RIAES PROGRAMS: Landscape Horticulture

Beyond the ability of the system to produce adequate supplies at affordable prices, today's agricultural production systems must also respect the finite capacities of the land-to conserve soil and nonrenewable minerals and ores. But in today's competitive marketplace, the needs of business often come before the needs of sustainable agriculture.

As we reach planetary carrying capacities in the next century, it is clear that agriculture must change to less energy and resource dependent plants and animals, and to thermodynamically conservative management practices.

RIAES research on integrated agroecosystem management promotes economically profitable and socially desirable local agriculture and aquaculture that is environmentally benign.

Our integrated pest management (IPM) programs seek new ways to minimize the need for pesticides through the promotion of resistant plant varieties, biological control, and natural alternatives to pesticides. We maintain a capability to respond to current and emerging problems in pest and disease management on the State's wide variety of crops.

	GOAL: To promote agroecosystem management which is both profitable and ecologically responsible.
	Key Program Components:
	Improvement of turf grasses and ornamental plants through traditional and emerging technologies.
	Integrated pest management for arthropods, emphasizing using insects and insect pathogens as control agents; classical biological control of invasive pests using introduced natural enemies.
	Enhanced cultural practices to minimize water, fertilizer, or energy inputs and to reduce pollution from farming activities.
	Market analysis through retail and wholesale sales studies.
	Cooperative Extension IPM programs in various commodities and pesticide applicator training for all RI applicators.
	Cooperative Extension programs for green industry professionals. Includes revision of publication "Sustainable Plants and Shrubs," new workshops, newsletters, annual Turf Field Days, traveling exhibits, short courses, demonstration plots and gardens, and site visits.
	Cooperative Extension programs for gardeners, including the training of URI Master Gardeners, preparing mass media offerings such as newspaper feature articles and twice-weekly "Plant Pro" television shows, organizing an annual GreenShare Field Day and in the preparing and distribution of gardening fact sheets and a Master Gardener supported telephone hotline.