**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 WESTERN BEAN CUTWORM (WBC; STRIACOSTA ALBICOSTA) IS AN INSECT PEST THAT CAN CAUSE SEVERE DAMAGE ON CORN EARS BY LARVAL FEEDING. ONLY THE VIP3A BT PROTEIN CAN PROVIDE ADEQUATE PROTECTION FROM WBC BUT IT IS NOT AVAILABLE IN ALL CORN HYBRIDS. IN INTENSIVE CORN PRODUCTION, MOST GROWERS APPLY INSECTICIDES BY AIRPLANE, BUT SPRAY COVERAGE IS NOT UNIFORM. SOME GROWERS APPLY INSECTICIDES THROUGH THE IRRIGATION SYSTEM (CHEMIGATION). INADEQUATE INSECTICIDE APPLICATION MAY LEAD TO FAILURES OF WBC CONTROL IN CORN. EXPOSING THIS PEST TO SUBLETHAL DOSAGES MAY LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF INSECTICIDE RESISTANCE. THUS, GOOD COVERAGE OF TREATED PLANTS SHOULD BE THE GOAL OF PESTICIDE APPLICATIONS.OBJECTIVES: 1) COMPARE THE EFFICACY AND EFFICIENCY OF AERIAL AND CHEMIGATION APPLICATIONS IN THE FIELD AS A PART OF ON-FARM RESEARCH TO OPTIMIZE PEST CONTROL AND SPRAY CHARACTERISTICS (E.G., COVERAGE, CANOPY PENETRATION, AND CARRIER VOLUME); 2) SIMULATE AERIAL AND CHEMIGATION APPLICATIONS IN CONTROLLED CONDITIONS WITH FIELD-COLLECTED POPULATIONS TO CONFIRM THE EFFECT OF CERTAIN APPLICATION METHODS AND INSECTICIDES ON SPRAY EFFICIENCY AND PEST CONTROL EFFICACY; 3) COMMUNICATE KNOWLEDGE GAINED BY PROVIDING RESULTS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO FARMERS, CROP CONSULTANTS, AND PROFESSIONAL APPLICATORS TO IMPACT PEST MANAGEMENT DECISION-MAKING.IMPACT: INCREASED KNOWLEDGE OF APPLICATION METHODS LEAD TO GREATER INSECTICIDE EFFICACY AND EFFICIENCY, WHICH CAN PROVIDE BETTER RESISTANCE MANAGEMENT AND ENSURE FARMERS WITH MORE TOOLS FOR WBC CONTROL IN THE FUTURE. THIS PROJECT WILL ADDRESS CRITICAL CHALLENGES USING AN INTEGRATED RESEARCH AND EXTENSION PROJECT ADDRESSING USDA'S CARE PROGRAM AREA PRIORITY BY DEVELOPING, IMPROVING, AND TARGETING CRUCIAL PRODUCERS' PROBLEMS FOCUSED ON CROP PRODUCTION, PESTICIDE APPLICATION AND PROTECTION, PLANT HEALTH, AND FOOD QUALITY.