My current research focuses on the broad area of insect pest management in field crops – primarily corn and soybeans. I have responsibilities in both research and extension and this mix affords me the opportunity to blend a love of biology with an affinity for tackling real-world problems.

Although insect pest management in these large-scale production systems has made tremendous advances in the past two decades, the adaptive nature of biological systems ensures that we will constantly be forced to improve upon existing methods – there truly are no silver bullets.

Most pest management in these cropping systems is done before planting. For example, the vast majority of corn and soybeans planted in North America are genetically-modified crops. Most corn expresses at least one Bt toxin targeting insects and both corn and soybeans are typically herbicide-tolerant. In addition, all corn and most soybean seeds are treated with a broad-spectrum insecticide prior to planting. These approaches have many benefits, but also pose unique challenges. These include a heavy reliance on a relatively short list of insecticidal toxins over millions of acres of cropland. This imposes heavy selection pressures on insects living in and near agricultural fields; this includes pests and non-pests alike.

Research questions being investigated in my program typically address some of the “unintended consequences” of our current approaches to pest management in these systems. Large-scale agriculture is more necessary than ever for our global food demands. With this in mind, the larger goal of my work is improving the long-term sustainability of pest management approaches in these important cropping systems