Duration: 10/01/2026 to 09/30/2031

Administrative Advisor(s):

NIFA Reps:

Non-Technical Summary

Integrated pest management (IPM) remains critical to addressing the diverse needs of citizens across the North Central United States, including those engaged in various aspects of the agri-food system, natural resource management, and human health. IPM emphasizes correct pest identification, thresholds, and knowledge of the economic value and potential risks of pest management decisions on human, environmental, and economic health. The integrated and science-based system of IPM remains critical to addressing the complex pest issues facing stakeholders today including pesticide resistance, regulatory changes, challenging weather patterns, invasive pests and more. This proposal seeks to optimize IPM research and education in the North Central United States by bringing together IPM Coordinators in the region to: (1) support regional collaboration and coordinated knowledge exchange between state IPM programs, NCIPMC working groups, USDA NIFA, and other NC and ERA committees; (2) identify and prioritize regional IPM needs and opportunities; (3) develop and disseminate IPM education and outreach resources including curricula, educational materials and communication tools of regional or national interest; and (4) Strengthen IPM communication and representation. This will be accomplished via an annual committee reporting and networking meeting, engagement with the North Central IPM Center and USDA-NIFA, as well as regular communication via the online forum Basecamp.

Statement of Issues and Justification

Integrated pest management (IPM) remains critical to addressing the diverse needs of citizens across the North Central United States, including those engaged in various aspects of the agri-food system, natural resource management, and human health. IPM emphasizes correct pest identification, thresholds, and knowledge of the economic value and potential risks of pest management decisions on human, environmental, and economic health.

The need for IPM continues to grow. The rapid development and adoption of transgenic crops, coupled with the spread of herbicide-resistant weeds, insect resistance to crop traits and insecticides, and fungicide-resistant pathogens, has fundamentally altered pest management. Additional challenges include the rise of tick-borne diseases affecting human and animal health, along with increasing environmental stresses such as drought, flooding, and extreme weather that complicate crop production and pest management. IPM programs also face the complex challenge of managing established pests, invasive pests (e.g. spotted wing drosophila) and reemergent pests (e.g. corn rootworm). These issues highlight the continued importance of IPM research, Extension programming, and effective communication strategies to foster adoption across audiences.

 Emerging Opportunities

• Pest resistance: Herbicide-resistant weeds, soybean cyst nematode resistance to certain varieties, insect resistance to traits, and fungicide resistance threaten long-term sustainability.
• Changing regulatory landscape: herbicide-related injury, pollinator and endangered species protections, and other EPA-driven considerations influence pest management decisions.
• Environmental variability: Shifts in weather patterns are altering pest pressure, overwintering success, and pesticide efficacy.
• Invasive and reemerging pests: New pest introductions and resurgence of historic pests demand coordinated monitoring and management approaches.
• Education and communication shifts: Digital platforms, remote learning, and social media outreach create new opportunities for engaging clientele and serving diverse audiences.

 Research and Extension Needs

• Refined thresholds and decision-support tools to minimize risks while maintaining profits.
• Improved strategies for resistance management across weeds, insects, and pathogens.
• Risk communication tools for pollinator health, non-target impacts, and regulatory changes.
• Multistate monitoring systems for early detection and rapid response to invasive pests.
• Evaluation of educational delivery methods to enhance IPM adoption.
• Capture IPM activities at state, regional, and national levels to demonstrate year-to-year IPM impacts, strengthen policy advocacy and support sustainable agriculture and risk reduction.

Objectives

Procedures and Activities

This proposal focuses on integrating regional and national IPM Extension and research activities building on the committee’s legacy of working closely with the North Central IPM Center (NCIPMC) to ensure that regional needs are identified, prioritized, and addressed. This two-way exchange connects state IPM programs with NCIPMC resources, while also funneling stakeholder needs from local to regional and national scales. Committee members (CMs) contribute expertise to EPA, USDA-OPMP, and other federal and state agencies, ensuring stakeholder needs inform policy and funding priorities. NCERA 222 also coordinates with NCIPMC-funded working groups, NC and ERA committees to reduce redundancy, improve efficiency, and promote synergistic programming. Regular committee meetings and use of the project management platform Basecamp, provide the needed structure for state IPM Coordinators and Extension professionals to exchange reports, highlight innovative programming, and build multistate collaborations. The committee also supports national dialogue via representation at the annual National IPM Coordinating Committee in Washington, DC.

Objective 1. CMs will identify and engage in opportunities for multistate collaboration and knowledge transfer. These activities will be supported via member engagement in Basecamp and presentations at an annual meeting. These activities will be supported externally through engagement with the NCIPM Center, other ERA committees, US EPA and USDA NIFA. Area of focus include programming across areas of need or programmatic gaps, facilitating involvement with other multi-state or regional organizations, regional impact reporting or multistate grant development.

Objective 2. Once annually, CMs will review and prioritize emerging IPM research and Extension needs to guide regional and state-level programming, grant development and national initiatives.  The committee chair will report these needs and efforts annually during the meeting of the National IPM Coordinating Committee and share the results with the NCIPMC. Results will be archived on Basecamp.

Objective 3. CMs will share curricula, outreach materials, and communication tools with regional applicability that serve to integrate education and research on a particular topic via Basecamp and at the annual meeting as part of the CM presentations. CMs may form teams to develop outreach materials in response to priorities identified during objective 2 activities.

Objective 4. CMs will publicize regional IPM accomplishments and impacts and represent regional IPM interests to federal and state agencies, NC and ERA committees, and national IPM entities. This will be accomplished by aligning objectives across the ERA regions, completing an annual regional survey of IPM outputs and impacts. Results will be distributed via a national online dashboard and nationally by the committee chair at the annual National IPM Coordinating Committee in Washington, DC.

Expected Outcomes and Impacts

Projected Participation

View Appendix E: Participation

Educational Plan

As many CMs serve as Extension IPM Coordinators, a robust network already exists to disseminate information and develop joint educational products to serve diverse stakeholders, including underserved audiences. The committee leverages this network to distribute resources broadly across the region. Engagement on the National IPM Coordinating Committee ensures further visibility and integration into the national IPM agenda.

Organization/Governance

The committee has a chair and chair-elect at all times that serve offset, two-year terms to ensure leadership continuity. A chair-elect is selected at the annual meeting each year. The chair also acts as the secretary. Administrative guidance is provided by the designated AA and USDA NIFA representative. All decisions are made in an open and democratic process.

Literature Cited

Attachments

Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

IA, IN, MI, MN, ND, NE, WI

Non Land Grant Participating States/Institutions