IPM News and Events Roundup 04/04/2025

IPM News and Events Roundup

A weekly collection of IPM news, webinars, employment, funding opportunities, and more from the Northeastern IPM Center

If you have IPM-related research, events, or other IPM news you would like to have included, please email Jerrie Haines at jlh472@cornell.edu . If you would like to subscribe to the weekly Roundup, please email northeastipm@cornell.edu. Past Roundups are archived on our website.

This work is supported by The Northeastern IPM Center, project reward Grant #2022-70006-38004, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. government determination or policy.

Connect with the Northeastern IPM Center

Northeastern IPM Center News

Annual Report, 2024

The topics and programs highlighted in this report illustrate the impact of the Northeastern IPM Center on the study and implementation of IPM through our activities in 2024.

GROW: Bringing Research and Tools for Integrated Weed Management to Farmers

April 8, 2025 – 11:00 a.m. (eastern)

Register at cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_D-9H8leLR56d1zmGTVJn0g#/registration

The webinar will be recorded for anyone unable to attend the live session.

Description

GROW (Getting Rid of Weeds) is a nationwide collaborative network of scientists and communications professionals working to coordinate and promote research on integrated weed management (IWM) to help farmers fight herbicide resistance. This webinar will introduce their outreach platform, IWM resources, and ongoing research on topics such as cover crops, harvest weed seed control, and precision weed management.

Emily Unglesbee

Director of Outreach & Extension, GROW/Virginia Tech

Emily oversees outreach and communications for the GROW network, and helps manage the organization’s flagship website, www.growiwm.org, as well as its travel and content production. Her background is in journalism (she earned an MA in Journalism & Mass Communications from the University of Missouri), and she reported on crop production for DTN/The Progressive Farmer as a staff reporter for a decade before her transition to GROW in 2022.

Michael Flessner

Extension Weed Specialist, Virginia Tech

Michael is an Associate Professor of Weed Science at Virginia Tech. He earned his MS and PhD in Crop, Soil and Environmental Sciences from Auburn University. His current research and extension program focuses on solving weed management challenges currently facing Virginia, with emphasis placed on sustainable and economic solutions to problems like mounting herbicide resistance. He also co-leads the GROW network.

John Wallace

Extension Weed Specialist, Pennsylvania State University

John Wallace is an Associate Professor of Weed Science and Extension Specialist at Penn State University. His extension and research program focuses on developing integrated weed management practices in field and forage crop systems that utilize no-tillage or conservation tillage. He is also a member of the GROW network’s leadership team.

Pesticide Label Changes Brought on by the Endangered Species Act

April 29, 2025 – 11:00 a.m. (eastern)

Register at cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_pFWLC05_TyGcd9BAUeZjBw#/registration

The webinar will be recorded for anyone unable to attend the live session.

Description

This training will cover the following topics:

Why are pesticide labels undergoing changes to protect endangered/threatened species?
What changes can you expect to see on pesticide labeling?
How implementable are these changes? How can you ensure you are compliant?
What is the current status of ESA-required label changes?
Where can I find more resources on this topic?

Niranjana Krishnan

Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology at the University of Maryland, College Park

EPA / FDA / USDA / NIFA News

National Organic Standards Board
Spring 2025 Meeting

Comment Period Open through April 28, 2025

The National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) generally meets twice each year in a public forum to discuss and vote on recommendations to the USDA. These recommendations help the Department meet the needs of the organic industry.

NOSB Meeting Details

Online Comment Webinars (2 days): April 22 & 24, 2025, noon - 5 p.m. Eastern Time
Public Meeting (3 days): April 29 - May 1, 2025, noon - 5 p.m. Eastern Time
Location: Virtual. Zoom information to access the webinars and live meeting webcasts is available on the NOSB Spring 2025 Meeting webpage.

EPA Announces Changes to Pesticide Data Submission Process to Increase Efficiency and Reduce Burden

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing improvements to simplify the process for companies submitting data to the agency as part of a pesticide registration package. This improvement will also make the agency’s processing of this information more efficient. Streamlining this process, while partnering with industry to safeguard human health and the environment, reduces burden for both companies and EPA, supporting Administrator Zeldin’s Pillar Three of Powering the Great American Comeback initiative to advance permitting reform, cooperative federalism, and cross-agency partnership.

Research in the news

Norway rat and house mouse samples needed for rodenticide resistance study

The Urban Entomology Lab from the Department of Entomology at Rutgers University is conducting research on rodenticide resistance in Norway rats and house mice in the northeastern U.S. with a focus on rodents from NJ, NY, and PA. Currently, we found 90% of the 80 house mouse samples carried at least one genetic mutation related to rodenticide resistance. We also examined over 20 samples of rats, and 45% of them carried mutation genes. We are looking for more Norway rat and house mice samples. If you can provide rodent samples, please contact Jin-Jia Yu at Rutgers University for more details. Email: jinjia.yu@rutgers.edu

Ascribe Bio’s Phytalix® Achieves Stunning Success Against Devastating Rice Disease

Phytalix field trials demonstrated superior effectiveness, reducing BLB severity by over 80%—which is 20% better than existing treatments. In high-pressure areas, yields increased by up to 30%, with an average 13% improvement across all sites, including those affected by other rice diseases.

Onboard recordings reveal how bats maneuver under severe acoustic interference (pnas.org)

Echolocating bats that actively sense their environment and fly together out of their cave, face a tremendous nightly challenge of maneuvering under severe acoustic interference while trying to avoid collisions. This scenario, which has been termed the “Cocktail Party Nightmare,” was previously examined by placing a microphone near the cave’s entrance. Here, we examined how bats contend with this severe acoustic scenario by tracking the movement of tens of bats simultaneously, while recording the echolocation of some individuals using an onboard miniature microphone, and applying a sensorimotor model. We show how the bats spread out in space rapidly after emerging from their cave and how they manage to reduce the acoustic masking and thereby avoid collisions.

Observation of Tropilaelaps mercedesae (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) on Western honey bees (Apis mellifera) exiting colonies (academic.oup.com)

Tropilaelaps mercedesae (Delfinado and Baker) is an emerging parasitic mite that can severely impact the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.). While T. mercedesae has been reported to be expanding its geographical range, the routes of inter-colony dispersal between A. mellifera colonies are still largely unknown. In this study, we used funnel traps to collect foraging honey bees exiting their colonies before performing an alcohol wash to collect any phoretic T. mercedesae mites. We found T. mercedesae on exiting adult honey bees; however, they were only detected when a colony had an elevated T. mercedesae brood infestation. We show that T. mercedesae can exit colonies through phoresy on adult A. mellifera which demonstrates the potential of these mites to be spread through the natural movement of A. mellifera honey bees among colonies.

News

Spotted Lanternfly Summit 2025

Recordings

View recordings of the 2025 Spotted Lanternfly Summit (YouTube playlist).

Questions and Answers for Day 1 and 2

Surge in Pest Populations Expected This Spring, NPMA Bug Barometer Finds (pctonline.com)

The National Pest Management Association released its bi-annual Bug Barometer, a data-driven look at what PMPs can expect from pest populations in their service regions across the U.S.

Take Action Has a New Home on GROW Website (growiwm.org)

The Take Action (Herbicide-Resistance Management) program is moving to a new home! You can now find it on the GROW (Getting Rid of Weeds) Network’s website platform, at www.growiwm.org/Take-Action-Home. Take Action is a longstanding farmer-focused program, funded by the soy checkoff, which provides the industry with multiple weed and herbicide-resistance management tools, including:

The Herbicide Classification Chart

The Herbicide Lookup Tool
An array of educational factsheets
Finally, all webinars and educational videos

Duckweed: The Food and Fuel That Farms Itself (morningagclips.com)

Under the right conditions, duckweed essentially farms itself. Wastewater, ponds, puddles, swamps—you name it. If there’s enough sunlight and carbon dioxide, the aquatic plant can grow freely. But that’s not all that makes it intriguing. Packed inside duckweed’s tiny fronds is enormous potential as a soil enricher, a fuel source, protein-rich foods, and more. New findings at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (CSHL) could help bring all that potential to life.

Cornell to help pinpoint cause of massive honeybee die-offs (news.cornell.edu)

Cornell bee experts are analyzing samples of bees and related material to help identify the cause of unprecedented managed honeybee losses this winter.

The colony die-offs became apparent as U.S. commercial beekeepers geared up to transport colonies to California, where approximately 70% of the nation’s managed honeybees are trucked to pollinate almonds each year.

Hands United Foundation Supports PMPs in Hardship Through Financial Relief (pctonline.com)

After seeing a gap of resources available to individuals in the pest control industry who experience tragedy and face financial hardships, several PMPs rallied together to start the Hands United Foundation.

The foundation aims to provide financial assistance to either members of, or family members of, those that serve within the pest management industry.

Scientists Witness Plant Cells Generate Cellulose and Form Cell Walls for First Time (rutgers.edu)

In a groundbreaking study on the synthesis of cellulose – a major constituent of all plant cell walls – a team of Rutgers University-New Brunswick researchers has captured images of the microscopic process of cell-wall building continuously over 24 hours with living plant cells, providing critical insights that may lead to the development of more robust plants for increased food and lower-cost biofuels production.

Surveys

Previously featured

You may participate in this study if you are a natural resource manager who deals with invasive plants.

We (researchers at the UMass, Amherst) are conducting a research study to understand the link between the timing of life-cycle transitions (phenology) of invasive plants, the timing of chemical and mechanical invasive species control efforts and the efficacy of these interventions. The purpose of this study is to better understand when in the field season different kinds of mechanical and chemical control methods are deployed for specific invasive plants, and whether practitioners have needed to adjust the timing of these interventions in recent years due to shifts in plant phenology brought about by climate change. The survey will take between 15-25 minutes to complete.

You may participate in this study if you are a natural resource manager who deals with invasive plants. Your participation is completely voluntary and no identifying information will be collected. You are free to skip any question that you choose and can stop the survey at any time. If you have any questions about the research prior to taking the survey, please contact the principal investigator, Dr. Bethany Bradley, at bbradley@eco.umass.edu.

[Link to survey]

Preliminary survey about IPM Identity

Professionals such as you are the only source we have to collect information on this topic and we value your opinions and perspective. Please review the consent information and complete the questionnaire, which will take approximately 10 minutes. If you consent to complete this survey, click the “I AGREE to participate” button to access and complete the survey.

A research team at Cornell University is conducting a survey to understand the many ways farmers are growing and using cereal rye, including for grain, forage, and as a cover crop. Our team is also developing new rye varieties and want to understand important breeding priorities for different end uses. We would like to invite you to take part in a farmer survey as part of this project. We expect the survey to take 5-10 minutes. Participation is voluntary and we appreciate your time and responses.

Navigation: If you exit the survey before completion, you can come back and finish it using the same link you started with. If you finish the survey, you will not be able to retake it again using the same device.

Results: At the end of this project, research results will be shared through presentations, published in peer-reviewed publications, and shared with stakeholders via a white paper and farmer/industry publications. These publications will also be shared on faculty webpages.

You can find the survey here: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0IIMvWYX1Rulio6

Your input needed! National SWD Impact Survey

2024 SWD Impact Survey
Dear Berry and Cherry Growers:
As part of a national team of entomologists studying the management of spotted-wing drosophila (SWD), we are reaching out with a request for assistance to help understand the current impacts of SWD on your farm and how these impacts may have changed in the last 10 years.
If you are willing to share insights from your farm, farms you manage, or growers you work with, please complete this short survey, which will take about 15 minutes or less: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeW6rCcyM9vf_sjLJDj0J_6G03jlVbBLZt5rlX7kmzSj0Ypog/viewform
How will this information be used? This information will be used to develop new research goals as part of a USDA Specialty Crop Research Initiative proposal under development. It will also be compared to information collected in similar surveys in 2013 and 2014 to help us understand where challenges still exist for SWD management and what improvements have been made over the last 10 years and shared in extension and scholarly publications.

We are a team of entomologists and Extension staff addressing threats from corn earworm (CEW). Your responses to this short survey will lead to better guidance for sweet corn growers throughout the Eastern United States. This survey is intended for fresh-market growers only.

Invasion Risk Assessment Study

Study Overview:

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst are looking for adult participants in a study about the information that ecological professionals use to judge the risk a non-native plant species may pose to an environment. This study seeks professional experience around risk assessment of non-native plant species in the United States.

What Is Required?

Eligible participants will conduct a short online questionnaire, estimated to take approximately 20 minutes to complete.

You May Qualify If You:

Are at least 18 years old
Have professional experience with assessing non-native plant risk in the United States

Survey Link:

tinyurl.com/plant-study

Submissions needed

Newly featured this issue

Norway rat and house mouse samples needed for rodenticide resistance study

Previously featured

You're Invited: Present ?at the 2025 Invasive Species Expo!

We are excited to invite you to submit a presentation abstract for the 3rd biennial New York State Invasive Species Expo, to be held September 14th-16th, 2025 at Saratoga Spa State Park. The expo is an event that features creative, interactive, and hands-on experiences in addition to classic presentations and posters. We are looking for content exploring the ABC's of Invasive Species: Advance Actions, Bridge Boundaries, and Connect Community.

We are seeking:

Traditional presentations
Hands-on workshops
Interactive demonstrations
Poster presentations (Students welcome!)
Local field trips
Creative walk & talks
...and any other unique ideas you have for expo content!

Accepted content will be delivered at the Expo, either at the public-facing Community Conservation Day on Sunday Sep 14th, or the Expo Professional Days on September 15-16. There are indoor and outdoor spaces available for presentations and workshops. Abstract submissions are due April 30th. Presenters will be notified via email of abstract status by June 30th. Note: Due to constraints within the abstract submission form, only one abstract can be submitted per attendee. If you would like to submit multiple abstracts, please have co-presenters submit under their profile, or contact us at is.summit@dec.ny.gov. There is no limit to the number of abstract submissions, and we encourage presenters to explore multiple types of content! For more information, please visit the Expo webpage at https://nyis.info/new-york-invasive-species-expo/. If you have any questions related to submitting an abstract, please email is.summit@dec.ny.gov.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) news and updates

Newly featured this issue

GROW: Bringing Research and Tools for Integrated Weed Management to Farmers

April 8, 2025 – 11:00 a.m. (eastern)

Register at cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_D-9H8leLR56d1zmGTVJn0g#/registration

The webinar will be recorded for anyone unable to attend the live session.

Description

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Poultry Innovation Grand Challenge Funding Opportunity USDA Invests $100 Million to Combat Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

USDA has announced plans for a funding opportunity to explore prevention, therapeutics, research and potential vaccine candidates to fight highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). USDA will invest up to $100 million in these projects.

Funding is available, through a competitive process, to for-profit organizations, including manufacturers of vaccines, biologics, and therapeutics, states, universities, livestock producer organizations and other eligible entities. USDA will prioritize proposals that address one or more of the following:

Development of novel therapeutics and improved diagnostics to address HPAI in poultry.
Research to further understand risk pathways of avian influenza for producers and to inform improved biosecurity and response strategies. Development of novel vaccines to protect poultry from HPAI while promoting biosecurity.
The notice of funding opportunity, including application instructions and additional information, is available on the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website. Applicants can also find information on the ezFedGrants website or Grants.gov by searching USDA-APHIS-10025-VSSP0000-25-0015. Deadline to apply is May 19.

Avian influenza discovered in NYS bobcats (news.cornell.edu)

In a new study, published March 25 in the Journal of Wildlife Diseases, researchers tracked live bobcats in the state and found widespread exposure to avian flu, with evidence of bobcats surviving but also succumbing to the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain. The research further documents increasing avian influenza cases in mammals and underscores the importance of proactive wildlife disease monitoring.

Previously featured

A new online Avian Flu Resource Center provides reliable and accessible information for members of the general public, farmers, wildlife professionals, state and public health agency partners, and veterinarians.

Frequently asked questions about bird flu in New York state

Cornell Cooperative Extension’s response to the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza response in New York state is a coordinated effort of the NY Extension Disaster Education Network (NY EDEN).

CCE educators and specialists can reach out to Amy Barkley, livestock and beginning farm specialist with the SWNY Dairy, Livestock, and Field Crops Program at (amb544@cornell.edu) or (716) 640-0844 for more information and/or to suggest additions to the FAQ.

For information on HPAI in dairy cattle, you can visit the CALS website.

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation reporting form for wild bird mortalities, https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/dee381c0ee8a4114a83dc1892fc0f7ed

Positive cases in commercial and backyard poultry: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/commercial-backyard-flocks

Positive cases in wild birds: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections/wild-birds

NYS Ag and Markets also updates their website to share positive avian cases in NYS. This is also a landing page to see any restriction for things like import/export, shows, sales, etc. https://agriculture.ny.gov/animals/poultry

USDA-APHIS also updates in detections in mammals and livestock, and you can find those links here: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestock-poultry-disease/avian/avian-influenza/hpai-detections

Webinars, seminars, meetings, and more

Newly featured this issue

Invasive Species Spotters Kickoff Webinar

Join LIISMA at a webinar kicking off our new volunteer program - Invasive Species Spotters - on May 7, at 1:00 - 2:30 pm! This training webinar is designed to teach professionals and community members to identify priority invasive species in the region.

Participants will learn to identify 10 priority invasive plants new to LIISMA and how to report them using iMapInvasives. Then, members will work independently this summer and beyond to survey around Long Island, Staten Island, Brooklyn, and Queens for these priority species.

This program is great for those looking to learn something new and make a difference. Register to reserve your spot today!

Previously featured

NYSIPM Academic Seminar Series

Sign up to attend these virtual seminars via the link above.

4/9/25. 11:15am–12:15pm EST

The Threat Posed by ‘Inert’ Ingredients to Bees.

Edward Straw, Trinity College Dublin

Weed Control in Horse Pastures

Discover effective strategies for managing weeds in horse pastures without immediately reaching for herbicides. While some weed presence is natural, excessive growth can disrupt pasture health and productivity. This webinar will equip you with the knowledge to assess weed issues, explore non-chemical management options, and determine when, if ever, herbicides are necessary. Empower yourself to make informed decisions that support both your horses and your land.

Cover Crop & Soil Health Field Day

You’re invited to a Cover Crop & Soil Health Field Day from 2-5pm on Thursday, April 24! Features will include new cover crop breeding material, the first National Cover Crop Variety Trials, cover crop decision support tools, cover crop root research demonstrations, and soil health demonstrations. You may RSVP at www.covercropbreeding.com/events to help us plan...but walk-ins are welcome! Sponsored by the Cover Crop Breeding Network, Cornell CALS, Center for Regenerative Agriculture at University of Missouri, and NY Soil Health. Free & open to the public!

Apr 24, 2025, 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM EDT

Freeville, 133 Fall Creek Rd, Freeville, NY 13068, USA

CERTIFIED TREE STEWARD TRAINING 2025

April 22, 2025; April 23, 2025; April 25, 2025; April 28, 2025; April 30, 2025; May 2, 2025

The Tree Steward Program is a comprehensive workshop dealing with arboriculture. Through both classroom learning and outdoor exercises, the participants will learn all about tree biology, identification, pruning, planting, rigging and much more. Personal protection as well as tree protection will be emphasized.

Flyer and registration: 2025 Westchester County Tree Steward Training

Spongy Moth: Managing a Tree-Devastating Pest

The spongy moth (formerly known as the gypsy moth) poses a significant threat to our shade trees, with recent resurgences reported in some areas. These caterpillars feed voraciously on tree foliage, and during peak activity, their falling droppings can even mimic the sound of rainfall!

In this program, we’ll explore how to identify this pest, understand its life cycle, and assess the damage it can cause. We’ll place particular emphasis on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques, as well as pesticide treatments, to help manage these pests effectively using environmentally friendly approaches. We’ll also talk about the natural biocontrols that can help manage future outbreaks.

Thursday, June 5, 2025, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM *Zoom*

DEC Credits: 1 credit in 3a, 25, 6a and 9

ISA Credits: Available upon agency approval

Flyer: spongy moth

What’s Bugging You First Friday is a monthly virtual series that explores timely topics to help you use integrated pest management (IPM) to avoid pest problems and promote a healthy environment where you live, work, learn and play. IPM is a wholistic approach that uses different tools and practices to not only reduce pest problems, but to also address the reasons why pests are there in the first place. Each month, our speakers will share practical information about how you can use IPM.

The 2025 What’s Bugging You First Friday schedule is available on the program’s website, and you can register for multiple events using our registration form.

April 4: Pest rats explained | Myth: cats for rat control

May 2: Spongy moth caterpillar management | Feeding Friendly Insects: Plan to prep your soil

June 6: Spotted lanternfly update | Recognizing wild parsnip

July 4: Grow green lawns with overseeding | Beech leaf disease

August 1: Making a mosquito bucket trap | Feeding Friendly Insects: Pick plants

September 5: Top 5 rodent exclusion tips | Feeding Friendly Insects: Get ready to plant

October 3: Winterize your home orchard | Feeding Friendly Insects: Fall is for planting

November 1: Understanding indoor cockroaches | Invasive tawney field cockroach

December 5: IPM for clothes moths and pantry moths

Employment Opportunities

Previously featured

IT Coordinator

University of Maryland College Park

The IT Coordinator supports all aspects of computer and technical support in the Department of Veterinary Medicine. The IT Coordinator responds to requests for service on all UM computers and peripherals; sets up and records when needed video conferences; installs and troubleshoots hardware and software issues; sets up and manages user accounts, user groups, shared drives, folders and calendars. Works with faculty and Executive Coordinator to add content to and maintain the department web page. Maintains database of all AV/IT capital equipment plus full inventory of all UM tagged inventory (computers, screens, peripherals) and purchases new software and equipment as needed. As the Systems Administrator, the IT Coordinator maintains all user accounts and performs regular virus scans and data backups. The coordinator also stays up to date with technological changes by attending classes, workshops and webinars annually. Performs other duties as they are assigned and needed.

Extension Educator II - Turf Landscape (Hybrid Opportunity)

The Turf and Landscape Educator II will be an integral part of UMass Extension’s Commercial Horticulture group, supporting the development and implementation of educational resources and programming; including organization, presentation, and delivery of relevant research-based information to meet the needs of horticultural stakeholders statewide, with the enhancement of economic, human, and environmental health and sustainability of relevant industries as priorities. This position will support and deliver turf and landscape management and cross-commodity programming in collaboration with Extension staff and faculty, and other internal and external collaborators.

Coordinator, Nutrient Management Advisor

University of Maryland Extension (UME) Agriculture and Food Systems (AgFS) Program seeks candidates for a 12-month Agricultural Nutrient Management Program (ANMP) Nutrient Management Advisor. ANMP Nutrient Management Advisors develop nutrient management plans for agricultural producers to balance nutrient inputs with crop requirements, thus optimizing production potential, improving farm profitability, reducing excess nutrient inputs into the Chesapeake Bay and enabling producers to comply with the State of Maryland’s Water Quality Improvement Act of 1998.

Agent (Extension Specialist – Entomology in Ornamental Horticulture IPM)

University of Maryland Extension (UME) invites applications for a 12-month tenure-track position at the Agent or Senior Agent level to conduct applied research, provide educational programming, and offer entomology expertise in integrated pest management (IPM) in the commercial ornamental horticulture industries and UME personnel throughout Maryland. Specifically, the Extension Specialist will provide IPM leadership in entomology and delivery of educational programming in insect pest management to Maryland’s green industries including nursery, greenhouse, cut flower, arboriculture, Christmas tree, and landscape maintenance industries. The Extension Specialist will be expected to respond to a broad set of entomology needs within ornamental horticulture production and maintenance including delivery of information on IPM, biological insect management, evaluation of novel insecticide delivery options, monitoring and disseminating information on emerging pests, and other topics.

POSTDOCTORAL SCIENTIST: Fruit Pathology and Fungal Biology

With anticipated approval, the Valley Laboratory at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station (Windsor, CT) is seeking applicants for a Postdoctoral Research Scientist position with an approximate start date of June 1, 2025, to conduct field and laboratory-based research on Colletotrichum siamense, the causative agent of strawberry anthracnose crown rot. The position is for 24 months, with a salary of $56,982/yr. Benefits include competitive medical and dental insurance.

Assistant Extension Specialist in Fruit Pathology

Rutgers offers a comprehensive benefit program to eligible employees. For details, please go to http://uhr.rutgers.edu/benefits/benefits-overview.

Applicants are expected to contribute to undergraduate and graduate student success through active participation with departmental colleagues in classroom instruction, experiential learning opportunities, internships, directed research, and community engagement activities.
Extension scholarship and outreach to the grower community is aimed at educating stakeholders on the practical applications of improved disease management strategies for tree fruit, wine grape, and small fruit including the use of precision agriculture and other new technologies ultimately leading to successful implementations in crop production.

Academic Program Coordinator

University of Maryland College Park

The position will be responsible for providing administrative support to the academic programs’ unit (graduate and undergraduate.) Graduate Program support will involve communicating with graduate constituents both internal and external; administrating the graduate program including admissions, communicating with and advising students, maintaining records, keeping up-to-date on changes that impact both programs, assisting with recruitment by coordinating advertising and meeting with prospective undergraduate and graduate students and giving tours, planning, executing and running departmental and recruiting events such as the Graduate Student Review Day and the Annual Symposium, and maintaining the graduate program website. Undergraduate Program Support will involve serving as the departmental scheduling officer for classrooms and courses, assisting with advising and recruitment activities, coordinating online course evaluations, assisting with new student orientations, and preparing administrative paperwork for both programs.

Business Coordinator

University of Maryland College Park

The Coordinator, Business position (127837) is in the Department of Animal and Avian Sciences (ANSC) at the University of Maryland, College Park, and supports our financial operations and business administrative services. This is a 12-month Full-Time Exempt Staff position. Under general supervision from the Business Manager, the Coordinator, Business delivers proficient fiscal and business administrative services to ANSC. Duties include the exclusive responsibility for managing and coordinating department travel (via CONCUR), procurement, internal billing, finance transaction requests, and reviewing proposal budgets and justifications for department PIs.

Agent Associate - Home Horticulture Educator & Master Gardener Coordinator

University of Maryland College Park

The Home Horticulture Educator and Master Gardener Coordinator is a part-time (.6 FTE - 24 hours per week) position that will work in support of the Baltimore City Home Horticulture Extension Program, which falls under UME’s Environment and Natural Resources (ENR) program area. The mission of ENR is to strengthen and improve individuals’ knowledge, skills and aspirations to make changes in their lives and the lives of others that positively affect the economy, the environment and the associated natural resources for current and future generations. The Educator will support the ENR programmatic area by educating the public on the research-based best practices regarding home and non-commercial horticulture.

Director Administrative Services

University of Maryland College Park

Provide financial oversight for the department to include administration of the state, revolving, and research budgets, presently totaling approximately $6.2 M; prepare and administer memoranda of understanding with various federal and state agencies; administer faculty grant funding accounts and provide account balance updates to each faculty at regular intervals. Managing the departmental budgets and ensuring the financial integrity of the department. Maintain long-term financial plan and projections for the department. Oversee administrative functions to ensure efficient and consistent operations. Assist faculty in preparing grant proposals, including a review of proposed budgets, cost-share justifications, and routing forms. Supervise support personnel to fulfill budgetary, computer hardware/software, word processing, office logistics, travel, personnel, and secretarial needs for the faculty, staff, and students.

Maryland SNAP-Ed Agent Associate - Prince George's County Nutrition Educator and Project Leader

The Nutrition Educator and Project Leader will deliver SNAP-Ed programs that encourage a
nutritious and active lifestyle through increased food access, drinking more water, and
promoting physical activity to low-income residents in Prince George's County with emphasis on
reaching SNAP recipients. SNAP-Ed's goal is to provide comprehensive programs that consist of
nutrition education lessons, indirect education and policy, system and environmental-level
changes at partnering sites.

Maryland SNAP-Ed Agent Associate - Garrett County Nutrition Educator and Project Leader

The Nutrition Educator and Project Leader will deliver SNAP-Ed programs that encourage a nutritious and active lifestyle through increased food access, drinking more water, and promoting physical activity to low-income residents in Garrett County with emphasis on reaching SNAP recipients. SNAP-Ed's goal is to provide comprehensive programs that consist of nutrition education lessons, indirect education and policy, system and environmental-level changes at partnering sites.

Post Doctoral Associate

The Department of Environmental Science & Technology (ENST) at the University of Maryland, College Park, MD, (UMD) is pleased to offer three Postdoctoral Associate positions.

Two of the Postdoctoral Associate positions will be led by Dr. Stephanie Lansing. One position will collaborate with an interdisciplinary team that is developing an app for food diversion and will oversee adding greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions values for diversion strategies. The second will work with a team on food waste and grass co-digestion at the county-level and oversee a life cycle assessment (LCA) of food waste and yard waste diversion. For more information and to apply please click on the following link: (2) Post-Doctoral-Associate Positions_JR100632

WNY PRISM is Hiring! All 2025 Summer Positions are Open!

Join the WNY PRISM team and spend the summer gaining valuable experience in invasive species management! Multiple positions are open with varying responsibilities, timeframes and necessary qualifications, so take a look and see what interests you!

For more information, including full job descriptions and to apply, visit https://www.rfhiring.com/jobs.asp.

Funding Opportunities

Newly featured this issue

Apply for 2025 Funding

The North Central Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center has approximately $360,000 of funding available for 2025 projects. Projects must focus on integrated pest management and may involve Critical Issue research, Working Group collaborations, or IPM Partnerships. Applicants may request a maximum of $30,000 per project. More details are available on the North Central IPM Center website. Applications are due on Monday, April 21, 2025 at 6 pm ET (5 pm CT). Funding for selected projects will be awarded in May of 2025. Funding of these projects supports the North Central IPM Center’s mission to improve the health, environment and economic conditions in the North Central region while using IPM to address pest-related challenges.

Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) Poultry Innovation Grand Challenge Funding Opportunity USDA Invests $100 Million to Combat Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza

Development of novel therapeutics and improved diagnostics to address HPAI in poultry.
Research to further understand risk pathways of avian influenza for producers and to inform improved biosecurity and response strategies. Development of novel vaccines to protect poultry from HPAI while promoting biosecurity.
The notice of funding opportunity, including application instructions and additional information, is available on the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service website. Applicants can also find information on the ezFedGrants website or Grants.gov by searching USDA-APHIS-10025-VSSP0000-25-0015. Deadline to apply is May 19.