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Personal Background

DWFP and Areawide Pest Management Research Unit Clint Hoffmann, Ron Nachman, and John Westbrook (Research Leader) College Station, TX. Personal Background. Agricultural Engineer: Texas A&M University and University of Florida; Background in application technology (ground and aerial);

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Personal Background

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  1. DWFP and Areawide Pest Management Research Unit Clint Hoffmann, Ron Nachman, and John Westbrook (Research Leader)College Station, TX

  2. Personal Background • Agricultural Engineer: Texas A&M University and University of Florida; • Background in application technology (ground and aerial); • Current activities related to effects on spray atomization from formulation and nozzle design, spray drift mitigation, and DWFP work.

  3. Ag: Keep pests off plants Military: Keep pests off “plants” Really Not Much Difference in Ag Spraying and Military Vector Control

  4. We work close to the ground

  5. Spray Drift • By learning how to prevent spray “drift” in ag, we can learn how to drift for vector control; • The goal of barrier sprays is to maximize deposition on the intended target, which is what the goal is in ag sprays.

  6. Research Areas: Central TX • Primarily: Corn and cotton with increasing soybeans and wheat. • Focus on Areawide control instead of field by field

  7. Wind Tunnel Facilities • 3 wind tunnels: • 1 ft X 1 ft, 3 ft X 3ft, and 6 ft X 6 ft with airspeed ranges of 0-160 mph;

  8. Droplet Sizing and Deposition Analyses • Droplet measurements: IMAQ/CCD camera for imaging, PMS, LaVision, and Sympatec Helos for atomization studies and droplet velocity and trajectory. • Deposition measurements: GC, fluorometers, colorimeters, etc.

  9. Aircraft Fleet Cessna 206 – 4 passenger plane AirTractor 402B Turbine – 400 gal hopper Hiller 12E Helicopter – 60 gal hopper AgHusky – 100 and 180 galhoppers

  10. Our Role in the Aerial Application Industry • Recognized as the primary research facility for aerial application in the U.S.; • Work closely with NAAA and aerial applicators to identify research needs and concerns from the industry; • Balance these needs with the goals and objectives of our ARS mission.

  11. Involvement with DWFP • Started with droplet sizing of equipment. • First study was evaluation of hand-held equipment with Dr. Todd Walker, Navy Entomology Center of Excellence; • We are now bringing application technology principles that we learn in the ag field to vector control applications.

  12. UAV Helicopter • Design, build, and test a spray system for a truly autonomous spray system. • We have started the acquisition process. • Spray system is currently being designed and built; • Expect to have the system flying by July.

  13. UAV Flight Control Station

  14. Landing the UAV Landing Video

  15. Droplet Size Spectra Analyses of Vector Control Equipment • Three major studies have been conducted: 5 hand-held, 10 truck-mounted sprayers, and 12 thermal foggers have been evaluated for a multitude of spray formulations, chemicals, and rates. • Two manuscripts have been submitted with 2-3 more expected from the thermal fogger study. • Spinoff of these studies has been the comparison of laser, AIMS, and slide data to compare the different systems. • Cooperative studies with Todd Walker, Navy Entomological Center of Excellence personnel, Todd Gwinn, and CMAVE.

  16. Thermal Fogger Tests

  17. Development of an Optical Insect Detection System • Working with Jerry Klun on an optical mosquito detection system; • Uses a line scan camera, light sheet, and in-house developed software routines; • Phil Jank (Engineering Technician) is in Beltsville this week to start set up of system.

  18. Future Issues • UAV; • Electrostatics; • Formulations; • ???? • We would really like to know what your needs are so please let us know.

  19. Neuropeptides: Ron Nachman • Objective: Develop and exploit insect neuropeptide (NP) technology to develop more effective and environmentally friendly methods for the control of pest arthropods affecting U.S. troops deployed overseas. • Development of the peptidome, a map of the tissue and organ distribution of neuropeptide hormones of the adult yellow fever mosquito, Aedes aegypti. State-of-the-art analytical techniques (MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry) are the primary scientific resource being utilized in the work.

  20. Neuropeptide Work (con’t) • Developing mimetic analogs of diuretic insect neuropeptides that feature enhanced biostability and bioavailability using neuropeptide active sites isolated in the laboratory; • Work is ongoing to further characterize the structural and 3D-shape requirements for interaction of the insect kinin class of neuropeptide hormones with their active sites in the mosquito, A. aegypti, and in the cattle fever tick, Boophilus microplus.

  21. Neuropeptide Work (con’t) • Developing biostable, non-peptide mimics of the insect kinins based on the evaluation of combinatorial libraries of rationally designed non-peptides. • Work is expected to significantly add to the scientific foundation necessary for ultimate development of effective and practical neuropeptide-based insect control agents that will provide effective means of control for pest insects.

  22. USDA ARS Aerial Application Technology TeamWebsite: apmru.usda.gov -- WORKING FOR APPLICATORS --

  23. Team Members • Clint Hoffmann: 979.260.9521, 777.0815 choffmann@tamu.edu • Ron Nachman: 979.260.9315 • John Westbrook: 979.260.9351

  24. Mixing work and fun make a successful project!

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