Hi all,

An iPhone, iPad, and Android app for the Green Industry, IPMPro, was just launched! My sincere appreciation the co-developers who made it possible. Please check out the app and share this with your state's Green Industry and students. Our industry focus group says we hit the mark – we hope you'll think so too! My sincere appreciation the co-developers who made it possible-see the whole group at the bottom.

Thank you,

Amy

News and Information from the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture

Contact: Dr. Amy Fulcher, UTIA Plant Scientist, 865-974-7152, [log in to unmask]

For Immediate Release
May 21, 2012

First Mobile App for Landscape and Nursery Professionals Developed by a Team of Plant and Pest Experts from Seven Major Universities

KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Green Industry professionals often find themselves in the field needing immediate access to pest and plant disease information and plant care recommendations. Or, they need to be alerted when destructive pests emerge in their area. Thanks to a collaborative effort of horticulturists, entomologists and plant pathologists at seven land-grant universities, now there's an app for that.

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture together with North Carolina State University, University of Georgia, University of Kentucky, University of Maryland and Virginia Polytechnic Institute have developed the first Integrated Pest Management mobile app for nursery growers, landscapers, arborists, Extension agents and students that includes the major horticultural practices and disease and insect recommendations.

IPMPro will streamline pest management decision-making, employee training, and will make complying with state pesticide recordkeeping regulations easy. The mobile app is available for iPhone, iPad, and Android.

Built by horticulture and pest management experts in cooperation with growers and landscapers, IPMPro was built for USDA Plant Hardiness Zones four through eight, which include 22 states from west of the Mississippi River, east and north to Pennsylvania and New Jersey, and south to the Gulf Coast.

“Nursery and landscape professionals conduct business on the go; they truly have a mobile office – often their truck,” explained Amy Fulcher, lead developer and University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture plant scientist. “IPMPro dramatically simplifies day-to-day plant care and pest control decision-making in the field. It provides a library of information in the convenience of an app, and features real-time alerts to help professionals stay on top of emerging pests and timely plant care.”

IPMProis like having an expert in the field with the user to:

• Receive text-like alerts for time-sensitive pest issues and plant care - alert date adjusted to location

• Consult images, pest lifecycle, and management options for major pests of woody plants

• Reference how-to information and images of cultural practices

• Obtain pesticide recommendations for major diseases and insects

• Utilize built-in pesticide recordkeeping for documentation while outdoors

• Track pests and cultural practices in calendar view or a chronological list

• Assist in educating new employees and experienced professionals

John Watson, with Common Grounds Landscape Management in Knoxville, Tennessee, got an early introduction to the IPM app. “My first thought was, ‘Where have you been?’ Most of the time we get so busy putting out fires we forget that the best thing we could do is prevent fires,” he explained. “This is just the kind of thing the industry needs. Now we have the best opportunity to head off pest issues that can wreak havoc for nursery and landscape professionals and for homeowners.”

This is the first application of its kind developed in the United States, and it was made possible through funding by the UT Institute of Agriculture through its Extension and AgResearch units and in cooperation with the University of Tennessee Research Foundation. For less than a subscription for non-interactive tools like books and magazines that professionals currently use, IPMPro is $24.99 and is available through Apple and Android marketplaces. For more information on the application, visit http://www.IPMProApp.com.

Coming soon for homeowners - IPMLite.

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The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture provides instruction, research and public service through the UT College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, the UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch, including its system of 10 research and education centers, and UT Extension offices in every county in the state.

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For more information visit http://www.IPMProApp.com

Members of the development team may be contacted and include:

Tennessee (Lead Institution)

Amy Fulcher (Lead Developer)

University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Department of Plant Sciences

Phone (865) 974-7152

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Frank Hale

The University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, Soil, Plant and Pest Center

Phone (615) 835-4571

[log in to unmask]