Plan Now to Attend the Northeast Regional Community and Urban IPM Conference

Community and urban settings present special challenges when it comes to managing pests. In our homes, schools, parks, golf courses, roadways, and other public spaces, a growing importance is placed on using low-risk, environmentally sound methods to control insects, diseases, weeds, and wildlife pests. Next March, researchers, educators, regulators, and pest managers from across the Northeast will gather to share their insights and expertise on the emerging issues of community and urban integrated pest management (IPM).

The Northeast Regional Community and Urban IPM Conference will be held March 15-16, 2005, in Manchester, New Hampshire. Conference sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including:

• Sound management practices in the urban forest and landscape settings
• IPM for structures such as homes, schools, and other buildings
• Successes and innovations for IPM in turf settings such as parks, athletic fields and golf courses
• IPM education and outreach in schools, homes, and throughout communities using a variety of communication techniques
• Pressures from invasive species in the urban environment
• Public health issues such as West Nile virus and other vector borne diseases
• Wildlife control methods within communities
• Innovative inclusion of agriculture in the urban environment.

Anyone involved with the management of pests in buildings, parks, gardens, golf courses, nurseries, athletic fields, homes, schools or other urban settings is encouraged to attend this event. Public educators will be introduced to new techniques in teaching and communication. Research and extension personnel will be able to compare and contrast IPM methods used in urban settings. Practitioners will learn about promising new IPM techniques. All participants can expect to come away with a wealth of new ideas and a fresh perspective on IPM in community and urban settings.

Those who attend this conference, partially sponsored by the Northeastern IPM Center, can participate in panel and group discussions, workshops, and poster sessions, with opportunities to learn about success stories from the field as well as new and promising research and extension work. Some sessions will offer the attendees an opportunity to participate in the development of lists that identify IPM needs in research and extension for community IPM in the Northeast. These lists are used to help direct agencies that fund IPM research and extension. The information and networking opportunities at the meeting will be invaluable for all who are working toward pesticide risk reduction, improving community health and safety, and raising awareness about highly effective, least-risk pest management practices. Recertification credits will be offered.

Plan now to attend this important regional event. For more information, visit the conference web site (http://nepmc.org/conference2005_index.cfm) or contact Liz Thomas (315-787-2626 egt3@cornell.edu). Opportunities remain for organizations and businesses to exhibit at the conference, to join the financial sponsors, or to volunteer in conference organization.