Overview

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Issues surrounding pesticide use have been on the public agenda since the book "Silent Spring" was published in 1962. At the center of this debate is a concern that pesticide users are not adequately protecting the food supply, the environment, and farm workers from unintended adverse effects. Meanwhile, pesticide users face increasing pest resistance to pesticides, the loss of economical pest control products due to regulatory actions and market forces, and higher costs of new reduced risk pesticides. CSREES works in partnership with researchers and educators in the Land-Grant University System and the private sector to develop and implement new ways to address these complex pest management issues. CSREES provides funding to support extension IPM implementation and pesticide applicator safety programs in 50 states and six territories, the Minor Crop Pest Management Program (IR-4), four regional IPM centers, four competitive grants programs, and numerous special grants. Each of these investments contributes to the development of safe and effective IPM systems that increase farm profitability, reduce environmental and human health risks, and protect natural resources.

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In Focus

• A CSREES stakeholders' workshop on plant and pest biology elicited research, education, and extension priorities from scientific and commodity groups.
• CSREES' National Research Initiative (NRI) supports development of basic building blocks for the IPM program.
• The Extension IPM Implementation Program helps agricultural producers and other pest managers with alternative pest management strategies.
• The National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) provides laboratory testing to crop producers, land managers, and ornamental plant growers.
• CSREES provides funding for multi-state IPM projects to efficiently solve broad reaching and complex problems.
• The Environmental Protection Agency awards CSREES-assisted Department of Defense IPM program with Pesticide Environmental Stewardship Program Champion Award.


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Partnerships

• CSREES national program leaders represent the USDA on the National Invasive Species Council.

Events

• 2009 International Master Gardener Conference: "New Frontiers" in horticulture and gardening, Las Vegas, NV, March 22-26, 2009.
• The Sixth International IPM Symposium: Transcending Boundaries, Portland, OR; March 24-26, 2009.
• North American Colleges and Teachers of Agriculture/CSREES-SERD Conference, Stillwater, OK, June 17-20, 2009.

Selected Results and Impacts

• Arkansas researchers using CSREES funds to tackle pigweed and other weeds.
• CSREES supports the Northeastern IPM Program, which participated in a National Summit that focused on pesticides in schools.
• The CSREES Risk Avoidance and Mitigation Program (RAMP) grant is allowing researchers and growers to use reduced risk insecticides to manage pests.


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Resources

• National Plant Diagnostic Network offers on-line and face to face first detector training for anyone likely to first encounter exotic pests in the field.
• CSREES-Natural Resources Conservation Service Joint IPM Workshop, CSREES. Workshop agenda, presentations.
• Proceedings National Soybean Rust Symposium 2007, Plant Management Network. Publication with symposium program, presentations, posters, and sessions.


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Contacts

Martin A. Draper

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