These programs related to soybean insect pests that are of emerging importance in the North Central Region. Unlike the previous submissions, we provided the funding amount for each project, allowing NCSRP board members to choose the projects they want to fund. Each of the proposed programs aims to tackle a specific insect pest in soybean to provide growers with an assessment of a management tactic, the risk of the pest in the region, an evaluation of past funding for future directions, and the delivery of research-based information through extension programming. Soybean gall midge (Program I) emerged as a significant pest in the Midwest in 2019 and is currently found in 176 counties across 7 states (NE, IA, SD, MN, ND, MO, and KS). Growers under significant pest pressure have reported 18-31% yield losses based on average yield loss in the field. The proposed work would provide them with critical resources to time management application, as well as enhance the alert network and detection of SGM in existing and new areas through the identification of a pheromone, identifying sources of host plant resistance, and evaluating insecticide application methods based on grower reports. Soybean tentiform leafminer (Program II) emerged as a pest of soybean in Minnesota in 2021 and has been found in North Dakota and South Dakota. Several research projects are underway to evaluate management tactics, but there is a growing need for a regional effort to determine its distribution and severity in the region. The results from the survey would provide critical information on the presence and the potential risk that this leafminer poses to soybean across the region. The soybean aphid (Program III) remains an important pest in the Midwest, with insecticides being the primary method of control even as resistance continues to spread. Corteva is close to releasing soybean varieties with Rag genes, and it is critical to determine if these varieties would benefit from a fungicide-insecticide tank mix at R3. In addition, three different blends of Rag and susceptible soybean would be compared for differences in aphid infestation and impact on yield. The goal would be to provide growers with recommendations for incorporating Rag soybean into the north-central region. Dectes stem borer (Program IV) has increased its presence and distribution in soybean in the Midwest over the past decade. Dry weather in the fall over the past couple of years has likely resulted in the early girdling of soybean plants, increasing the potential for lodging. There is a general lack of consensus amongst soybean farmers, crop consultants, industry, and academia on the economic losses of soybean plants that are infested but remain standing at harvest. The proposed research aims to determine what losses occur if plants are still standing at harvest and the efficacy of foliar insecticides. In addition, the use of fipronil, although it can’t be commercially applied, would provide an important benchmark for determining the efficacy of foliar applications for farmers trying to manage Dectes stem borer. The suction trap network (Program V) has been a valuable piece of pest-monitoring infrastructure in the Midwest. Of the monitored pests, soybean thrips have become increasingly important as a vector of Soybean vein necrosis virus (SVNV), which can reduce seed protein and oil. SVNV can be monitored through the suction trap network using RNA sequencing of soybean thrips. This project would develop a tool to predict the occurrence and severity of SVNV in four states, providing growers with an important risk management resource and ongoing monitoring of aphids and leafhoppers. A significant amount of impactful research and extension programming has occurred over the last 20 years, in part as a result of NCSRP funding. Program VI aims to understand the impact of entomology-related research and extension funding and generate a needs assessment for future work. Understanding the impact of previous projects is important for developing new project goals to chart a path forward. Most important to this proposal is the extension of deliverables (Program VII) that communicate the results of each program through direct contacts and products to provide state-of-the-art pest management advice to farmers. Several high-value products are being targeted in this program, with the first regional field flipbook on soybean gall midge biology, ecology, and management, a fact sheet on soybean leafminer, and several other products if funded. Currently funded 3D printing grants through USDA, and the expansion of 3D printing to other states provide significant potential for farmers to have hands-on products to enhance their educational experience at field days and other events. Each of the proposed programs will contribute to best management practices for pest management in soybean, and have a positive impact on a farmer’s bottom line.