IPM News and Events Roundup 08/23/2024

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

Northeastern IPM Center News

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

Growers Helping Growers Avoid a Devastating Cranberry Disease

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) supports four Regional Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Centers. Regional IPM Centers help NIFA and its partner institutions identify, prioritize and coordinate national pest management research, Extension and education programs.

Funded by the Western Region IPM Center, Washington State University (WSU) Extension is working to keep West Coast cranberry farms safe from false blossom disease, an insect-spread pathogen that’s plaguing East Coast cranberry producers.

Laura Kraft, WSU Extension’s cranberry specialist, wants to keep it that way. Kraft is leading a Western IPM Center outreach and implementation project that hopes to leverage the experiences of East Coast growers to educate and prepare their West Coast colleagues. Read more about the work being done to safeguard West Coast cranberry production.

EPA Finalizes First-of-its-Kind Strategy to Protect 900 Endangered Species from Herbicides

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released its final Herbicide Strategy, an unprecedented step in protecting over 900 federally endangered and threatened (listed) species from the potential impacts of herbicide, which are chemicals used to control weeds. EPA will use the strategy to identify measures to reduce the amount of herbicides exposure to these species when it registers new herbicides and when it reevaluates registered herbicides under a process called registration review. The final strategy incorporates a wide range of stakeholder input, ensuring EPA not only protects species but also preserves a wide range of pesticides for farmers and growers.

The Final Herbicide Strategy and accompanying support documents are available in docket EPA-HQ-OPP-2023-0365 at the Regulations.gov page.

Visit EPA’s website to learn more about how EPA’s pesticide program is protecting endangered species.

Read the Final Herbicide Strategy

Research in the news

New insights on how bird flu crosses the species barrier (sciencedaily.com)

The avian influenza virus needs to mutate to cross the species barrier and to infect and replicate within mammalian cells. Scientists have now deciphered the structure of the avian influenza virus's polymerase when it interacts with a human protein essential for the virus to replicate within the cell. The structure of this replication complex provides important information about the mutations that avian influenza polymerase must undergo to adapt to mammals, including humans. These results can help scientists monitor the evolution and adaptability of bird flu strains, such as H5N1 or H7N9, towards infecting other species.

Communicating the use of artificial intelligence in agricultural and environmental research (acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com)

Transformative technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) make difficult tasks more accessible and convenient. Since 2018, the use of AI in research has increased drastically, with annual publication rates of 3–5 times higher than pre-2017. Currently, >100,000 manuscripts using AI are published annually within science and engineering, and >20,000 of these belong to the agricultural and environmental fields. Given the magnitude of use, clear communication on how AI is used and how it helps advance scientific knowledge is essential. Clear communication is perhaps more necessary with AI than previous technologies due to its broad and flexible spectrum of uses, the “black-box” nature of deep-learning algorithms, and ongoing debates regarding AI's predictive power versus knowledge of first-principles mechanistic and process-based theories and models. In this commentary, we provide guidelines and discussion points to the scientific community to ensure transparent and effective communication of AI research in agricultural and environmental research publications.

Another step on the transgene-facilitated herbicide treadmill (scijournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com)

Transgenic, dicamba-resistant soybean and cotton were developed to enable farmers to combat weeds that had evolved resistance to the herbicide glyphosate. The dramatic increases in dicamba use these crops facilitated have led to serious problems, including the evolution of dicamba-resistant weeds and widespread damage to susceptible crops and farming communities. Disturbingly, this pattern of dicamba use has unfolded while the total herbicide applied to soybean has nearly doubled since 2006. Without substantive changes to agricultural policy and decision making, the next ‘silver-bullet’ agrotechnology will likely be no more than another step on the transgene-facilitated herbicide treadmill. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.

Ticks are on the move.

This UMaine study could pinpoint the reason why.

Researchers at the University of Maine have launched an ambitious project tracking tick migration in real time. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, secured funding for the project in July of 2023.

On a recent hot sunny day, UMaine students wore protective clothing, laced up their boots, and loaded their gear. They headed deep into the woods to learn more about tick activity.

John Nugent is the field coordinator for the pilot project launched by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension Tick Lab.

Researchers are setting up a weather station in this remote area to monitor conditions in the soil and air in real time.

News

Pest Talks (growertalks.com)

What the ... ?
Introducing Mainspring Xtra
- How it works
Disease Diagnostic Course
Paul's Mystery
A Correction

Researchers earn USDA funding to develop weed herbicide for Palmer amaranth (natsci.source.colostate.edu)

Colorado State University researchers are developing a novel biological herbicide that would specifically target Palmer amaranth – one of the most challenging weeds for agricultural producers to deal with today.

The newly funded $650,000 research project is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. It aims to use synthetic biology techniques to develop a biological herbicide that would replace the common chemical herbicides that have become less effective over time and have an outsized negative environmental impact. The work – jointly led by researchers in the Departments of Biology and Agricultural Biology – is an effort to curb one of the most problematic weeds in Colorado and across the country.

2030 Project plans climate-themed speaker series (news.cornell.edu)

A policy influencer, an entrepreneur, an academic and a journalist will offer their perspectives on how to make a difference in addressing climate change in the Cornell Climate Impact Speaker Series, a four-part series co-hosted by The 2030 Project: A Cornell Climate Initiative and the Cornell Atkinson Center for Sustainability.

Recent Study Finds PFAS in Pesticide Products (pfasinsights.com)

On July 24, 2024, Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP) published a study relating to the presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in pesticide products. PFAS are a class of manmade chemicals used for decades in industrial/consumer products because of properties like resistance to heat, fire, stains, and water. PFAS have been linked to serious health concerns, such as cancer, and have been detected in water, soil, air, food, household and workplace materials, and human blood across the world.

The study concludes that nearly 25% of all U.S. pesticide active ingredients are organofluorines (organic compounds that contain a carbon–fluorine bond) and 14% are PFAS. PFAS are a type of organofluorine or fluorinated molecule. For “active” ingredients approved by EPA within the last 10 years, the study finds that 61% are organofluorines and 30% are PFAS. For “inert” pesticide ingredients approved by EPA, the study finds a seemingly limited presence of PFAS but notes there is a significant lack of information on this issue. Furthermore, the study finds that leaching of PFAS from fluorinated containers into pesticide products is a significant contributor to the presence of PFAS in pesticides.

Call for proposals

Call for Sessions: IPM Symposium 2025

The theme for 2025 is “Pest Management in Changing Environments.”
Session proposals may address any aspect of Integrated Pest Management including research and extension, regulatory actions and policy, and IPM in practice.
Proposals should include the session title, a proposed slate of speakers, and a maximum 250-word abstract. Find out more here.
A networking and professional development event, this is your opportunity to discuss the most significant challenges of today – climate change, pesticide resistance, increasing the use of biocontrol tools and new technology, invasive species, emerging pathogens, and vectors.
The committee welcomes proposals for multiple speaker sessions, discussion, roundtable, workshop, or question-and-answer formats.
This call is for organized sessions, not for individual presentations (excepting students and early career scientists). Individual presenters are encouraged to consider submitting poster presentations. The call for poster submissions will be announced later this year.
The DEADLINE for submissions is now August 30, 2024.
Questions? Contact Dawn Gouge: dhgouge@arizona.edu

UPDATED INFORMATION!!

MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT AND CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS

2024 SPOTTED LANTERNFLY RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT MEETING

16-17 OCTOBER, WOOSTER, OH

Organizers of the first 2024 Spotted Lanternfly (SLF) R&TD Meeting are seeking submissions for presentations in alignment with the SLF Strategic Plan Goal 2: Support continued scientific research towards practical management and risk mitigation. Submissions for presentations and/or posters for this meeting should describe scientific and technology studies on spotted lanternfly under the following categories: (1) SLF impacts to US agriculture and natural resources; (2) biocontrol techniques; (3) development of tools for early detection, survey, trapping; (4) chemical and microbial control; (5) risk assessment models and prioritization tools; (6) risk mitigation and practical management; and (7) outreach and education. Persons who have received USDA funding for SLF research projects are strongly encouraged to present their findings, but all SLF-related submissions are welcome. The program again will be based primarily around oral presentations, but a poster option will also be available. The program will begin at 7:30 AM on October 16 with continental breakfast and will end at 3:30 PM on October 17 or earlier depending on the number of presentations submitted.

Email submissions to greg.r.parra@usda.gov, with a cc: to phillip.lowe@usda.gov, by September 6, 2024. For each submission, please provide the following information:

Title, senior author, presenting author (if not senior author), author affiliation, author’s email address, subject area preference (from list in first sentence), and format preference (oral or poster). We will try to honor all requests for format type, but we reserve the right to ask presenters to switch formats in order to achieve an acceptable balance between speaking slots and poster space.

Hotels and Registration

Best Western Plus

243 E. Liberty

Wooster, OH 44691

(330)-264-7750

Ohio USDA room block

Conf# 1542

Hilton Garden Inn (Very few rooms left in the block)

959 Dover Road

Wooster, OH 44691

(330)-202-7701

USDA SLF room block

Comfort Suites

965 Dover Road

Wooster, OH 44691

(330)-439-0190

Group name: ROOMS: USDA

Group number: UE71V0

Rates & Available Rooms - Comfort Suites (choicehotels.com)

Registration for the meeting is through Eventbrite:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2024-spotted-lanternfly-research-and-technical-development-meeting-tickets-958096210557

Webinars, seminars, meetings, and more

Newly featured this issue

Fungicide resistance: A saga of Alternaria brassicicola introduction through seeds in broccoli
Navjot Kaur, University of Georgia
Plant Pathology & Plant-Microbe Biology Section – AgriTech
Tuesday, August 27, 11:20 am – 12:10 pm, A134 Barton Lab & Zoom Passcode: Seminar

Southern IPM Hour: Supporting Homeowner IPM Programs

This is an ARDP research project. The main problem we seek to resolve is developing a cohesive dataset and holistic recommendations for pest management in and around structures that can be implemented by homeowners and non-pest management professionals. (We use the term "homeowner" to also include renters.) RESEARCH The research goal of our proposal is to fill data gaps that inhibit integrated, science-based recommendations for the control of perimeter pests. Research Objective 1. Define the minimum interstitial space that will prevent perimeter pests or serve as harborage using peridomestic cockroaches as a model and expanding to other pests. Research Objective 2. Laboratory efficacy testing of over-the-counter products. EXTENSION goal is to deliver science-based IPM information directly to consumers by diversifying the IPM message and messengers. Extension Objective 1. Survey citizens about their current knowledge of IPM and pesticide use. Extension Objective 2. Develop homeowner-friendly recommendations that incorporate results from research objectives and use in direct-marketing to the general public. Extension Objective 3. Build Extension's capacity by engaging non-traditional change agents who will then reach a more diversified audience. Extension Objective 4. Demonstration project to complement laboratory research objective on exclusion. The Southern IPM Hour presents research, issues, and programs in Integrated Pest Management from the Southern Region of the United States. Recordings of the webinars are available after the event. More info southernipm.org/ipmhour

Date & Time

Sep 17, 2024 01:00 PM in EST

Previously featured

Methods to assess impacts of introduced plants and their management

What: 1-day, in person workshop consisting of talks and field exercises on assessing impacts, with an emphasis on using plants as indicators (schedule attached).

When: Monday, August 26, 10 AM–4:30 PM (with an optional BBQ social at 6 PM)

Where: Mann Library, Cornell University, Ithaca NY (parking details will follow registration)

How to register: Regardless of whether you pre-registered or not, please register here so that we can contact you with a parking pass and other relevant information.

Please note:

Our workshop will proceed rain or shine and be a combination of lectures and field exercises. We will focus on a terrestrial forest habitat. Please bring appropriate field attire and rain clothes, just in case.

This meeting will be on the main Cornell campus. There are opportunities to shop for lunch close to our meeting location.
For those of you wanting to stay overnight, we will host a BBQ at Stewart Park in Ithaca. Please plan to bring your own utensils, BBQ items, or buy in town.
We have a limited number of tools that will be required for some of the field exercises. To allow more people to participate simultaneously, please consider bringing the following items if you have them available
- Battery powered handheld drill
- Masonry drill bit 1-2" diameter
- Metal detector

“Join Target Specialty Products and Patrick Lynch, ACE, Senior Vice President of Sales, Bell Laboratories for a FREE webinar, " iQ Timesaving at Accounts" on Tuesday, August 27th at 1:30 pm EST / 10:30 am PST. Patrick Lynch, ACE, Sr. Vice President of Sales, Bell Laboratories, will discuss how technology has made other industries more profitable and less tedious, and why affordable smart rodent technology can do the same for pest management professionals.

I. Biology of Rodents
II. Rodenticide Stewardship – Pulse Baiting
III. Trapping Dos & Don’ts

https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/8957619416643272025

CCE Broome Recruiting Master Gardeners

The next regional Master Gardener Volunteer training begins in September 2024, involving Tioga, Chemung, Schuyler, and Tompkins counties. The 20-week hybrid course runs from September to March, with a break from mid-November to January.

Participants complete 4-6 hours of online instruction weekly via Moodle, attend virtual meetings on Saturday mornings, and join monthly in-person sessions across the region. In Broome County, training extends into the spring/summer with hands-on experience at Cutler Botanic Garden on Tuesday mornings, which is essential for program success.

For more information, contact Carol Fetterman at (607) 584-9966 or clf62@cornell.edu.

Invasive Species Management: Post-Treatment Data Collection Workshop

Date: Thursday, September 5, 2024

Time: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Location: Tifft Nature Preserve, 1200 Fuhrmann Blvd., Buffalo, NY 14203

During the workshop, we’ll talk about useful metrics to help improve invasive species management efforts while reviewing projects focused on long-term management of invasive species using manual, mechanical and chemical treatment methods, and integrated pest management strategies. We’ll also get to see long-term management in action during the outdoor portion. The information presented will help attendees update management plans, improve project budgeting, and increase management success.

Fall 2024 Cornell Climate Impact Speaker Series

In the last three years, Congress passed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), establishing approximately $500 billion in federal funding for clean energy projects. These laws together represent the most historic action any nation has ever taken to address climate change and ushered in a new era of optimism for a clean energy future. However, the success of these laws hangs in the balance, with political obstacles, regulatory hurdles, and infrastructure bottlenecks creating significant headwinds for clean energy projects to move forward. This conversation will include looking back at the work behind-the-scenes that led to the creation and passage of these laws, and looking ahead to what work is needed in coming months and years to ensure that the US is able to realize the full potential of the IRA/BIL, and achieve significant GHG reductions.

First Speaker: Aliya Haq ‘03 (Breakthrough Energy)

Thursday, September 5, 2024 | 5:00 p.m.
G151 Martha Van Rensselaer Hall

SPOTTED LANTERNFLY. IT'S HERE, NOW WHAT?

Thursday, September 5, 2024, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

The Spotted Lanternfly, arrived first in New York City in 2020 and is now established in the lower Hudson Valley including Westchester County.

This invasive planthopper can become a real nuisance in landscapes and is a threat to vineyards. In this session we’ll review images of this insect so it can be recognized in its different life stages which range from tan egg masses to tiny crawling black nymphs to the adult with polka dotted outer wings and bright-orange underwings.

We’ll describe its life cycle and the favorite plants it feeds on. From there you’ll learn of the regulatory work to slow the spread of this invasive insect. By the end of the program, we’ll discuss spotted lanternfly traps and all of the management options.

Identifying Invasive Species Range Shifts: NE CASC/NE RISCC Tool Talk

Developing and using resource management tools has become an increasingly complex issue for researchers and managers alike. While many impressive management tools exist, it is often difficult to determine if they are, indeed, "the right tools for the job". To help researchers better understand the tool needs of managers and managers more efficiently navigate their overflowing toolboxes, NE CASC has developed a series of Tool Talks for the climate adaptation community. Bringing research and management perspectives into dialogue with one another, this series is designed to shed light on several key questions:

What makes a good management tool?
How can connections be created between existing management frameworks?
What kinds of tools are currently needed?
How is feedback collected and implemented in existing tools and frameworks?

We enthusiastically invite you to participate in the next installment of our Tool Talk series on September 11th at 4:00 PM! This conversation will explore the questions above in the context of invasive species ranges and adaptation. In addition to providing ample opportunities for audience input, our hour-long structured exchange will feature discussion and analysis from a group of panelists who have amassed a wealth of experience creating or using conservation tools and frameworks for invasive species range shifts across our region. Our lineup includes:

Catherine Jarnevich, Research Ecologist, USGS Fort Collins Science Center
Wesley Daniel, Fishery Biologist, USGS Wetland and Aquatic Research Center
Gary Fish, State Horticulturist, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry
Jenica Allen, Senior Research Fellow, University of Massachusetts Amherst

Moderated by NE CASC team members, this Tool Talk will help attendees gain a clearer understanding of tools available for identifying invasive species range shifts, build connections in the climate adaptation science community, and shape future NE CASC research and outreach activities. Are you ready to start talking tools with us? Then sign up for this event today! We look forward to seeing you on September 11th at 4:00 PM Eastern Time!

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!

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:

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 for an upcoming one-day workshop with the New York Invasive Species Research Institute on Monday, August 26, 2024, in-person at Cornell's Ithaca campus. In this workshop, members of the Blossey lab will lead you through a series of talks and field exercises to review methods to assess the impacts of introduced species and of management actions.

Stay tuned for more details, including an agenda and registration link.

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

Associate or Full Professor

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and the College of Science (COS) at Virginia Tech are inviting applications for a 9-month (academic year) tenure-track research and teaching position at the Associate or Full Professor level in applied economics with a focus on invasive and other harmful species. This broadly encompasses any species that pose threats to terrestrial and / or aquatic ecosystems, impact markets, economic decision-making and outcomes. The academic home for this position will be either the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics (in CALS), the Department of Economics (in COS), or a joint appointment in both. The position also carries expectations for funding summer activities through external grants, teaching, or other mechanisms. The successful candidate will have proficiency in theoretical, analytical, and quantitative tools and methods to tackle complex problems as part of a campus-wide invasive species cluster hire.

Agent

The Specialist will be part of College of Agriculture & Natural Resources (AGNR) and University of Maryland Extension (UME), and work closely with the Environment and Natural Resource team, to provide leadership for natural resource and environmental management related programs. It is the responsibility of the Specialist to be self-motivated and work intentionally and collaboratively with partners to increase the visibility and reach of Extension programs that are specifically designed to meet the needs of diverse audiences. The Specialist will use a variety of delivery and communication strategies appropriate for the intended target audience, including but not limited to conferences, workshops, classes, demonstration projects, websites, webinars, social media, publications, and mass media. The faculty member will be on track for tenure and promotion to a higher rank in accordance with UMD policy and UME tenure guidelines within the timeframe defined and will perform teaching, scholarship, and service requirements of a University of Maryland faculty member. In carrying out these duties, the individual reports to the Program Leader & Assistant Director, Environmental, Natural Resources, and Sea Grant Program.

The Specialist will report to the Assistant Director and Program Leader of the Environmental and Natural Resource Program.

Statewide Coordinator (Nutrient Management Advisor)

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

Previously featured

Facility Manager Position at University of Maryland college of AGNR

Under the general supervision of the Center Director, establishes the operations and management of a 35-acre facility which is home to turf grass research and education which is located at the northern edge of the University of Maryland College Park campus. Works directly with researchers and their staff to implement projects, assist with research and educational programs related to turf grass. Provide support as outlined by the Center Director. This position requires a knowledge of turf grass production and maintenance and the willingness to be a working manager, performing tasks in the daily operations alongside facility employees as well as provide supervision and training.

Head Grower - Le Jardin de Rabelais, Avoine, France.

Le Jardin de Rabelais is a family owned company, growing high-quality tomatoes for more than 30 years. We are members of “Demain la Terre”, a group of growers gathered around a common project of sustainable development.

We have currently 20 ha of glasshouse, including 11,5 ha semi closed greenhouse. We grow year round, and have 17 ha LED light.

Le Jardin de Rabelais is looking for a Head Grower to the technical team in good horticultural practices and techniques for hydroponic tomatoes greenhouse(s) operation.

SARE Seeks Web Services Developer

Through the activities described below, the Web Services Developer will help develop, manage and maintain the IT systems for national SARE programs.
The Web Services Developer will assist the national SARE program to maintain web-based IT systems that support online content management and the creation of modern educational resources for SARE grantees, grant managers, communication specialists and outside stakeholders by enhancing the functionality and usability of online content and maintaining system security. The position will be employed through UMD’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, at College Park, Md. They will report to the SARE Associate Director and work under the guidance of SARE’s IT Director to collaboratively support all NRCCO colleagues and SARE’s national partners. The Web Services Developer will also be responsible for providing IT support to SARE’s Food Loss and Waste National Grant and Training and Technical Assistance (FLW) program. This is a new, temporary program that requires similar IT support and focus to all SARE grant and outreach programs, but with specific needs required by the USDA NIFA to uphold its FLW program priorities.
Overall, the Web Services Developer will improve SARE’s ability to advance our digital outreach capacity, efficiency and effectiveness to SARE regional partners, national stakeholders and the public.

Plant Synthetic Biologist

The School of Integrative Plant Science (SIPS) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University is seeking a Plant Synthetic Biologist, whose research is centered on synthetic biology involving photosynthetic organisms, including land plants, algae, cyanobacteria, diatoms, and their microbial communities. Plant synthetic biology is an emerging field that combines engineering principles with plant biology. Plant synthetic biology will play an important role in the future of agriculture for crop improvement, in enabling synthesis of novel products of nutritional, pharmaceutical or other values, as well as in fundamental understanding of plant and plant-microbe community biological processes. The position will leverage advances in nuclear and plastome plant transformation and genome editing technologies that make plant synthetic biology feasible in a way, and on a scale, that is unprecedented. Areas of research may include, but are not limited to: (1) Engineering genetic circuits to program predictable crop plant behaviors and traits; (2) Generating novel plant traits, improved properties, or biosynthetic capacities; (3) Converting land plants, cyanobacteria, algae, or diatoms into platforms that synthesize chemicals and complex biomolecules by reconfiguring existing biosynthetic pathways, introducing pathways from other organisms, or incorporating newly designed pathways; (4) Designing in planta biosensors for rapid detection of, and response to, environmental cues, such as temperature, pathogens, nutrients, chemicals, and toxins; (5) Engineering the growth and developmental trajectories of model plants and crops; and (6) Characterizing and designing microbes or microbial communities at the plant surface, within the plant, or in the soil, and their interactions with the plant.

Extension Entomologists (2 positions)

The Department of Biology at Utah State University (USU) seeks applicants for two tenure track faculty positions (Assistant Professor rank) in entomology. One position will focus on insect pests in horticultural crops of Utah (fruit, vegetables and nursery) and the other in agronomic crops (alfalfa, small grains, corn) and turf. The successful candidates will be expected to establish Extension and research programs related to insect pests in horticultural and agronomic crop production systems in UT reflecting USU’s land grant mission. The positions will have a role assignment of 50% Extension, 45% Research, and 5% Service. There is no teaching expectation for these positions, and they are not eligible for remote work. The successful candidates have the option to secure an additional one-month salary from external funding such as grant awards. Review of applicants will begin October 1, 2024, and will continue until the positions are filled, with a tentative start of August 1, 2025.

Cohort Hire: Revolutionizing Controlled Environment Agriculture, Focus: Crop Physiology

The School of Integrative Plant Science (SIPS) in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) at Cornell University invites applications for a tenure-track position in Crop Physiology (Controlled Environment Agriculture; CEA) at the Assistant Professor level. Our new colleague will join a Cohort Faculty Hire in Revolutionizing Controlled Environment Agriculture. In addition to this advertised hire, the cohort will include an insect ecologist, a plant pathologist, a CEA engineer, and a food systems economist. The new faculty hires will play an integral role in the design of a planned CALS investment in new CEA facilities.

Greenhouse Grower S05 -Cornell Agricultural Experiment Station (2 positions)

These S05 Greenhouse Grower positions will assist the Greenhouse Supervisor with the daily operations of the CALS Greenhouses by providing excellent care for high value plants, closely following direction provided, including watering and fertilizing of plants. Maintain greenhouses and work areas in a clean, sanitary and orderly condition. Pay close attention to detail and adhere to high standards of reliability and timeliness.

Invasive Species Technicians Temporary Hourly Fort Drum, NY

Invasive species technicians (3) are needed to assist with early detection rapid response (EDRR)

and treatment efforts of priority invasive plant species in Fort Drum, New York. Incumbents

will be employed by Colorado State University’s Center for Environmental Management of

Military Lands (CSU CEMML)

(email crystal.e.wixon.ctr@army.mil)

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.

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.

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.

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.

Funding Opportunities

Newly featured this issue

USDA Announces $82.3 Million in Grant Funding Awarded to Strengthen U.S. Specialty Crops Industry

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced it is awarding $82.3 million to 65 recipients to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops—including fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery crops—and support the industry’s producers. The funding is being awarded through USDA’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) and the Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant (SCMP) Program.

From market development to consumer education to research, these programs expand markets and increase competitiveness of the specialty crop industry and increase access to specialty crops for consumers. The Specialty Crop Block Grant and Specialty Crop Multi-State programs are funded by the 2018 Farm Bill and administered by USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).

“This funding will strengthen U.S. specialty crop production and markets and ensure Americans have sustained access to fresh, locally grown fruits, vegetables, tree nuts and more,” said USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt. “These programs are furthering USDA’s and the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to build a more resilient food system, one where producers and consumers have more, new and better market opportunities, which helps farmers and their communities prosper.”

Through the Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, USDA is awarding $72.9 million to 54 states and territories to support specialty crop growers through marketing, education, and research. The states and territories use the funding to provide subawards to projects that focus on areas such as investing in food safety, research on conservation and environmental outcomes, developing new and improved seed varieties, and pest and disease management. To date, USDA has invested over $1 billion to more than 12,400 projects through this program.

Additionally, $9.4 million is being awarded to 11 projects through the Specialty Crop Multi-State Program. The program funds collaborative multi-state partnerships to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops. Specialty Crop Multi-State grants address regional or national level specialty crop issues through research, crop-specific projects addressing common issues, and marketing and promotion. Since 2015, this program has awarded over $29 million to 40 projects across the country.

Examples of Funded Projects:

Specialty Crop Block Grant: The Nevada Department of Agriculture, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA), and Union Kitchen will partner to develop the Farm2Food Accelerator, a 15-week program helps the state’s female specialty crop producers and food entrepreneurs grow their value-added businesses into new statewide and regional markets.
Specialty Crop Block Grant: The Michigan Asparagus Advisory Board will promote the consumption of Michigan-grown asparagus, through in-store promotion programs, educational opportunities, and digital marketing to target consumers grocery shopping both in-store and online.
Specialty Crop Multi-State Grant: Oregon State University, University of California Davis, Kelp Line LLC, and University of Alaska Fairbanks will work collaboratively to conduct research, development, and outreach to develop Pacific dulse seaweed as a sustainable, nutritious specialty crop.

More information on the SCBGP projects is included in the individual press releases for each state and territory. The press releases for SCBGP can be viewed on the SCBGP 2024 Grant Awards webpage.

Previously featured

NOAA announces $600,000 citizen science competitive grant opportunity

The Biden-Harris Administration is announcing a $600,000 funding opportunity for members of the public to conduct science that helps fisheries and fishing communities prepare for climate change. As the lead for this project, NOAA Fisheries will accept proposals for citizen science projects that help improve stock assessments or contribute to our understanding of how our fisheries and fishing communities may be impacted by changing environmental conditions.

NOAA seeks to strengthen its ability to provide science-based management and conservation of our nation’s living marine resources under a changing climate, including investing in innovative data collection approaches like citizen science. Citizen science typically involves members of the general public participating in the scientific process alongside researchers to answer real-world questions.

The citizen science project proposals should address the following priorities:

Support and improve federal fishery stock assessments using innovative approaches that address data gaps related to catch, size or age, composition, life history, or stock identification and definition.
Work to better understand how fish species may be impacted by changing environmental conditions.
Understand how fishing communities, whose livelihoods and lifestyles often rely on sustainably managed marine resources, will be impacted by climate change.

This funding will support three to eight different projects at approximately $75,000 to $200,000 per project from fiscal year 2025 to 2026. Proposals are required and are due by November 4, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time. Applicants are also asked to submit an optional Letter of Intent by September 5, 2024 to aid in planning the review panels.

Please visit NOAA Fisheries Open Funding Opportunities for details on how to apply or see the full funding announcement on grants.gov.

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Cooperative Weed Management

The Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) was launched in 2010 to accelerate efforts to protect and restore the largest system of fresh surface water in the world — the Great Lakes. As one of the initiative’s 16 regional working group members, the U.S. Forest Service uses GLRI resources to strategically target the biggest threats to the Great Lakes ecosystem and accelerate progress toward long-term restoration goals for this important ecosystem.

Who May Apply

GLRI funding is available to Cooperative Weed Management Areas (and similar organizations, e.g., Cooperative Invasive Species Management Areas and Partnerships for Regional Invasive Species Management) that work within the Great Lakes Basin of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. Cooperative Weed Management Areas (CWMAs) and similar groups are organized partnerships of Federal, State, and local government agencies, Tribes, individuals, and various interested groups that manage invasive plants within a defined area, generally a county or larger in size.

Applications may include work on all land ownerships within the Great Lakes watershed of the United States. See the RFA Instructions document for more information on eligibility requirements.

Important Dates

??Applications Due: September 18th, 2024-- Applications must be submitted through Grants.gov by 6:00 p.m. Eastern/5:00 p.m. Central.
To add your organization to the GLRI mailing list for updates, please send a request to SM.FS.glri@usda.gov.
Fiscal Year 2024 GLRI CWMA Request for Application Instructions
Fiscal Year 2024 GLRI CWMA Project Narrative Form (required for all applications)

NortheastIPM@cornell.edu.