ABSTRACT
The arid climate of the western states greatly limits airborne pathogens and insect pests. Substantial numbers of scientists in the West in experiment stations, Agricultural Research Service (ARS), and extension are involved in activities related to the management of the semiarid dryland and semiarid irrigated agroecosystems. "Pest complexes" include a broad range of individual pest problems or conglomerates of pest problems that lend naturally or logically to a focus within a commodity or across commodities. The organization of the western regional integrated pest and agroecosystem management project is a significant departure from the more traditional format for supervising regional projects. This interdisciplinary, multicommodity program requires a substantial cooperative effort from administrative units in ARS, extension, experiment stations, resident instruction, and agribusiness. For dryland agriculture and more specifically dryland wheat, water stress and associated soilborne disease problems are more evident in the western states than in any other wheat-growing area of the United States.
