IPM News and Events Roundup 7/29/21
A weekly collection of IPM news, webinars, employment and funding opportunities and more from the NE IPM Center. If you have IPM-related research, events or other IPM news you would like to have included, please email me at nec2@cornell.edu. If you would like to subscribe to the weekly Roundup, please email northeastipm@cornell.edu. Past Roundups are archived here.
EPA has a new page devoted to Indoor Microbiomes
The quality of air indoors is impacted by all the living things in it. All of the living microorganisms inside an indoor environment, and their by-products, are known collectively as an indoor microbiome. Research on indoor microbiomes has rapidly expanded, leading to many interesting findings.
New York Finalizes Chlorpyrifos Prohibition, effective July 31, 2021
Pesticide products containing chlorpyrifos whose registration has been cancelled are no longer registered in New York. Therefore, they can no longer be sold, offered for sale, distributed, used, or transported in intrastate commerce within New York State. This applies to existing stocks or products that may be in storage. Since these pesticides are unregistered, they may only be removed from the state or disposed of properly. Individuals and businesses that still possess these unregistered products should explore all available options for removal or disposal. Pesticide distributors and manufacturers may be able to help determine the most appropriate and feasible options for their customers.
This report was produced by the Center for Agriculture and Food Systems at Vermont Law School, in partnership with the Johns Hopkins Center for a Livable Future who developed a companion report documenting public health issues faced by farmworkers entitled “Essential and in Crisis: A Review of the Public Health Threats Facing Farmworkers in the US.”
No Water = No Crops Video Series from Western Growers
This brutal drought is having dire consequences on the food supply. Farmers across California are receiving little water from state and federal agencies that regulate the state's reservoirs and canals, leading many to leave fields barren, sacrifice fields and tear out trees. These short clips (each under 1 minute), show California farmers talking about how they conserve water through sensors and drip irrigation and present the stark reality of what a severe drought has meant for their business. One grower shows an asparagus field that he decided to let die so he could use the water to irrigate another crop. Another shows almond trees being ripped out of the ground because, again, they don’t have enough water to keep them alive.
The Central Issue for July is here! This is the monthly newsletter for the North Central IPM Center. Read about events, current research, seasonal pests and more.
Northeast Vector Borne Disease Center update has a TON of stuff in it: Life Cycle of Blacklegged Tick now available in Spanish; Tick research updates; Employment and Fellowship opportunities and lots more. Check it out!
Northeast SARE Innovations Newsletter, July-August 2021
Focusing on Social Sustainability, Equity and Community Connections
As cutting-edge orchardists, the Smith’s employed and experimented with the most up to date pest control methods of their time and their pesticide purchases reflect that. However, many of the chemicals used at the farm remain in soils for long periods after application. Soil sampling in 1998 identified extensive contamination from these “legacy” pesticides, an issue plaguing orchards across the United States. Article here.
Bayer plans to phase out use of glyphosate in lawn and garden products in the US
As Bayer faces ??$4.5 billion dollars in litigation costs, the company announced Thursday it would remove weed-killing compound glyphosate from its lawn and garden products in the United States as early as 2023. Glyphosate in those products will be supplemented with other active ingredients, Condon said. The company is not pulling glyphosate from agricultural uses.
Updated VectorMap now available
Imagine having instant access to highly-detailed, expertly-vetted surveillance of the most dangerous disease transmitters on the planet at your fingertips. Imagine no more! Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit has relaunched its VectorMap data portal, making all surveillance data and models available again. This unique capability provides a holistic understanding of the "what, when and where" of vector species, facilitating highly specific predictions that mitigate the risk of future outbreaks.
Invasive Species:
Spotted Lanternfly News:
Spotted Lanternfly confirmed in Switzerland County, Indiana
In July 2021, a population of spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) was identified in Switzerland County, Indiana near the Ohio River. DEPP and USDA are conducting surveys to ascertain the extent and source of the infestation as well as determine what management strategies will be implemented.
The New York State IPM Spotted Lanternfly map has been updated to reflect this.
Squad of Chesapeake Bay Foundation Students Sets out to Squish Spotted Lanternfly
“We’re pleased to see youth putting their creativity and enthusiasm toward protecting our state’s vital economic and natural resources,” Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. “Young people are the bright future of agriculture, and we need what they bring to the table. I’m excited to see what the Squish Squad dreams up to help stomp out spotted lanternflies.”
More on Boxwood tree moth- Mass
Officials urge public to inspect boxwood shrubs for pest
The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) is alerting Massachusetts residents that it has received notification from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) that a number of nurseries within the Commonwealth received Canadian boxwood plants that were potentially infested with box tree moths. Box tree moths are an invasive pest that feed on the leaves of boxwood shrubs and can cause complete defoliation, eventually killing the plant. While state and federal inspectors have not found any signs of box tree moths at the nurseries, state officials warn that some of the plants may have been sold before inspections began, or were purchased out of state and planted in Massachusetts. MDAR and APHIS urge anyone in Massachusetts who may have purchased boxwood shrubs this spring to check the plants for signs of the moth.
Research:
In a study featured in the journal Weed Science, a team from Michigan State University explored whether environmental cues could be used to predict horseweed growth type. They found that variations in temperature, photoperiod, competition, shading, and soil moisture resulted only in the rosette growth type. Upright plants emerged, though, when seeds were exposed to dry conditions, followed by a prolonged cooling. Article here.
The UNH-led team found the early arriving beech bark disease pathogen Neonectria ditissima – a broad generalist that causes canker disease on many broadleaf hosts – is present in more than 42% of infected beech trees sampled. This discovery refutes the long-standing idea that this fungus is replaced by another, more dominant N. faginata. Rather, they found the two fungi regularly occur together on trees. Article here.
Gene-Driven suppression of mosquito populations in large cages as a bridge between lab and field
In the landmark study, published Wednesday in the journal Nature Communications, researchers placed the genetically modified mosquitoes in a special laboratory that simulated the conditions in sub-Saharan Africa, where they spread the deadly disease. The male mosquitoes were engineered with a sequence of DNA known as a "gene drive" that can rapidly transmit a deleterious mutation that essentially wipes out populations of the insects. The goal is to create a powerful new tool to fight malaria, which remains one of the world's most terrible scourges. Article here.
We found 24 range-shifting species with impacts on ecological communities, of which 22 have reported impacts in ecosystems common to northern New England. Almost all of these species also had impacts on socioeconomic systems and were available for purchase at ornamental plant retailers or online. Thus, these species can be considered high risk to northern New England with climate change based on their large negative impacts and potential to arrive quickly with deliberate human introduction. Our study demonstrates the use of impact assessments for creating targeted priority lists for invasive species.
Soil health conceptualization differs across key stakeholder groups in the Midwest
Ask a farmer, a scientist, and a conservation professional to define soil health, and you might come up with three rather different answers. That mismatch may be at the root of lower-than-ideal adoption of soil conservation practices, according to a new study from the University of Illinois and The Ohio State University. Article here.
Active Forest Management Reduces Blacklegged Tick and Tick-Borne Pathogen exposure Risk
Timber harvesting is an important tool in enhancing regeneration and maintaining forest health. It also has considerable potential to influence transmission dynamics of tick-borne pathogens, which are deeply embedded in the forest ecosystem. We conducted a 2-year study to test the hypotheses that recent timber harvesting impacts blacklegged tick density and infection prevalence in managed nonindustrial forests. Article here. They are also still collecting data at the Maine Forest Tick Survey
Webinars, Conferences, Meetings and more:
What Growers and Landscapers Need to Know about Box Tree Moth, Aug 5 12:30 ET
Michigan State University and Clemson University have partnered up for this webinar. Dave Smitley of Michigan State University and I will be talking to y’all about how to diagnose and identify box tree moth infestation and damage, and management approaches against them.
What’s Bugging You series: How to choose over the counter pesticides, August 6, 12noon
Dan Wixted of the Pesticide Management Education Program, Cornell University will present.
University of Maine Extension offers talks and more at Northern Maine Fair, Aug 5-8, Presque Isle, ME
Please join UMaine Cooperative Extension staff at the Northern Maine Fair Exhibit Hall as they offer FREE Extension Talks about soil health; the importance of garden pollinators; growing CBD hemp; how to use pressure cookers, and so much more! Pesticide recertification credits are being offered at some presentations.
Penn State Ag Progress Days Aug 10-12
Infectious and vector-borne animal and plant diseases, vaccination issues surrounding COVID-19, and the spread of the invasive spotted lanternfly will take center stage in displays and presentations at the College of Agricultural Sciences Exhibits Building and Theatre during Penn State’s Ag Progress Days.
Guidance on PFAS Testing and Health Outcomes, Aug 11-12 1-4pm
The ongoing National Academies study will provide advice to clinicians about PFAS testing, how test results should inform clinical care, and how to advise patients on exposure reduction. We invite you to join the committee as they hear from experts about PFAS exposure and clinical care. This is the fifth webinar in this series. You can listen to the previous four.
2021 Cornell Farm Field Day, Aug 12, Aurora, NY
The 2021 Cornell Field Crops annual field day will be held August 12th highlighting the latest field crops research across CALS and providing an opportunity for in-person exchange of ideas and experiences. This year's program offers a wide variety of content from no-till planting into rolled cover crops to the use of unoccupied robotic vehicles to monitor plant growth and health. Registration required by July 29th.
NRCS Conservation Programs explained by GrowNYC Farmer’s Assistance and PA Farm Workshop, August 14 10am-3pm, Glen Mills, PA
GrowNYC's Farmer Assistance and the USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service of Pennsylvania (NRCS PA) has collaborated to host a workshop at Truelove Seeds Farm designed to introduce farmers to agricultural conservation techniques and NRCS conservation programs. This half-day workshop will cover conservation production techniques, specifically related to seed harvesting and no till farming. Attendees will also learn more about NRCS programs to implement the infrastructure and techniques on their own farm.
New York State Food Donation and Food Scrap Recycling Act Overview, Aug 18, 1pm ET
The webinar was created to share information about the opportunities and challenges of accepting food scraps on-farm. Experts with discuss various ways farms can utilize the potential availability of food waste in advance of the New York State Food Donation and Food Scrap Recycling Act, which will go into effect on January 1, 2022.
Racial Equity and Environmentalism, Aug 18 1pm CT
Be it socio-economic, political, educational, health, etc. communities of color remain disproportionately impacted by environmental hazards yet grossly under-represented in spaces that hold key decision-making power related to conservation and sustainability. This presentation will provide the history of the construction of race, (a key component in driving these inequities), while also examining environmental policies that have had a layered impact on the environmental movement and contributed to the racial homogeneity we see today.
Draft Animal power Network Field Days, Oct 2-3, Loudon, NH
After not being able to gather for the event last year, DAPNet is excited to announce Field Days will be held on October 2nd and 3rd at Sanborn Mills Farm in Loudon, New Hampshire. The event will offer many activities and highlights including workshops, demonstrations, round-table discussions and a raffle. The event is a great educational and networking opportunity for a person of any level of interest in animal-power.
Employment Opportunities:
Research Ecologist/Forester/Soil Scientist, US Forest Service, Falcon Heights, MN
Duties include ensuring the health and sustainability of forest ecosystems, and the well-being of the people and communities that rely on them. Applications accepted through Aug 9.
District Manager, Soil and Water Conservation District of Broome County, NY
This is an administrative position responsible for coordinating and supervising the Broome County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) programs. The work includes both administrative and technical planning of environmental and conservation programs. Such programs involve both private and public properties and entities in all aspects of natural resource management. Work is performed under State and Federal laws and guidelines as well as established District policies and procedures. Supervision is exercised over both technical and clerical District employees. Work is performed under the direction of the district board. Does related work as required.
Research Entomologist, USDA ARS, Ithaca, NY
Incumbent is responsible for research on the biology and integrated management of insect pests and insect-vectored diseases. Research will focus on host-pathogen interactions between insects and a variety of agents, and use of the information to develop novel, bio-intensive Integrated Pest Management (IPM) systems. Applications due Aug 2.
Clifton County Program Technician, USDA Farm Service Agency, Mill Hall, PA
Responsibilities: Carrying out office activities and functions pertaining to one or more of the program areas administered in the county; Interpreting and explaining procedures, program regulations and forms to producers and other agency personnel; Utilizing various web-based software applications to maintain producer data and processing automated forms and Using a high degree of initiative and judgment in planning and carrying out assigned tasks and resolving problems encountered.
Funding Opportunities:
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today announced approximately $16.6 million in available funding to community-based and nonprofit organizations, institutions of higher education, and Tribal entities that help socially disadvantaged and veteran farmers and ranchers own and operate successful farms. Proposals due August 25. Informational webinars available.
USDA Rural Microentrepreneur Assistance Program
RMAP provides loans and grants to a non-profit entity, tribe or institution of higher education as a Microenterprise Development Organization (MDO) to establish revolving loan funds to provide loans to rural microloan borrowers and microentrepreneurs. The funds also may be used to provide training and technical assistance to microentrepreneurs. To be eligible for a loan from an MDO, an ultimate recipient must be a business with 10 or fewer full-time employees and be located in a non-metropolitan rural area with a population of 50,000 or less. Applications accepted through each state’s Rural Development Office.