Senior Scientist Dr. Steven R. Booth

Dr. Steven Booth specializes in integrated pest management. His Ph.D. program and a similar post-doctoral position in British Columbia involved the development and implementation of pest management programs that selectively targeted pests on pears, but allowed for the immigration and development of indigenous arthropod natural enemies.

Steven is currently coordinating activities among growers, investigators, and regulators to develop and implement an IPM plan for burrowing shrimp on commercial oyster beds in southwest Washington State. This is a unique problem involving application of a pesticide against an indigenous pest in an estuary. He is the principal investigator and researcher on research projects involving physical, chemical, and biological control alternatives to carbaryl application, and studies of the impacts of carbaryl on the benthic infauna.

Starting in 1993, Dr. Booth worked for Washington State University, at the Vancouver Research Unit, examining the potential of microbial agents to suppress insect pests on small fruit. This work included the development of methods to isolate, formulate and produce entomopathogenic fungi.

Dr. Booth also completed a three-year project to implement a "low-risk" integrated pest management (IPM) program for Washington State cranberries. The project included collaboration with growers and emphasized whole cropping systems, along with the basic principles of integrated pest management.

Steven received a Ph.D. in Entomology from Oregon State University, a M.S. in Biology from Western Washington University, and a B.S. in Zoology from the University of Iowa.

Contact Steve Booth (boothswa@comcast.net)

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