Mission Statement

Bring together key individuals to form partnerships and collaborations that will promote more informed decision-making on pest management practices including pesticide usage.

Advisory Committee:

Input from stakeholders is critical to the effective functioning of the West Virginia Pesticide Information Network for Pesticides and Alternative Strategies (WVinPAS) project.  Each segment of the pesticide user community approaches pest management from a different viewpoint. An advisory committee is a valuable medium for voicing these viewpoints.

In year 2002, an advisory committee was formed to provide direction for the (WVinPAS) program. Members included vegetable and fruit growers, Extension agents and specialists, University Researchers, Vocational agriculture teachers, state regulatory staff, EPA region III staff, Member of the State Government Program “Sierra Club”, Consultant, and state IPM coordinator.

Members of the WV-advisory committee are requested to provide suggestions and thoughts on current and future issues related to pesticides, pesticide alternatives and pesticide regulatory issues relevant to their expertise. Information gathered from members of the advisory committee will be shared with the Northeast Pest Management Center, The Office of Pest Management Policy, The U.S. EPA Office of Pesticide Programs, USDA, WV Department of Agriculture, and other states in the Mid-Atlantic region.

    Members of the WV-Advisory Committee include:  

Mr. Rick Woodworth, Grower, Flying W Farm

Mr. Ed Grose, Grower

Mr. Ron Higson, Grower

Mr. Grant Bishop, Assistant Director, Pesticides Division, WV-Dept. of Agriculture

Ms. Magda Rodriguez-Hunt, US EPA Region III

Mr. Paul Roomsburg, Vo. Ag. Teacher, Hampshire High School

Mr. Charles Willams Grose, Grower

Dr. George Constance, Cacapon Institute

Dr. Peggy Powell, WV-Dept. of Agriculture

Mr. Jay Benson, Benson=s Lawn System Inc.

Mr. Danny Foglesong, Grower

Dr. Delmar Yoder, Grower

Mr. Brian Beckett, President, WV-Nurserymen Association     

Dr. Brad Bearce, WV-Nurserymen Association

Mrs. Sue Spiroff, President, WV-Pest Control Operators Association

Mr. Johnny Raschella, WV-Pest Control Operators Association

Ms. Jennifer O. Williams, Director, Extension, Agriculture, Forestry and Resource Development

Dr. Larry Cote, West Virginia University Extension Director and Associate Provost.

Dr. Henry Hogmire, Entomology, West Virginia University Kearneysville Experimental Station

Dr. Rakesh Chandran, IPM Coordinator, West Virginia University

Mr. Steve Miller, President of the West Virginia Horticulture Society, and a fruit grower

Dr. Alan Biggs, Plant Pathology, West Virginia University Kearneysville Experimental Station

Dr. James Kotcon, Mycologist, Director of the Organic Farm Project at West Virginia University

Dr. Alan Collins, Economist, West Virginia University

Mr. Rodney Wallbrown, Extension Associate Professor, Mason County, WV

Mr. William Shockey, Extension Associate Professor, Preston County, WV

Dr. John F. Baniecki, Entomology/Plant Pathology, Project Leader, West Virginia University
Dr. M. Essam Dabaan, Project Research Assistant, West Virginia University

Mr. Tom McCutcheon, Extension Agent, Monongalia County, WV

Dr. Yong Lak-Park, Entomology, WVU

Mr. John Murray, Extension Agent, Ritchie County, WV

Ms. Kari Mazzaferro, Extension Agent, Kanawha County, WV