Progress 09/01/24 to 08/31/25

Outputs
Target Audience:The University of Minnesota Extension IPM Program (MN Extension) target audience reflects the wide array of audiences in Minnesota, from those producing crops and managing crops for their livelihood (agronomic and specialty crops) to those whose services keep agriculture and plants in public spaces functioning (pollinators, pesticide applicators), to the communities where plants create beauty and connections (communities). A main focus of the MN Extension IPM Program is a farmer audience, be it a conventional field crop grower producing on thousands of acres or a beginning producer growing organic vegetables on a rented acre. In addition, a strong focus continues with the array of independent crop consultants, agronomists and agriculture professionals associated with the broader commodity industry groups in the state. These groups may influence farmer decisions through recommendations informed by MN Extension. Larger grower groups include: MN Corn Growers Association, MN Soybean Growers Assn., the MN Fruit & Veg. Growers Association, Midwest Food Processor Association (MN, WI, IL), and a broad array of agricultural nonprofits. Changes/Problems:At the start of this reporting period, Dr. Eric Yu was hired as a new regional educator in IPM to add capacity in east-central and southeastern Minnesota along with statewide responsibilities on IPM topics. Yu brings a Master's in Entomology and a PhD focused in weed science and agronomy with focus on areas such as cover crops related to weed management and corn rootworm management. Yu will work closely with the Extension Crops Team to cover agronomic issues across the state. The leadership of the Master Gardener core course is changing, slowing work on the core course. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Marissa Schuh provided IPM mentorship and expertise to local educators as they work through insect and plant problems they encounter in communities across the state. She offered training on scouting and issue diagnosis for technical service providers at agricultural nonprofits and incubator farms. Anthony Hanson began mentoring a Master's student focused on extension and pest management by serving on their thesis committee at North Dakota State University. Also in 2025, four pest scouts were hired through commodity group grants with Hanson providing supervision and mentorship in agricultural extension to these scouts that are either in college or have recently completed a bachelor's degree. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?IPM results are disseminated to target audiences, and communities of interest for all objectives via E-newsletters, blogs, winter educational meetings, field days, and increasingly, online webinars and podcasts. IPM Implementation in Agronomic and/or Specialty Crops The Fruit and Vegetable News regularly shares timely IPM information to the state's specialty crop growers from season prep to in-season pest updates. During the growing season, this information is sent to 1,416 subscribers and during the reporting period there were 6,215 pageviews on IPM content (https://blog-fruit-vegetable-ipm.extension.umn.edu/). Fact sheets continue to be hosted on the VegEdge (www.vegede.umn.edu) and FruitEdge (www.fruitedge.umn.edu) web sites, as well as integrated into the main University of Minnesota Extension website (e.g. https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/disease-management). The food systems extension team contributes videos to the UMN Small Farm YouTube page (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtXgdswjzbny14Fgya8yzEA), including videos that highlight how to set up a small farm with cultural IPM tactics in mind. This channel has 3610 subscribers. The MN Extension Fruit and Vegetable Facebook page has over 900 likes and 1000 followers and is used to disseminate timely IPM information. The MN Crops web page had 961,520 unique pageviews, (https://extension.umn.edu/crop-production) and the MN Crop News blog had 88,723 page views during the reporting period with 3,559 subscribers (https://blog-crop news.extension.umn.edu ).These are the most popular avenues for timely dissemination of information. Producers also get localized updates through a Cropping Issues in Northwest Minnesota newsletter and can also view webinars and instructional videos on the Crops YouTube channel (2640 subscribers). A cornerstone for Minnesota agronomic updates is the Strategic Farming program with Let's Talk Crops as the winter program, and Field Notes as a spring and summer field update. Both are held as online weekly webinars that allow growers to interact with university researchers and educators. The winter Let's Talk Crops program features longer form research presentations geared towards growers as they prepare for the growing season with video recordings available afterwards. Field Notes is also held as a webinar recorded with an audio-only podcast focus in mind with very few if any slides. Many of the sessions feature IPM updates within agronomic focused episodes, or frequently are entirely focused on IPM topics. Both programs have a multiplier effect with initially 50-100 attendees to the webinars, additional viewers for podcasts and videos of the webinar, and further readers of summary articles posted on MN Crop News. Pollinator Health Most of the Extension information is available at the UMN Bee Lab: https://www.beelab.umn.edu/resources-beekeepers/free-bee-information. In addition, the Extension effort to reach urban beekeepers (MN "Bee Squad") supports several programs, via the UMN Bee Lab page (www.beelab.umn.edu). Applicators who hear modules on pollinator protection are sent home with a QR code with links to tools for pollinator protection. Communities The Yard and Garden Newsletter goes out every 2 weeks to over 9,000 subscribers. Articles and web pages published during this reporting period focused on an IPM approach had 34,887 views. County-level extension offices and master gardener groups around the state have Facebook pages where they promote IPM-based information. There are 46 county-level Master Gardener Facebook pages with over 1900 followers. Pages on common vegetable insects and diseases are being updated to include garden-scale IPM information on dealing with pests (e.g. https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/disease-management). IPM information is also being integrated into the general vegetable gardening guides (https://extension.umn.edu/find-plants/vegetables). Pesticide Applicators The pesticide safety and education team provides information through in-person meetings, online Canvas courses, and over zoom. They also have an X account (@UmnPSEE, 207 followers) and Facebook (151 likes, 175 followers). Trainings are held across the state and live via Zoom. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?IPM Implementation in Agronomic and/or Specialty Crops Fruit and Vegetable News - Weekly vegetable crop updates featuring IPM practices will be released weekly during the growing season, with approximately 20 vegetable IPM updates planned over the next reporting period. Standalone news releases on major pests will also be published. Pest forecasting - Temperature-based pest forecasting for common insects for both agronomic and horticultural pests will continue to be developed and published. During summer 2025, there are plans to update the website to add capacity for more pests including diseases and to make the web pages more user-friendly. Organic Fruit and Vegetable Field Day - IPM co-coordinator Marissa Schuh is overseeing a field day highlighting the IPM practices applicable to small, beginning, and urban growers. A field day will be held in July highlighting current IPM research, as well as some basic IPM practices. We anticipate reaching 100 growers with IPM info that is interpreted and applicable to their farms and gardens. Permanent IPM Resources for Fruit and Vegetable Growers - Approximately 20 permanent web pages on common vegetable pests and disease will be updated to include current management practices in an IPM framework. Alfalfa pest survey - IPM co-coordinator Anthony Hanson will be conducting a Midwest-focused survey of alfalfa insect IPM primarily focused on alfalfa weevil during summer of 2025. The survey will be conducted by sending out postcards to farmers in the state as well as through online sources. Other collaborating states interested in pooling data to expand the reach of this Minnesota hosted-survey include North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan. This survey will assess challenges growers are having for alfalfa IPM and determine what tactics they are likely to use or have interest in to develop new IPM recommendations. Pest identification guides - Hanson and Yu will continue work on print and online pest identification guides during summer 2025 after prior design planning and printing estimates. This work is expected to continue into fall 2025 with printed materials budgeted in this grant ready for the 2026 winter meeting season. Farmer adoption of IPM - Survey data from the IPM survey at private pesticide applicator workshops will be summarized for 2025. Hanson will be working with Debalin Sarangi and his lab, who are interested in publishing data from 2020-2025 showing trends in IPM adoption in a peer-reviewed journal. Minnesota Crop News - Blog will continue to be used as the primary method of providing timely agronomic updates to growers on pertinent pest issues during the growing season managed by P. Bongard with articles from IPM educators Hanson and Yu in addition to other specialists and educators. 4-H Crop Scout Judging - An annual pest scouting and judging event for MN 4-H will be held on the St. Paul campus in July. Event includes insect, weed, and disease identification. Western IPM Scouting - The Small Grains and Soybean IPM Survey is a MN wheat and soybean grower-funded project to survey western MN small grains and soybean fields for disease and insects. Data provided from scouts will be used to produce weekly maps for growers on regional pest incidence in western Minnesota and provide data directly back to farmers that volunteered fields. Communities Master Gardener Core Course Updates - Communicate with the Master Gardener Core Course on updates needed for 2026 cohort classes. Gardener Education - Continue gardener education and produce timely updates as major pest problems develop during the summer. Pollinator Health Pollinator health and specialty crops web pages - Web pages will be developed and launched by the end of 2025. Web pages on common specialty crop pollinators, pesticide exposure, habitat design, case studies of farms, and more will be published. Pesticide Applicators Commercial/Non Commercial applicators recertification courses- Continue pesticide education on pollinators. Develop IPM modules for 2026, including forms for in-person and self paced online courses. Field crops IPM educators will continue to develop IPM hot topics modules for educators to use for private applicators including updates on new pesticide regulations. Pesticide recertification workshops will also continue to be a primary avenue for disseminating information related to the other objectives of this report.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Minnesota is a state with varied agricultural enterprises and communities, all of whom can benefit from improved IPM practices. This project addresses the need for tailored IPM education for farms managing different types of crops in different parts of the state, as well as the needs of pollinators and communities across the state. The University of Minnesota IPM program aids groups across Minnesota. The biggest beneficiary is Minnesota farmers - the timely information delivered by the project helps farmers manage risk on their farms efficiently. The resources provided by the project helps farmers make decisions around scouting, pest thresholds, and comprehensive treatment options. New invasive species or resurgences of old pests are significantly affecting not only farmers' income, but also add burden on top of all the other management decisions farmers make on a day-to-day basis. With changing pest complexes and timing of when pest pressure is occurring, farmers benefit from the added capacity of this project that allows UMN Extension to provide them tools they can tailor to their individual farm. Minnesota communities also benefit, either from direct access to IPM tailored to managing their home lawn or garden, or from living in a state where pesticide applicators managing many types of spaces use pesticides judiciously because of IPM. Project Goals a) Increase adoption of IPM practices in agronomic crops, enhance the effectiveness of the IPM program, and expand the evolving reach of IPM Extension. Efforts to increase IPM adoption for agronomic crops during the reporting period included focus on economics of pest management of invasive species like soybean aphid, alfalfa weevil, and tar spot during farmer events and presentations. Demonstrating how insecticides or fungicides applied too early can result in decreased profit has been effective, especially when growers ask follow-up questions at events wanting to learn how to navigate the costs of pest management. The pest forecasting aspect of this project has gained significant attention in farm media showing the enhanced effectiveness and reach of this tool. In March 2025, forecast maps showing next-season risk for pests such as soybean aphid based on winter temperatures. 1,157 readers saw the original Crop News article, and over 10 different local and multi-state media organizations covered this timely topic. Spring emergence timing forecasts of seed corn maggot were also produced to show farmers when high risk periods were set to occur for this pest when planting should be avoided. New invasive species such as corn leafhopper were detected in the state and alerted growers to stunting diseases it can transmit. The MN Crop News article had 1,437 visitors as of May 23, 2025. Grower surveys were also prepared in spring 2025 for other invasive species such as alfalfa weevil to assess pest severity across the state and will be conducted after this reporting period. With multiple new pest species being present in the state in recent years, written and online identification guides began to be updated with printable pocket guides planned to be ready in the next reporting period. The annual Crop Pest Management Short Course was held Dec. 10-12, 2024 for ag. professionals showcasing pest related topics such as UAVs (i.e., drones) and artificial intelligence for use in pest management. This generated interest in using these technologies for IPM among nearly 700 attendees each year. Another reach-expanding activity for agronomic crops is the Western IPM Survey where scouts are hired with support from the Minnesota wheat and soybean commodity groups to visit farm fields to generate data for region-wide weekly maps of pest presence. A. Hanson organizes this survey as part of the IPM program. This gives an early warning to growers in the area, and farmers who volunteer fields get weekly updates of what is found in their fields. 194 wheat fields were visited. Cereal leaf beetle, a new invasive wheat insect to northern Minnesota, was found to have spread to three additional counties in the state, and the survey is starting again in late May of 2025. b) Increase Minnesota specialty crop growers' knowledge and adoption of integrated pest management practices on their farms Timely delivery of IPM information helped growers better use IPM on their farms. Weekly reports on fruit and vegetable crop progress and IPM were sent to over 1400 subscribers. Information in these reports is tailored to Minnesota problems and the types of specialty crop farms in Minnesota. After reading weekly crop reports in the UMN Fruit and Vegetable News, 89% reported learning about pest management from the newsletter, and 41% reported changing a pest management practice. Off-season trainings in 2025 helped improve knowledge and increased specialty crop farmers confidence in implementing IPM practices. Hands-on workshops with mock field plantings helped growers feel comfortable with using IPM tools like row covers and backpack sprayers. In an evaluation of one of these hands-on workshops, 100% of participants reported learning something new and useful. c) Improve pollinator diversity, pollinator health and pollinator habitat by implementing IPM practices in the landscape. A major focus around pollinators in this reporting period was education for pesticide applicators in Minnesota's lawns, parks, and golf courses. 1228 applicators from 9 counties in Minnesota have heard the module on pollinator protection during courses for pesticide recertification. The module focused on giving the applicators a high level view of pollinator diversity, threats that pesticides pose to pollinators, and tools for protecting pollinators. Of applicators reached in 2025, 95% reported they had a deeper understanding of pollinators and 79% intended to change at least one pesticide use practice based on information provided. d) Leverage Master Gardener volunteers and Minnesota Landscape Arboretum resources to increase statewide education to homeowners and the general public about IPM practices. Master Gardeners were provided education about IPM topics, and the reach of IPM information was expanded using Master Gardener program events. A common topic is approaching insects holistically, using an IPM approach instead of rushing to spray insects. In an evaluation for a public facing gardener event, 70% of attending deepened their understanding of insects and pests, and 64% would change a practice. e) Integrate IPM best management practices into education and behavioral norms for pesticide applicators in Minnesota. For commercial and non-commercial pesticide license holders, 11 field crops focused workshops were held across the state for 583 applicators needing to renew in 2024 or 2025. 44 workshops were held across the state for agronomic and horticulture private applicators (i.e., farmers) reaching 3,634 applicators that year. Attendees of commercial and non-commercial pesticide recertification workshops in 2024 for field crops were asked questions about changes in behavior after modules on disease, insect, and weed IPM. Out of 410 respondents, 91.5% agreed or strongly agreed they would improve my site evaluation for weeds based on the information learned in the presentation. When asked about insecticide use, 87.1% agreed or strongly agreed that they would modify their pesticide program to follow IPM practices to avoid insecticide resistance based on the IPM modules provided. Overall, interest and reception of IPM tactics is high within this group meaning new information is affecting the many acres and farms these applicators cover.IPM adoption surveys of 2025 private certifiers were also completed with data currently being summarized to be documented in the next reporting period.

Publications