RESEARCH (26%) The research and education program has focused on the ecology of mole crickets and management strategies for green June beetle grubs, a proactive pheromone monitoring and degree day forecast for Oriental beetles (which recently invaded western North Carolina),, southern chinch bugs, ground pearls, as well as Japanese and southern masked chafer grubs, and more recently on imported fire ants. Dr. Brandenburg teaches the warm season turfgrass insect management seminar for the Golf Course Superintendents of America Assoc. Peanut research emphasizes cost effective management of southern corn rootworms, host plant resistance, and use of cultural practices to manage tomato spotted wilt virus. Dr. Brandenburg has collaborated with Drs. Yelverton and Rufty, from the Department of Crop Science at NC State University to develop the Turfgrass Environmental Research and Education Center. Dr. Brandenburg is the Co-director of the Center along with Dr. Tom Rufty. The Center receives more than $600,000 in annual recurring contributions to fund turfgrass research and education programs at NC State University.