Western Forum on Pest Management (WFPM)
The Western Committee on Crop Pests (WCCP) and the Western Committee on Plant Diseases (WCPD) are entomology and pathology committees that fall under the auspices of the Western Forum on Pest Management. They function as advisory bodies to provincial government advisory committees of the four western Canadian provinces and to other agencies concerned with pest control within the region. Their objective is to promote the development and adoption of sound integrated control measures for pests of regional concern in the four western provinces.
Plan now to attend the BEST annual entomology & pathology update meeting for western Canada, as our meetings never fail to meet this mark!
Annual Meeting
On behalf of your Western Forum on Pest Management (WFPM) executive and local organizing committee, you are invited to attend the annual in-person WFPM meeting November 5–7th 2024, at the Atlas hotel in Regina, Saskatchewan. Registration for the WFPM meeting is just $150. REGISTER today!
WFPM room rates at the Atlas hotel are only available until October 11. Book today to secure your room!
We’re trying something new this year, with non-concurrent sessions that allow attendees to attend both the Western Committee on Plant Disease (plant pathology) and the Western Committee on Crop Pests (entomology) segments of the meeting.
WFPM Program- in the Bailey/Benson/Marshall room at the Atlas hotel (all times are provided in CST)
- Tuesday (Nov 5)
- Hot breakfast provided 7:00-8:00am; Registration desk open 7:00-8:30am
- WCCP (entomology) agenda (annual provincial insect reports) 8:00am-12:00pm, including a 10-10:15am nutrition break
- Hot lunch provided: 12:00-1:00pm
- WCPD (plant pathology) agenda (annual disease situation reports) 1:00pm-5:15pm, including a 3:15-3:30pm nutrition break
- Meet-and-greet Welcome reception 6:30pm (includes supper)
- Wednesday (Nov 6)
- Hot breakfast provided 7:00-8:00am; Registration desk open 7:00-8:30am
- WCPD (plant pathology) agenda on page 2 (research & industry updates and special topics) 8:00am-12:00pm, including a 10-10:15am nutrition break
- Hot lunch provided (12:00 - 1:00pm)
- WCCP (entomology) agenda on page 2 (provincial research summaries) 1:00 - 4:00pm, including a 3:00-3:15pm nutrition break
- Note: no dinner provided on Wednesday evening
- Thursday (Nov 7)
- Hot breakfast provided 7:00-8:00am
- WFPM agenda (WFPM business meeting and guest speaker) 8:00am-12:00pm, including a 10-10:15am nutrition break
Many thanks to WFPM’s industry sponsors who continue to make this meeting a resounding success!
The annual meeting of the Saskatchewan Regional Group of the Canadian Phytopathological Society (CPS-SK) will take place at the same location, following the WFPM, on Thursday afternoon (November 7), which begins with a lunch from 12:00-1:00pm.
Graduate Student Sponsorship Program
Since 2017 the Western Forum on Pest Management has been awarding student travel bursaries to encourage grad student participation at this annual meeting- and this opportunity is available again in 2024.
Four travel bursaries, intended for a BC, AB, SK and MB graduate student, are available to be awarded to cover attendance and travel costs.
Details: This offering provides free registration for graduate students studying plant pathology, entomology or a related field at universities in the four western provinces. Each award has a maximum value of $750 based on a travel budget submitted by the graduate student applicant. It is generally expected that the full sum of the award will offset travel, accommodation, meals and incidental costs not included in the conference registration. Awards will be based on both student merit and financial need in order for students to attend, awarded at the discretion of the selection committee.
Application process: Submit the following to Meghan Vankosky at Meghan.Vankosky@AGR.GC.CA:
1) your CV; 2) a half page overview of your research project; 3) a brief budget for travel; and 4) a short recommendation letter from your supervisor.
Deadline: Friday, October 11th, 2024.
WFPM Minutes
Annual meeting overviews, minutes and other information