Richard Sprenkel

Extension Specialist, Vegetables

Professor of Horticultural Sciences

Develop and implement pest management practices and programs in north Florida that can be integrated into existing production systems for agronomic crops. These crops include cotton, peanuts, soybeans, corn, grain sorghum, forages and wheat. The development of pest management practices includes conducting applied research for the purpose of implementing pest monitoring techniques and control practices.

Develop and utilize training materials in programs for scouts to teach pest identification, sampling and analysis of pest density information. Provide training to county extension faculty and growers on integrated control practices for weeds, plant diseases, insects, nematodes, mites and other pests. As necessary, make site visits to production fields to assist county extension personnel and crop managers in the diagnosis of pest-related problems. Explain options for correcting the problem and make recommendations that are compatible with existing production practices. Work closely with Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Division of Plant Industry, United States Department of Agriculture - Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, Florida Soybean Producers' Association, Florida Peanut Producers' Eradication Foundation, National Cotton Council - Cotton Foundation and extension and Association, Boll Weevil Eradication Foundation of Florida, Southeast Boll Weevil research personnel in Florida and other states.

Extension Program

• Develop and implement agronomic pest management practices and programs in north Florida.
• Cooperate with County Extension Personnel in north Florida to provide training in integrated control practices for weeds, plant diseases, insects, nematodes, mites and other pests.
• Plan and conduct pertinent IPM demonstrations with farmers in strategic locations.
• Improve liaison with other interdisciplinary extension specialists and research members involved in IPM. Plan and implement IPM scout training sessions.
• Work closely with grower groups and other individuals or organizations that have potential to implement IPM techniques and/or programs.
• Plan and conduct research studies to solve pest-related problems and facilitate the expansion of IPM programs.

Specialties

• Agronomic Crop/Insects
• Cotton Production/General
• Field Crops/Insects
• Forage/Crop/Insects
• Identification/Insects
• Integrated Pest Management/Agronomic
• Pasture Crop/Insects
• Peanut Production/Insects
• Small Grain/Insects
• Sorghum Production/Insects
• Soybean Production/Insects
• Vegetable/Insects ­ Home
• Vegetable/Insects ­ Commercial

Responsibilities

Responsible for statewide Extension Agronomic Crops Integrated Pest Management Programs. Works with extension specialists and agents to develop Pest Management programs for agronomic crops. Also works with vegetable crops in the Florida Panhandle.

Honors & Awards

• Recipient of the 1986 Achievement Award for Extension by the Florida Entomological Society, August 1986, Clearwater Beach, Florida
• Recipient of the 1991 Achievement Award for Extension by the Florida Entomological Society, August 1991, Daytona Beach, Florida
• Served as Secretary-Treasurer of the Southeastern Branch of the Entomological Society of America 1997-2003
• Recipient of the 2002 Florida Association of Agricultural Extension Agents Specialist of the Year Award

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