North Central Regional IR-4

In 2024 North Central Region individuals conducted 106 research studies in the Environmental Horticulture and Food Use programs.

Environmental Horticulture

Five individuals in MI and OH conducted 7 crop safety pesticide trials and 6 efficacy trials. These trials will continue in 2025. Pictured above is an ornamental crop safety trial for testing phytotoxicity of different pesticides in container production (Dr. Debalina Saha’s lab). Other pests researched include, but are not limited to, aphid, root aphid, phytopthora, boxwood foliar disease, botrytis, pythium, phytopythium, and the application of nematodes for pest control. More information on the ongoing environmental horticulture projects can be found here.

In 2025, individuals from the North Central Region will represent the region's needs at the Environmental Horticultural Workshop. Projects will be voted on for funding in 2026-2027.

Food Use

Fourteen researchers in MI, WI, ND, OH, and IN conducted 63 food crop trials, 23 product performance trials, and 7 integrated solution projects. In the picture above Celeste Wheeler is performing a boom calibration and Amber DeVisser is recording the calibration in the eFDB for a 2024 residue study in cherry.

At the 2024 Food Use Workshop, the North Central Region was able to secure testing products in Sweet potato, lettuce, spinach, pea, bean, tomato, pepper, cucumber, apple pear, cherry, peach, plum, caneberry, blueberry, strawberry, cranberry, sweet corn, canola, sunflower, basil, mint, field pennycress, hemp, and hops. North Central Regional projects selected for integrated solutions include studies in tomato, curcubits, squash, blueberry, mustard, brassicas, and melon. More information on these projects can be found on the IR-4 Food Use Workshop website.

Regional Highlights

The national IR-4 website highlighted the importance of IR-4’s research in cranberry. The article titled "Supporting a “Special” Specialty Crop: How IR-4 Helps Cranberry Growers Succeed" can be found here.

Allison Robinson, an IR-4 researcher at Ohio State, received the Technical Service Award in 2023 and was selected for a special interview. To read about Allison’s work with IR-4 click here.

For more articles on IR-4 individuals, research, and events visit the national website news page.

Annual Reports

• 2024 NCR IR-4 Annual Report
• 2023 NCR IR-4 Annual Report
• 2022 NCR IR-4 Annual Report
• 2021 NCR IR-4 Annual Report
• 2020 NCR IR-4 Annual Report
• 2019 NCR IR-4 Annual Report
• 2018 NCR IR-4 Annual Report
• 2016-2017 NCR IR-4 Annual Report
• 2016 NCR IR-4 Annual Report
• 2015 NCR IR-4 Annual Report
• 2014 NCR IR-4 Annual Report

Have a pest management problem (or solution) in mind?
Connect with the NCR team to get involved, submit a Project Request, or seek assistance:

Regional Field Coordinator:
Nicole Soldan
Michigan State University
Plant and Soil Sciences Building, Room A448
1066 Bogue St.
East Lansing, MI 48824
(517) 353-0416
schroe65@msu.edu