Extension impact statement by Assistant Professor Alyssa A. Collins, Ph.D.
Pennsylvania field crops have a value of over $1.6 billion, and this sector is growing. These crops, combined with the managed forages that support the livestock, poultry, and dairy industries, result in receipts of $4.6 billion for Pennsylvania's economy. Plant diseases account for crop losses in these commodities that are estimated to be over $116 million each year in corn and soybeans alone. Each year, field trials addressing the most important disease threats to crops and best management practices to minimize these threats are conducted at the Southeast Agricultural Research and Extension Center (SEAREC) to determine what approaches are effective for Pennsylvania farmers. The director disseminates the results and interpretations of these trials to Pennsylvania growers and nationwide through Crops Days, Crops Conferences, field days, and other events. A series of presentations are prepared annually for use by educators at additional events. Information is quickly disseminated through regular contributions to Field Crop News, the Penn State Extension Field and Forage Crops (FFC) Team's weekly web newsletter.
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