Issue 1, April 18, 2011

Change at the University of Illinois Plant Clinic

The University of Illinois Plant Clinic will open its doors for the 2011 season on Monday, May 2nd. The following are new staff at the Plant Clinic, but will continue to provide the same quality services, recommendations, and education:

Suzanne Bissonnette was hired in August as the U. of I. Extension, Plant Clinic and IPM Coordinator. Her primary responsibilities are to centralize IPM educational outreach, diagnostics, and programming within the context of a virtual Center of Extension IPM outreach and provide program leadership for the NIFA Extension IPM (E-IPM) Illinois program, and the NPDN grant program as supports the Plant Clinic operation. She will provide leadership and deliver educational programming that includes the content areas of: plant disease and pest diagnostics and management; chemical, biological, cultural and physical pest control methods; rural and urban pest management. As coordinator, Suzanne is responsible for the supervision of the operation of the University of Illinois Plant Clinic.

Stephanie Porter was hired in February as the Visiting Plant Diagnostic Outreach Specialist-Crop Sciences. She will serve as a plant diagnostician at the University of Illinois Plant Clinic, collaborate with departmental Extension Specialists to diagnose plant health problems and provide management recommendations, manage the database for plant disease (NPDN), insect and weed identification, and interface with counterparts in the North Central Plant Diagnostic Network. Additionally, Stephanie will develop short courses and outreach for plant diagnostics as outlined in the NIFA-Extension IPM (E-IPM) grant.

I would also like to take this time to introduce the U of I Plant Clinic's Social Media!

Follow the U of I Plant Clinic on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/UofIPlantClinic
The Plant Clinic Facebook Page provides pictures, links to websites, press releases, and "questions or samples of the day" about relevant, horticultural and crop issues in Illinois. We also have several Extension educators that share administration of our page in order to add to its content.

Follow Stephanie Porter on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/skporter
My twitter account: @skporter also provides updates on crop and horticultural issues in Illinois by use of pictures, links to the Plant Clinic Facebook Page or websites, and general blurbs.

Follow the U of I Plant Clinic on Blogger:
http://universityofillinoisplantclinic.blogspot.com
My goal is to blog at least once a week, with a focus on a relevant plant issue, event, or whatever comes to my mind at that time. The U of I Plant Clinic blog is posted on the U of I Plant Clinic Facebook Page and my Twitter account: @skporter. The U of I Plant Clinic blog may be a good spot to find answers to plant problems that may be happening in "your neck of the woods."

The Plant Clinic is located on the north border of the University of Illinois farms in Urbana, nestled between the historic round barns and the new golf facility. The mailing address is: Plant Clinic, 1401 W. St. Mary's Rd., Urbana, IL 61801. The Plant Clinic's website is at plantclinic.cropsci.illinois.edu. Please refer to our website for details concerning services offered. If you prefer talking to a person, our telephone number is 217-333-0519. Whenever submitting a sample, provide as much information as possible on the pattern of injury in the planting, the pattern on individual affected plants, and details describing how symptoms have changed over time to cause you concern. Most disease problems are handled in-house, but other problems may require us to find the appropriate campus specialist to help. (Stephanie Porter)

Author:
Stephanie Porter

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