Human-induced climate change is resulting in an increase in extreme weather events and a gradual rise in average annual temperatures. The Northeast is not immune to the varied patterns in weather that are impacting both agricultural and natural ecosystems. It is not widely known what the changes in climate will mean for the distribution and occurrences of pests and little information exists as to how IPM practices will need to be tailored and what specific tools will help in addressing emerging needs.

Our Center has begun exploring ways to partner with other groups and organizations who are developing information for basic understanding and practical application. For example, the USDA’s Northeast Climate Hub, the Regional IPM Centers, the National Academy of Sciences, the American Society of Agronomy, and the Cornell Institute for Climate Change and Agriculture have partnered with our Center to organize a national forum with experts in climate and pest disciplines to share the latest, science-based information and strategize ways to plan policies for adaptable and resilient agriculture and forestry ecosystems that are threatened by pests related to climate change.

Our Center and partners anticipate that from the National Forum on Climate and Pests, regional frameworks will be developed to support pest management decisions that will lead to more sustainable U.S. agriculture and forestry ecosystems in changing climates. The long-term goal is to help U.S. agriculture and forestry minimize risks associated with increased severity and expansion of pest distributions resulting from climate variability. The major outcomes will be 1) new understanding of the vulnerabilities related to climate change with regard to pests in our agriculture and forestry ecosystems and 2) strategies to mitigate the effects from pests due to climate variability and develop resilient production systems.

In addition, our Center’s Partnership Grants Program provides an opportunity for Northeastern region colleagues to apply for grant funding for projects that would advance knowledge and our ability to apply IPM solutions to the challenges of climate change.