Resistance Fighter Leadership Program Honors New Member

Gene McAvoy, a vegetable extension agent at the University of Florida, is a longtime advocate for promoting improved resistance-management practices in agriculture. Syngenta recognizes McAvoy’s efforts and is proud to welcome him to the Resistance Fighter^® Leadership Program. Formed to honor advisers who help growers manage resistance, the program provides members with opportunities to expand their resistance knowledge and a platform to share that knowledge with others.

McAvoy is currently responsible for developing and implementing educational programs for vegetable producers in five counties in southwest Florida. “Throughout my career working in vegetable crops in South Florida, I’ve seen diseases, insects and weeds develop resistance to traditional management programs,” he says. “It’s important to incorporate integrated pest management and other methods to complement chemical programs, and becoming a member of this program is a good way to get the word out there.”

A few years ago, McAvoy saw western flower thrips populations developing resistance to certain insecticides. Acting quickly and with

great success, he helped promote grower cultivation of refugia for beneficial insects. Populations of western flower thrips returned to insecticide-susceptible levels, showing how proactive management helps preserve existing management tools.

“Resistance issues are an ever-increasing challenge in agriculture,” says David Laird, head of product biology at Syngenta, North America. “We are proud to partner with advisers like Gene who meet those challenges head on and help find solutions to preserve the tools we have.”