SAES-422 Multistate Research Activity Accomplishments Report
Sections
Status: Approved
Basic Information
- Project No. and Title: NCERA220 : Biological Control of Arthropods and Weeds
- Period Covered: 03/18/2017 to 03/18/2018
- Date of Report: 04/24/2018
- Annual Meeting Dates: 03/18/2018 to 03/18/2018
Participants
Marianna Szucs (MSU) John Ruberson (KSU) Brian McCornack (Kansas State University) Jennifer White (University of Kentucky) Jeff Bradshaw for Julie Peterson (University of Nebraska) Matt Grieshop (Michigan State University) George Heimpel (Univesity of Minnesota) Matt O’Neal (Iowa State Univesity) Debbie Finke (University of Missouri) Jason Harmon (North Dakota State University) Adam Varenhorst (South Dakota State Univesity) Chris Hamilton (NCRA representative)
Accomplishments
We recruited two new state representatives for NCERA 220, Dr. Marianna Szucs of Michigan State and Dr. Adam Varenhorst of South Dakota State Univesity, which did not currently have active representation. We established a schedule of monthly webinars for 2018 to February 2019. Each member committed to give a webinar. Additional presenters were suggested to complete the schedule. We discussed our current symposium topic for the 2018 NCB ESA meeting. We also discussed two possible themes for a biological control symposium at the 2019 NCB ESA meeting: 1) writing impact statements workshop hosted by Sara Delhiemer of USDA, 2) symposium of research talks exploring the overlap between those interested in conserving pollinators and those conserving natural enemies (putative title “Cross pollination between pollination specialists and biocontrol specialists: what can we learn from each other.”).
We chose the Chair for the next meeting (Louis Canas, of The Ohio State University).
Impacts
- Improved educational materials-• By establishing a clearinghouse for educational materials related to biological control, our group has facilitated teaching outcomes to students and professionals that have interests in researching and promoting biological control in order to provide sustainable solutions to food production and invasive species management.
- Conducted a symposium on Biological Control in Fruit and Vegetables at a regional entomology conference we will consolidate knowledge on sustainable solutions to pest problems in this group of commodities in the North Central region. This will in turn facilitate adoption of such practices and also encourage research into additional practices.
- Conducted a webinar on classical biological (February 2018)control and scheduled a years worth of monthly webinars on the topic of biological control. By planning biological control webinars aimed at interested students in the North Central Region we will raise awareness of cutting edge developments in biological control in our region and facilitate solution-driven sustainable research impacting food production and invasive species management.