Duration: 10/01/2017 to 09/30/2022

Administrative Advisor(s):

NIFA Reps:

Non-Technical Summary

Statement of Issues and Justification

Project's Primary Website is at https://www.nimss.org/projects/view/mrp/outline/14996 (direct link can be found under LINKS)

Losses due to pests and efforts to control pests are major obstacles to cost effective crop and livestock production in the Southern Region. In addition, the cost of controlling pests in recreational areas, home landscapes, public and commercial facilities schools, and households combined with the environmental concerns associated with pesticide-dependent control tactics makes IPM a high priority in the Southern Region and the U.S. This multitude of pest situations combined with the numerous pest disciplines makes the coordination of all aspects of IPM critical. Historically, IPM has revolved around entomology and row crops with less emphasis on plant pathology, weed science, nematology, and other related disciplines and in areas other than crop production. However, for IPM to be truly effective, all aspects must be integrated. SERA3 originated with the Experiment Station and Extension Directors naming individuals from each state to provide recommendations on coordination of the IPM activities in the region. Since its original concept, coordination of IPM activities has become more complicated due to changes in Federal, State, Local and Private funding opportunities for conducting pest management research and education programs. Continued development and implementation of IPM strategies under current funding will increasingly depend on effective coordination at the geographical, institutional and disciplinary levels. This need for coordination is as great or greater today than when this SERA-IEG was formed.

SERA3 provides a venue for assembling research and extension professionals together on an annual basis to discuss research and education projects related to integrated pest management (IPM) programs. Since its formation, this group has consistently provided leadership and input for funding priorities to the various Southern Region IPM grants programs and on inducements to encourage participation by representatives of all pest management disciplines and from all southern region states. SERA3 has developed a forum for reporting accomplishments of previously funded IPM grants. To this objective, the group has hosted principal investigator presentations at annual meetings providing a regional overview of successes and outcomes from project funding. The group meeting provides an annual forum for the state IPM Coordinators and interested research scientists to meet with the NIFA IPM Program Leaders to review progress in each state, discuss reporting mechanisms and make plans for future programs. SERA has established close links with the Southern Region Pest Management Center through and now includes the personnel as important members of SERA and our membership provides significant input as to policy, procedures and methods in operations of the Southern Region Pest Management Center.

Objectives

Procedures and Activities

This group will meet yearly at a selected location within the Southern Region, or in conjunction with the National IPM Symposium for the purpose of exchanging ideas and discussing common issues related to coordination of IPM research, extension and education activities in the region. The Chair, Chair-elect and Secretary for the SERA3 are currently in place. Annual meetings will be arranged by the Chair and Chair-elect, working with the Administrative Advisors, and minutes of the meetings will be distributed by the Secretary. The Southern Region Pest Management Center Director(s) will be invited each year and will report to the SERA3. Members of the group shall be comprised of two representatives from each eligible land grant institution in the Southern Region, the USDA/CSREES Program Leader for IPM, the Director(s) of the Southern Region Pest Management Center and administrative advisors from the Experiment Station and Extension Service Directors. From each of the eligible Southern Region Land Grant Universities, one representative should be appointed by the respective Director of the Cooperative Extension and one by the Director of the Experiment Station. It is recommended that the Cooperative Extension Service representative be the Cooperative Extension IPM Coordinator designated by each states eligible land grant institution. Other participants should be encouraged and may represent entomology, plant pathology, weed science, nematology, toxicology, engineering, physiology, sociology, and other appropriate disciplines. 

Expected Outcomes and Impacts

Projected Participation

View Appendix E: Participation

Educational Plan

The Chair and Chair elect, will serve on the Southern Region Pest Management Center advisory council and provide input from the SERA3 to the Center annually. Additionally, one member of the SERA3 will be elected to serve on the steering committee of the Pest Management Center and therefore be involved in policy decisions for the Center. The members of the committee will provide information from the meetings to members of their institutions: Research members will provide annual reports to their respective Directors of Experiment Stations and Extension members to respective Directors of the Cooperative Extension Service; members will assist in circulating RFAs for IPM related programs including the SR-IPM. The group will work with the Southern Region Pest Management Center communication specialists to distribute information about activities, opportunities and accomplishments, using newsletters, World Wide Web and other mass media outlets. The group will work with the Southern Plant Diagnostic Network to facilitate its mission and to disseminate information on pest alerts, training and other resources. The group will develop educational materials and training materials for Extension Educators and for the extension Project.

Organization/Governance

Chair 2017: Glenn Studebaker, University of Arkansas, Chair-elect/Secretary 2017: David Kerns, Texas A&M University. A standard governance format will be used including election of a Chair, Chair-elect/Secretary. A Chair-elect/Secretary shall be elected each year at the meeting and serve as such for one year. The Chair-elect/Secretary will then automatically become the Chair in the second year of service. Administrative guidance will be provided by an assigned Administrative Advisor and a NIFA Representative, generally the IPM Program Leader. The SERA3 web site will reside on the Southern Region Pest Management server at North Carolina State University and will be maintained in collaboration with the executive committee of the SERA and Director of the Pest Management Center. The SERA3 will meet annually and/or in conjunction with the National IPM Symposium. Contact: Glenn Studebaker, University of Arkansas.

Literature Cited

Attachments

Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN

Non Land Grant Participating States/Institutions