** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF SUGAR BEET CYST NEMATODE PROPOSAL AIMS TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF DECLINING SUGAR BEET YIELDS DUE TO INFESTATIONS OF THE SUGAR BEET CYST NEMATODE, A MICROSCOPIC PEST THAT ATTACKS THE ROOTS OF SUGAR BEETS, CAUSING UP TO 60% YIELD LOSSES AND REDUCING THE PROFITABILITY OF SUGAR BEET FARMING. CURRENT MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES ARE NOT VERY EFFECTIVE, SO THE PROJECT WILL EVALUATE NEW SUSTAINABLE TREATMENTS INCLUDING MANURE-BASED COMPOSTS, ROTATING SOURCES OF RESISTANCE AND TOLERANT VARIETIES OF SUGAR BEETS, AND COVER CROPS TO REDUCE NEMATODE NUMBERS.TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM, THE PROJECT WILL USE A RANGE OF SCIENTIFIC METHODS TO STUDY THE NEMATODE'S ECOLOGY AND POPULATION DYNAMICS, DEVELOP AND TEST SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES, IMPLEMENT INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS, AND CONDUCT EDUCATION AND OUTREACH EFFORTS TO PROMOTE THE ADOPTION OF SUSTAINABLE NEMATODE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. THE PROJECT WILL COLLECT DATA THROUGH FIELD TRIALS, LABORATORY ANALYSIS, AND SURVEYS TO INFORM ITS TARGET AUDIENCE OF SUGAR BEET FARMERS, CROP CONSULTANTS, STAKEHOLDERS, NEMATOLOGISTS, AND EXTENSION FACULTY MEMBERS THROUGH EXTENSION BULLETINS, PUBLICATIONS, AND TALKS AT FARM CONVENTIONS IN FOUR SUGAR BEET-PRODUCING STATES.THROUGH ITS RESEARCH AND OUTREACH EFFORTS, THE PROJECT AIMS TO ACHIEVE THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF SUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF THE SUGAR BEET CYST NEMATODE. IF SUCCESSFUL, THIS WILL RESULT IN INCREASED SUGAR BEET YIELDS AND PROFITABILITY FOR FARMERS, REDUCED ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF SUGAR BEET FARMING, AND INCREASED ADOPTION OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURAL PRACTICES. OVERALL, THE PROJECT AIMS TO HAVE A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE SUGAR BEET INDUSTRY, THE ENVIRONMENT, AND SOCIETY AS A WHOLE.