IPM News and Events Roundup 09/20/2024
A weekly collection of IPM news, webinars, employment, funding opportunities, and more from the Northeastern IPM Center
If you have IPM-related research, events, or other IPM news you would like to have included, please email Jerrie Haines at jlh472@cornell.edu. If you would like to subscribe to the weekly Roundup, please email northeastipm@cornell.edu. Past Roundups are archived on our website.
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Northeastern IPM Center News
IPM Partnership Grants Program
The IPM Partnership Grants Program supports three project types: IPM Applied Research, IPM Working Groups, and IPM Communications.
Up to $160,000 in total will be available for 2025, generally with a maximum of $40,000 per award, although projects that meet the criteria for a diversity-focused competitive preference priority may apply for up to an additional $10,000.
Funded projects are expected to contribute significantly to the adoption and/or development of IPM in one or more of the Center’s Signature Programs while addressing one or more of the Center’s cross-cutting issues (https://www.northeastipm.org/about-us/signature-programs/).
There is a 24-month time limit on funded projects.
Informational webinar
The Center will host an informational webinar for prospective applicants on October 1, 2024, from 11:00 a.m. to noon (Eastern).
Visit https://neipmc.org/go/partnership for more information.
Learn more or apply
- IPM Partnership Grants Program: https://neipmc.org/go/partnership
- Northeastern IPM Center Signature Programs and cross-cutting issues: https://www.northeastipm.org/about-us/signature-programs/
The Center’s grants programs are supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA-NIFA).
Help spread the word!
Call for Nominations: 2025 Outstanding Achievements in Integrated Pest Management Award
Submission deadline: Friday, October 25, 2024
The Northeastern Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center is opening nominations for the 2025 Outstanding Achievements in IPM Award.
The Center launched the award in 2019 and has offered it most years since. The award honors those whose work on IPM in the Northeast deserves special recognition. Professionals (or organizations) and students are eligible. Nominations come from colleagues, advisors, supervisors, and others familiar with the nominees’ work.
External reviewers with expertise in IPM evaluate the nominees. Each winner receives $500 and agrees to provide an article for the Center’s publications/website/social media outlets and/or present a webinar hosted by the Center.
The award seeks nominations of growers, consultants, researchers, educators, managers, and college/university students (undergraduate, master’s, and PhD) in the Northeast region who are working in:
- Agricultural IPM (fruit, vegetables, ornamentals, and livestock and field crops)
- Affordable housing
- Homes
- Schools and institutions
- Natural-areas/water-resources IPM
- Invasive species
For more detailed information, or if you’d like to submit a nomination, visit neipmc.org/go/YpTc.
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.
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.
Protecting Poultry from Dangerous Fungal Toxins
Revathi Shanmugasundaram is a research biologist at the Toxicology & Mycotoxin Research Unit in Athens, GA. Her research on mycotoxins in poultry feed was one of three winning entries in ARSX2023, an annual competition that seeks to accelerate agricultural research through support of high-risk, high-reward projects.
EPA Issues Update to Existing Stocks Provisions for One Chlorpyrifos Product
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is issuing an amendment to the existing stocks provisions for the Kaizen Technologies LLC (Kaizen) chlorpyrifos end-use product “Bifenchlor” to allow for sale, distribution, and use for a limited time. The 2023 court decision vacating the 2021 chlorpyrifos tolerance revocation rule reinstated tolerances for products that registrants had previously voluntarily cancelled. Granting this amendment ensures greater consistency across chlorpyrifos products.
Bad Actors in the ‘Zebra Chip’ Fight are Stacking the Deck
Zebra chip is a disease of potatoes that has no cure, but scientists are on the case. They know the bacterium that causes the disease and the insect that carries it. Now, they have discovered something else – three new genetic variants of the bacterium and four new insect carriers. How will these discoveries help combat zebra chip? Learn more.
Research in the News
Fertility and tillage intensity affect weed community diversity and functional structure in long-term organic systems (esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
Knowledge of how agricultural management interacts with weed seed banks and emergent weed communities is crucial for proactive weed management. Though studies have detailed how differences in disturbance and nutrient applications between organic and conventional herbicide-based systems affect weed communities, few have focused on these same factors in contrasting organic systems. This study assessed the seed banks and emergent weed communities from the most recent crop rotation cycle (2017–2022) of a long-term experiment, which compared four organic grain and forage cropping systems differing in nutrient inputs and soil disturbance. The high fertility (HF) system received high-rate nutrient applications, low fertility (LF) received low-rate applications, enhanced weed management (EWM) focused on weed control through frequent soil disturbance, and reduced tillage (RT) prioritized soil health with less intense or frequent soil disturbance. Soil samples for greenhouse germination assays were collected at the beginning (2017) and end (2022) of the rotation to explore how these four systems influenced seed bank dynamics over time. Weed community biomass was also sampled in each crop during this time.
β-Carotene and its derivatives regulate pollen fertility in tomato (academic.oup.com)
In flowering plants, fertilization is essential for seed and fruit production. A successful fertilization event requires pollen grains on stigma to germinate and initiate tube growth through the pistil to fertilize the ovules. As such, pollen viability, germination, and tube growth play vital roles in plant sexual reproduction. Both internal and external factors are known to affect pollen fitness and subsequently fertilization (Santiago and Sharkey 2019; Zhang et al. 2021). A plethora of bioactive small molecules such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, jasmonates, and carotenoids are detected in pollen grains and tubes (Muhlemann et al. 2018; Wang et al. 2022). Among them, only flavonols, a subclass of flavonoids, have been shown to affect pollen fertility (Mo et al. 1992; Muhlemann et al. 2018). Carotenoids are vital for plants as essential pigments for photosynthesis and photoprotection (Sun et al. 2022). However, whether carotenoids found in pollen grains are involved in pollen fertility is totally unknown. We discover here that β-carotene exerts a function in regulating pollen germination and tube growth via a mechanism of controlling reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis in tomatoes (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Moreover, we find that β-carotene derivatives also modulate pollen fitness. Our study establishes β-carotene and its derivatives as important metabolites in modulating plant sexual reproduction.
Long-term continuous cropping reduces greenhouse gas emissions while sustaining crop yields (acsess.onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
Information is needed on the effect of long-term cropping systems on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in dryland conditions. The effect of 34 years of dryland cropping system was examined on N2O and CH4 emissions, greenhouse gas balance (GHGB), crop yield, and yield-scaled GHG balance (YSGB) from 2016–2017 to 2017–2018 in the US northern Great Plains. Cropping systems were no-till continuous spring wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) (NTCW), no-till spring wheat-pea (Pisum sativum L.) (NTWP), and conventional till spring wheat-fallow (CTWF). Gases were sampled twice a week to once a month throughout the year using a static chamber and flux determined.
News
2025 Funds Available from the North Central IPM Center
You are invited to apply for funding from the North Central Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center. Funding is available for Community Initiative projects, Critical Issue research projects, and Working Group projects focused on integrated pest management. Funding for selected projects will be awarded in March of 2025.
Funding of these projects supports the North Central IPM Center’s mission to improve the health, environment and economic conditions in the North Central region while using IPM to address pest-related challenges. This mission directly accomplishes the goals of the National IPM Roadmap.
Funding Categories
- Community
- Working Groups
- Critical Issues
The Community Initiative request for applications (RFA) is new this year to help underserved communities. Activities may include developing and delivering educational outreach programs to youth or adults; increasing access to effective IPM practices and resources; or conducting research that addresses specific IPM challenges faced by a community in the North Central region.
The Critical Issue and Working Group projects share the same RFA. Critical Issue projects can fulfill research or resource needs focused on disease, weed, or insect issues impacting crops, human health, or safety. Working Group projects should focus on increasing collaboration in the North Central region to address an IPM challenge.
Funding Amounts
The Center has approximately $360,000 to award and expects to fund about 13 projects. Each project may receive up to $30,000 for a 12-month period.
Deadline
Friday, November 22, 2024, at 6 pm ET (5 pm CT).
Getting Started
Applicants are encouraged to use Center priorities for inspiration during planning efforts. A Q&A webinar will be held on Wednesday, October 16, 2024, at 10:00 ET (9:00 AM CT). Be sure to register in advance. Questions may also be sent to northcentral@ncipmc.org.
CABI BioProtection Portal, Digital Library & Academy (cabi.org)
This is an exciting time in history for commercial biological control. Recent events include the following:
For the first time, the U.S. Association of Natural Biocontrol Producers (ANBP) and European International Biocontrol Manufacturers Association (IBMA) delivered a joint symposium at the International Congress of Biological Control (IBC3) in Costa Rica. The symposium was conducted initially by Dr. Lynn LeBeck, ANBP’s Executive Director; I serve as a science advisor to ANBP. The congress was sponsored by the International Organization for Biological Control (https://www.iobc-global.org/) and CABI (https://www.cabi.org/).
CABI subsequently invited ANBP to become an Associate supporting the CABI mission “to help growers and advisors identify, source, and apply sustainable solutions to combat agricultural pests. CABI was established in Switzerland in 1948 and currently has over 400 staff members working from more than 20 locations globally. ANBP’s mission is to “address key issues of the augmentative biological control industry through advocacy, education, and quality assurance. CABI Associates provide ideas and direction for the organization.
CABI has developed a massive searchable database, the “CABI BioProtection Portal” (https://bioprotectionportal.com/), that includes biopesticides (microbials, semiochemicals, and natural substances) and invertebrate biocontrol agents (macrobials). The portal can be searched for >40 countries, >940 crops, >2200 pests, and >4,000 products (chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.cabi.org/wp-content/uploads/Biopesticide-A4-Flyer.pdf).
Additionally, there is a CABI Digital Library (https://www.cabidigitallibrary.org/ ), that brings together millions of research records across agriculture, the environment, human health, and the applied life sciences to support study, research and practical applications around the world.
The CABI Academy (https://www.cabi.org/products-and-services/academy/ ) brings together CABI’s expertise in crop health, agricultural advisory services, and digital development to create a range of online training courses and certifications that develop and build plant health skills.
Amazingly, most of these valuable resources are available at no charge and can be used to address pest problems and facilitate educational activities in Florida.
Registration is now open for the 11th International IPM Symposium!
Register early to take advantage of the lowest rates! Super early bird pricing is available now through November 22nd. After that, prices will increase, so be sure to register soon to secure the best deal.
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- Full Conference or Single-Day Attendance: Whether you plan to join us for the entire symposium or just a day, we have flexible registration options to suit your schedule.
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- Attend over 100 presentations, panels, and workshops: Engage in conversation with top experts on cutting-edge IPM research and innovation covering hot topics including Agriculture, Public Health, Built Environments, Landscape, and Forest/Conservation.
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- Field Trips: Sign up for one of our three excursions and explore the IPM practices of the Port of San Diego, the Midway Naval Museum, or UC San Diego.
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- Professional Development Workshops: Expand your expertise with our Thursday afternoon IPM Evaluation Workshop or Rodent Short Course!
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- Student Discounts: We are pleased to offer discounted registration rates and exclusive activities for students.
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- Participate in the Poster Session: The Poster Session is one of the International IPM Symposium’s most popular sessions showcasing professional, academic and student talent from around the globe. Abstract submission for posters will begin shortly and will close November 8, 2024.
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- Visit our website for more detailed information about our program, speakers, webinars, travel.
If you have any questions or you’d like to get involved, contact us at ipmsymposium@ipminstitute.org.
‘Horror wasp’ is the new buzz as Mississippi scientists discover frightening insect species (supertalk.fm)
Have you heard the new buzz around town? An assistant professor at Mississippi State University has led to the discovery of a frightening new parasitic wasp species with peculiar origins.
Could Silver Nanoparticles Be a New Tool to Manage Biting Midges? (entomologytoday.org)
Biting midges spread germs that cause animal and human disease, but they are stubbornly difficult to manage. A new proof-of-concept study shows that silver nanoparticles—minuscule bits of metal at the scale of billionths of a meter—are an effective insecticide for killing larvae of the biting midge Culicoides sonorensis. In the study, silver nanoparticles were bound to sorghum polymer particles, which C. sonorensis larvae readily feed on.
Northern Michigan fir trees under quarantine to stop invasive insect (radio.wcmu.org)
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development are issuing an interior quarantine in some northern Michigan forests to stop the spread of the balsam woolly adelgid. The BWA is an invasive species that extracts the nutrients of trees and kills them. The quarantine affects forests in parts of Clare, Missaukee and Osceola Counties.
Call for papers
Journal of Economic Entomology - Recent advances in biological control of spotted-wing drosophila Drosophila suzukii
The Journal of Economic Entomology (JEE) invites you to submit a manuscript proposal for a special collection titled “Recent advances in biological control of spotted-wing drosophila Drosophila suzukii”.
JEE’s special collections bring together articles on special topics of interest that would benefit from group presentation in the journal and dedicated promotion by ESA communications and our publishers at Oxford University Press.
For this special collection, we aim to collect original research and review articles highlighting recent and important research progress or providing novel insights into methods for enhancing or assessing the impact of natural enemies especially parasitoids on SWD control. Articles may cover but not limited to the following themes: (1) Release, establishment and impact of introduced parasitoids; (2) optimal methods for rearing and cold storage of key parasitoids; (3) overwintering survival of introduced parasitoids; (4) climatic tolerances and geographical distributions of key parasitoids; (5) host fruit effects on the efficiency of key parasitoids; (6) interspecific interactions and outcomes of key parasitoids; (7) pesticide effects on key parasitoids; (8) chemical ecology of parasitoid host location and host specificity; (8) behavioral ecology of parasitoid foraging efficiency; (9) other biological control agents (predators and entomopathogens); and (10) integration of biological control into SWD IPM.
Submission deadline: March 1st, 2025. We aim to publish this special collection in June 2025, but papers will be published online as soon as they are completed and then gathered into an online collection once all of them are available.
Webinars, seminars, meetings, and more
Newly featured this issue
INTEGRATED PEST MANAGEMENT FOR AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES: PURPLE LOOSESTRIFE
Purple loosestrife is one of the most invasive, non-native?aquatic perennial plants in North America, and has spread to nearly every U.S. state and Canadian province. Dense patches of purple loosestrife outcompete native plants and disrupt wetland ecosystems by reducing nesting sites, shelter, and food for surrounding wildlife.?In this?free?webinar, our expert?will share how utilizing the natural enemies of purple loosestrife, like leaf-eating beetles, has proven successful at managing and reducing this invasive species. ??
Tue, Oct 8, 2024 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM EDT
Impacts of plant-associated bacteria on aphid survival and behavior
Tory Hendry, Microbiology
Plant Pathology & Plant-Microbe Biology Section – AgriTech
Tuesday, September 24, 11:15 am – 12:05 pm, A134 Barton Lab & Zoom Passcode: Seminar
See & SprayTM – A New Tool for Weed Management in Agronomic Crops
Lauren Lazaro, BlueRiver Technology
Soil & Crop Sciences Section
Thursday, September 26, 12:20 – 1:10 pm, 135 Emerson & by Zoom
Previously featured
The Entomology Seminar is generally held weekly on Thursdays from 11:05 AM to 12:05 PM. Please check the schedule because some meetings are held on different dates and times*
September 26th, 11:05 AM - 12:05 PM
2123 Comstock/Zoom & A137 Barton Lab (speaker will be in person)
Speaker: Peter Nagy, Cornell University
A pathogen-specific Nox-Atm-Cytokine pathway controls epithelial cell turnover upon infection
Host: Nicolas Buchon
October 3rd, 11:05 AM - 12:05 PM
2123 Comstock/Zoom & A137 Barton Lab (speaker will be in person)
Speaker: Ann Hajek, Cornell University
Spongy moth: A tale of two pathogens
October 10th, 11:05 AM - 12:05 PM
2123 Comstock/Zoom & A137 Barton Lab (speaker will be in person)
Speaker: Mike Turell fmr. USA AMRIID Arbovirologist
50 years of research at the U. S. Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases.
Host: Laura Harrington, Corrie Moreau
Understanding and Applying Integrated Pest Management Methods with Janet Hurley
September 24, 2024 | 1:00 CDT
Pests can damage crops by stealing nutrients and spreading pathogens, but insects are also critical for pollination – finding the right balance between conservation and pest management is key within this delicate ecosystem. Join us to learn how common-sense practices like proper sanitation and pest proofing can be your best tools for creating an effective pest management program. Janet Hurley will share the fundamentals of IPM, and how to utilize resources in your local environment to put the right controls in place. This webinar will provide a broad overview and history of integrated pest management (IPM) in all its forms.
Join New York State Integrated Pest Management at Cornell University for our monthly seminar series designed to increase awareness of new research and techniques that advance Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and its adoption in all types of pest management settings.
Seminar
Brawling weeds and the fight for crop survival
Speaker: Clarence Swanton, University of Guelph
September 25, 2024
NEW S520 STANDARD FOR PROFESSIONAL MOLD REMEDIATION
Oct 2, 2024 12:00 PM in EST
We hope you can join us for a webinar focused on the new standard for professional mold remediation. This discussion will focus on the revisions in the latest edition of the S520, and how these shifts address critical changes to the industry that include: - Cleaning and disinfecting product claims; - Quality and performance issues; - The public's misunderstandings regarding mold and health; - And provide information about misunderstood topics like mycotoxins, fungal ecology, glucans and mushrooms. This introduction to the new S520 standard will also highlight new justifications, definitions and language changes to the world's only multidisciplinary standard of Care for Professional Mold Remediation with ANSI accreditation.
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.
October 3: Augustus Doricko (Rainmaker) [5:00 p.m., G155 M. Van Rensselaer Hall, Register]
Augustus Doricko is the founder of Rainmaker, a cloud-seeding geoengineering startup that aims to create water abundance in the United States.
Friday, October 18th, 2024
The Cornell Rice Field Day is hosted by faculty at Cornell University’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and the College of Engineering.
Friday, October 18, 2024 / 8:30am to 5pm
$45 per person (includes breakfast, lunch and transportation between Parts 1 & 2 locations.
Each workshop attendee must complete a separate registration and payment form.
Please register by October 6th at this link: https://riceconference.securepayments.cardpointe.com/pay
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!
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:
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
Registration is now open for 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.
Cornell Agricultural Experiment Station
As the S07 Greenhouse Grower you will support the greenhouse supervisor with the daily operations of the CALS Greenhouses and Growth Chambers, a College-wide service facility supporting 18 departments. This position will be primarily responsible for the Tower Rd./Ken Post Lab teaching greenhouses but will work in other facilities as needed. They will be responsible for highly sensitive and unique research plant material, this position requires close attention to detail and the best horticultural judgment, while operating within the parameters of project protocols.
Director of Finance and Administration
The University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR) is a leading land-grant institution that provides teaching, research, and programs through the University of Maryland Extension (UME) to a diverse clientele in the State of Maryland and beyond. UME provides non-credit research-based educational programs and conducts applied research with a $23 million budget and around 350 employees in over 30 offices around the state. The Director of Finance and Administration oversees and guide departmental financial, administrative, and personnel management functions. This position supports UME’s vision, mission, program priorities, and statewide operations while ensuring the implementation of university, college, and departmental policies and procedures. The director reports to the Associate Dean/Associate Director and oversees business managers, IT coordinators, and related staff while serving as a resource for UME senior administrators, area/city extension directors, and directors/coordinators in fiscal management, HR management, and other administrative services. The Director of Finance and Administration is a member of UME’s leadership team. The Director will provide strategic financial guidance and leadership, working on crucial tasks such as financial analysis, reporting, budget creation, forecasting, long-term strategic financial planning, expense tracking, compliance, and internal control functions. The director advises the Associate Dean and senior admin team concerning administrative services, personnel, departmental, college, and university policies, fiscal matters, and budgets. This position will manage financial operations with business managers and staff; oversee pre-award and post-award management; manage department IT coordinators and resources; oversee personnel-related functions; and support AED/CEDs in financial allocation, management, and planning at county/city offices. The position works closely with college-level finance, grant management, Human Resources, Compliance, and Diversity offices and serves as a liaison between the college and university units on behalf of UME in fiscal, personnel management, and adherence to administrative procedures.
The University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR) Responsible for assisting Agricultural Technician Supervisors in the day-to-day operations and for maintenance of farm and specialized agricultural research equipment. Work with managers to coordinate activities for researchers and others performing research and extension activities at the facility. Carry out field work – tilling, planting, fertilizing, spraying, harvesting – for traditional and non-traditional agronomic and horticultural crops and research plots.
Previously featured
Penn State Extension Associate Director of Programs (University Park, PA)
Penn State Extension is seeking an Associate Director of Programs to coordinate programming efforts and ensure Penn State Extension develops and delivers high-quality, relevant, and impactful extension educational programs, products, and services. This senior-level leadership position will provide daily oversight in the development and implementation of a customer-centric, innovative business strategy that meets the mission of the land-grant university and will be an integral part of Extension’s Senior Administrative Team. Review of applications will begin in late October.
Postdoctoral Research Associate - EAB
Dr. John J. Daigle, Professor in the School of Forest Resources at the University of Maine is seeking applicants for a postdoctoral position research scholar with a strong social science and forest management background. This is a full-time position that will provide an individual who has recently been awarded a doctorate to undertake the responsibilities of community engagement and research. The position will include outreach and communications for collaboration in sustaining brown ash as a component of forest environments.
Coastal Resilience Strategy Program Specialist
The Coastal Resilience Strategy Program Specialist at the University of Maryland Sea Grant Extension Program (UMDSGEP) is responsible for program coordination, project management, and leadership in developing a comprehensive coastal resilience strategy.
This role involves facilitating reporting processes, managing grant applications, and responding to NOAA National Sea Grant Office (NSGO) requests. The Program Specialist will spearhead research, analysis, and strategy development focused on community climate adaptation, stakeholder engagement, and equity & justice.
The University of Maryland, College Park
The Seo laboratory is seeking a talented and motivated faculty assistant to conduct research in uterine and placenta biology, with a focus on the interactions between the conceptus and the uterus that mediate implantation and placentation. Approaches used include molecular and cellular biology methods, powerful imaging technologies, transcriptomics, metabolomics as well as in vitro cell/tissue culture. The lab utilizes and integrates research across multiple mammalian species, including pigs, sheep and cattle to pursue comparative studies across species that have different types of implantation and placentation to gain insights into the physiological, cellular and molecular events that support successful pregnancy.
Administrative and Events Coordinator
The Native Plant Center is seeking a part-time Administrative and Events Coordinator to provide integral program support, including office, event, membership, and volunteer management.
This is a part-time position with more hours worked in-season vs. off-season. The salary range begins at $30/hour and is commensurate with experience.
Assistant Professor in Global Change Ecology
The Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation in the College of Natural Resources and Environment at Virginia Tech invites applicants for the position of assistant professor in global change ecology as part of a campus-wide hiring initiative focusing on the grand challenge of invasive species. We seek a candidate with interest and experience in invasion science through the lens of invasion ecology, ecosystem disturbance, and/or novelty in terrestrial ecosystems. This is a full-time, tenure-track, 9-month appointment with primary responsibilities in research and teaching. The Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation is committed to building an inclusive community through programs and activities that are integrated into our research, education, and outreach efforts. We welcome applications from persons identifying with groups underrepresented within the discipline, including but not limited to, Black, Indigenous, people of color, first-generation, and underrepresented genders.
As part of a campus-wide cluster hire on invasive species, the Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation in the College of Natural Resources and the Environment at Virginia Tech seeks applicants for a 9-month, tenure-track, research (60%), teaching (30%), and service (10%) position at the Assistant or Associate Professor rank. The successful candidate will study fish or wildlife populations using cutting-edge genetic/genomic tools to improve detection, identification, rapid response, management, and/or eradication of invasive species. Possible areas of research could include the use of environmental DNA, metabarcoding, genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics, gene editing, or related approaches for studying invasive species that affect fish or wildlife populations.
The successful candidate will teach undergraduate and graduate courses in their area of expertise in the department. Advising and mentoring both graduate and undergraduate students is required. Participation in departmental, college, and university affairs and collaboration with faculty both within the department and across the university is expected.
The University of Maryland, College Park, is seeking a Program Coordinator who will oversee the administrative management and coordination for the UME Associate Dean and Senior Admin Team. The responsibilities of this position include but are not limited to, management and oversight of statewide search processes for tenure track faculty and other state-level positions, managing and coordination of periodic reviews of administrators/unit directors, coordination of departmental/program reviews, coordination of UME events and functions, oversight of travel arrangements, budget management, and project management for the senior admin team. The coordinator will also manage the background check process for 7000+ UME volunteers. Other duties as assigned.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Assistant Professor - Applied Honeybee 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 honeybee 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.
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.
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
The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry’s (DACF) Fund to Address PFAS Contamination (PFAS Fund) has opened applications for $3 million in research grants to address the impact of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) on agriculture. The funding is part of the state’s ongoing effort to help farmers manage the challenges posed by PFAS contamination and to identify strategies to maintain viable agricultural operations.
The PFAS Fund’s Major Grants for the Study of PFAS in Agriculture will support research on several critical topics:
- PFAS in Agricultural Settings: Water, Soil, and Plant Studies
- PFAS in Agricultural Settings: Animals and Animal Product Studies
- Understanding and Managing PFAS in On-Farm Settings and Products
- Remediation of PFAS-Contaminated Land and Suitable Uses of PFAS-Contaminated Products
“The outcomes of these studies will, for example, help us understand which crops can safely be grown in PFAS-impacted soil, develop techniques to reduce PFAS in livestock and animal products, and explore on-field crop management strategies that minimize PFAS contamination in forages fed to dairy animals,” said Beth Valentine, Director of the PFAS Fund. “This research will provide Maine farmers—and farmers across the country—with critical tools to continue farming safely and sustainably.”
Eligibility and Funding Details
DACF anticipates awarding between $100,000 and $500,000 per project, with $3 million available. While the funding is primarily geared toward academic and research institutions, partnerships with Maine-based farms and organizations are strongly encouraged. The scoring criteria will award additional points to proposals from Maine-based institutions or those collaborating with local farms.
Application Deadlines
- Pre-proposals are due by October 28, 2024.
- Full proposals must be submitted by January 31, 2025.
The grants will be awarded through a competitive process based on criteria outlined in the Request for Applications (RFA). A panel of peer reviewers will evaluate the proposals. No projects have been pre-identified; all awards will be based on the competitive evaluation process.
For more information, including the full RFA, visit https://www.maine.gov/dacf/ag/pfas/pfas-fund-research.shtml
Previously featured
This message is to notify the research community of a recently released Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) funding opportunity for the Deployed Warfighter Protection (DWFP) Program Award. The Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB) invites pre-applications for research projects up to 3 years and up to US $975,000. Pre-applications should describe original, innovative research designed to develop new interventions for the protection of deployed military personnel from medically relevant pests including arthropod disease vectors. The program supports the product development of: (1) new toxicants or the adaptation of existing toxicants to medically relevant pests; (2) new insecticide application techniques; (3) new personal protection tools for bite prevention; (4) new decision support tools; and (5) surveillance tools that link to improved vector control outcomes. Research should be product-oriented, consisting of advanced research related to a particular technology or new capability, field evaluation of products for military uses, or research directed towards the development of an existing prototype product for future commercialization and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) registration.
Pre-applications must be submitted electronically to the Electronic Biomedical Research Application Portal (eBRAP) at https://ebrap.org by the 4 October 2024 deadline. For more information about this funding announcement, please visit https://ebrap.org/eBRAP/public/ProgramFY.htm?programFYId=625101.
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.