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

Administrative Advisor(s):

NIFA Reps:

Non-Technical Summary

The western United States and Pacific Basin territories encompass geographic and environmental diversity, including temperate rainforests, arid deserts, rangelands, high-elevation systems, subtropical islands, and densely populated metropolitan areas. This diversity supports rich agricultural, ecological, and cultural systems but also creates complex and rapidly evolving pest management challenges. The spread of invasive species, increasing climatic variability, shifting land-use patterns, and emerging regulatory considerations intensify the need for coordinated, scientifically sound, and stakeholder-informed pest management.

WERA1017 connects Integrated Pest Management (IPM) coordinators, researchers, Extension professionals, diagnostic specialists, natural resource managers, Tribal partners, and federal and state agencies to strengthen regional communication and collaborative capacity. Through shared education programs, pest advisories, diagnostics, monitoring efforts, and multi-state research and Extension collaborations, WERA1017 accelerates the development, adoption, and impact of IPM strategies.

Recent accomplishments—including regional invasive pest response efforts, shared Extension resources, coordinated pesticide education, multi-state webinar series, collaborative Pest Management Strategic Plans (PMSPs), and enhanced stakeholder engagement—demonstrate the value of this networked approach. Continued coordination through WERA1017 reduces duplication, increases responsiveness, expands the reach of IPM programs, and supports more sustainable, efficient, and resilient pest management systems across the West.

Statement of Issues and Justification

The western region of the United States and Pacific Basin territories faces uniquely complex pest management challenges driven by ecological diversity, extensive interstate commerce, global trade and travel, widespread rangeland systems, intensive specialty crop production, urban expansion, and fragile island ecosystems. Invasive insects, weeds, plant pathogens, vertebrate pests, and other emerging pest issues continue to threaten agricultural productivity, natural resources, urban landscapes, and public health.

Climate variability and extreme weather events increasingly influence pest phenology, overwintering success, distribution, and management effectiveness, requiring adaptive and regionally coordinated Integrated Pest Management (IPM) approaches (Wolfe et al. 2021). Invasive species such as emerald ash borer, spotted lanternfly, Japanese beetle, Mediterranean fruit fly, invasive grasses, and invasive forest pests require rapid communication, coordinated outreach, and multi-state response capacity. These pest challenges frequently cross political and ecological boundaries and cannot be effectively addressed through isolated state efforts alone.

The western region also includes substantial geographic isolation in some states and territories, increasing the importance of communication infrastructure and coordinated information exchange. WERA1017 provides a long-standing regional framework for collaboration among state IPM programs, the Western IPM Center, USDA-NIFA, USDA-APHIS, EPA, Tribal organizations, and other partners. This coordination supports the identification of emerging pest threats, prioritization of stakeholder needs, sharing of educational resources, and development of regionally relevant IPM solutions.

WERA1017 additionally serves as an important mechanism for reducing duplication of effort among state programs and improving efficiency through shared outreach materials, collaborative training opportunities, and coordinated stakeholder engagement. The group also strengthens communication pathways between state and federal partners and facilitates regional participation in national IPM initiatives and strategic planning efforts (USDA-NIFA 2023).

Without coordinated regional communication and planning, states and territories risk fragmented responses to invasive species, inconsistent outreach messaging, duplication of educational efforts, and missed opportunities for collaborative funding and research. Continued support for WERA1017 will enhance regional preparedness, strengthen IPM implementation, improve stakeholder engagement, and support sustainable pest management across the western United States and Pacific Basin territories.

Related, Current, and Previous Work

WERA1017 builds upon decades of regional collaboration among Integrated Pest Management (IPM) coordinators, Extension specialists, researchers, and agency partners throughout the western United States and Pacific Basin territories. The working group has historically served as a critical communication and coordination network for identifying regional pest management priorities, supporting interstate collaboration, facilitating information exchange, and enhancing the visibility and impact of western IPM programs.

The western region faces persistent and emerging pest challenges associated with invasive species, climate variability, changing agricultural systems, urbanization, forest health concerns, and increasing public demand for sustainable pest management practices. WERA1017 provides a mechanism for rapidly sharing information, coordinating outreach activities, and identifying opportunities for collaborative Extension programming and applied research.

Recent accomplishments demonstrate the effectiveness and continuing relevance of this regional coordination framework.

In 2022, WERA1017 members collaborated on regional invasive pest outreach and communication activities related to spotted lanternfly, Japanese beetle, emerald ash borer, and invasive forest pests. Members also contributed to the development and updating of Pest Management Strategic Plans (PMSPs), crop profiles, and IPM Elements documents for several western commodities and systems. Coordination among state programs improved communication with USDA-APHIS, state departments of agriculture, and the Western IPM Center regarding emerging pest priorities and stakeholder needs.

In 2023, WERA1017 participants expanded multi-state educational programming through regional webinar series, workshops, and online training opportunities addressing urban IPM, pesticide safety education, invasive species response, pollinator protection, and climate-related pest management issues. Members also collaborated on impact reporting efforts and contributed regional success stories and metrics to Land-Grant Impacts and other communication platforms. Increased coordination among diagnostic laboratories and Extension programs improved the dissemination of emerging pest alerts and management recommendations.

In 2024, WERA1017 members coordinated outreach and information sharing associated with emerald ash borer detections in western states, including development of Extension resources and communication strategies for affected stakeholders and communities. Regional collaboration also supported development of educational materials, invasive pest response discussions, and enhanced communication among state IPM programs, Tribal partners, and federal agencies. Members participated in multi-state initiatives focused on pesticide resistance management, pollinator health, invasive weeds, and climate-driven pest dynamics.

In 2025, WERA1017 continued strengthening coordination among western IPM programs through collaborative outreach campaigns, webinar programming, and shared educational resources. Members contributed to regional discussions regarding invasive species preparedness, urban and community IPM, rangeland pest management, and integrated approaches to emerging agricultural and natural resource pest challenges. Additional efforts focused on strengthening communication pathways with the Western IPM Center, USDA-NIFA, EPA regional offices, and USDA-APHIS programs.

Collectively, these activities demonstrate the importance of WERA1017 as a regional infrastructure for communication, collaboration, rapid information exchange, and coordinated IPM leadership. The working group provides value beyond annual meetings by supporting year-round coordination, facilitating interstate partnerships, and strengthening the overall effectiveness and visibility of western IPM programs.

Objectives

Procedures and Activities

WERA1017 will conduct annual meetings involving representatives from western state and territorial IPM programs, the Western IPM Center, USDA-NIFA, USDA-APHIS, EPA, Tribal organizations, and other relevant partners. Annual meetings will provide opportunities for state and territorial reporting, identification of emerging pest management issues, sharing of educational and technical resources, and development of collaborative priorities.

Annual meetings will include facilitated discussions designed to identify actionable interstate collaboration opportunities, including coordinated Extension programming, development of shared educational materials, invasive species response activities, stakeholder engagement efforts, and collaborative funding opportunities. Participating states and territories will be encouraged to contribute educational resources, impact reports, outreach materials, or technical tools for regional sharing and adaptation.

To support continuity between annual meetings, WERA1017 members will participate in quarterly virtual coordination discussions focused on emerging pest issues, collaborative activities, funding opportunities, and development of regional outreach materials. Summaries and highlights from these discussions will be compiled and distributed through the Western IPM Center newsletter and related communication channels.

The working group will also support development and dissemination of regional educational resources addressing priority pest management issues affecting agriculture, natural resources, urban systems, and public health. These resources may include factsheets, webinar recordings, pest alerts, newsletters, decision-support tools, PMSPs, crop profiles, IPM Elements documents, and other outreach materials.

WERA1017 members will continue coordinating with federal and regional partners to improve communication regarding invasive species preparedness, pesticide safety education, resistance management, pollinator protection, climate-related pest challenges, and stakeholder priorities. The group will additionally facilitate sharing of program impacts, success stories, and regional metrics supporting the value and effectiveness of IPM programs throughout the West.

 

Outputs

• Annual WERA1017 meetings and proceedings documenting regional priorities, collaborative activities, and shared educational resources.
• Quarterly WERA1017 updates and highlights distributed through regional communication platforms.
• At least one annually developed regional IPM educational or outreach resource shared among participating states and territories.
• Coordinated stakeholder outreach efforts, workshops, webinars, and educational programs addressing regional pest management priorities.
• Shared impact reports, pest advisories, PMSPs, IPM Elements documents, crop profiles, and other regional coordination products.
• Enhanced communication networks among state IPM programs, federal agencies, Tribal organizations, and the Western IPM Center.

Expected Outcomes and Impacts

Projected Participation

View Participation Form/Appendix E: Participation

Educational Plan

WERA1017 will support regional educational efforts through coordinated workshops, webinars, presentations, newsletters, factsheets, and online outreach materials addressing priority pest management issues in the western United States and Pacific Basin territories. Educational activities will target diverse audiences including agricultural producers, urban pest management professionals, natural resource managers, Extension educators, Tribal partners, regulatory agencies, and the general public.

The working group will facilitate sharing and adaptation of educational materials among participating states and territories to improve efficiency and consistency of outreach messaging. WERA1017 will also support dissemination of science-based information regarding invasive species, pesticide safety, pollinator protection, resistance management, climate-related pest issues, and other emerging IPM topics.

Quarterly updates and highlights distributed through the Western IPM Center newsletter and related communication platforms will further strengthen year-round communication and stakeholder engagement.

Organization/Governance

WERA1017 will operate in accordance with established multistate research and Extension committee procedures. Officers will include a Chair, Chair-Elect, and Secretary elected by participating members. Officers will coordinate annual meetings, facilitate communication among members, and support completion of committee objectives and reporting requirements.

Membership will include representatives from western Land-Grant universities, the Western IPM Center, USDA agencies, Tribal organizations, state departments of agriculture, and other collaborating institutions and stakeholders with interests in Integrated Pest Management and regional pest coordination activities.

The committee will meet annually, either in person or virtually, with additional quarterly virtual coordination meetings conducted throughout the year to maintain communication and support ongoing collaborative activities.

Literature Cited

USDA-NIFA. 2023. Crop Protection and Pest Management Program Overview. National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.nifa.usda.gov/grants/programs/crop-protection-pest-management-program

Western IPM Center. 2024. Western Integrated Pest Management Center Programs and Resources. University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. https://westernipm.org/

Wolfe, K., et al. 2021. Climate impacts on pest dynamics and integrated pest management in western agricultural systems. Oregon State University Extension. https://extension.oregonstate.edu/

USDA-APHIS. 2022. Plant Pest Surveillance and Management Guidelines. Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/

National Integrated Pest Management Coordinating Committee. 2024. National Integrated Pest Management Roadmap 2025–2029 Draft Framework. https://www.ipmcenters.org/roadmap/

 

Attachments

Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

Non Land Grant Participating States/Institutions