IPM News and Events Roundup 07/21/23
Please note that there will be no IPM News and Events Roundup edition for the week of July 28. The Roundup is scheduled to resume the week of August 4.
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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News and Resources
A tiny invasive flying beetle that's killed hundreds of millions of trees lands in Colorado (CBS News)
Littleton, Colorado, is fighting to save tens of thousands of its trees from a devastating death, but it’s not deforestation or wildfires they are up against—it’s the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), an exotic beetle that the city describes as a “pint-size insect that can cause king-size problems for ash trees.” EAB is known for killing ash trees, which make up about 15% (45,000) of all the city’s trees.
Research seeks insights on honeybee diets for healthier hives (Texas A&M AgriLife)
Texas A&M AgriLife Research scientists are studying how pollen diversity affects the nutritional quality of honeybee diets, including asking foundational questions about how nutrition can sustain healthier colonies.
USDA Provides More than $3.2 Million in Funding for Antimicrobial Resistance Dashboards (USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service)
USDA-APHIS announced 12 awards totaling more than $3.2 million in cooperative-agreement funding to create antimicrobial resistance (AMR) dashboards. These awards will help advance scientific knowledge around AMR, which is a global health threat that makes antibiotics and other antimicrobials less effective. Addressing AMR is important to APHIS, along with the agricultural and public health sectors, because antimicrobials are some of our most critical tools for treating serious infections and saving the lives of people and animals.
A New Exotic Pest in NY: The Elm Zigzag Sawfly (New York State Department of Environmental Conservation)
The elm zigzag sawfly is an insect that eats only elm leaves and can cause severe defoliation (leaf loss) that threatens tree health. It gets its name from the easily recognizable “zigzag” feeding pattern larvae create as they chew through leaves. People can help efforts to limit the spread of the sawfly by reporting sightings of its trademark damage.
For more information, also see DEC’s press release announcing the first detection of the pest in New York State, from fall 2022.
Bumblebee research sparks rapid industry change (Cornell Chronicle)
A Cornell University study that revealed commercial eastern common bumblebee hives pose a threat to their wild counterparts has led one major pollination company to quickly adapt the bumblebee hive boxes they ship to growers. The study showed that brightly colored commercial bumblebee nest boxes pose an inadvertent threat to wild hives, but also showed there is already a solution available.
Invasive plant species discovered in Burlington (WCAX-TV Vermont)
An invasive plant species called pale swallow-wort has been discovered in Vermont for the first time, in a Burlington neighborhood. It is not seriously harmful to humans—although it can cause a rash—but it can be a danger to other animals, like caterpillars.
Candida auris information and latest resources (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Candida auris is an emerging fungus that presents a serious global health threat. CDC is concerned about C. auris for three main reasons: it is often multidrug-resistant; it is difficult to identify with standard laboratory methods, and it can be misidentified in labs without specific technology; and it has caused outbreaks in healthcare settings. CDC encourages all U.S. laboratory staff who identify C. auris to notify their state or local public health authorities and CDC.
Quick Guide to Developing and Delivering an Accessible Virtual Public Outreach Program (PDF) (New York State IPM Program)
Virtual programming is a useful technique to reach public audiences with timely information from the comfort of their home or office. But not all attendees access information in the same
way. This guide is intended to help you develop a virtual program or series that addresses the accessibility needs of most attendees and presenters.
The guide is a product of “IPM is for everyone: Enhancing the reach and impact of a virtual IPM education series,” a New York State IPM Program project funded through a Northeastern IPM Center Partnership Grant.
Webinars, Seminars, Meetings, and More
Penn State Extension’s Hayley Springer to Discuss Biosecurity on Dairy Operations During July 26 Webinar (Center for Dairy Excellence)
Wednesday, July 26, 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. EDT | Free | Webinar and conference call formats available
The Center for Dairy Excellence is hosting a special edition of its monthly “Protecting Your Profits” webinar titled “How Biosecurity Can Protect Dairy Operations,” led by risk education manager Zach Myers and featuring Hayley Springer from Penn State Extension. Springer will share how the dairy industry can begin to prepare for a potential outbreak of high-consequence animal diseases and the value this preparation can have in the face of a biosecurity crisis. Myers will review current data and updates about the milk marketplace to guide decision-making and risk-management strategies.
The recording will be released after the event.
What’s Bugging You? First Friday Events (New York State IPM Program)
Fridays | 12:00 pm. – 12:30 p.m. EDT | Zoom | Free; registration required
In this monthly virtual series, we explore 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. What is IPM? It's 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.
2023 What’s Bugging You First Friday Schedule
Join us Live on the first Friday of every month from Noon to 12:30 EST on Zoom.
- August 4: Groundhog management | Bat exclusion
- September 1: Right plant, right place | Transplanting trees/shrubs
- October 6: Jumping worms | Roof gutter pests
- November 3: Winter Garden prep | Tick check reminder
- December 1: Houseplant IPM | Firewood pests
Register for upcoming events before our session on July 7, 2023.
What’s Bugging You First Friday events are in Spanish this year. Individuals interested in these events can find more information on this website: https://cals.cornell.edu/new-york-state-integrated-pest-management/outreach-education/events/whats-bugging-you-webinars/conozca-su-plaga
And can register using this form: https://cornell.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3OQDpakcGrSd3tc
The IPM Institute Presents: Pest Defense for Healthy Schools Webinar: Fungus Gnats
July 27, 2023, 4:00 p.m. CST | Zoom | Free, registration required: https://bit.ly/FungusGnat
The Pest Defense team will host Nick Weiss, an AP environmental science teacher from Carrollton, TX. Weiss will describe why it was difficult for his students to see the value of learning IPM until fungus gnats started bugging them in class. He will cover fungus gnat biology, ideal growing conditions, how to limit their populations, and the IPM strategies his class used to successfully limit them in their classroom. He will also discuss how teachers can include students in the development and execution of an IPM plan.
Contact Lorelei D’Huyvetter at ldhuyvetter@ipminstitute.org with any questions.
Register at https://bit.ly/FungusGnat
Crop Protection and Pest Management Listening Session (United States Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA NIFA))
Wednesday, August 2, 2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. EDT | Webinar | Registration required
USDA NIFA is hosting a listening session to obtain feedback on the Crop Protection and Pest Management (CPPM) program, which addresses high-priority issues related to pests and IPM approaches at the state, regional, and national levels. The main objective of this virtual listening session is to solicit stakeholder input on the three components of CPPM: Applied Research and Development Program (ARDP), Extension Implementation Program (EIP), and Regional Coordination Program (RCP).
Organic grains research field day (Penn State Extension)
August 9, 2023, 9:45 a.m. – noon | Russell E. Larson Agricultural Research Center at Rock Springs, near Pennsylvania Furnace, 16865 | Free, registration preferred but not required
Penn State Extension is hosting an organic grains research field day during Ag Progress Days, intended for organic farmers, service providers, and industry professionals, as well as farmers interested in transitioning to organic. Participants will tour two long-term organic grains research projects on-site, and Penn State Extension educators and researchers will present information on organic reduced tillage practices including rotational no-till and intercropping, and a new nitrogen management decision-support tool. There will be demonstrations of tillage and cultivation equipment.
Visit https://extension.psu.edu/organic-grain-production-research-field-day for more information or to register.
Also to be held during Ag Progress Days: Soil Organic Matter and Cover Crop-Based Nitrogen Recommendations for Corn | August 8, 9, and 10 at 1:00 pm
We will introduce a new calculator for determining nitrogen fertilizer recommendations for corn, based on soil organic matter and cover crop inputs. Following this, we will have time for participants to demo out the calculator with their own soil, corn yield, and cover crop info.
Blue Ridge PRISM Summer Brown Bag Webinar: "A Deep Dive Into Aquatic Invasive Plants"
Thursday, August 17, 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m., Zoom | Free, registration required: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/640685396267
Blue Ridge PRISM will be joined by a panel of experts who will discuss aquatic invasive plants, a growing concern. Our panel will provide some background about aquatic invasives, how they are a problem, and methods for managing them. The panel will then take questions from the audience.
If you are able, please submit your questions during registration. We will also answer some questions live from the audience. Registrants will receive a copy of the recording.
Food Use Workshop (The IR-4 Project)
September 12 – 14, 2023 | Raleigh, North Carolina, with option to attend virtually
Research priorities for 2024 residue, product performance, and integrated solutions studies will be identified during this workshop.
The deadline to submit residue and integrated solutions project requests for consideration at the Food Use Workshop is Friday, August 11.
Early bird registration rate available through August 31.
2023 P-IE Invasive Species Field Tour (Entomological Society of America Plant-Insect Ecosystems Section)
September 12 – 14, 2023 | Orlando, Florida
Attendees will learn about several different invasive pests affecting natural and managed landscapes in the southern U.S., including forest pests, agricultural pests, and pests in urban and suburban areas. Speakers will include experts from entomology and pathology who are focused on both research and management, discussing how these pests arrived, what we are trying to do about them, and what the future holds in terms of invasive species pest detection and management.
Register by July 31 for the discounted rate
2023 New Hampshire Landscape Association Field Day (University of New Hampshire Extension & New Hampshire Landscape Association)
Wednesday, September 20, 2023, 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. | Belknap County 4-H Fairgrounds, 174 Mile Hill Rd, Belmont, NH
The 2023 NHLA Field Day, co-hosted by UNH Extension and the New Hampshire Landscape Association, is a full day of educational sessions, demonstrations, vendors, and networking. Speakers include specialists from UNH Extension, NH Department of Environmental Services, NH Division of Forests and Lands, and many industry professionals. Four pesticide applicator credits available. Details & registration at https://nhlaonline.org/fall-activities/
Registration available at event but discounted rate offered for pre-registration. For pre-registration, payments must be received by September 13.
2023 New York Invasive Species Expo
Join us for the 2023 NYS Invasive Species Expo! This is a unique conference focusing on invasive species, and will combine classic presentations and creative use of outdoor space to appeal to a wide range of attendees. The Expo will be an immersive, hands-on experience featuring:
- Unique presentations
- Interactive demonstrations
- Hands-on workshops
- Small-group discussions
- Field trips & outdoor activities
The Expo will be hosted within the unique, historic architecture of beautiful Saratoga Spa State Park and will be open to the public with no cost for general attendance.
Sessions will be centered around the overall theme: Reflect, Adapt, Evolve. Participants will have the opportunity to reflect on what’s been accomplished so far in the field of invasive species management, learn about the innovative ways we can adapt in unprecedented times, and discuss how we can evolve to confront challenges moving into the future.
September 24-26, 2023
Tick Academy (IPM Institute, Tick IPM Working Group)
October 11 – 12, 2023 | Zoom | Registration required
Once a year, the Tick IPM Working Group hosts the Tick Academy, which is an opportunity for researchers, educators, students, public-health professionals, pest-control professionals, public-space managers, and citizen scientists interested in learning more about what they can do to stop the spread of ticks and tick-borne diseases in their communities. This virtual event will feature presentations from experts in the tick IPM field including Tammi Johnson, Alexis White, Susan Paskewitz, Bob Maurais, Brian Allan, Kirby Stafford, and more.
31st Annual NAISMA Conference: Foundations for Success (North American Invasive Species Management Association)
October 16 – 19, 2023 | Lincoln, Nebraska
Hear the latest on invasive species management research and strategies from experts at three plenaries, 50+ talks, poster sessions, and special networking events at this year’s NAISMA annual conference. Conference registration includes discounted hotel rate.
Register by August 31 for reduced early registration rates.
Professional Development Opportunities
Graduate Student Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Partners (GradCAMP) (USDA Northeast Climate Hub & West Virginia State University)
A new academic, year-long, professional development and networking program for master’s and doctoral students studying climate adaptation and/or mitigation on working lands or waters in the Northeast, with a special interest in climate equity and justice.
Application deadline August 1, 2023.
Employment Opportunities
Assistant Extension Specialist
Rutgers University
The Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics invites qualified candidates to apply for a tenure-track faculty position as an assistant extension specialist (equivalent to assistant professor) in farm viability. This is a 12-month tenure-track position, housed in the Department of Agricultural, Food and Resource Economics. The assistant extension specialist will hold a majority appointment in Rutgers Cooperative Extension and is expected to be an active member of the Department of Agricultural, Food, and Resource Economics. The successful candidate is expected to develop and lead externally funded research and extension programs that support and strengthen the viability of New Jersey farms, spanning different scales, commodities, and production systems. The expected outcomes are identifying needs and providing program outreach to underserved farmers and agricultural constituencies. Programmatic emphases will include sustainable agricultural production, diversified farming systems, climate resilience, feasibility analysis, farm management and business decision-making, and the development of marketing strategies. In addition, the specialist is expected to participate in undergraduate and/or graduate teaching and advisement of independent research projects in the field of expertise.
Postdoctoral Research Scientist-Horticulture/Plant Science
Penn State’s Department of Plant Science (https://plantscience.psu.edu/) is seeking a highly motivated postdoctoral scholar to conduct research and extension activities on anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) within the framework of a collaborative interdisciplinary project funded by the USDA-NIFA OREI program and investigating the use of ASD for Enhancing and Advancing the Sustainability of Organic Crop Production.
Using agronomic and laboratory procedures for soil and plant analysis, the primary goal of the research will be to optimize and evaluate opportunities for integrating ASD in organic vegetable and strawberry crop systems and assess the short- and long-term impact of ASD on nutrient dynamics, soil ecology/microbiology, soilborne pests and pathogens, soil health, crop physiology and yield and quality performance.
The candidate will be supervised by Dr. Francesco Di Gioia and will be working with an interdisciplinary team of researchers with expertise in horticulture, soil microbiology, plant pathology, nematology, biogeochemistry, ecosystem science and management, and agricultural economics.
Location: Primary work location will be Penn State, University Park located at State College, in Central Pennsylvania.
Marketing and Public Relations Professional – Tifton, GA (Full-time)
Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health
This is a grant-funded position that will be working with faculty and staff at the Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health on the development and promotion of a citizen-science data collection program for invasive species (www.wildspotter.org). This position will also lead the promotion and marketing of all center programs and services (www.bugwood.org).
Proposed starting date 2023-08-01
Cornell University
The role of the farm supervisor is to manage and direct the day-to-day field operations on the diverse, 400+ acre research teaching, and extension/outreach facility. The supervisor is responsible for field and facility activities related to agronomic crop research, ranging from field preparation and management of research plots to the sustainable production of agronomic crops in support of research operations.
Cornell University
- Oversee and direct day-to-day operations and all CUAES employees and research staff at the 260 acre Homer C. Thompson Vegetable Research Farm in Freeville NY.
- Provide direct support for research, teaching and extension in accordance with the Land Grant Mission.
- Direct and actively participate in all phases of conventional and organic crop research and production in support of 22 faculty research programs from 7 different departments.
- Provide leadership for facility operations and coordinate farm activities.
- Areas of oversight are extensive. Serve as building coordinator for a 3000 sq. ft. research lab building, numerous barns, a greenhouse, 3 high tunnels, office, mechanical shops, and a pesticide storage facility.
- Supervise, hire, and evaluate employees. Participate in decision-making processes for new Agricultural Experiment Station hires.
- Teach on-site classes and lead farm tours.
- Interact with faculty, staff, other farm managers, directors, and deans.
- Check the link for more information and the rest of the description
Outreach Specialist – Albany, NY (Full-time)
DEC/SUNY ESF Research Foundation
This position is in NYSDEC’s Division of Lands and Forests. The division’s mission is to care for and enhance New York’s lands, forests, and natural resources for the benefit of all, through the care, custody, and control of state-owned lands and conservation easements, and the promotion, use, and protection of natural resources. The person in this position will be a member of a team that provides outreach and education support to the division’s programs and will focus on topics involving invasive species as well as related material encompassing forest health, sustainable forestry, open-space conservation, and outdoor recreation.
Apply by July 28, 2023 for optimal consideration
Extension Specialist – Urbana, IL (Full-time)
Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP),University of Illinois
The University of Illinois PSEP is seeking a full-time extension specialist to prepare and conduct training programs for commercial and private applicators. Illinois PSEP has administration support, sustainable funding, and a great working relationship with their state lead agency, the Illinois Department of Agriculture. They look forward to growing their program with the successful candidate.
Application deadline August 1, 2023. All applications must be received through https://jobs.illinois.edu/ .
Biologist 1 Trainee (Ecology) – Ray Brook, Essex County, New York
New York State Adirondack Park Agency
Perform independent field delineations of wetland boundaries for local governments and landowners, using scientifically accepted techniques. Provide jurisdictional wetland determinations for the agency. Assess and review wetland permit applications. Determine (under supervision) wetland and ecological impacts to biological resources and communicate these findings to landowners and other affected parties. Position involves frequent interactions with the public and occasional presentations to the agency board and/or public.
Apply by August 2, 2023. Applicants must be on civil service list.
Director – Burlington, VT (Full-time)
Northeast SARE
The University of Vermont seeks a full-time director for the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which is funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA). The director is the lead steward of Northeast SARE’s unique role in supporting a network of beneficial relationships in service to farmers and people that work with them. This position holds an underlying faculty appointment as a research assistant, associate, or full professor, at a rank appropriate to the candidate’s background and experience.
Review of applications begins August 14, 2023
Assistant Director of Research Planning and Product Performance (Full-time)
The IR-4 Project
The assistant director is part of the IR-4 Project’s national leadership team. This position is responsible for ensuring that IR-4’s national stakeholder network (including specialty crop commodity associations/grower groups, public sector researchers, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the crop protection industry) is actively involved in IR-4’s mission to facilitate regulatory approval of crop protection products for specialty crops and minor uses.
Funding Opportunities
DEC ANNOUNCES $350,000 IN GRANTS NOW AVAILABLE FOR FINGER LAKES WATERSHED COMMUNITIES
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Basil Seggos today announced $350,000 in competitive funding is now available to help communities in the Finger Lakes watershed restore and protect water quality. The grants are supported by the State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and administered under DEC’s Finger Lakes Watershed Grants Program.
“New York has made significant investments to improve water quality and our natural resources across the state. The grants announced today provide another boost to the Finger Lakes and their watershed communities,” said Commissioner Seggos. “This is the first round of an exciting new grant opportunity administered by the Finger Lakes Watershed Hub to support projects in the Finger Lakes.”
Grant awards ranging from $25,000 to $50,000 are available. All projects must have defined measurable project objectives, tasks, and deliverables that can be completed within a two-year contract term and are located within the geographic boundaries of the Finger Lakes watershed. Funding will be used to implement the following project types to restore and protect water quality: monitoring and research to better understand and address the issues and vulnerabilities facing the Finger Lakes; planning and implementation of best management practices; and education and outreach to increase understanding of Finger Lakes’ natural resources, build community involvement, and encourage future stewardship.
Round one of the Finger Lakes Watershed Grants Program Request for Applications (RFA) is available online through the New York State Grants Gateway at https://grantsgateway.ny.gov. The Grants Gateway is an online grants management system that streamlines the way grants are administered by New York State. All grant applications, including government entities and not-for-profit organizations, must be registered in the Grants Gateway to be eligible to apply for any state grant opportunity. Not-for-profit applicants are required to “prequalify” in the Grants Gateway system. Registration and prequalification forms are available online at https://grantsreform.ny.gov.
Grant applications must be submitted online through the Grants Gateway no later than 3 p.m. on July 21, 2023.
The Finger Lakes watershed is the combined area of the 11 glacially formed Finger Lakes and their watersheds. The watershed is approximately 4,600 square miles, extending into all or parts of 13 counties, and includes three of the 10 largest lakes in New York State. The Finger Lakes watershed is contained within the Seneca-Oneida-Oswego and Genesee River drainage watersheds, which ultimately flow north to Lake Ontario.
For more information on the Finger Lakes Watershed Hub, geographic focus of the Grants Program, and more, visit DEC’s website at https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/122661.html. General questions about the Finger Lakes Watershed Grants Program may be directed to Aimee Clinkhammer, FLWP@dec.ny.gov.