For the 2025 funding year, SIPMC received 36 proposals with total requested funds of $718,929. Of those, 8 projects were funded, including 5 working groups, for a total of $268,706. Disciplines included Weed Science, Entomology, Plant Pathology, Social Science and Humanities, and Human Health. Cooperating States include 13 of the 15 Southern states and territories, and collaborations outside the Southern region.
The following projects were funded by the Southern IPM Center’s 2025 Southern IPM grants. Click on each one to expand their summaries.
For more details about a project, visit the Grants Management System.
2025 Working Groups
PI: Alma Duran, Migrant Clinicians Network
Amount Funded: $40,000
Farmworkers and their families face significant health and safety risks due to pesticide exposure in their workplaces and homes. These risks can lead to severe health issues, including chronic illnesses, but many workers lack access to timely information on safer practices like Integrated Pest Management (IPM) to protect the crops they harvest, themselves, and their families. Despite the existence of regulations like the Worker Protection Standard (WPS), language barriers, insufficient resources, and a lack of opportunities for collaboration among organizations make it difficult for farmworkers to adopt these practices. This gap poses a major challenge to the health and well-being of farmworkers, their families, and their communities.
To address this issue, Migrant Clinicians Network (MCN) proposes to continue proven Farmworker Collaborative Group meetings, which have successfully brought together organizations, agencies, and key stakeholders from farmworker communities to improve pesticide safety and foster dialogue to address pesticide exposure. With the proposed funding, MCN will introduce IPM to the Farmworker Collaborative Group, offering innovative culturally and linguistically relevant resources, fostering regional partnerships, and enhancing collaboration across organizations that serve farmworkers and their communities. By focusing on IPM, they aim to equip the organizations that serve farmworkers and their families with the knowledge and tools they need to reduce pesticide exposure, protect their health, and promote safer, sustainable farming practices.
By improving access to IPM education and fostering collaboration, this project aims to protect farmworkers, strengthen organizational capacity, and promote sustainable practices that benefit entire communities, ensuring that the people who sustain our agricultural systems are protected and empowered.
PI: Dr. Rebecca Melanson, Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center
Amount Funded: $40,000
Other Co-PDs include: Nicholas Dufault, University of Florida; Thomas Kuhar, Virginia Tech; Inga Meadows, North Carolina State University; and Annette Wszelaki, University of Tennessee
Diseases (pathogens), insects, and weeds threaten vegetable production throughout the United States, including the Southeast. These pests cause negative economic impacts directly through crop damage and indirectly through expenses associated with pest management. Additionally, integrated pest management (IPM) strategies are constantly evolving due to emergence of pesticide resistance and the development of resistant cultivars and improved cultural management strategies, and stakeholders need to continually be informed on the most up-to-date, relevant, and effective IPM methods.
Extension specialists in the Southeast, many of whom are members of the Southeast Vegetable Extension Workers (SEVEW) and who contribute to annual updates of the Handbook, will meet to develop an action plan for SEVEW moving forward to expand the educational opportunities and secure funding to support the production of these key IPM resources for stakeholders. Funding will be used to support editing and/or designing expenses to ensure production of the 2026 Handbook. MyIPM for Vegetables collaborators will build on the content available in the app by creating new pest profiles for existing (cucurbits and tomatoes) and new (brassicas and peppers) crops. SEVEW will also begin hosting webinars on key production and pest management topics for stakeholders. Online evaluation tools will be used to measure the success of activities and document changes in stakeholder IPM knowledge and use.
These resources will enable stakeholders to identify pest issues within their crops more quickly, learn available management strategies and practices for identified pests, make informed decisions or recommendations on the most effective management strategies and practices in their operations, and improve the use of IPM in their operations. In doing so, producers will not only be able to improve management of pests that threaten and damage their crops but also increase product yield, improve product quality, and increase profitability. In addition, the use of IPM will help to prevent the potential over-reliance on the use of pesticides, which will help to sustain product availability and reduce negative impacts on the environment.
PI: Dr. Geoffrey Williams, Auburn University
Amount Funded: $39,831
The primary purpose of this work is to refine the efforts of a newly created working group of researchers and extension specialists, supported by a previous SIPMC IPM Working Group grant, that are focused on developing and promoting IPM of Varroa destructor, a major parasitic mite of honey bees. Varroa has been recognized by the SERA3 IPM group as an established issue and an IPM priority for the Southern region. Identified as priorities by the working group at its inaugural team-building activity, the objectives of the project will be to 1.) Identify optimal Southern winter varroa treatment timing, and 2.) Deliver science-based honey bee & varroa monitoring trainings. These will be achieved by performing output-based research the investigates presence of honey bee brood during winter (obj. 1), and by delivering honey bee and varroa monitoring education via in-person and virtual events and activities to beekeepers (obj. 2). In the short- and medium-term, these efforts are expected to increase Southern beekeepers’ knowledge of opportunities for IPM against varroa, increase the number of beekeepers who employ these opportunities for IPM, such as appropriate monitoring tools and use of organic treatments, as well as increase regional researchers’ knowledge of research priorities and collaborative activities. Ultimately, the working group believes this project will lead to better management of varroa in the Southern region and an increase in collaborative research projects to address varroa mites, the premiere biotic threat to honey bees.
PI: Dr. Maira Duffeck, Oklahoma State University
Amount Funded: $39,979
Corn is the primary feed grain in the U.S., making up more than 95% of corn production and use (USDA ERS 2024). Most U.S. corn is produced in the heartland, whose southernmost region lies in northern Oklahoma. During the 2024 corn season, an outbreak of the corn leafhopper (CLH), Dalbulus maidis (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae), was reported in Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, and Missouri. Likewise, symptoms of corn stunt (CS) disease were observed in several states in the Southern, Great Plains, Corn Belt, and Northeastern regions. In addition, the main pathogen associated with CS (Spiroplasma kunkelii) was molecularly characterized in Oklahoma, Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota, New York, Indiana, and Texas. The CLH is an invasive insect from Mexico and is the most important and widespread economic pest affecting corn production in Latin America. The insect is a dual threat due to the direct injury it causes by feeding on the plant and its ability to vector multiple pathogens associated with CS.
The insect’s re-emergence and expanded incursion into the Great Plains and Corn Belt states could have severe economic consequences for corn production should this pest become established.
Establishing a network for monitoring and developing regional management tools for the CLH and CS throughout the U.S. Southern, Great Plains, and Corn Belt states is needed. A multidisciplinary team of scientists, including plant pathologists and entomologists, from multiple land-grant universities across the U.S. (OK, MO, TX, LA, AR, KS, NE, SD, IA, WI, IN, IL, KY, TN, AL, NY, NM and MN) will monitor the CLH and CS symptoms through the 2025 growing season. Data on CLH abundance and CS symptoms in each state will be reported using the EDDMapS and Corn Stunt Map – as a new product of Corn ipmPIPE. The goal is to leverage existing IPM networks and resources that researchers are familiar with to maximize and reduce duplication of efforts. Establishing a working group will facilitate opportunities for scientists to develop or optimize protocols that allow further studies on insect and CS pathogens detection, research on the ecology and genetics of these pests, and data sharing and knowledge exchange.
PI: Dr. Karen Vail, University of Tennessee
Amount Funded: $19,473
“Delusional infestation is a condition in which patients have a fixed, false belief that they are infested with living creatures, such as bugs, parasites, worms, or mites, or nonliving objects, such as fibers.” Individuals suffering from this condition sense “bugs” biting, stinging, crawling on or under their skin and in an attempt to remove the alleged parasites with fingernails and other sharp tools, creating a repetitive cycle of wounds, scabs, and scars. Delusional infestation (DI) individuals may be responsible for the greatest misapplication of indoor pesticides as they attempt to rid the parasites with pesticides applied unsafely to their bodies and environment, thus potentially further irritating their skin. Those suffering from this condition often bring samples to the Extension agent, pest management professional or entomologist to determine the cause of their irritation. These professionals spend more time and have more repeat interactions with a suspected DI individual than with regular inquiries.
The Southern Region Delusional Infestations Working Group proposes to create a local medical and entomological network by holding a conference to educate the healthcare community about this condition and treatment options, and to “brainstorm” how all professionals (Extension personnel, PMPs, dermatologists, psychiatrists, primary care physicians, etc.) affected by this condition can work together to bring those suffering from DI closer to remission. The project also plans to document the process of creating these local medical and entomological networks so others can replicate the process. In addition to having better outcomes for the DI individual, Extension agents, pest management professionals and entomologists expect to see less repeat visits from suspected DI individuals.
2025 Seed Grants
PI: Dr. Te Ming (Paul) Tseng, Mississippi State University
Amount Funded: $29,995
The Southern U.S. faces a significant challenge in soybean production due to herbicide-resistant weeds, particularly Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri). This aggressive weed has evolved resistance to multiple herbicide modes of action, including glyphosate and PPO inhibitors, increasing production costs and reducing yields. Current management strategies often rely heavily on synthetic herbicides, which are losing efficacy and pose environmental risks. There is an urgent need for sustainable, effective, and environmentally friendly weed management solutions to maintain soybean productivity and profitability while protecting soil and ecosystem health.
This project proposes an integrated weed management strategy that combines bioherbicides derived from natural plant compounds, caffeic acid, coumarin, and chlorogenic acid, with cover cropping practices using cereal rye and crimson clover.
The integrated use of bioherbicides and cover crops has the potential to transform soybean production in the Southern U.S. by providing a sustainable, multi-faceted approach to managing herbicide-resistant weeds with anticipated impacts including environmental benefits, improved weed control, enhanced soil health, economic gains for farmers, knowledge transfer and adoption.
PI: Dr. Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdivia, Virginia Tech
Amount Funded: $30,000
Mealybugs have become a key pest for open-field nurseries growing ornamental plants in Virginia. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been lost due to the inability to sell mealybug infested ornamental plants, especially when selling them across State lines. In addition, nursery growers are spending significant amounts of money on their pest management budgets to control this insect during the past three years. Nursery growers in Virginia and elsewhere have a need for science-based solutions to successfully manage this insect.
This seed project is proposing using boxwood as a case study to promote the scouting of this key pest in the field, as well as understanding the preference of mealybugs for different boxwood cultivars. Having an established monitoring method for this pest will impact insecticide use, reducing non-target effects on the beneficials in affected systems. Knowing what cultivars are more susceptible to mealybugs will also inform growers on how to prioritize monitoring by scouting the most susceptible boxwood cultivars first. And, to maximize chemical control of this pest, one additional goal of this project is to evaluate the efficacy of several insecticide active ingredients and regimes under field conditions to reduce mealybugs populations in boxwood. Ultimately, generated information from this proposal will inform mealybug management programs for nurseries in Virginia and across the region.
PI: Dr. Ruchika Kashyap, University of Georgia
Amount Funded: $29,428
The demand for healthy, organic, and sustainably produced food products is steadily increasing, along with the diversity of methods used for cultivating them. These systems range from community gardens, home gardens, and rooftop farms to urban farms utilizing hoop houses, high tunnels, and advanced controlled structures like hydroponics, aeroponics, and vertical farms. However, small urban production systems have historically been overlooked in terms of addressing plant disease challenges and developing best management practices, especially when compared to large-scale commercial production systems. Moreover, the emerging indoor production systems remain understudied, primarily due to their diverse configurations and relatively recent development. The variability in these systems, as well as the range of experience among those managing them, significantly impacts plant health.
There is a critical knowledge gap in understanding plant disease challenges within diverse urban production systems, particularly in terms of extension and outreach efforts. This seed project aims to address these gaps by investigating disease challenges in urban environments, generating data to educate a diverse range of stakeholders, and building a foundation to develop integrated disease management strategies by producing baseline information that will help leveraging transdisciplinary expertise, to create both local and regional impacts on sustainable plant disease management in urban agriculture. They aim to do this by dividing the urban scenarios into four macro areas – community gardens, hoop house/high tunnel production, traditional greenhouses, and high-tech controlled environments.
The overarching goals of this project are to 1) identify major disease pathogen challenges, including incidence and severity, in four distinct urban vegetable production settings; 2) evaluate current production practices and their impact on pathogen distribution, by comparative analysis of pathogen incidence and severity in different facilities; and 3) develop educational resources and opportunities for practitioners, gardeners, growers, and other stakeholders involved in urban vegetable production.