. They also use solar panels for about 80% of their electricity.
beside the greenhouse they have a large garden area, a covered patio entertainment area, a vineyard and chicken yard. The property is surrounded by an 8 foot fence to keep the deer out. They specialize in lettuce and other exotic greens that they sell to local artisan restaurants. Their lettuce sells for $5/lb. during the winter and they are able to grow year round in their raised beds with hot boxes.

Leeks growing in raised stone beds. I may have to try this.

My first official duty of the conference was to entertain members of the Copesan Technical Committee.

L-R: Copesan Technical Committee Members Jim Sargent, Patricia Hottle, Mark Sheperdigian, and Jeff Weier

Monday evening after the tour I picked up Jim Sargent and Mark Sheperdigian from their hotels and took them out to dinner. I chose 'The Roof' restaurant on the 10th floor of the Joseph Smith Memorial building. Jeff Weier was supposed to join us but his flight was a little late and he had to go inspect a job with one of his technicians in Salt Lake City. Tough to put business before pleasure.
Jim and Mark were very impressed by both the view and the quality of the food at the restaurant. They didn't seem disappointed that there was no wine on the menu. We were seated next to the Piano and they were facing the player so they got a great show. Mark was so impressed that he gave the young lady a $20 tip. It was worth it.
On our way out we were greeted by two senior sister missionaries at the elevator. They took us on a brief tour of the building and showed them the map of all the temple sites in the world. It was just my way of sneaking a little missionary work into their visit.
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday I attended the conference sessions. I rode Front Runner to Salt Lake City each morning arriving at 9:30. My brother Teryl was there with the booth for his Sustainable agriculture group. We were able to have lunch on Wednesday afternoon.
One nice thing about the conference this year was the increased emphasis on urban and school IPM. I didn't feel like I was wasting my time like I did 9 years ago in St. Louis.

Grzesiek Buczkowski and ElRay Roper at the IPM convention

Tuesday afternoon I got a text from my colleague Nicky Gallagher with a photo of her and Grzesiek Buczkowski, a professor from Purdue University who we do work with. They ran into each other at the Chicago O'Hare airport. I knew Grzesiek was coming to Salt Lake City so when I ran into him Wednesday afternoon I snapped this photo and texted back with the 'where's Grzesiek' theme. It is a small world.