MSU Extension Integrated Pest Management

Farming in Michigan is under pressure from rapidly changing environmental, economic and regulatory forces. Growers need solutions to address challenges due to climate change, razor thin profit margins, invasive species and limited management tools. These challenges require science-based and timely integrated pest management (IPM) resources. The Michigan State University (MSU) IPM Program continues to build on its legacy of optimizing outreach tools and strategies to improve IPM awareness, knowledge and adoption for agriculture, institutions and communities through robust state and national networking, coordination and communication.

The IPM Program recently wrapped up a four-year National Institute of Food and Agriculture sponsored project (2017-70006-27175). We wanted to take this opportunity to share with our partners and collaborators the important work we have accomplished together. We would also like to acknowledge the extensive expertise and engagement of our faculty at MSU, our incredible staff and the hundreds of grower collaborators in Michigan and beyond.

IPM Highlights 2018-2021

• 365 Educational Programs
• 20 Demonstration Plantings
• 1,771 Educational Articles
• 227,961 Stakeholders Reached

MSUE News Subscribers

• Fruit and Nuts - 8,665
• Turf & Landscape - 8,501
• Organic Ag - 6,597
• Veggies - 9,584
• Invasive Species - 7,078

Specialty Crops

Four online IPM courses (including the IPM Academy) garnered 1,045 participants over the project duration.

80% of 2018 IPM Academy (IPMA) graduates committed to adopting one or more IPM practices based on participation.

90% of 2019 IPMA graduates "would utilize, expand or improve their IPM practices based on participation.“

86% of 2020 IPMA graduates "would use or expand their IPM practices based on participation.“

50% of 2021 IPMA graduates reported improved ability to "make better past management decisions based on participation."

Agronomic Crops

Researchers disseminated their findings on 26 current and on-going research projects via 57 cover crop educational events with 3,500 participants during the project period.

2019 field days attracted 435 participants, 60% of survey respondents indicated they intended to "change use of cover crops and/or spray programs based on learned information."

Communities

188 Master Gardeners trained to teach Smart Gardening and 170 people trained to use gardening outreach kits in 15 lesser-served counties.

Smart Gardening with Vegetables 101 Webinar Series garnered 198 participants. 79% of respondents will plant flowers near vegetables for pollinators; 67% never use pesticides on open flowers to protect pollinators; 93% increased knowledge of sustainable practices that they want to implement.

253 Smart Gardening educational programs and events, reaching 11,269 individuals. One conference alone attracted 338 participants from 37 counties. Evaluations showed more than 70% of participants plan to increase floral resources for pollinators.

Pollinator Health

Collaborated with North Dakota State University to develop a Smart Gardening publication on what makes a pollinator rare or endangered.

Peer-reviewed publications -2; Non-peer-reviewed publications -83; Presentations -281, People reached: 18,502.

Looking Ahead

We are pleased to announce that the MSU IPM Program was awarded a USDA NIFA Extension Implementation Program grant covering 2021-2024. In addition to supporting the efforts of the IPM coordinator and communications manager, this new project supports dozens of MSU faculty as well as the nine MSU Extension educators currently focused on IPM around the state. The objectives of this project respond to priorities identified by Michigan practitioners, guided by a stakeholder alliance and prioritized by the IPM Roadmap. For more information on the IPM Program visit us at ipm.msu.edu.