Pest and Pesticide Issues in Sustainable Agriculture
A Distance Education Video Series
CSS 499/599, 1 Credit
The overriding theme of  most issues in agriculture today is sustainability in all its various facets - environmentally, economically, socially. In this class we will explore topics in Pest Management.

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Class Overview

This is a one-credit pass/no-pass class consisting of eight videotapes each approximately one hour in length. Each tape is a recording of a seminar presented during Winter Term 1999 on pest and pesticide issues revolving around the central theme of sustainable agriculture. The course requirements are simple - watch each tape, write a short paper about each presentation, a longer paper about the use of Roundup Ready crops and an additional longer paper if taking the class at the 500 level. Details on these requirements are given below. A web site is maintained for the class with information links. All class writing assignments may be submitted electronically to the instructor. Papers may also be submitted as hard copy if this is easier for a particular student.

 

Videotape Speakers and Topics

1) Chris Mundt, OSU Professor, Botany and Plant Pathology "Toward Sustainability: The People Are Leading, Will the Leaders Follow?"
2) Paul Jepson, OSU Professor and Dept. Head, Entomology "Do Pesticides Represent a Wasted Opportunity?"
3) Carol Mallory-Smith, OSU Assistant Professor, Crop and Soil Science "Of Silver Bullets and Resistant Weeds"
4) Clint Shock, OSU Professor and Superintendent, Malheur Expt. Station "Environmental Degradation or Sustainable Use - The Malheur County Groundwater Story"
5) Ralph Berry, OSU Professor of Entomology "The Essence of IPM in Mint"
6) Pat Hayes, OSU Professor of Crop and Soil Science "What's the Price for Healthy Crops? Putting Value on Plant Disease Resistance Genes"
7) Dan McGrath, OSU Associate Professor of Horticulture and Marion County Extension Agent "Vegetation Management and Conservation of Beneficial Insects in the Context of IPM"
8) Sandy Macnab, OSU Associate Professor of Crop and Soil Science and Wasco-Sherman County Extension Agent "Pesticide Applications in Mixed Company - The Wasco County Spray Drift Story"

 

Class Requirements and Grading

The class is graded pass/fail. To pass students must do the following:

  1. View all tapes.

  2. Write a one-page personal viewpoint paper on each presentation. What did you think of what was said? Do you agree with the speaker? Is there a particular idea that you liked or disliked? How does what was said relate to some personal experience? Papers are to have one-inch margins on all sides and be 12-font, Times Roman, single spaced. Include your name, the speakers name and topic at the top of each report.

  3. Write a three-page paper (same format as for single page papers) with at least five references (journal article, magazine articles, web page sites, etc.) on the issue of Roundup Ready crops. Address at least these three issues: 1) What are the potential benefits of Roundup Ready crops? 2) What are the potential hazards? and 3) What is the environmental community saying about food safety and such crops. Other issues may be addressed as well. Some references are given on the class web site.

  4. Those students who are taking the class for graduate credit must do an additional three-page paper (same format as above) on a topic of their choice related to any of the class presentations. This topic must be approved in advance by the instructor.