IPM News and Events Roundup 06/07/2024

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.

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Northeastern IPM Center News

Northeastern IPM Center Releases 2023 Annual Report

The Northeastern Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center has published our annual report for 2023.

This report compiles, summarizes, and discusses the Center’s key activities, programs, and initiatives from throughout the year. It illustrates how the Center fosters IPM research, adoption, and

implementation in the Northeast and beyond through grants and awards, webinars and conferences, publications and other communication platforms, evaluation, and the Center’s StopPests in Housing

Program.

To view the new report, along with previous annual reports, visit https://www.northeastipm.org/about-us/publications/annual-reports/ .

Increasing Access to Practical Biocontrol Information through Digital Resources

October 2, 2024 at 11:00 a.m.

Register at cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_MFNtyp2KQoaWGYrAbDfvPw

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

Description

The New York State Integrated Pest Management Program Biocontrol website continues to grow with information for all of North America. In the past year, we have added profiles of individual biocontrol agents, and we are planning to incorporate resources developed through the Augmentative Biocontrol (ABC) Working Group. The focus for both is to provide practical information that addresses barriers to biocontrol adoption and helps growers and gardeners successfully implement biocontrol. During the toolbox talk we will provide a tour of biocontrol agent profiles and describe the ongoing process and progress to create resources on augmentative biocontrol.

Amara Dunn-Silver

Biocontrol Specialist – New York State Integrated Pest Management Program, part of the Cornell College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Amara supports the effective use of biological control solutions for pests in all agricultural commodities, as well as pests encountered by New Yorkers where they live, work, play, and learn.

Hillary Peterson

Integrated Pest Management Specialist – Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry

Hillary is responsible for IPM education and implementation across the state including pests affecting structures like schools, homes, and restaurants, agriculture, invasive species, and more.

EPA / FDA / USDA News

EPA Releases More User-friendly Calculator for Estimating Pesticide Concentrations in Water

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the release of a faster, more user-friendly version of the Pesticide in Water Calculator. This is a model EPA uses to estimate exposure to pesticides in drinking water when developing human dietary risk assessments as well as for estimating pesticide concentrations for ecological risk assessments.

View the pesticide in water calculator

The Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology

Plan for Regulatory Reform under the Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology

Three federal agencies, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently released a joint plan to identify areas of ambiguity, gaps and uncertainty in their overlapping regulation of biotechnology products.

Biotech products (including plants, animals, fungi or microbes developed through genetic engineering or products derived from such organisms) may be regulated under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act; Federal Food, Drugs and Cosmetics Act; Plant Pest Act; Federal Meat Inspection Act; Poultry Products Inspection Act and more.

The newly released plan identifies five biotechnology product categories where regulatory clarification or simplification are needed: modified plants; modified animals; modified microorganisms; human drugs, biologics and medical devices; and cross-cutting issues. Companies developing biotechnology products should watch for new rules and draft guidance in the Federal Register.

Research in the News

A new pest suction machine to control Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in tomato greenhouses (academic.oup.com)

The sweetpotato whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) is challenging to control using chemical pesticides owing to its resistance to many insecticides. Thus, there has been an increasing demand for alternative control measures. Thus, this study evaluated the efficacy of a newly designed pest suction machine to manage whiteflies on tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) (Solanales: Solanaceae) in greenhouses over 2 seasons.

Continental-scale migration patterns and origin of Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) based on a biogeochemical marker (academic.oup.com)

Insect migrations have ecological and economic impacts, particularly in agriculture. However, there is limited knowledge about the migratory movements of pests at the continental scale, which is an important factor influencing the spread of resistance genes. Understanding the migratory patterns of economic pests, like Helicoverpa zea (Boddie), is essential for improving Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Insect Resistance Management (IRM) strategies.

Convergent evolution of fern nectaries facilitated independent recruitment of ant-bodyguards from flowering plants (nature.com)

Plant–herbivore interactions reciprocally influence species’ evolutionary trajectories. These interactions have led to many physical and chemical defenses across the plant kingdom. Some plants have even evolved indirect defense strategies to outsource their protection to ant bodyguards by bribing them with a sugary reward (nectar). Identifying the evolutionary processes underpinning these indirect defenses provide insight into the evolution of plant-animal interactions. Using a cross-kingdom, phylogenetic approach, we examined the convergent evolution of ant-guarding nectaries across ferns and flowering plants.

Microarthropods improve oat nutritional quality and mediate fertilizer effects on soil biological activity (acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com)

Soil biological processes are important drivers of crop productivity in agroecosystems. Soil microarthropods play key roles in nutrient cycling and plant nutrient acquisition, though little is known about how these effects manifest in crop production under different organic fertilizer amendments. We explored the interactive effects of microarthropods and fertilizers on crop productivity in two greenhouse experiments: experiment one involved a single Collembola species, and experiment two involved diverse microarthropod communities.

News

Box Tree Moth Quarantine Issued in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has announced that the United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA APHIS) has established a quarantine for the invasive pest known as box tree moth for the entire state of Massachusetts, and has set conditions for the export of boxwood shrubs from the Commonwealth.

Scientists Solve the 250-Year-Old Origin Mystery of the Most Common Indoor Urban Pest Insect on the Planet (scitechdaily.com | June 5, 2024)

A team of international scientists, including Virginia Tech entomologist Warren Booth, has solved a 250-year-old mystery regarding the origin of the most prevalent indoor urban pest insect: the German cockroach.

Maine experiencing one of the worst browntail moth caterpillar outbreaks, experts say (wgme.com | June 6^th, 2024)

Browntail moths are in all 16 Maine counties.

Angela Mech, a forest entomology professor at the University of Maine, told WVII these outbreaks are part of their natural cycle, however, there have been significant spikes due to changes in climate.

Surveys

Newly featured this issue

NYS Reforestation Target Species List Survey

One major challenge in implementing large-scale reforestation is the limited commercial availability of native woody species and seedling supplies. This list aims to encourage landowners, reforestation practitioners, and nursery professionals to prioritize a specific subset of tree species among the hundreds native to the region, thereby boosting seedling production, increasing the commercial availability of planting materials, and maximizing overall impact. The goal is to help New York State achieve its net-zero emissions goals by reforesting 1.7 million acres of abandoned post-agricultural lands by 2050.

The survey, which takes about 20 minutes to complete, aims to gather information about tree species selection and seed/sapling procurement from those who are professionally engaged in planning, designing, implementing, monitoring, and/or maintaining tree planting and other forest ecosystem restoration efforts in New York State. The survey should be completed by June 30th, 2024. Please feel free to share widely!”

Webinars, Seminars, Meetings, and More

Newly featured this issue

Itadori Knotweed (Reynoutria japonica) and Climate Resiliency

As some hydrological regimes shift towards more frequent and severe storm events in response to climate change, positive feedback loops may develop between existing knotweed populations, sudden riverbank failure, and increased flood-related damage. Mindful action to control these plants is therefore a climate resiliency opportunity. Researcher and manager Brian Colleran and Élisabeth Groeneveld will share their perspectives on managing invasive knotweeds (primarily Itadori knotweed, Reynoutria japonica) in a changing climate and answer questions from the audience.

Date & Time - June 12, 2024 12:00 PM in EST

Register here

MITIGATION MENU WEBSITE TO PROTECT NONTARGET SPECIES FROM PESTICIDE EXPOSURE (60-minute webinar)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public webinar on June 18, 2024, from 1-2 PM ET. to provide an overview of its mitigation menu website that will describe mitigation options for reducing pesticide exposure to nontarget species from agricultural crop uses.

The purpose of the webinar is to familiarize users with the website and how to navigate it. The webinar will include: 1. A brief background on the goal and development of the mitigation menu, 2. A demonstration of how users would follow new label directions using the website, 3. An explanation of how to navigate the website, 4. Directions on how to access other resources associated with the website, and 5. An opportunity for questions and feedback on the proposed function of the menu, the website, and the use of the website for ESA strategies and additional types of mitigation (e.g., spray drift).
Date and Time: Tuesday, June 18, 2024 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT

Register here

Commercialization of a Biologic Product to Reduce Lyme Disease in the Environment

As regulatory bodies become more aware of the need to acknowledge indirect effects of pest control methods, effective and environmentally sensitive approaches, like IPM, will become more relevant.

In this webinar, “Commercialization of a Biologic Product,” Dr. John Brooke, Director of Regulatory and Data for US Biologic, will discuss specifically the recent commercialization of a wildlife biologic against Lyme disease and generally how companies with a breakthrough technology can unexpectedly struggle

KEY LEARNINGS

? New technologies may not have a clear path toward regulatory approval but a combination of insight into the perspective of regulatory bodies together with proactive and transparent communication can mitigate much of the uncertainty.

? The commercialization timeline of a product is driven by data and evidence generated by science. Acceleration is possible but it is associated with financial and timeline risks.

? IPM and One Health both recognize the integratedness of health across humans, animals, and the environment, but diverge in their scope and focus.

Date & Time: Jun 25, 2024 - 02:00 PM in EST

Description: IPM Symposium Series Webinar #2

Register here

Previously featured

Become a Water Protector

SLELO PRISM invites you to join us for a 3-part learning series to be held this spring and summer (May – June 2024). This training is perfect for, waterfront property owners, lake associations, kayaking groups, seasonal staff, or anyone who wants to learn more about aquatic invasive species (AIS). Participants will be invited to ‘adopt-a-water’ to survey for priority AIS. Continuing Education Credits will be applied for.

June 19th 2024, 6-8 PM: Pre-Solstice Paddle (Kring Point State Park)
- Join us for a fun evening on the water to test your new aquatic plant identification knowledge and learn how to survey for and report AIS of interest. *Some kayaks and canoes may be available for use*
- Learn how to conduct aquatic plant surveys on the water via rake toss.
- Use our underwater scopes to explore the world below the surface.
- Practice reporting observations to the iNaturalist and iMapInvasives mobile apps

What bit me? Summertime pests that have a tendency to ruin our outdoor activities.

Date: Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Time: 7pm to 8pm

Fee: Free

Description: Summer, when we go outside to be one with nature. We step out of our front door and step into a world full of arthropods! These insects and arachnids certainly have been known to ruin our fun. Join us to learn how to keep your cool when there are things like ticks, mosquitoes, wasps and hornets around. We will discuss basic biology, how to protect yourself and your family, treatment options and what home remedies might not work as well as you think!

Presenter: Dr. Matt Frye, Community IPM Extension Educator with NYS Integrated Pest

https://cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_leu7Uk7bT46s0Xfb4wlDCQ

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 2024 What’s Bugging You First Friday schedule is now available on the program’s website, and you can register for multiple events using our registration form. We look forward to seeing you in 2024!

June 7^th: Tick & Mosquito Yard Treatments | Myth: Mosquito Repellent Plants

July 5^th: Japanese Beetle Management | Aphid-Eating Insects

August 2^nd: Spotted Lanternfly Update | Box Tree Moth Update

September 6^th: Back to School: Bed Bugs | Head Lice

October 4^th: Identifying Pests in Your Home

November 1^st: 2024 Tick Blitz Results | No Spray Needed

December 6^th: Feed the Birds | Repurposing a Holiday Tree

2024 Webinar Series for Greenhouse, Nursery & Garden Center Professionals

Join UNH Cooperative Extension and other experts to sharpen and refresh plant production skills. These monthly webinars on a variety of topics are intended to provide practical training for greenhouse, nursery and garden center professionals, although all are welcome to attend. One New England pesticide applicator recertification credit has been applied for each event.

2024 Class Dates:

June 25 - Growing Media (types, components, attributes) - Jonathan Ebba

July 30 - Considerations for Growing with Wood Fiber - Jonathan Ebba & Mark Sanford

August 27 - Thielaviopsis Control - Dr. Bo Liu

September 24 - Injecting a Drench - Jonathan Ebba

October 29 - Renewable Energy Sources for Greenhouse Environmental Control - Dr. Md Sazan Rahman

November 26 - Mealybug - Dr. Amber Vinchesi-Vahl

December 17 - Fertilizer Selection Basics/Water Analysis - Jonathan Ebba

If you have questions or would like assistance registering for or accessing the webinars, including language access, please contact Jonathan at Jonathan.Ebba@unh.edu

Save the Date!

The 11th International IPM Symposium

March 3 – 5, 2025

San Diego, CA

This is an excellent opportunity for state IPM program directors and ARDP PDs to meet USDA NIFA presentation requirements.

The Symposium is a key conference that cuts across IPM issues and offers much in the way of highlighting current issues in IPM, presentations on current research and developments, and valuable networking for stakeholders.

Scholarship Opportunities

Maine Entomological Society Mazurkiewicz Scholarship Fund

The Maine Entomological Society (M.E.S.) offers scholarships each year for educational and research expenses in the study of Maine insects. Maine educators (teachers, Master Naturalists, amateur and professional entomologists) and students at all levels are eligible. Membership in M.E.S. is not required. All scholarship recipients will be given a one-year M.E.S. membership.

MES Website (maineentosociety.org). If you have questions or want to suggest candidates and/or projects, contact Anna Court at annaagnesleecourt@gmail.com.

Employment Opportunities

Newly featured this issue

Entomologist

The New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA) is the nation’s largest public housing authority, with an operating budget of $3.3 billion and approximately 10,600 employees who manage and maintain 325 developments that house over 400,000 residents.
The Pest Management Department employs more than 300 people responsible for the reduction of pests in apartments, interior spaces such as basements and grounds. Half of the staff is made up of exterminators who follow an integrated pest management philosophy and goals set around vacuuming, pesticide use and sealing of holes. The unit also employs teams working on supplies, work order planning, program and data management, and specialized teams working with snap traps, bed bugs, rats, exclusion, resident engagement, and burrow collapsing.
Reporting to the Administrator of Program Management, the Entomologist is responsible for supporting and running various projects to better our pest management policies. Under direct supervision, receives training in and, with latitude for the exercise of independent judgment, performs beginning level scientific and applied research and analysis in the study of entomology.

SUPERVISORY INTERDISCIPLINARY ENTOMOLOGIST/NATURAL RESOURCE SPECIALST

Department of the Navy

Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command

You will supervise the Applied Biology Branch in providing expert pest management consultation services.
You will provide Applied Biology program management and serve as senior pest management consultant for the Navy and Marine Corps.
You will review and approve installation integrated pest management plans, technical review reports, pest management training and other environmental products and services.
You will brief senior leaders and stakeholders on pest management issues and recommend corrective measures.
You will develop, review, and implement environmental policy and guidance.

Assistant Director, Sustainable Pest Management

California Department of Pesticide Regulation

(This is a repost if you have already applied for position, no need to reapply. Also, notification is from 2023, still active post)

This senior-level position will lead strategic agency and stakeholder engagement/collaboration and

development of plans, programs and proposed funding to implement recommendations of the Sustainable Pest Management (SPM) Roadmap. This CEA A’s leadership will include developing support for the practice change necessary to transition away from high-risk pesticides and adopt SPM at a systemwide level. The CEA A will lead initiatives that encourage regulatory alignment and SPM alternatives research, innovation, outreach and education. In addition, the position will oversee the SPM stakeholder advisory groups and work groups to support the integration of stakeholder feedback and SPM principles in pesticide program activities, grants, education, outreach, and other projects.

Cornell Botanic Gardens- Gardener S10- Horticulture Coordinator

This position stewards designated garden areas within Cornell Botanic Gardens and works closely with the Director of Horticulture to serve as crew lead and coordinator across the horticulture program. This position is full time (39 hours) for 10 months and half time (20 hours) for 2 months. For designated areas, implement horticultural management, collections development, and interpretive programming; monitor plant health on a regular basis to determine if fertilizing and watering are adequate and to determine nutritional disease or insect problems that should be reported to the IPM Team; collaborate with members of the education staff on the development and implementation of interpretive programs, publications, and displays that make these collections accessible to the Cornell community and the general public. Contribute to collaborative horticultural efforts across garden areas to ensure that Botanic Gardens’ high aesthetic standards are met Additionally, as a crew leader, work closely with all horticulture staff to build a cohesive, supportive, efficient team. Coordinate and schedule group work efforts across all garden areas; onboard, train, and serve as point person for volunteers, seasonal staff, and student workers; and support horticultural design and operations efforts beyond designated garden areas.

Agent, Regional Watershed Restoration Specialist

University of Maryland

The University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR) is a leading Land-Grant institution providing teaching, research, and Extension programs through University of Maryland Extension (UME) to a diverse clientele in the State of Maryland and beyond. UME seeks to fill a 12-month, tenure-track faculty position in watershed-based education with a particular focus on green infrastructure and nature-based solutions at individual and community landscape levels. The Regional Watershed Specialist for the Capital Cluster will work in the Anne Arundel, Charles, and Prince George’s counties of Maryland as well as statewide to provide non-formal education and technical assistance to stakeholders, including local and county governments, watershed groups, communities, and individuals. Education programming will focus on practices that improve water quality and quantity at the local level that lead to quantifiable reductions in non-point sources of pollution as well as improvement of water quantity/quality issues in the face of changing climate, increasing catastrophic weather events and intensities in a rapidly urbanizing region and state. The educator will be a member of the University of Maryland Extension’s Watershed Protection and Restoration Program (WPRP), consisting of faculty members with similar education responsibilities in other regions of the state. The educator will work closely with the Maryland Sea Grant Program (MDSG) to assist with implementing strategic Sea Grant initiatives that emphasize environmental justice and climate resiliency.

Previously featured

Agent, Native Plants & Landscapes Specialist

University of Maryland Extension

University of Maryland Extension seeks a highly motivated and knowledgeable individual to conduct applied research, develop educational programs, and engage in community outreach initiatives aimed at teaching and promoting the ecological benefits and use of native plant species in diverse landscapes. The Specialist will also be part of the leadership team responsible for implementing the Maryland Native Plants Program (along with the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The IR-4 Southern Region office at the University of Florida seeks a Regional Field Coordinator (Research Coordinator III).

This role involves developing, managing, and coordinating field research programs, including field trials in pesticide residue, product performance, bio-pesticides, integrated solutions, and environmental horticulture projects. The incumbent will assign field trials associated with IR-4-funded research to field researchers, distribute research protocols, track progress, and ensure quality data are submitted to IR-4 Headquarters.

The Regional Field Coordinator will engage stakeholders in IR-4’s regional work, including growers, commodity associations/grower groups, Cooperative Extension Agents & Specialists, Agriculture Experiment Station researchers, and others connected with pest management in specialty/minor uses. Other outreach and management responsibilities are involved as well.

This role fills the vacancy opened by Janine Spies' transition to Statewide Program Leader in Fruit IPM Coordinator at Rutgers University (congratulations, Janine!).

Visit our Careers page to find more information and link to UF's job posting. Join us in spreading the word (or submit your application!) so we can help grow this talented team.

Research Weed Scientist

This position is located in the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Soil and Water Conservation Research Unit in Pendleton, OR.

In this position, you will implement approaches that reduce the impact of weeds and improve agroecosystem sustainability and productivity.

Develop integrated weed management practices that increase yield, reduce crop losses, and are compatible with farming techniques promoting natural resource conservation.
Improve control of herbicide resistant weeds such as downy brome (Bromus tectorum), Russian thistle (Salsola tragus), and other weeds that are impacting yields of wheat.
Develop methods to assess and map weed infestations to enable variable rate applications of semi-selective herbicides.
Determine how crop rotation impacts weed ecology and identify rotations that reduce losses from weeds in seed cropping systems.
Use remote sensing to broaden the scope of measured variables and research objectives, and the scale of the data collection.
Integrate aspects of weed science, ecology, and agronomy to identify patterns across scales to assess weed pressure and measure system and crop responses to integrated management practices.

Research Support Specialist I - Hemlock Conservation Team Lead

Cornell University -

Responsibilities include: Serve as one of a two-person team. The “Hemlock Conservation Team”, based remotely from the Cornell Ithaca Campus working in the field to treat hemlock trees with systemic insecticides to control HWA. The “Team” will also scout priority areas for HWA early detection, maintain a database of treated trees, and assist the NYSHI lab with field research projects on HWA biological control and early detection of HWA using eDNA in New York State. Field work will be conducted year-round primarily in the southern Adirondacks, but may include other locations in New York State as needed.

Responsible for maintaining field equipment, including pesticide application equipment, as best as possible. Ordering field supplies and maintaining inventory. Provide basic data analysis using basic statistical methods and computer software (including Excel, R), provide maps using ArcGIS. Support ongoing and future research projects on hemlock woolly adelgid biological control and early detection of HWA using eDNA. Assist in the development of reports, papers and publications based on data collected. Provide training and assistance to volunteers and state agency personnel for HWA early detection and to assist with pesticide treatments.

This is a one-year appointment with possible extension depending on funding.

Assistant or Associate Professor of Urban Plant Ecology

The successful candidate will be a tenure-line faculty member of the Cornell University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and will be based in Ithaca, NY in the School of Integrative Plant Science (SIPS).

Expectations include teaching an undergraduate course on sustainable landscape management, a seven week modular course on plant identification in natural environments, and co-teaching an undergraduate course on urban plant biodiversity that includes woody plant identification and establishment in urban landscapes.

The successful candidate will assume an active role in advancing the Green Cities initiative, an informal group of Cornell faculty, staff, and students who contribute to improving urban ecosystem services and quality of life.

The successful candidate will also be positioned to collaborate with numerous colleagues throughout several Cornell colleges and units.

Turf and IPM Specialist

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County

The Turf and Integrated Pest Management Specialist is responsible for providing leadership for the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County Pest Management for Suffolk County Properties Program and the Turf Fertilizer Management Program. The Specialist aids with the implementation of integrated pest management strategies for turf, landscape and structural pests in situations where pesticides have been reduced or eliminated, providing diagnoses, training, public outreach, and research and demonstration projects. The Specialist will also provide a comprehensive fertilizer educational program includes educational training to landscape professionals and county staff regarding use of nitrogen fertilizers. The Specialist also serves as a resource for all residential, commercial, and agricultural turf management. The target stakeholders and areas of work include Suffolk County staff and properties – golf courses, parks, landscapes, county facilities and buildings, highways, and rights-of-way – as well as residential, commercial, and agricultural sod.

UNH Extension Seeks Field Specialist, Food and Agriculture, in Hillsborough County

This position is located at Extension’s Hillsborough County Office in Goffstown, N.H. The field specialist will provide technical assistance and develop educational programming in fruit and vegetable production to both new and experienced growers. Expertise in fruit or vegetable production is a priority for this position. Additional expertise in soil nutrition, integrated pest management or agricultural engineering is desirable. The candidate will work individually and as part of a team to host educational events and produce educational resources.

Director - UMass Cranberry Station / Extension Associate/Full Professor

The University of Massachusetts is seeking an experienced scientist, innovative leader and Extension educator to serve in a full-time, 12-month appointment as Extension Associate or Full Professor and Director of the UMass Cranberry Station located in East Wareham, Massachusetts. The Director will provide: 1) vision, support, and coordination in planning, developing and implementing departmental programs in research and extension in accordance with the Land Grant Mission; 2) leadership in recruiting and fostering academic growth and professional development of faculty, staff, and students; 3) administration of human, physical and financial resources; and 4) promotion of external funding opportunities. The successful candidate will report to the Director of the Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment.

Questions about the position may be directed to averill@eco.umass.edu.

Funding Opportunities

Previously featured

Research and Education Grant Program 2025 Call for Preproposals

Preproposal Due Date: August 6, 2024 5:00 p.m. ET

Proposals are submitted online at projects.sare.org

Questions?

Visit our website at: northeastsare.org/ResearchEducationGrant. For questions about this Call for Preproposals, contact Heather Omand at: northeast-re@sare.org or 802-656-7654.

At a Glance

The Research and Education program funds projects that result in gains in farmer knowledge, awareness, skills, and attitudes that are then applied to make measurable on-farm changes leading to greater sustainability. The focus on farmer behavior change is a key requirement of this grant program. An education component is required, while an applied research component is optional. Funding

requests typically fall between $30,000 and $250,000 – though there is no cap. Farmer engagement in the project is required.

Inclusive IPM Grants

The four Regional Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Centers champion the development and adoption of integrated pest management, the science of managing pests, while protecting people, the environment and economy. To help increase diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) within the IPM community, the Regional IPM Centers are providing two funding opportunities: Equity and Accessibility Grants and Equity and Accessibility Mini-Grants.

These Equity and Accessibility funding opportunities will be awarded to projects that allow recipients to make progress towards IPM goals, while prioritizing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.

Diversity: This encompasses ensuring that all individuals have equitable access to resources needed for personal growth and well-being, fostering thriving and inclusive communities.
Equity: It involves advocating for justice, impartiality, and fairness in the procedures, processes, and allocation of resources within institutions or systems.
Inclusion: This pertains to the extent to which diverse individuals can actively participate in decision-making processes within an organization or group.
Accessibility: This covers the design, development, and maintenance of facilities, technology, programs, and services to ensure they can be fully and independently utilized by all, including people with disabilities. This includes providing accommodations and reducing barriers to create equitable opportunities.

A webinar to explain details of the Equity and Accessibility funding opportunities was held in late 2023; note that DEIA Fellowships are no longer available. If you have any questions or would like to discuss your ideas for this grant prior to applying, please contact DEIA Director, Dr. Katie Hartmann: kh4@iastate.edu.

Equity and Accessibility Grants

The Equity and Accessibility Grants program aims to support projects and initiatives that promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility within IPM and the communities we serve. These grants will provide funding to individuals or teams for innovative DEIA-focused projects.

Funding Available: $100,000 with awards of up to $20,000 each. We anticipate awarding 1-2 grants in the Northeastern, Western, and Southern regions (funds have already been awarded in the North Central Region).

Period of Performance: End date no later than 9/17/25

Application deadline: Friday, June 21, 2024

Download the Equity and Accessibility Grant RFA.

Equity and Accessibility Mini-Grants

The Equity and Accessibility Mini-Grants program is a smaller-scale funding opportunity for individuals or groups who have innovative DEIA ideas but require a smaller budget to execute their projects. These mini-grants are intended to support grassroots DEIA efforts.

Funding Available: $25,000 with awards of up to $5,000 each. We anticipate awarding one to two mini-grants in each US region.

Period of Performance: 12 months from start date, with end date no later than 9/17/25

Application deadline: Friday, June 21, 2024

Download the Equity and Accessibility Mini-Grants RFA.

The Southern region SARE program is soliciting a national Call for Proposals for the Food Loss and Waste Training and Technical Assistance Grants. The purpose of this one-time grant opportunity is to implement outreach, training, and technical assistance efforts to build capacity for food loss and waste initiatives.

The Call for Proposals is open to qualified applicants in the contiguous U.S., Alaska, Hawaii, and the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Micronesia, and Northern Mariana Islands. Application deadline is June 28, 2024 at 5 p.m. EST. Projects will span three (3) years, beginning on Sept. 1, 2024. Roughly two (2) to four (4) projects, capped at $1 million per proposal with an expected grant size of $500,000, are anticipated to be funded per SARE region: Southern SARE, North Central SARE, Northeast SARE, and Western SARE, so that regional priorities to addressing food loss and waste can be augmented, while allowing for national coordination and impacts. A total of $8 million is being funded nationally for the CFP Food Loss and Waste Training and Technical Assistance Grants effort.

Visit SARE Supporting Strategies to Curb Food Loss and Reduce Food Waste with Grant Opportunity for more information.

Rapid Response Fund for Aquatic Invasive Species

Aquatic invasive species can lead to the extinction of native plants and animals, permanently alter habitats, and imperil public health. Aquaculture, tourism, recreation, shipping, and hydropower facilities may also be adversely impacted by biological invasion. Effective and coordinated approaches are necessary to manage aquatic invaders and protect our Nation’s waters. Although prevention is the most effective approach to eliminate or reduce the threat of aquatic invasive species, Early Detection and Rapid Response (EDRR) serves as a failsafe when prevention measures are ineffective or unavailable.

Recognizing the importance of timely action, the Department of the Interior is working with partners to identify, enhance, and collaborate on EDRR activities, including the establishment of a Rapid Response Fund for aquatic invasive species. This fund is intended make financial resources available to assess and support response actions for quick containment or eradication of newly detected species, thus avoiding costly long-term and wide-spread control efforts. This year, as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law authorization for ecosystem restoration, the Department invested $1 million to establish a pilot Rapid Response Fund for Aquatic Invasive Species with an additional $1 million envisioned each year 2024 through 2026 as part of advancing a National EDRR Framework. Investments in EDRR, including a Rapid Response Fund, help to meet conservation goals set through the America the Beautiful Initiative.

The Rapid Response Fund will be administered within the existing authorities of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Fish and Aquatic Conservation program and coordinated through the Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force. Co-chaired by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the ANS Task Force consists of federal agency representatives and ex-officio representatives that work in conjunction with six regional panels and issue-specific subcommittees to coordinate efforts related to aquatic invasive species across the Nation. Accordingly, the ANS Task Force is well positioned to coordinate and successfully operate a response rapid fund. In July 2023, the ANS Task Force approved The Model Process: Rapid Response Fund for Aquatic Invasive Species that outlines a structure and process for operation of the fund.

Read the full Notice of Funding Opportunity.

Estimated total program funding: $ 960,000

Award ceiling: $960,000

Award floor: $50,000

Enjoy your day!

Jerrie