Duration: 10/01/2001 to 09/30/2006

Administrative Advisor(s):

NIFA Reps:

Non-Technical Summary

Statement of Issues and Justification

Issues involving insect and weed pest management continue to be of concern to agriculture and the general public. Conventional pesticides are expensive, have undesirable environmental impacts, and pose safety hazards to agricultural workers and the public. Regulations surrounding pesticides are increasingly restrictive, pesticide use is under great scrutiny from the public and their legal representatives, and pesticides in some systems are increasingly ineffective due to the evolution of resistance. Biological control is generally a safe and effective alternative to pesticides when used alone or in concert with other management techniques. While biological control raises some environmental issues, these pale in comparison with those raised by continued exclusive reliance on chemical pesticides. Biological control is an intimate component of integrated pest management, identified as a chief goal by the President of the United States in a recent Executive Order that 75 of American agriculture have implemented EPM by 2002. Classical biological control can be an ideal management stratagem for dealing with invasive species, identified as a high priority by another recent Executive Order.


The states of the North Central Region share common cropping systems over a wide area. Corn, soybeans, small grains, forage and livestock are obvious examples. Additionally, production of specialty crops (fruits, vegetables, turf and landscape ornamentals) is widespread and increasing, and these crops often require more intensive use of pesticides. Continued development and adoption of biological control on the wide spectrum of agriculture will have a profound positive effect on implementation ofIPM within the Region.

Commonalities of crop production systems across the North Central Region encourages and promotes cooperation among members of NCR-125. Members of NCR-125 are strongly committed to both fundamental and adaptive research on biological control both as a stand-alone stratagem and as a component ofIPM. NCR-125 currently has representation from 13 states and one USDA laboratory, and two additional USDA scientists are ex qfficio representatives. Three members have partial Extension appointments. Members of NCR-125 are recognized nationally and internationally as leaders in biological control research. Some NCR-125 members concentrate their efforts on a single commodity but all have broad interests and experience in biological control in the various North Central cropping systems. Overall the membership represents expertise on nearly every major crop in the North Central Region, and NCR-125 provides an outstanding opportunity for cross-fertilization of approaches and ideas. A major objective of NCR-125 has been and continues to be transferring of research findings to user groups, via classroom teaching, continuing education, and Extension programs.

Objectives

Procedures and Activities

Expected Outcomes and Impacts

Projected Participation

View Appendix E: Participation

Educational Plan

NCR-125 has co-sponsored symposia at annual meeting of the North Central Branch Entomological Society of America since 1993. Recent and current symposia include: 1997 - Classical Biological Control in the Midwest (O'Neil, Maddox and Solter, coordinators); 1998 - Biological Control of Weeds in the North Central Region (Nechols and Obrycki, coordinators); 1999 - Exotic Pests: New Opportunities for Classical Biological Control in the Midwest (Sadofand McCullough, coordinators); 2000 - Biological Control of Invasive Species in the North Central Region (Wiedenmann and Heimpel, coordinators).
With support from the National Biological Control Institute (NBCI), NCR-125 has operated the Midwest Biological Control Institute (MBCI) since 1993. Each summer the MBCI involves members of NCR-125 offering a short course on biological control, filling a need generated by a dearth ofbiocontrol courses at member institutions. Specialized emphases include parasites and predators, pathology and modeling. Over 200 students and 20 instructors have participated in the MBCI. In 1997 the course "International Aspects of Biological Control" was taught at the Pan American School of Agriculture (Honduras). In 1999, 13 students attended the MBCI course ("Importation Biological Control") held at the USDA European Biological Control Laboratory (EBCL) in Montpellier, France. The 2000 MBCI course was on insect pathology and held at the University of Illinois.

A MBCI/NCR-125 webpage is under development (Wiedenmann, O'Neil and Obrycki) to highlight Committee activities and provide links to other biological control websites in the North Central Region, nationally and internationally. NCR-125 members are developing a series of fact sheets on implementation of biological control in midwestem cropping systems, and these will be posted on the website. Biological control options have been taught to over 200 Master Gardeners in IN and IL (O'Neil, Wiedenmann & Sadof).

A web-based Primer on Biological Control will be posted soon to cover aspects of biological control theory and application, modeling and natural enemy biology. A plan is underway to integrate graduate level biocontrol courses at Iowa State, Purdue and Illinois into a single distance corse to be offered in 2002.

Since 1994, with funding from USDA-CSREES, NCR-125 and NBCI has published the Midwest Biological Control Newsletter, edited by S. E. Rice Mahr with assistance from all NCR-125 members as contributors and/or subject editors. After a successful six-year run, MBCN ceased monthly publication in favor of a quarterly internet format commencing in 2000. MBCN is expecting to expand its coverage nationally.

Organization/Governance

The recommended Standard Governance for multistate research activities include the election of a Chair, a Chair-elect, and a Secretary. All officers are to be elected for at least two-year terms to provide continuity. Administrative guidance will be provided by an assigned Administrative Advisor and a CSREES Representative.

Literature Cited

Attachments

Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, NC, ND, NE, NY, OH, WI

Non Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

APHIS-PPQ-CPHST, South Dakota, USDA-APHIS, USDA, ARS