Washington, DC, USA
November 17, 2009

The Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities (APLU) awarded the Experiment Station Section Award for Excellence in Multistate Research to the multistate project Biology, Impact and Management of Soybean Insect Pests in Soybean Production Systems during its annual meeting in Washington, DC this week. The project’s work has formed the foundation for extension efforts on national and regional soybean insect problems for more than 30 years.

The current project, supported the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), includes researchers and extension personnel from 18 land-grant universities throughout the south and north central regions.

The project, also called S-1039, has recently focused on the soybean aphid (Aphis glycines), which resulted in a new pest management tool for soybean growers in North America. Survey results of growers within the north central region reveal widespread adoption of the project’s recommendations. When considering the recommendations for using insecticides against the soybean aphid, the initial estimates indicate a projected savings to growers of $1.3 billion in the next 15 years.

Members of the S-1039 successfully leveraged NIFA funding to attract funding for outreach from multiple partners representing many agricultural stakeholders. With the arrival of the soybean aphid, check-off programs provided $500,000 to $1.5 million per year to members of the project. In addition, members are cooperating with multiple agribusiness partners, resulting in additional funding in the amount of $20,000 to $100,000 per year. The S-1039 project serves as an excellent model of multistate collaboration between institutions, working with stakeholders and providing leadership in partnering with private organizations.

The multistate research program, authorized by the Hatch Act, enables research on high priority topics among the State Agricultural Experiment Stations (SAES) in partnership with NIFA, other research institutions and agencies and with the Cooperative Extension Service. In this way, technological opportunities and complex problem-solving activities, which are beyond the scope of a single SAES, can be approached in a more efficient and comprehensive way. These activities involve cooperative, jointly planned research employing multidisciplinary approaches. They are oriented toward accomplishment of specific outcomes and impacts and based on priorities developed from stakeholder input and are responsive to NIFA goals.

Through federal funding and leadership for research, education and extension programs, NIFA focuses on investing in science and solving critical issues impacting people's daily lives and the nation's future. For more information, visit www.nifa.usda.gov. 

Published: November 17, 2009