IPM News and Events Roundup 07/12/2024

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.   

 

Connect with the Northeastern IPM Center 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | IPM Insights Newsletter | Impact Statements | Find a Colleague | Northeast Priorities | Annual Reports  | IPM Wheels Poster | Recipients of 2024 Partnership Grants | "The IPM Toolbox" Webinar Series | Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice in IPM Past Recordings

       

Northeastern IPM Center News 

Recording now available from “The 2024 Spotted Lanternfly Summit” where the latest research and regulatory information was provided.

Recordings

View recordings of the 2024 Spotted Lanternfly Summit (YouTube playlist).

 

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.

 

DEI in IPM Panel Discussion

October 29, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.

Register at cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_wxN5zM8QTje8oyz45iChdw

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

Description

This panel will explore a unique Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) perspective; best practices of DEI; an opportunity to learn how to implement change in light of the anti-DEI legislation, and how it’s affecting experiences across the country. We will provide the necessary examples that will equip you to be a more informed leader with DEI in mind and lean into how to support your administration, faculty, staff and students in an anti-DEI climate. This session will give participants an opportunity to think through real-life diversity, equity and inclusion scenarios, and help create a network for you to turn to when addressing DEI issues.

Panel members: 

Dr. Antomia “Mia” Farrell - Associate Dean and Director College of Agriculture & Natural Resources (CANR), Michigan State University

Dr. Quatez Scott - Assistant Dean for Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity in Agriculture (IDEA), Colorado State University

Dr. Jacquelyn Mosley - Professor of Human Development and Family Sciences and the Assistant Dean, Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences at the University of Arkansas

Dr. Anna Katharine Mansfield - Associate Director & Associate Professor, Cornell AgriTech

 

Bee Breeding and IPM for Better Pollinator Health

November 20, 2024, at 11:00 a.m.

Register at cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_YZTukWExRLq9o2-3qgTL2g

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

Description

This presentation will focus on recently published and current research on the genetics and breeding of mite-resistant stocks in honey bees, and a recent study using a sustainable method to manage varroa mites in bee hives.

Dr. Hongmei Li-Byarlay

Associate Professor, Central State University

Dr. Hongmei Li-Byarlay is a Fellow of the Royal Entomological Society and president of the International Branch of the Entomological Society of America (ESA). Her doctoral degree is in entomology from Purdue University (West Lafayette, Indiana) and she studied the genetics and physiology of Drosophila melanogaster. Then she worked at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and North Carolina State University to study functional genomics and social behavior of honey bees. In 2017, she started her research lab on bee genetics, genomics, pollinators, and ecology. She has mentored 40 undergrad students at CSU, and published 49 peer-reviewed papers and book chapters including P.N.A.S., BMC Genomics, Insect Molecular Biology, etc. She has presented 120 talks for research. She’s on the Editorial Board of Current Research in Insect Science, and topic editor for Nature Scientific Reports, Cell Heliyon, and the Journal of Insect Science.

EPA / FDA / USDA / NIFA News

EPA Proposes Framework for Interagency Collaboration on the Review of Potential for Resistance from Antibacterial and Antifungal Pesticides

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released for public comment a draft framework for expanding federal collaboration on the review of antibacterial and antifungal pesticides. EPA coordinated with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy in developing this framework. As noted in this framework, EPA intends to establish a process to consider expert input from other federal agencies during its evaluation of antimicrobials that may adversely impact the efficacy of human or animal drugs. This framework outlines a process for EPA to collaborate with other federal agencies in a manner that recognizes the benefits of these pesticides to agriculture while minimizing their impact on public health, and that considers the goals of the One Health model. One Health is a multidisciplinary approach to improve public health outcomes by analyzing linkages between humans, animals, and the global environment.

To read the proposed framework and submit a public comment, visit docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2023-0445 at www.regulations.gov. The comment period will be open for 30 days, closing on August 1, 2024. EPA will consider public feedback before publishing the final framework, which the Agency intends to issue by the end of 2024.  

 

Vector-borne Diseases Are Taking a Bite Out of Our Health and Safety

Climate change is one factor linked to the growing threat of vector-borne diseases. Vectors are organisms that carry disease. Vectors such as mosquitoes and ticks spread diseases like Lyme disease and West Nile virus, among others.  

The bite that vector-borne diseases take out of human and animal health and safety can seem daunting, but this is where research and Extension from the Land-grant Universities in the Northeast are helping with science-based solutions.

The Northeast Agricultural Experiment Stations and Cooperative Extension System have multiple research and educational outreach programs to monitor, mitigate and prevent vector-borne diseases. Read more about this NIFA-supported work.

 

EPA Announces Update on Atrazine

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing an update to the level at which atrazine is expected to adversely affect aquatic plants. The new revised atrazine concentration of 9.7 micrograms per liter (µg/L), which was derived following an August 2023 peer review, will be used to develop a revised regulatory decision to help protect aquatic plants as well as fish, invertebrates, and amphibians.

For additional information, please visit docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2013-0266 at www.regulations.gov.

 

EPA Shares Fish and Wildlife Service’s Draft Biological Opinion for Methomyl for Public Comment

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is posting and seeking public comment on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) draft biological opinion (BiOp) for methomyl. The draft BiOp released today covers species under FWS’s purview. 

Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), EPA must ensure that its actions, including most pesticide actions, do not jeopardize listed species or adversely modify their designated critical habitats. If EPA determines in a biological evaluation that use of a pesticide product may affect these listed species or critical habitats, EPA must initiate consultation with the National Marine Fisheries Services (NMFS), FWS, or both (the Services). In response, the Service(s) may develop a BiOp that determines whether the pesticide will result in jeopardy or adverse modification.

The draft BiOp is available for public comment in docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2024-0290 and will close on September 9, 2024. After the public comment period, EPA will provide FWS with a summary and the full text of comments received for consideration before FWS finalizes the BiOp. EPA will implement the final BiOp. 

 

EPA Grants Petition on Three PFAS Found in Fluorinated Plastic Containers

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) granted a petition from the Center for Environmental Health, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Alaska Community Action on Toxics, Clean Cape Fear, Clean Water Action, Delaware Riverkeeper and Merrimack Citizens for Clean Water to address per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) formed during the fluorination of plastic containers – perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorodecanoic acid (PFDA). These PFAS have been found in plastic containers used for a variety of household consumer, pesticide, fuel, automotive and other industrial products.

Read EPA’s response to the petition.

 

Research in the news

Target and non-target effects of insecticide use during ornamental milkweed production (academic.oup.com)

There are widespread public efforts to conserve wildlife in urbanized landscapes via the installation of nursery-grown plants that support Lepidoptera taxa. Insecticides are commonly used during nursery production to suppress key plant pests, and many products have extended periods of toxicity and affect a wide range of herbivore taxa. While there are plentiful toxicological data on bee species, predominantly the Western honey bee (Apis mellifera L.), little is known about how insecticides affect nonpest lepidopterans. Lepidoptera has different modes of exposure (e.g., leaf-feeding) and differences in susceptibility to insecticide target sites compared to bees.

 

Reference genome for the Mojave poppy bee (Perdita meconis), a specialist pollinator of conservation concern (academic.oup.com)

The Mojave poppy bee, Perdita meconis Griswold (Hymenoptera: Anthophila: Andrenidae), is a species of conservation concern that is restricted to the eastern Mojave Desert of North America. It is a specialist pollinator of two poppy genera, Arctomecon and Argemone (Papaveraceae), and is being considered for listing under the US Endangered Species Act along with one of its pollinator hosts, the Las Vegas bearpoppy (Arctomecon californica). Here, we present a near chromosome-level genome of the Mojave poppy bee to provide a genomic resource that will aid conservation efforts and future research.

 

First use of unmanned aerial vehicles to monitor Halyomorpha halys and recognize it using artificial intelligence (scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com)

Halyomorpha halys is one of the most damaging invasive agricultural pests in North America and southern Europe. It is commonly monitored using pheromone traps, which are not very effective because few bugs are caught and some escape and/or remain outside the trap on surrounding plants where they feed, increasing the damage. Other monitoring techniques are based on visual sampling, sweep-netting and tree-beating. However, all these methods require several hours of human labor and are difficult to apply to large areas. The aim of this work is to develop an automated monitoring system that integrates image acquisition through the use of drones with H. halys detection through the use of artificial intelligence (AI).

 

News 

IPM Symposium 2025 is thrilled to announce 2025’s Opening Keynote Speaker, Dr. Ismahane Elouafi, Executive Managing Director at CGIAR.

Dr. Elouafi leads the CGIAR organization - the preeminent global agricultural and food systems research network - to deliver science and innovation for a food- and nutrition-secure future. She will speak about the pivotal role strong IPM plans are to achieving Food Security globally.

More about Dr. Elouafi

She was previously Chief Scientist at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, and Director General at the International Center for Biosaline Agriculture (ICBA).

Dr. Elouafi also served as Senior Adviser to the Assistant Deputy Minister, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Research Branch (AAFC), the National Manager of Plant Research Section; and Director of Research Management and Partnerships Division at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

She has served on expert panels and advisory groups, including the Global Commission on Adaptation (GCA), and HarvestPlus; and on the boards of CGIAR, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI), Centre for Agriculture and Bioscience International (CABI), and Canada’s Professional Development Institute. She was member of the Scientific Group for the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit.

As a geneticist, Dr. Elouafi’s work contributed to enhancing wheat breeding. She has advocated for the diversification of food to improve food system resilience, including work on halophytes that had significant impact in countries facing salinity issues. A prolific scientific author, she has contributed to many major publications – including Nature, on Foodomics, the Gaza food crisis and biodiversity.

 

CDC Issues Alert for Increased Risk of Dengue Virus Infections in the United States (cdc.gov)

On June 25, 2024, CDC issued a Health Alert Network (HAN) message about an increased risk of dengue virus (DENV) infections in the United States in 2024. The CDC is actively implementing several strategies to address the increase in cases of dengue including expanding laboratory capacity to improve laboratory testing approaches. Information about clinical testing guidance for dengue and instructions for submitting specimens for dengue virus tests is available.

Report dengue cases to CDC via ArboNET, the national arboviral surveillance system managed by CDC and state health departments.

For more information, please review the HAN in detail.

 

Pest Talks (growertalks.com)

Two "What the ... ?"
Azo Root Introduced
Soft Scale Management
"What the ... ?" Answered

 

UMass Extension's
Hort Notes: Clippings from the Garden

IN THIS ISSUE 

  • I’ve come across ground nesting bees! What do I do?
  • Viruses in Herbaceous Perennials
  • Q&A - box tree moth, roseslugs, Cecropia moths
  • Garden Clippings Tips of the Month
  • Income, Equity and the Urban Forest: Strengthening Student Understanding in Springfield, MA

 

Pesticide Rotation Guide for Thrips parvispinus in Canadian Greenhouses (onfloriculture.com)

In this post, we’ll focus on pesticide rotations to manage pesticide resistance, as well as a few tips and tricks to make sure your pesticides stay working.

 

More soil carbon offers eco-friendly weed control (news.cornell.edu)

Cornell researchers have tested an ecological tool in the fight to control weeds in silage soybean and corn fields: adding carbon to soil in the form of sawdust and rye hay.

The study found that sawdust controlled weeds well in soybean fields but not as  well in corn fields. Sawdust offers an eco-friendly alternative to conventional methods for controlling weeds, such as tilling and herbicides, each of which have their own downsides.

 

 

Webinars, seminars, meetings, and more             

Newly featured this issue

Greenhouse Hands-on IPM In-depth

This event is designed to give greenhouse growers hands-on practice on mealybug management and with production factors that affect pest management. Topics will include aspects of IPM through entomology, plant production and biocontrol.

Topics:

  • Maddening mealybugs and sneaky scales
  • Diagnosing abiotic disorders in greenhouse crops
  • Talking beneficial bugs with your customers

Credits: 

  • DEC Credits: 3 credits in categories 10, 24, 25, 3a, 3c.
  • CNLP credits: 4

Cost: $75—If registration fee is cost-prohibitive, please contact Betsy Lamb

When: July 22 from 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

Location: Bradfield Hall, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y. 

 

9th Annual Invasive Species Mapping Challenge

From June 26 and July 31 join the biggest mapping challenge of the year! Prizes will be given to those with the highest observations (presence or not detected) for tree of heaven, jumping worm, beech leaf disease, water chestnut, European frogbit, and watercress. The PRISM region with the most records for select species will also get a trophy!

During the month of July, we challenge you to submit reports to iMap for our selected focal species to help fill data gaps and compete to win!

  1. Learn about the selected species by joining our webinar, or viewing the info below.
  2. Throughout July - go outside and check for the selected species you're most interested in.
  3. Report back to iMap - whether you find it or not!

The observers with the most records (including not-detected reports!) for each species will win a prize! You might even help win a trophy for your PRISM!

Watch the recorded Challenge webinar

 

Resilient Gardens Symposium – NYC

In a partnership between Harvest New York and New York State Seed to Supper, we are excited to announce that we will be hosting a one-day Resilient Gardens Symposium in New York City focused on culturally relevant gardening skills adapted to climate change for the unique resource needs of urban gardeners. The day’s focus will be on addressing barriers for beginning gardeners most affected by post-pandemic food insecurity, hearing from leaders on innovative ways to overcome these issues in cities and connecting resources between Cornell Cooperative Extension and leading community gardens. The Resilient Gardens Symposium event is scheduled for Saturday, August 10th, from 9:00 am – 4:00 PM at Barnard College, at Barnard Hall, 3009 Broadway, New York, NY 10027.  A thank you to our host location, Barnard College, for their partnership and for the Smith Lever Federal Capacity Funding that has made this event possible. Please register by July 12

Saturday, August 10th, 2024

9AM – 4PM 

Barnard College

Barnard Hall, James Room (4th Floor)

3009 Broadway, New York, NY

Register here now! 

 

Previously featured

IPM in Affordable Housing

Affordable housing suffers from disproportionately high rates of pest infestations, resulting in high rates of asthma and allergies, and an increased risk of pesticide exposure from repeated applications or pesticide misuse.

A look back on symposia presentations and how they influenced our work in affordable housing, Susannah Krysko, MS, will explore the impact of the International IPM Symposium on technical assistance and training provided by The StopPests in Housing program, and in turn, the pest management practices at HUD-assisted housing sites across the country by facilitating an exchange of ideas, research findings, theories, obstacles, and successes.

Date & Time:  July 30, 2024, 02:00 PM in EST

Description:  IPM Symposium Series Webinar #3

 

2024 Aurora Farm Field Day

The annual Cornell Field Crop Research Field Day will be Thursday, August 1 at the Musgrave Research Farm, Aurora, N.Y. The program features walking and hay wagon tours in the morning and afternoon. 

The tour stops include:

  • Vipan Kumar: Herbicide programs for weed control in corn and soybean
  • Mike Hunter & Lynn Sosnoskie: Weed seed movement and the importance of cleaning equipment
  • Louis Longchamps: On-farm experimentation, robotic interseeding
  • Ginny Moore and Erika Everest: Dry-bean presentation and tasting (tasting over lunch)
  • Quirine Ketterings and Kirsten Workman: Value of manure and SSEA approach
  • Lilly Elliott & Katja Poveda: Seedcorn maggot: predicting damage risk in New York
  • Kristen Loria and Matt Ryan: Balancing tradeoffs when no-till planting into cover crops
  • Joseph Amsili: Soil health benchmarks, carbon stocks, and solar farms

DEC and CCA credits have been requested.

The program is free and open to the public. A light breakfast and free lunch will be provided.

 

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!

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

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

October 4th: Identifying Pests in Your Home

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

December 6th: 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. 

Register for one, multiple or all of the interactive, Online Classes

2024 Class Dates:

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.

 

Employment Opportunities

Newly featured this issue

Program for Farmer-Centric Digital Agronomy

Cornell University, School of Integrative Plant Science – Section of Soil and Crop Sciences

The Extension Associate will engage with farmers to coordinate on-farm experimentation activities which may include meeting with farmers to understand their needs, conducting in-field soil and crop sampling, gathering farm data (e.g., treatments, management, yield, etc.), processing data, and organizing workshops with farmers for OFE interpretations. The individual will also generate extension publications and maintain a website and social media to allow for two-way extension process. This position thus requires good communication skills, understanding of agronomy, being a good problem detector and solver, having good time management, and being comfortable with website and social media posting and maintenance. The position holder must be willing to develop new skills via self-education, online courses, and practice.

This is a full-time position and will be located in Ithaca, New York. This is a one-year appointment with possible long-term extension depending on funding and performance.

 

Assistant Professor - Applied Honey Bee Entomology

North Dakota State University

The School of Natural Resource Sciences (SNRS) at North Dakota State University is seeking an outstanding individual for a tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level in the area of applied honey bee entomology. North Dakota is the top honey-producing state in the U.S., with 800,000+ honey bee colonies, with most transported cross country for commercial pollination services (https://www.ndda.nd.gov/divisions/plant-industries/apiary-honey-bees). Duties of the successful candidate include: conducting research in the area of applied honey bee entomology, which could include (but is not limited to) bee behavior, bee health, ecology and resource use, integrated pest management, or hive/apiary management; developing a nationally recognized research program; securing funding through external sources; producing peer-reviewed publications and other relevant research and Extension outputs; mentoring graduate and undergraduate students; providing leadership and conducting Extension programming for the state related to honey bees and apiaries; and serving on SNRS, College, and University committees. Research and Extension efforts should help support relevant North Dakota stakeholders (e.g. industry, land managers) and the North Dakota Agricultural Experiment Station (https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/ag-research/ag-research) including maintaining or improving bee and apiary resources.

 

Previously featured

Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program Director

The Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program (APIPP), hosted by The Nature Conservancy, is seeking to fill the position of Program Director. The Director coordinates and collaborates with more than 30 partner organizations and NYS’s Invasive Species Management Program to direct, develop, and advance a comprehensive invasive species prevention, monitoring, and management program for the seven million-acre Adirondack Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM). This includes directing all aspects of APIPP’s program and managing a team of professional team members. The APIPP Program Director acts as the principal contact with state and local government agencies, conservation organizations, and academic and research institutions. They work closely with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (NYS DEC) Invasive Species Coordination Section and APIPP partners to set strategic direction and advance the key deliverables of a five-year contract for services with the NYS DEC. 

 

Extension Support Specialist II (Aquatic Invasive Species Coordinator)- Brownville, NY

This position represents a partnership between the New York State Water Resources Institute (NYSWRI) at Cornell University and the Invasive Species Coordination Section (ISCS) of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Lands and Forests. The Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Coordinator will work throughout New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (NYSDEC) Region 6, be housed at a Region 6 DEC office, coordinate through the Regional Forester, and work alongside DEC staff. ISCS will work closely with NYSWRI to provide the Coordinator with guidance, oversight, and Region 6 support. Primary duties of this position will include surveying and managing aquatic invasive species, creating and supervising a regional AIS strike team, as well as, planning and executing research and demonstration projects related to the prevention, control, and eradication of aquatic invasives. This position requires strong communication skills and interaction with local constituents. Additional duties will include the coordination of Watercraft Inspection Steward Programs (WISP) within the Region.

 

GIS Analyst

Do you like programming, data, and maps but also crave contributing to conservation goals? Are you a problem solver who is detail-oriented, comfortable in the field, and can visualize field data? The Adirondack Park Invasive Plant Program and Saint Lawrence-Eastern Lake Ontario Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management are hiring a Conservation and GIS Analyst with these skills and invite you to apply!  

The Conservation and GIS Analyst is a full-time hybrid position. The successful candidate will oversee GIS and other relational database programs and provide technical support for PRISM staff. Some job duties include but are not limited to, designing field survey and collection tools, data visualization, and report curation.

To apply, go to careers.nature.org and search for job ID 55285, submit your application by using the "Apply Now" button. Need help applying? Visit The Nature Conservancy's recruitment page or contact applyhelp@tnc.org.

 

ARS Vacancies as of June 18, 2024

USDA’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) is one of the world’s premier scientific organizations, with research locations throughout the United States and a small number of international locations. Several positions listed. 

 

Agent, 4-H Youth Development

University of Maryland Extension (UME) is seeking an Extension Educator responsible for organizing, developing, implementing and evaluating educational programs for youth, families and communities. The Educator would work with volunteers and youth development agencies to provide experiential learning opportunities for youth, leading to the development of life skills for youth. The educator is also responsible for developing an active, ongoing recruitment campaign to involve new volunteers and youth. As a tenure- track faculty member, the Educator will be responsible for providing leadership to develop focused youth development programs in cooperation with colleagues across the county and Capital Maryland cluster. The faculty member will be on track for tenure and promotion to a higher rank in accordance with University policy and UME tenure guidelines within a timeframe defined.

 

Grape IPM Specialist - NYS Integrated Pest Management

The New York State Integrated Pest Management Program (NYSIPM) is seeking a dynamic and engaging leader with a passion for extension and innovation to serve as the Program’s grape IPM coordinator.

As part of NYSIPM’s award-winning team, the successful candidate will work with faculty and Cornell Cooperative Extension colleagues to help shape New York’s thriving $6 billion grape industry by expanding knowledge and access to sustainable pest management practices in grape agroecosystems and inspiring and working with diverse audiences and stakeholder communities to address the key issues impacting the state’s grape production systems.

 

Research Plant Geneticist

This position is located within the Agricultural Research Service, Southeast Area, Crop Science Research Laboratory, Corn Host Plant Resistance Research Unit in Mississippi State, MS.
In this position, you will be responsible for implementing modern molecular breeding tools, high-throughput phenotyping methods, and statistical tools to develop maize germplasm with resistance to fall armyworm, and pre-harvest resistance to Aspergillus flavus infection and aflatoxin accumulation.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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.

 

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).

 

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 right-of-ways – as well as residential, commercial, and agricultural sod.

 

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

Calls for 2025 NE SARE Large Grant Preproposals Open

Three Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) programs are calling for preproposals. $5.9M in funding is available across the Research and Education, Research for Novel Approaches, and Professional Development grant programs. Preproposals are due August 6, 2024 by 5 p.m. EST.

Professional Development Grant

Research and Education

Research for Novel Approaches

Q&A Sessions will take place in June and July to help applicants determine which program is right for their project. These sessions are a great opportunity to build community understanding around Northeast SARE grant programs and procedures.

Q&A Sessions will take place from 1 - 2 p.m. EST on:

Wednesday, June 26
Wednesday, July 10
Tuesday, July 16

A single registration allows you to attend ANY of the Q&A sessions.

Register for the Q&A sessions.

 

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.