North Central IPM Center

Previous Working Group Projects

To learn about the details of our Working Group grant opportunities, and how to apply, click here. All North Central IPM Center Working Groups strive to produce outputs that benefit many stakeholders, from farmers to scientists. Below is a list of our projects from the last funding cycle, and several of their projects' outputs.
 

Crop Protection Network (Multi-state Extension Resource for Field Crops Extension)

This project is still active as the Crop Protection Network. It allows Extension materials to be created once and then shared across programs in multiple states.

• Certified Crop Advisor Continuing Education Credit Exams
• Disease Loss Estimate Calculator
• Research Updates Publications: "Pesticide Impact on White Mold (Sclerotinia Stem Rot) and Soybean Yield" & "Seed Treatment and Foliar Fungicide Impact on Sudden Death Syndrome and Soybean Yield"
• Webinar: "Seedling Disease of Soybean and Using Seed Treatments to Reduce Losses"
• I See Dead Plants Podcasts
• Virtual Crop Scouting School
• Disease Severity and Defoliation Training tool 
• Multiple publications covering topics from cover crops to soybean and corn diseases
   

 

The Farming and Food Narrative Project

This project seeks to unite agricultural stakeholders, from researchers to farmers to ag businesses and organizations so that good farming practices can be implemented with benefits to farmers, citizens and society. Learn more on the Farming and Food Narrative Project website.
 

Agriculture and Wildlife Coexistence Working Group

The Agriculture and Wildlife Coexistence Working Group was created to help farmers with challenges associated with having wildlife near the farm, from crop damage to livestock disease. The goal was to list the problems, identify solutions and promote the solutions to growers.

8 wildlife-ag bulletins published in March of 2019  Conducted a survey of specialty crop, row crop, ornamental and livestock producers to learn about challenges and needs related to wildlife damage management.  Michigan State University Extension Ag and Wildlife Podcast created in 2021   Great Lakes Fruit Workers The Great Lakes Fruit Workers Working Group unites professionals across multiple fields, from researchers to extension specialists and consultants to improve information sharing related to pest management on fruit crops. More details are on the Great Lakes Fruit Workers website or in this summary of efforts.    Iowa Pest Resistance Management Program The Iowa Pest Resistance Management Program is a collaborative effort including individuals and groups representing all parts of the Iowa community, including farmers and landowners, small and national businesses, scientists, researchers and state regulators. Together, these partners leverage resources, expertise and time to help inform the public about pest resistance, find new pest management strategies and encourage public support and adoption of these practices. Since the state plan was written, two separate community teams have taken the lead to bring attention to local pest threats, potential resistance issues, and effective management options that preserve available tools. Iowa Pest Resistance Management Plan Harrison County Pest Resistance Management Project Harrison team outreach: field days, handouts, articles and videos Story County Farm Resistance Network Story County team outreach: videos and Field Scorecard Extension Entomologists Working Group This working group is welcome to all Extension Entomologists with a few meetings a year and the opportunity to connect and ask questions through the team software called Basecamp. Past success is summarized here.   Midwest Fruits Working Group Organic and IPM: Educating to Achieve Food Stability Midwest Fruit Pest Management Guide