Overview of the USDA North Central Pest Management Center

Purpose

In September 2000, the USDA funded the creation of the North Central Integrated Pest Management Center (NCIPMC) as part of a nationwide pest management information network established to respond quickly to information needs in both the public and private sectors. One of four regional Pest Management Centers, the NCIPMC will help USDA and its partner institutions identify, prioritize, and coordinate a national pest management research, extension, and education program to be implemented on a regional basis.

The Center's most basic function is to develop and maintain a pest management information network that will contribute to environmentally and economically sound pest management decisions. The network serves two major purposes: to facilitate communication among key groups of people, and to provide these groups with broad access to pest management information.

NCIPMC is working to connect a diverse array of people who have an interest in pest management policy and implementation throughout the region. These include pest management users (farmers, nurserymen, park and turf managers, building superintendents, pest control operators, homeowners, gardeners, and others), consumer and environmental groups, governmental regulatory agencies, researchers, and educators. NCIPMC is networking these groups both through the Center�s own organization (Advisory Committee, Stakeholder groups, State Project Leaders) and through development of electronic communications structures such as email lists, online bulletin boards, and web pages.

Communications channels will be effective only if all parties can consistently access the same reliable information. Research-based information is essential to our ability to make sound pest management decisions in any context, from a backyard garden to national regulatory offices. NCIPMC, working with three other regional Pest Management Centers and with the support of USDA, is building a comprehensive database that eventually will hold all kinds of scientifically tested pest management information. This database will be available on the World Wide Web for use by everyone.

Mission Statement

To improve, maintain and expand IPM practices in public and private sectors and to increase access to IPM information, extension programs and funding opportunities for our stakeholders. The North Central Integrated Pest Management Center Advisory Committee identified this mission statement for the Center in 2001. We will modify this mission statement based on input from stakeholders to better explain the mission of the Center.

Goals of the North Central IPM Center

The goals for the proposed North Central IPM Center will be to:

Establish and facilitate a regionally based process for stakeholder identification and prioritization of emerging pest management issues and research, extension and outreach needs to respond to economic, human health, environmental and safety concerns related to pest management practices that enhances collaboration with state programs and other entities;
Serve as a focal point for collaborative team building to develop, improve, maintain and expand IPM practices in the North Central Region;
Enhance the ability of the land-grant system and USDA to provide IPM users, researchers, governmental agencies, and the public with the information and knowledge they need to increase IPM adoption and reduce unreasonable adverse environmental effects from pests and the use of pest management practices;
Ensure accountability and leadership for proper management and distribution of Center resources.

Funding

Funding for the national network of Pest Management Centers was authorized by Section 406 of the Agricultural Research, Extension, and Education Reform Act of 1998. As the result of a competitive process, four Pest Management Centers across the United States were first funded in FY 2000. Management of NCIPMC is a partnership between Michigan State University (Larry Olsen) and University of Illinois (Mike Gray).

Organization

The North Central Pest Management Center is designed to maximize collaboration among individuals and groups with diverse perspectives across the north central region. Broad-based regional participatory leadership assures stakeholder needs are being met. The Advisory Committee and the stakeholder meetings play a key role in gathering input from pest management practitioners. The Steering Committee directs Center staff (the Directors, support staff and the IPM facilitator) in managing information flow. Project leaders funded by the competitive information network grants program not only develop new information as needed but also extend the communications network to the local level.

Host Institutions

Michigan State University and University of Illinois jointly administer NCIPMC. Michigan State University serves as the lead institution for financial management and is ultimately responsible for satisfactory completion of the project. The information network competitive grants program is managed at Michigan State University. The University of Illinois provides leadership for stakeholder input into the pest management priorities needs of the region and manages the IPM Regional competitive grant program.

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