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Grant awarded: Jed Colquhoun receives USDA-NIFA funding to develop and disseminate information IPM systems that stress holistic management programs

Jed Colquhoun, a professor of plant and agroecosystem sciences, received USDA-NIFA funding for his project Delivering modernized IPM outreach for Wisconsin agronomic and specialty crops through NIFA’s AFRI Crop Protection and Pest Management program. It was among 76 projects sharing more than $19 million in funding.

Project summary (from CRIS website): The goal of the University of Wisconsin IPM Program is to provide information that increases agricultural profitability while minimizing environmental impacts associated with pest management practices, thereby helping producers grow safe food and feed through utilization of a well-organized and comprehensive IPM extension delivery system.Specifically, to address CPPM goals, the UW IPM Program will help develop and disseminate objective information on effective and affordable IPM systems which stress proper pest identification and holistic management programs that include all effective and affordable IPM management techniques. These IPM techniques will also address resistance issues, emerging pests, environmental safety and human health.We will accomplish these goals by providing a broad-based approach to IPM extension programming that addresses stakeholder priorities to provide timely pest management updates and educate a new generation of IPM practitioners through:• Leadership and involvement in grower association clinics and meetings• Experiential and interactive hands-on training, field tours and demonstration plots• Electronic delivery methods that include timely updates via newsletters and publications, web-based training modules, mobile applications and YouTube videos.• Development and delivery of engaging, interactive “Back-to-Basics” online short courses for a new generation of IPM practitioners that include written publications, structured curricula, “how-to” videos, online field trips and virtual office hours.