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Integrated Pest Management: Filling in the Cracks CSCAP Speed Science Fact Sheet

Darren Mueller, Nathan Bestor, Iowa State University

Initial Publication Date: April 29, 2016

Summary

The Speed Science Fact Sheet, Integrated Pest Management: Filling in the Cracks, Daren Mueller and Nathan Bestor (Acrobat (PDF) 1MB Oct20 15), and additional Speed Science Fact Sheets and presentation videos are approved for use in educational, research and extension settings. The fact sheets were developed and presented as "Speed Science" by the Climate and Corn-based Cropping Systems CAP (CSCAP)

The CSCAP is a transdisciplinary partnership among 11 institutions creating new science and educational opportunities. It seeks to increase resilience and adaptability of Midwest agriculture to more volatile weather patterns by identifying farmer practices and policies that increase sustainability while meeting crop demand.

Printable flyer >> About CSCAP Project (Acrobat (PDF) 2.9MB Oct20 15)


Learning Goals

To promote the long-term sustainability and productivity of U.S. corn-based cropping systems against recent climate trends and future uncertainty.

Project Objectives:

  1. Develop standardized methodologies and perform baseline monitoring of carbon, nitrogen and water footprints at agricultural test sites across the Midwest.
  2. Evaluate how crop management practices impact carbon, nitrogen and water footprints at test sites.
  3. Apply models to research data and climate scenarios to identify impacts and outcomes that could affect the sustainability and economic vitality of corn-based cropping systems.
  4. Gain knowledge of farmer beliefs and concerns about climate change, attitudes toward adaptative and mitigative strategies and practices, and decision support needs to inform the development of tools and practices that support long-term sustainability of crop production.
  5. Promote extension, outreach and stakeholder learning and participation across all aspects of the program.
  6. Train the next generation of scientists, develop science education curricula and promote learning opportunities for high school teachers and students.

Description and Teaching Materials

Pages / Length: 1

Publication Date: 08/2012

Printable handout pdf >>Integrated Pest Management: Filling in the Cracks, Daren Mueller and Nathan Bestor (Acrobat (PDF) 1MB Oct20 15)

Farming practices are modified continually for a variety of reasons, including in response to changing weather patterns. Weather patterns not only affect crop growth and development, but also the plant pathogens, beneficial and harmful insects, and weed species present in the agro-ecosystem. In recent years, there have been disease outbreaks directly related to extreme weather events including white mold and sudden death. Researchers predict that leaf and root pathogens will be more problematic because of an overall increase in humidity and frequency of heavy rainfall events projected for many parts of the United States.

However, other extreme weather events such as drought, hail events, and high winds also will affect diseases from year to year and region to region. Insects have also been affected by weather in recent years; the newest example being the increases in populations of spider mites across much of the Midwest. There also have been documented changes in spring arrival of many insect species due to climate change, specifically warmer temperatures, which is the single most important climatic factor for insects. The arrival of invasive species such as the brown marmorated stinkbug and kudzu bug and problems with other damaging insects underscores the importance of understanding how climate may affect insect pest survival and movement. Weed competition and habitable zones of many weed species will be affected by changing CO2 and temperature. The agro-ecosystem is interconnected and dynamic.

Amendments to production practices in response to changing climate may affect more than corn and soybean agronomics. New or modified production practicescan alter the microclimate within each field which can directly affect diseases, insects, and weeds. Because of this, an increased understanding of how crops and pests are affected by climate and subsequent changes in production practices will improve the resiliency of corn and soybean production across the United States. Insects, diseases, and weeds can be affected by plant growth and development, which adds to the complexity of monitoring changes in agronomic practices. This underscores the importance of recognizing the role of pests when interpreting agronomic data, as exemplified by a long-term crop rotation study that had high levels of sudden death syndrome in 2010 and 2011 near Ames, Iowa (Table 1) (Leandro et al.)


References and Resources

For more information, contact: Dr. Daren Mueller, Assistant Professor, Iowa State University, dsmuelle@iastate.edu., 515-460-8000Nate Bestor, IPM Assistant Coordinator, Iowa State University, bestor@iastate.edu, 515-294-1741

Project web site and e-mail: https://www.sustainablecorn.org/ | info@sustainablecorn.org This presentation was given at the Climate and Corn-based Cropping Systems CoordinatedAgricultural Project (CSCAP)2012 Annual Meeting. This handout and supplemental video are approved for use in research, education, and extension outlets.

Citation

Bestor, D. (2014). Speed Science Fact Sheets: Integrated Pest Management: Filling in the Cracks - CSCAP.