This project will cover 50% of total cost for purchasing a new Generation 4 – Research Track-Sprayer that will be used for soybean pest management research at the University of Minnesota. Mostly, the Entomology and Weed Science group will use this spray chamber for pesticide efficacy and resistance monitoring work in insect and weed populations from MN and the upper Midwest. This spray chamber will also be used to test new insecticides and herbicides as alternate control options for resistant pests, and to evaluate control options for new pests. Research aiming towards containing invasive species such as Palmer amaranth will need this spray chamber for pesticide application. However, this spray chamber will also be available to other researchers working on soybean disease management, soybean nutrient management, and soybean improvement. Results obtained from the abovementioned studies will be presented at different Extension and Outreach events. This project will improve the capacity of the soybean pest management team at the University of Minnesota to serve their clientele better.

1) To purchase a track-sprayer for soybean pest management research

2) To provide timely research-based information to the stakeholders in Minnesota

This team comprises three faculty with Extension appointments and a Crops Extension Educator. The results of the research conducted using this spray chamber will be presented at several Extension events at UMN and at the Crop Pest Management (CPM) Short Course, where the majority of the audience consists of seed company agronomists, farmers, fertilizer/plant protection dealers, and independent crop consultants who influence over three million acres of croplands in the state. Project results will also be demonstrated in various non-UMN events such as Ag-Expo, and Farmfest. The information obtained from this research will also be disseminated using web-based platforms, including, but not limited to, the MN Crop News (over 1,600 subscribers), regional Extension crop newsletters, radio spots, and Minne-Line articles. Peer-reviewed scientific articles will also be published from the research conducted using the spray chamber. This spray chamber will be useful for graduate and undergraduate students, and Extension Educators in their educational efforts and project work. Demonstration materials (e.g., herbicide sites-of-action identification, spray quality/pattern, and proper nozzle use, etc.) prepared using the spray chamber will be displayed in the Field School for Ag Professionals in which more than 160 Ag retailers, crop scouts, farmers, and agronomists attend every year.

Update:

View uploaded report

Update:
Attached. Nothing changed since we submitted the last report.

View uploaded report

Upon approval, this proposal will fund 50% of the total cost for a new track-spray chamber that will be used extensively in the soybean pest management research and outreach in MN. The Weed Science and Entomology groups at UMN will screen pest populations for pesticide resistance and update MN soybean growers about the occurrence and distribution of resistant weed or insect populations in a timely fashion. Also, this team will evaluate alternate pesticide options for managing these pests in soybean. Moreover, demonstration materials will be developed using this spray chamber to educate the soybean growers, crop scouts, and agronomists. The ultimate goal of this team is to increase soybean yield, quality, and profitability in MN.