These projects were funded by the Western IPM Center’s 2026 grants.
For more details about a project, or to find one not listed here, see the Recent Projects page or use the search function on the IPM Projects Interagency Database.
Project Initiation
A Path Towards Cultural Management of Fusarium Canker in Hop
Project Director: Cynthia Ocamb, Oregon State University
Fusarium canker, caused primarily by the fungus Fusarium sambucinum, is an increasingly serious disease in hop production. The fungus causes cankers that can girdle stems and rot the perennial crown and rootstock, sometimes leading to catastrophic losses of entire plantings. It also produces mycotoxins of concern for animal and human health. Once considered a minor problem, severe outbreaks are now increasingly common – particularly in Washington state, which accounts for approximately three-quarters of U.S. hop production. Despite this, relatively little is known about the basic biology of the disease or effective management strategies.
This project will develop foundational knowledge on F. sambucinum and Fusarium canker to inform cultural control measures and practical management guidance. Researchers will characterize populations of the fungus from diverse hosts to determine whether hop-derived isolates are host-specialized, and will quantify how varying irrigation regimes affect disease development. Results will be communicated broadly to stakeholder partners to accelerate learning.
This work is timely, builds on existing expertise and resources and will provide the knowledge needed to guide future research and extension efforts. By establishing a clearer understanding of how this disease spreads and develops, the project will help growers and advisors make more informed, evidence-based management decisions and lay the groundwork for future integrated management strategies in hop production.
Improving IPM of a Resurgent Pest of Rice: Characterizing Armyworm Damage During Panicle Development
Project Director: Luis Espino, University of California
Armyworms (Mythimna unipuncta) have emerged as a resurgent pest of rice in California, but growers and pest control advisors currently lack the information needed to make well-timed, informed decisions about when (and whether) to apply insecticides during the heading stage of crop development. Without clear thresholds or injury data, growers risk either unnecessary applications or preventable yield loss.
This project will conduct greenhouse studies during the summer of 2026 to address three key questions: which stages of panicle development are most susceptible to armyworm injury; how does injury potential differ between early and late larval instars; and what is the effect on yield of armyworm damage to panicles. Rice plants will be caged at different stages of panicle development and infested with field-collected armyworms of varying sizes and densities. Researchers will record the number of injured panicles, broken branches, kernels per broken branch and grain weight.
Results will be shared with stakeholders through articles and presentations. After two additional years of replication, UC IPM management guidelines will be updated to reflect the findings. This work will give rice growers and pest control advisors the evidence-based information they need to more accurately assess whether insecticide applications targeting armyworms during heading are warranted, ultimately reducing unnecessary treatments and protecting yield.
Drone Applications for Invasive Plant Management: Hairy Willow-Herb Management in Northern Colorado
Project Director: Dr. Jacob Courkamp, Colorado State University
Hairy willow-herb is an invasive perennial weed that forms dense stands in wetlands; clogging waterways, crowding out native vegetation and degrading wildlife habitat. Listed as a noxious weed in Colorado, it is a target for eradication wherever it occurs. However, detecting hairy willow-herb among other wetland vegetation – especially in larger, difficult-to-access sites – remains a significant challenge for land managers. Remote sensing using unmanned aerial systems offers a promising solution, but research into drone-based detection of this species has been limited.
This project will implement and evaluate drone-based remote sensing methods to detect hairy willow-herb across at least three sites in northern Colorado. Researchers will conduct three flights at each site: early summer when the plant is small relative to surrounding vegetation, mid-summer when it is more easily distinguished, and post-treatment to document herbicide application effectiveness. Field vegetation surveys will validate aerial data. The project will also examine environmental characteristics, such as topography and co-occurring vegetation, that contribute to hairy willow-herb invasion and will document ongoing drone-based herbicide applications by county weed managers.
Results will be shared through an outreach document published through Colorado State University Extension and a stakeholder webinar with regional reach. While focused on hairy willow-herb, the detection and mapping techniques developed have broad potential application for other invasive plant species, making this work valuable beyond a single target weed.
Harnessing Soil Microbes for Resilient Restoration in Extreme Weather
Project Director: Trace Martyn, Oregon State University
Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) has invaded more than 50 million acres of rangeland in the Western United States, reducing cattle forage, increasing wildfire frequency and degrading wildlife habitat. Despite millions of dollars invested in restoration, efforts to displace cheatgrass often fall short – in part because the plant alters soil microbial communities to create conditions that are inhospitable to native species. As extreme weather events become more frequent and intense, restoration success is increasingly threatened, and cost-effective, resilient approaches are urgently needed.
This project will trial a novel seed technology, inoculated soil seed coatings, as a more efficient method to restore cheatgrass-invaded rangelands. Researchers will first characterize soil microbial community composition across six sites in five states, then determine how microbial composition from those sites affects germination and seedling growth of two native forage species: Sandberg bluegrass and bottlebrush squirreltail. A proof-of-concept study will test whether inoculated seed coatings can support seedling emergence and growth in cheatgrass-dominated soils, and whether they improve plant resilience under experimental drought and heatwave conditions.
Outcomes will be presented at the Society for Range Management Annual Meeting and through the Oregon State University Extension activities, with at least two peer-reviewed papers and companion outreach flyers planned. If successful, this foundational work will support further development of inoculated seed coating technology into a scalable rangeland restoration tool across the U.S. West.
Integrated Management of Thrips Species Complex Using Entomopathogenic Fungi in Wyoming Grass Seed Production Systems
Project Director: Dr. Nupur Sarkar, University of Wyoming
Grass seed production is an essential component of Wyoming agriculture, but producers in the state have reported increasing damage from thrips. The insects feed on seed heads, causing floret whitening, sterility and seed scarring. While one thrips species is recognized as dominant, field observations suggest that other species may also contribute to damage. Despite the economic significance of this pest pressure, no systematic effort has been made to identify the full thrips species complex in Wyoming or to develop management strategies suited to the region’s unique grass-seed systems. Current reliance on broad-spectrum insecticides provides only short-term control and raises concerns about resistance and secondary pest outbreaks.
This project will lay the groundwork for an integrated pest management framework for thrips in Wyoming’s perennial grass seed systems. Year-round field monitoring will document the composition and seasonal patterns of the thrips complex, while greenhouse trials will evaluate the effectiveness of two entomopathogenic fungi – Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae – as biological control options. Extension activities will include fact sheets, pest alerts, field day demonstrations and a Western IPM webinar.
Short-term outcomes include species identification and preliminary biocontrol data. Over time, adoption of microbial control and monitoring practices is expected to reduce pesticide use and improve thrips-management outcomes. This project also aims to build coordinated IPM strategies across major grass seed-producing states, including Oregon, Idaho and Washington, where thrips pose significant risks to seed certification and export value.
Outreach and Implementation
Building Capacity for Tribal Ranchers and Producers to Battle Against New World Screwworms
Project Director: Dr. Shujuan Li, University of Arizona
The New World screwworm is a devastating invasive pest whose larvae burrow into the flesh of living animals, causing serious injury and even death to livestock and other mammals. Eradicated from the United States in 1966, a recent outbreak has prompted border surveillance, livestock import suspensions and emergency preparedness measures. A potential resurgence could devastate the livestock industry, disrupt the food supply and pose risks to human health.
Arizona is the only U.S. state in which more than half of all ranchers and farmers are Native Americans. This project builds IPM capacity for tribal ranchers and producers in Arizona, as well as those in New Mexico, Utah and California. These communities face unique challenges due to cultural practices tied to their status as sovereign nations. Working in partnership with state and university veterinarians, livestock specialists and Tribal Extension agents, the team will deliver in-person New World screwworm and IPM workshops featuring live animal demonstrations, hands-on activities and practical lectures on animal care. Veterinarians will demonstrate proper vaccination techniques and injury prevention. The project will also train educators and agency staff to sustain and expand outreach, and will provide mentorship opportunities for tribal staff, students and youth.
Expected outcomes include improved awareness of New World screwworm and IPM practices among tribal producers, a more positive attitude toward adopting biosecurity best practices and stronger engagement with underserved stakeholder communities. Lessons learned will be shared broadly through the Western multistate IPM project work group, University of Arizona Cooperative Extension and partner organizations, multiplying the project’s long-term impact.
Intermountain West Small Fruit and Grape Production Guide
Project Director: Dr. Emilie Demard, Utah State University
Small fruits and grapes can provide diversified income for small-scale specialty farms and support agritourism, but growers in the Intermountain West face environmental conditions that complicate both plant health and pest management. Most available production resources come from other regions with different climates, soils and pest pressures. A recent survey of commercial farmers in the region found that while irrigation and variety selection were top priorities, 17 percent of respondents were unsure which pests were causing problems in their crops, highlighting a real need for region-specific IPM guidance.
This project will develop a comprehensive print and online production guide for small fruits and grapes tailored to Intermountain West conditions. Led by Utah State University, the team includes extension specialists in entomology, horticulture, viticulture and IPM from Colorado, Idaho, Montana and Utah. The guide will address variety selection, establishment, irrigation and pest identification and management. Supplementary outreach will include one webinar, a half-day workshop, five presentations at commercial fruit events across the partner states and newsletter and social media content.
The project aims to achieve a 40 percent increase in knowledge of cold-hardy varieties, crop establishment and pest identification, as well as a 40 percent increase in IPM adoption among participants. Evaluation will be conducted through postcard surveys included with the guide and post-event assessments. The guide will also serve the large home gardener audience – nearly 1,900 respondents expressed interest in similar materials in the regional survey – and will be updated over time using evaluation feedback.
Work Groups
Pulse Crop Working Group 2026
Project Director: Uta McKelvy, Montana State University
Pulse crops such as field peas, chickpeas and lentils play a vital role in sustainable agriculture across semi-arid regions of the United States. These crops improve soil health through biological nitrogen fixation while requiring less water and fertilizer than traditional commodity crops. Increasing domestic interest in plant-based proteins has further increased demand, but rising pulse crop production has also brought challenges including soil-borne diseases, herbicide-resistant weeds and fungicide-resistant pathogens.
The continuing Pulse Crop Working Group will address these challenges by promoting collaborative research, cross-regional networking, and the development of integrated pest management solutions. In 2026, the group will foster relationships among researchers, extension professionals, students and industry stakeholders through in-person, hybrid and virtual meetings. Key activities include facilitating participation of graduate students and early-career professionals, assessing grower and industry needs and producing educational materials and timely pest updates through a Pulse Crop Working Group website.
Formerly funded by the North Central IPM Center, the working group has secured nearly $9 million in collaborative grants and produced peer-reviewed articles, extension publications and diagnostic tools. This continued investment will advance sustainable pest management practices across the Western United States, strengthening the pulse crop community’s capacity to identify and respond to emerging pest and disease challenges.