During the growing season, Extension Faculty with responsibilities in weed, insect pest, and plant disease management on grain and forage crops meet virtually every two weeks with County Extension Agents around the state through “In the Weeds with IPM”. These 60-minute discussions help provide County Extension Agents with timely information on pertinent weed, insect pest, and plant disease threats to grain and forage crops growing across the state. In addition, the discussions help keep Extension faculty up to date with what is happening with crop progress and management in all corners of the state. 

From July 2023 to the end of August 2023, 143 individuals participated in “In the Weeds with IPM” biweekly discussion. When “In the Weeds with IPM” resumed in March 2024, and continued through June 2024, 114 individuals participated. At the conclusion of the 2023 growing season, agents completed a survey on the importance of these bi-weekly discussions, with 85 percent strongly agreeing that the information from the calls was beneficial to their role as a County Agent. One hundred percent of the agents surveyed indicated they shared information with stakeholders that they learned from the “In the Weeds with IPM” discussions. 

Comments from agents indicated the biweekly discussion were “informative and beneficial”. Respondents described the calls as educational and helped keep them aware of matters occurring across the state. They also said the discussions were a “great chance to keep current on timely situations”. 

“In the Weeds with IPM” has been a successful way for County Extension Agents and Extension Faculty to stay on top of current integrated pest management issues in grain and forage crop fields across the state during the growing season. The information learned from the discussions is shared with stakeholders across the state, leading to informed, science-based management decisions on the farm.