IPM News and Events Roundup 8/20/2021
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.
New York State Dept of Agriculture confirms Box Tree Moth Found in Western NY!
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) today confirmed the detection of box tree moth in parts of Western New York, near the Canadian border in Niagara County.
Massachusetts Employee Manual Template: A Tool for Improving Employee Management on Farms, from NE SARE
An employee manual that is legally sound and consistently followed can provide a solid foundation for good employee-employer communication, in addition to clarifying managers’ and workers’ responsibilities to one another. Communicating clear expectations to your employees can lead to better work performance. Providing your employees with clear methods for raising and resolving workplace issues can also lead to more effective communication, with greater trust and mutual respect.
Squash vine borers and squash bugs: Two Garden Villains!
From author Dan Adler: My squash and zucchini have been breeding grounds for these two garden pests in past years. They also have confused me because I tend to conflate the two or have mixed up which one I’m searching for information on online. This year, despite taking more steps to combat both of these evil-doers, my garden still took major hits from this duo.
Superweeds — that is, weeds that have evolved characteristics that make them more difficult to control as a result of repeatedly using the same management tactic — are rapidly overtaking American commodity farms, and Palmer amaranth is their king. Scientists have identified a population of Palmer amaranth that can tolerate being sprayed with six different herbicides (though not all at once), and they continue to discover new resistances.
While people who promote making home remedies with familiar household ingredients to control pests are well intentioned, common claims about home remedies are inaccurate.
Jim Dwyer, University of Maine Extension potato expert, dies of cancer
With profound sadness and the heaviest of hearts, they share that Jim Dwyer passed away on Thursday morning after a courageous battle with cancer. Jim spent more than 38 years with Extension in Aroostook County.
Building an Alternative Supply Chain for Shiitake Mushroom Growers
A partnership between the Cornell Small Farms Program, Woodsman Forest Products, Schooner Apollonia, Hudson River Maritime Museum, RETI Center, and Red Hook Community Farms is piloting the carbon-neutral transport of logs from upstate forests to agricultural projects around New York City. After transport on the Schooner Apollonia and delivery by bike trailer to Red Hook Community Farm, community volunteers will inoculate around 275 logs over two days, providing over 1,000 pounds of fresh mushrooms over the next several years. Link to Cornell Small Farms Specialty Mushroom Program.
Summer update from the New York State Hemlock Initiative
Field Updates and other articles on combatting the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid.
Wish this enemy on no one because at the professional gardens they discard the contaminated weedy soil. Or they have resorted to sifting the soil to remove the corms. It is a bad weed. And solarization does not outlast the corms’ durability!
Are you an Organic Farmer in PA? Penn State Extension would like to hear from you!
Penn State Extension is dedicated to providing education that meets the needs of organic farmers, and they also value insight from those in the field. As they plan upcoming programming, they ask that you share with them what you would like to learn about organic farming, relevant educational programs, and delivery methods that you prefer.
USDA-NIFA accepting nominations to honor Justin Smith Morrill the U.S. Senator primarily responsible for enactment of the historic legislation establishing the Land-grant University System. The Justin Smith Morrill Memorial Lectureship is awarded to honor outstanding contemporary leadership in teaching and significant contributions as an educator. Recommendations should include the name of the nominee, title, address, telephone number, and e-mail address and topic that could be discussed. Please submit your potential topic and/or presenter on or before August 27. Recommendations should be forwarded electronically to Faith Peppers at Faith.Peppers@usda.gov. A committee will review submissions and narrow the scope of the recommendations in order to make a final decision.
EPA bans Chlorpyrifos on all food crops.
In a statement on Wednesday, the agency said that it was revoking all food tolerances for a chemical called chlorpyrifos, which has been linked to lower IQ, impaired working memory and negative effects on motor development. Article here
Northeast Vector-Borne Disease Newsletter
Find two new infographics – LoneStar Tick able to survive winters in NE and Life Cycle of Black Legged tick (In Spanish) and lots more!
Invasive Species:
New York State Dept of Agriculture confirms Box Tree Moth Found in Western NY!
The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (AGM) today confirmed the detection of box tree moth in parts of Western New York, near the Canadian border in Niagara County.
Have you seen Spotted Lanternfly with fungi growing on it?
Please take photos, record the location, and date, and contact Eric Clifton (ehc87@cornell.edu)& Ann Hajek (aeh4@cornell.edu). We would like to confirm whether these fungi can be found in more locations in PA and in other states. If you would like to mail samples, the fungi-killed specimens can be placed in vials or tubes with 70% ethanol and mailed to the lab for ID.
First live Asian Giant Horned sighting of 2021 in Washington State
The report was submitted by a Whatcom County resident on Aug. 11. WSDA entomologists reviewed and confirmed the report as an Asian giant hornet on Aug. 12. The report included a photograph of an Asian giant hornet attacking a paper wasp nest in a rural area east of Blaine, about 2 miles from where WSDA eradicated the first Asian giant hornet nest in the United States last October.
Fowl or Poultry tick discovered in Delaware
The fowl or poultry tick (Argas persicus) was newly detected in Delaware at a location in Kent County. This species, which is native to Asia but widely distributed around the world, is considered a major pest of poultry and linked to numerous avian health issues.
Invasive Plants – An Overview, another good column from Faith Campbell at the Center for Invasive Species Prevention.
“A recent study based on Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) data (explained here) showed that nation-wide, 39% of forested plots sampled contained at least one invasive species. Hawai`i was first, at 70%. Eastern forests were second, at 46%. In the West overall, 11% of plots contained at least one invasive species. Plots in both Alaska and the Intermountain states were at 6% of plots invaded.” Check out the bulleted links do invasive species databases around the country. Great reference!
Lone Star ticks, Asian long-horned ticks and Gulf Coast ticks are now all established in CT and other Northeast states.
Research:
This study showed that, in the context of a complex arthropod community in north Texas, first generation monarch survival was high. The study found that survival was not directly related to predators on the host plant, but was higher on host plants that harbored a greater number and variety of other, non-predatory arthropods. This is possibly because the presence of alternate, preferable prey enabled monarch eggs and larvae to be overlooked by predators. The implication is that, at least in the southern U.S., monarch conservation should consider strategies that promote diverse functional arthropod communities. Article here.
Target-site resistance is easy for scientists. They know what the target protein is, which means they can look directly at the genetic code to figure out the mutation responsible. But for non-target-site resistance, it’s a guessing game. Researchers can sometimes tell what class of enzymes detoxifies the chemical, but they know next to nothing about what genes code for those enzymes. In other words, non-target-site resistance is a black box. A University of Illinois study is the first to open that box in a new way, identifying gene regions responsible for non-target-site herbicide resistance in waterhemp. Article here.
They collected pollen from foraging honey bees and bumble bees returning to colonies placed in blooming blueberry fields with different management approaches (conventional, organic, unmanaged) and located across different landscape settings to determine how these factors affect pesticide exposure.
Webinars, Conferences, Meetings and more:
NOFA-NY Field Days, through fall – lot of interesting topics and tours.
Spotted Lanternfly Trapping update from UMass, Aug 31, 10am ET
Join UMass Extension for this free webinar for an update regarding the invasive spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula; SLF) and trapping research and monitoring efforts.
The Role of Climate Change on Forest Trees, including Coloration, in the Eastern US, Sept 15 12 noon
The eastern US is unique in that climate change (warming) has been mainly limited to the northern tier. This has been coupled with an increase in precipitation, which has mitigated most of the negative impacts seen in the western US and many other locations worldwide. While some negative impacts of climate change exist in eastern forests, there are a surprising number of ways that trees have benefited, such as the increase in CO2 stimulating photosynthesis, water-use efficiency, and growth. The main impact on fall color to date has been in delaying peak colors by a few days to a few weeks depending on location in the eastern US.
Invasive Insect Certification Program, Sept 28-Oct 27, UMass, fee
This six-day webinar series looks at the characteristics, impacts and costs of invasive insects, highlighting the biology, ecology, and identification of some of the most destructive insects. Also covered will be state and federal regulations pertaining to invasive insect management, invasive forest and agricultural insects in Massachusetts, warnings about potential newcomers, and management strategies. Integrated Pest Management will be the focus, highlighting cultural and mechanical management options along with the use of biological control.
NAISMA 2021 Conference Annual Award nominations due Sept 1
The NAISMA Annual Awards seeks to recognize individuals and organizations who have gone above and beyond to improve invasive species management in North America. Award nominees do not need to be a current NAISMA member. New this year is the Biocontrol Award and the Integrated Pest Management Award. Conference is Sept 29-Oct 2.
Community Forest Institute, Penn State, Oct 6-22, fee
The Community Forestry Short Course is designed to help municipal shade tree commissions/committees and staff, including managers, arborists, and foresters; community tree advocates; and volunteers gain knowledge and skills in the effective management of public trees in Pennsylvania. Participants will be mailed printed reference materials to accompany the program.
Employment Opportunities:
Sea Grant positions in NY and CT
Sustainable and Resilient Community Extension Educator, Cornell University Extension, Stony Brook, NY
You will provide leadership in the extension and outreach programming and tools that are developed, implemented and evaluated based on the needs of stakeholders. Provide guidance and training to communities related to planning and permitting processes to achieve sustainability and resilience goals and help access funding/grants for implementation (e.g., required Hazard Mitigation Plans, Emergency Operations/Management Plans, related coastal management plans as appropriate). Coordinate with the other extension professionals in both Connecticut and New York to efficiently and effectively achieve the goals of the Long Island Sound Study (LISS)
Visiting Assistant Extension Educators - Sustainable and Resilient Communities Sea Grant, University of Connecticut. Storrs, CT
We are seeking professionals with backgrounds in resilience, coastal oceanography/engineering, planning, Geographic Information Systems (GIS), or natural/marine resources who engage with and provide education and outreach for local governments and Long Island Sound coastal communities in order to increase awareness of and local capacity to implement goals of the work plan. The positions will be housed at Connecticut Sea Grant, and collaborate closely with three other Extension Specialists in the New York portion of Long Island Sound.
Operations Associate, Finger Lakes Land Trust, Ithaca, NY
Reporting to the Director of Operations, the Operations Associate provides administrative and technical support in the day-to-day operations of the Land Trust. A successful Operations Associate should be highly organized and have a versatile skill set to support a variety of different business functions with a diverse range of tasks.
Funding Opportunities:
USDA Organic Certification Cost Share Program
OCCSP provides cost-share assistance to producers and handlers of agricultural products for the costs of obtaining or maintaining organic certification under the USDA’s National Organic Program. Eligible producers include any certified producers or handlers who have paid organic certification fees to a USDA-accredited certifying agent during the 2021 and any subsequent program year. Producers can be reimbursed for expenses made between Oct. 1, 2020 and Sept. 30, 2021 including application fees, inspection costs, fees related to equivalency agreement and arrangement requirements, travel expenses for inspectors, user fees, sales assessments and postage. Applications due Nov 1.
USDA-Farm of the Future New Funding
Farm of the Future is a competitive grant program that will be implemented by USDA NIFA to establish an agricultural test bed and demonstration site. It seeks to launch this rural test bed for precision agriculture, smart automation, data connectivity and transfer, and to demonstrate best practices in climate-smart agriculture, forestry, and animal production systems that enhance sustainability and farm profitability. The test bed will evaluate digital and smart technologies to provide accessible, data-driven solutions that support resilient agricultural and value-added practices.