Duration: 10/01/2005 to 09/30/2011

Administrative Advisor(s):

NIFA Reps:

Non-Technical Summary

Statement of Issues and Justification

Justification. The need for integrated pest management (IPM) research and extension programs continues to grow despite the perception by some that new crop protection technologies (GM pest resistance, etc.) are a simple and all inclusive solution to pest management.  At a minimum, the use of these new technologies needs to be managed to maintain their efficacy and avoid problems with resistance such as glyphosate-resistant horseweed.  In addition, new pests (soybean aphid, Asian soybean rust, variants of corn rootworms, apple of Peru, etc.) require the establishment of economic thresholds, scouting procedures and management strategies and education.  The potential effects of pesticide use on human and environmental health continue to demand the integration of pesticide use with all available pest management strategies to minimize risks.  While meeting these needs, IPM programs continue to expand to address the needs of homeowners, public spaces, schools and other public facilities. 

 

In response to these needs, IPM research and extension programs are priority efforts for land grant universities in the North Central region.  Significant resources are invested in the program including research and extension faculty and staff in numerous departments (Entomology, Plant Pathology, Agronomy, Horticulture and Agricultural Engineering) and Extension field staff.  In addition, significant funding is available from CSREES through competitive grants and 3D Extension funding.  Historically, the NCR201 committee has successfully coordinated IPM research and extension programs in the region to maximize the contributions of these resources.  There is still a critical and unmet need at the regional level to identify major IPM challenges and create a vision for action within the NC region.  The proposed IPM committee will meet this need by bringing regional expertise together so that major opportunities and even threats to IPM are identified in a proactive manner.  The consequence will be the prioritization and development of multi-disciplinary, multi-state research and extension activities to address key IPM needs of the region. 

 

Coordination.  In 2000, CSREES established the North Central IPM Center.  The mission of the NC IPM Center is to improve, maintain and expand IPM practices in public and private sectors and to increase access to IPM information, extension programs and funding opportunities for our stakeholders.  The Center is guided by a Steering Committee that includes representatives from the Experiment Stations, Extension Services, USDA, EPA and stakeholder organizations.  The interaction between NCR201 and the NC IPM Center has evolved over the past several years.  The primary change was the transfer of the management of the regional grant program from NCR201 to the IPM Center.  The NCR201 members have agreed this change does not eliminate the need for NCR201.  Furthermore, the IPM Center and NCR201 have established a working partnership.  The IPM Center Directors and the NCR201 membership agreed that it is beneficial to meet together and for the Center staff to work with the NCR201 Chair to plan and host the annual meeting.  In addition, the NCR201 membership will provide recommendations to the Station and Extension Directors regarding issues related to the IPM Center.  The IPM Extension Coordinators are members of NCR201 and function as the state contacts for the IPM Center.  The IPM Center relies on NCR201 to guide the development of research and extension programs and to assist in the development and implementation of regional research and extension programs.  This proposed IPM committee will complement the NCIPM Center by identifying major regional challenges, which can then be enacted upon through the NCIPM Center grant program.  The NCIPM Center does not serve this important role of visioning. 

Objectives

Procedures and Activities

1. Set NC IPM priorities: The committee will hold a facilitated annual committee meeting to prioritize NC regional IPM research and extension needs. State experiment station and extension directors will be requested to delegate effective research and extension faculty and staff to attend this critical meeting. The committee chair and advisors will invite key stakeholders to contribute in defining and assessing priorities. The meeting will be facilitated and coordinated with IPM Center staff. Outcomes: This activity will produce clear research and extension IPM priorities. These priorities will be communicated to state experiment station directors and the NC IPM Center. These priorities will likely become targets for future grant opportunities from the Center. These priorities may also serve as focal points for future Extension subject matter proposals and teams. 2. Action on regional/national issue: After the major priorities are determined, one topic area will be selected, which will benefit from a coordinated educational effort to advance IPM. The target of this activity is to influence public policy, but it may also provide spin-off materials that can be used to educate clientele. The issue will be developed into a position paper during the subsequent year and the development will be maintained through ongoing teleconferences and emails of committee members. The development of the issue may be augmented by presentations by PIs based on their findings from recent Regional IPM grant or by presentations by invited stakeholders. A new issue will be targeted for action each year. Outcomes: A high priority issue of regional or national concern will be described annually in a position paper and other appropriate media (e.g. press release, web posting, etc.). This information will be targeted at the appropriate decision makers (national leaders, commodity leaders, state experiment station directors, etc.). The outcome will be increased awareness on this critical issue. We anticipate this activity will lead to the development of research and extension teams that are affected by the issue. 3. Engage IPM faculty and staff: This committee and the proposed annual meeting will serve as a focal point to assemble key IPM personnel within the NC region. After the priority setting activity stated above (#1), these personnel will communicate these regional priorities to their campus based colleagues. As in activity number one, it is critical that state experiment station and extension directors identify and encourage attendance of appropriate IPM personnel to achieve the maximum effect of this activity. Outcomes: These research and extension personnel will be empowered to promote greater regional opportunities for collaboration and coordination, which will leverage current state-based and nationally funded IPM investments. 4. Enhance communication and linkages: State IPM coordinators have been designated to serve as state contacts with the NCIPM Center. These coordinators will meet with IPM Center directors and staff to be updated on current Center activities in a half day meeting prior to the full committee meeting. Policies and procedures for the efficient and reliable collection of information, which is often requested by the Center, will be developed. Through this network, IPM coordinators will communicate and develop programs to address new pest issues including invasive species (such as soybean aphid, soybean rust, sudden oak death) and emerging pest issues including resistance to pesticides and cultural management practices. Other committee members, who are frequently researchers, will also develop a linkage with the IPM Center through the proposed committee meeting and subsequent activities. Stakeholder involvement in priority setting will develop further regional linkages. Outcomes: The network of IPM coordinators and their interactions with the IPM Center will function at a higher level and will be better prepared to assist the IPM Center with requested information. The linkage of IPM coordinator and committee members with the IPM Center and stakeholders will maintain the effectiveness and improve the implementation of IPM strategies by NC growers and targeted clientele to provide sustainable production systems. 5. Disseminate IPM successes: The IPM Center will collaborate with committee members to acquire, summarize, and communicate the outcomes of IPM programming of participating states in the NC region. An evaluation process will be developed and implemented by at least six states. The collected data will be entered in the USDAs Performance and Planning Reporting System. Committee members will contribute and collaborate on regional IPM educational materials including web sites, regional publications and training modules to reduce duplication and communicate a clear and concise message. The development of eXtension through the Land Grant system will enhance efforts of this committee. Outcomes: The partnership of committee members and the IPM Center will have a greater ability to efficiently address state-based and regional IPM needs of clientele within the existing framework. IPM personnel will document increase accountability for use of federal funds through USDA Performance and Planning Reporting System.

Expected Outcomes and Impacts

Projected Participation

View Appendix E: Participation

Educational Plan

See Procedures and Activities

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

Data from numerous sources, including surveys, were used to develop our Statement of Issues and Justification. Due to the diversity of the crop production systems within the twelve North Central States and the nature of integrated pest management approach involving multiple disciplines in the whole system approach, use of standard journal citations is not practical. The Issue Statement was based on data from NASS web sites, other pest management resources on the web and unpublished reports and white papers. State-based data are accessible through the NASS State Office Websites page at http://www.usda.gov/nass/sso-rpts.htm. Additional information and links are available on the North Central IPM Center web site located at http://ncipmc.org/. These data were used, along with public input to develop the National IPM Roadmap that is now accepted as the defining approach to IPM implementation by governmental agencies.

Attachments

Land Grant Participating States/Institutions

IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, MT, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI

Non Land Grant Participating States/Institutions