IPM News and Events Roundup 01/26/2024

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.   

 

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Northeastern IPM Center News       

The Biology and Management of Common Invasive Plants in the Northeastern U.S. and Southern Canada

February 27, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. EST

Register at https://neipmc.org/go/fARB

Presenter:  Dr. Antonio DiTommaso

This presentation will focus on the biology and management (both chemical and non-chemical) of ten common invasive plants in the northeastern United States and southern Canada. Species covered include Japanese knotweed, buckthorn, swallowworts, honeysuckles, bindweeds, multiflora rose, and Japanese stiltgrass.

 

The Use of IPM in Beekeeping to Control Parasitic Varroa Mites

March 11, 2024 – 11:00 a.m.

Register at cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aG2wk8EKSXC2OTvB70BdrA

Presenter:  Dr. Robyn Underwood

During this talk, you will learn about the parts of the IPM pyramid as they relate to controlling the parasitic varroa mite, widely the biggest problem in beekeeping. You will learn about breeding for mite resistance, cultural and mechanical controls, and chemical controls that are both organic-approved and synthetic. These items will be presented as a year in the life of a beekeeping operation.

Dr. Robyn Underwood received her BSc in Entomology and Applied Ecology from the University of Delaware and her PhD in Entomology from the University of Manitoba. As Penn State’s Extension Educator of Apiculture, she conducts scientific research projects to study beekeeper-applied questions and brings the results of the projects to the beekeepers through extension products that aim to make beekeeping a more successful venture.

 

Kosher, Halal and Insects: How do they relate?

March 25, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. (EST)

Register at cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_R0qF_qloSt6k9EsgUWO9UA

Presenter: Dr. Joe Regenstein

Kosher and halal food regulations are an important part of the food industry. Both religious systems are concerned about the practices of modern agriculture including the role of insects and similar animal species. This talk will introduce these dietary laws and then look specifically at how each religion views insects in the food and feed context.

 

Table of Contents

EPA News

Webinars, Seminars, Meeting and More

Research in the News

Fellowship Opportunities

 

News

 

Call for Papers

 

Internship Opportunities

Feedback Requested

Employment Opportunities

Surveys

Funding Opportunities

EPA News

EPA Requests Input on Pesticide Safety Education Program for Farmworkers

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public input on the design of a new National Farmworker Training and Education Program (NFTEP) on pesticide safety. The NFTEP is a grant program funded through the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act of 2022 (PRIA 5) and will support activities such as pesticide safety training, materials development, and outreach to farmworkers.

Farmworkers are at high risk of pesticide exposure because they work closely with pesticides. With the funding provided by PRIA 5, EPA is developing a NFTEP to help reduce the risk of pesticide injury and illness to farmworkers. The NFTEP will also support the implementation of the Agricultural Worker Protection Standard, offering required annual pesticide safety trainings for workers.

The Request for Information (RFI) released today lays out potential program design elements and activities to be funded under the NFTEP. The RFI also poses a series of questions to stakeholders about barriers to involvement in safety trainings and education programs and applying for grant funding. Individuals and organizations with experience conducting farmworker education and training are encouraged to comment. Generally, EPA is interested in comments about:

  • how to meaningfully involve farmworker communities in the NFTEP grant agreements,
  • farmworker communities’ specific language and training needs that should be incorporated into the safety education program materials,
  • successful outreach and delivery strategies, and
  • topic areas that should be prioritized for grant agreements.

Feedback collected through the RFI will shape the final program and inform the Notice of Funding Opportunity that will be issued so organizations can apply for grant funding. Up to $7.5 million is expected to be awarded in grants over five years.

Responses to the RFI can be submitted via www.regulations.gov using Docket ID EPA-HQ-OPP-2023-0643 and must be received by 11:59 ET on March 25, 2024.

View and comment on the RFI 

Research in the News

IR-4 Works With Weed Scientists to Expand Glufosinate Label (ir4project.org | January 23, 2024)

As a result of research conducted by The IR-4 Project, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has approved significant label expansions for glufosinate-ammonium. Final rules adding to this herbicide label were published to the federal register on June 20, 2023 and September 21, 2022. As a result of these label expansions, a wide variety of specialty crops can now benefit from the effective weed control provided by this herbicide, including: avocados, figs, melons, hops, squashes, tomatoes, tropical fruits, grasses grown for seed in the Pacific Northwest. 

 

Field Evaluations of Three Botanically Inspired Repellents Against the Blacklegged Tick, Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) (academic.oup.com)

Three compounds synthetically-derived from botanicals sources, ethyl perillyl carbonate, geranyl isovalerate, and citronellyl cyclobutane carboxylate, were tested for repellent activity against Ixodes scapularis Say in a field trial. Tick drags were treated with the compounds or with N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide (DEET) at high (0.25 mg/cm2) or low (0.16 mg/cm2) concentrations. Negative controls included untreated drags and drags treated with acetone, the carrier for all repellents. Freshly treated drags (within 20 min) were used to collect I. scapularis ticks at a county park in Wisconsin. To assess effectiveness, we measured tick encounter rates, detachment rate, and time to detachment. None of the repellent treatments, including DEET, resulted in significantly fewer encounters compared to both control treatments. However, the percentage of ticks that detached within 3 min was significantly higher on drags treated with repellents compared to controls.

 

Harvester Ant Nest Rims Boost Native, Nonnative Plants Alike (entomologytoday.org | January 25, 2024)

Harvester ants are some of the most visibly evident insects of the western United States. Their nests are marked by large areas cleared of vegetation and debris, called “nest disks.” These nest disks can exceed 10 meters in diameter each and collectively take up over 10 percent of land area in some cases. In areas densely populated by harvester ants, stunning patterns of nest disks polka-dot the landscape, with important contributions to the ecology of these habitats.

 

University of Pennsylvania’s School of Veterinary Medicine Scientists Unravel Mystery of How Fish Develop Immunity to Disease (nifa.usda.gov | January 22, 2024)

When the immune systems of jawed vertebrates are stimulated by an infection or immunization, they generate proteins called antibodies to fight disease. In warm-blooded vertebrates such as humans, these antibodies are produced in a germinal center, which is a specialized structure that forms in secondary lymphoid tissues.  

Until recently, scientists believed that cold-blooded jawed vertebrates such as fish did not have these specialized structures. This led them to wonder how these fish, called teleost fish, such as cod, salmon and rainbow trout, were able to mount an immune response.  

With support from USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture, scientists at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine have discovered, contrary to earlier belief, that fish develop an antibody response in similar structures located in the spleen.

News 

Pest Talks (growertalks.com)

What the ... ?
Spring Sanitation
Boxwood Dieback
Diagnosing Abiotic Disorders

 

Tiny Worm, Giant Leap: Discovery of Highly Specific Fatty Acid Attachment to Proteins (btiscience.org | January 22, 2024)

Imagine proteins as tiny engines driving the machinery of life. Just as engines require modifications to optimize performance, proteins undergo ‘protein modification’ – a crucial process altering their function, location, and lifespan. A key player in this modification process is protein fatty acid attachment (‘protein fatty acylation’), akin to adding a specialized component (i.e., fatty acids) that allows proteins to anchor themselves to cellular membranes.

 

US EPA Seeks to Eliminate PFAS From HDPE Plastic Containers (pfasinsights.com | January 5, 2024)

On December 1, 2023, the U.S. EPA ordered Inhance Technologies LLC (Inhance) to stop producing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as part of its fluorination of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) containers. According to the EPA, Inhance’s fluorination process enhances the barrier properties of plastic containers, but produces nine different types of PFAS.

 

Biobest Group acquires full ownership in Biobest Antalya (biobestgroup.com | January 24, 2024)

Biobest Antalya, Turkey’s leading company in bumblebee pollination and biological control, will further capitalize on Turkey’s excellent prospects as a leading horticultural producer. Antilsan will focus on business opportunities in fertilizers, biostimulants and distribution of agrochemical products. The longstanding and successful partnership between Biobest and Antilsan started as a production joint venture in 1998 and evolved into a fully-fledged production and distribution company in 2014. Antilsan and Biobest will continue to collaborate commercially while being fully independent in terms of shareholding.

 

"More than 2,000 fruit fly traps to ensure we can ship to the United States again" (hortidaily.com | January 19, 2024)

On January 19, the US market reopened for Spanish peppers, specifically for those produced in Almería, which will have an open export window from December 1 to March 31. Almería peppers thus regain a market they lost at the end of December 2022, when the United States Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) closed its doors due to various detections of Mediterranean fruit fly (Ceratitis capitata).

 

NY’s first dairy farm biochar kiln advances green agriculture (news.cornell.edu | January 16, 2024)

To make New York agriculture greener, an alumnus-owned farm in Union Springs will become the state’s first commercial dairy to take separated solids from digested cow manure and run it through a kiln to create environmentally friendly biochar – thanks to Cornell expertise and co-funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).

 

What Eats Ticks? Study Puts an Old Technique to New Use (entomologytoday.org | January 23, 2024)

Ticks are well-known vectors of human and animal diseases, but controlling them can be a challenge. In addition, climate change has helped expand the geographic range of some tick species. While acaricides can be temporarily effective, ticks can evade chemical treatments because they spend most of their nestled in soil and leaf litter.

A key component of any integrated pest management program involves the use of natural predators. But interactions between ticks and possible predators are not well studied.

 

Call for Papers!

Call for papers in Frontiers in Insect Science!
Special Issue Title: Pest-Smart Strategies For Improved Eco-Efficiency In Agriculture, Forestry And Communities
This Research Topic in Frontiers on eco-efficiency and IPM is open for contributions.  The research topic or special issue proposes the concept of Pest-Smart production strategies to communicate, identify, quantify, track and incentivize eco-efficient Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. This is a great opportunity to communicate the role IPM plays in minimizing economic, human health, and environmental risks associated with pest management.
Manuscript Summary Submission Deadline 29 February 2024

Manuscript Submission Deadline 30 September 2024

More information: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/59157/pest-smart-strategies-for-improved-eco-efficiency-in-agriculture-forestry-and-communities

Feedback Requested

In 2024, NIFA will be issuing an updated version of the NIFA Federal Assistance Policy Guide. Last updated in 2021, the Policy Guide provides comprehensive guidance on NIFA’s application and review processes, award notification and administration procedures, award terms and conditions, uniform administrative requirements, allowable costs, reporting requirements, close-out procedures and audit requirements.

The 2024 update to the Policy Guide will include updates related to a variety of topics, including Uniform Guidance (2 CFR 200); Build America, Buy America compliance; and reporting requirements and systems (i.e., NRS, REEport). NIFA is working to make the Policy Guide an even better resource for all of our stakeholders. Our primary goal with the next update is to make sure that this resource provides clear, accurate, up-to-date guidance on matters that are most important to you and the work you do. 

Please Give Your Feedback

As a part of our effort to update the guide, we are inviting all of our stakeholders to submit ideas and suggestions. If you would like to give your feedback please:

  1. Review the Resources found below, which include the current Policy Guide.
  2. Submit your feedback to PolicyGuide@usda.gov.

Surveys

Farmland Prices and Soil Health

Have you or are you considering buying farmland or working with people who are? We would be interested to hear from you as a farmland owner about your preferences when purchasing or leasing farmland. If you work with farmland owners or tenants, we would greatly appreciate your forwarding our survey to them. The survey is part of a research project focusing on the (potential) relationship between soil health and farmland prices. Through this research, we aim to explore whether farmland owners are incentivized to build healthy soils when planning to sell their farmland. Additionally, we want to explore if there is a theoretical business model of buying degraded farmland, regenerating it, and selling it for a profit. If there is no relationship between soil health and farmland prices, we will look at policy solutions that incentivize farmland owners to build healthy soils. Ultimately, we hope this research helps farmers and landowners who are good farmland stewards to be rewarded for their soil health-building efforts. Through this, we hope to move our agricultural system toward greater resilience, long-term profitability, and sustainability. Please contact Maximilian Bucher-Melcer (mbb266@cornell.edu) for any questions. 

Take the survey

 

Survey on Annual Bedding Plants Supply Chain analysis in the USA (eIRB # 25951)

This project is assessing the U.S. annual bedding plant industry to better understand the supply chain flow patterns and sustainability efforts being conducted throughout the chain. The outcomes of this research will include articles in industry magazines, extension publications, and presentations on usable information at Cultivate and other industry events. 
Your response matters! If you participate in the annual bedding plant industry, like growing, buying, selling, or supporting businesses.  Your participation is completely anonymous and voluntary. The survey will only take around 10-15 minutes. Please click on the link below to start the survey.
Follow this link to the survey:
Take the survey

 

General Small Fruit Grower Survey

UMass Fruit Extension is curious to learn about small fruit growers' interests and current problems. A brief general survey has been created to quickly identify topics and practices that require more research, outreach, and education. Please take a few minutes to fill out the survey as your answers will be used to inform Extension publications, events, and priorities. The survey will close on 2/16/2024. For any questions or concerns please contact: mbley@umass.edu.

Take the survey 

 

SWD National Impact Survey

Dear Berry and Cherry Grower,
The evaluation team at the University of Florida is conducting a national survey to better understand the impact of research conducted by land-grant university faculty to mitigate spotted wing drosophila (SWD) in your fields.
The project, funded by the USDA, requires an evaluation to determine if the work has met your needs as a grower. We have identified you as a berry and/or cherry grower and value your opinions regarding this important work.
The survey should take 15 minutes to complete. You will be asked questions about your farm operations, experience with SWD from 2008 to date, and any SWD management practices you have implemented on your farm.

Data collected will advance research efforts focused on developing more effective and efficient SWD management tools to meet your needs. There are no direct benefits or compensation for completing the survey; however, your participation will contribute to developing better management tools for SWD.

Webinars, Seminars, Meetings, and More             

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!

February 2nd: NYS Plant Regulations | Choosing Native Plants

March 1st: Changes to Home Garden Insecticide in NY | Tick Blitz

April 5th: Weed ID | Rats in Vegetable Gardens

May 3rd: No-Mow May | What to do with Grass Clippings

June 7th: Tick & Mosquito Yard Treatments | Myth: Mosquito Repellent Plants

July 5th: Japanese Beetle Management | Aphid-Eating Insects

August 2nd: Spotted Lanternfly Update | Box Tree Moth Update

September 6th: Back to School: Bed Bugs | Head Lice

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

 

Get Outdoors this Winter! SLELO PRISM in collaboration with partners, will hold our annual Virtual Hike Challenge (VHC) happening November 2023, through March 2024. This challenge encourages community members to get outdoors and provides simple instructions to help you keep an eye out for hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). HWA is an invasive forest pest that kills hemlock trees which play an important role in water quality and provide many ecoservices for nature and people. HWA is confirmed to be present in Oswego County and is spreading along the Eastern Lake Ontario shoreline. Participating in the VHC is easy, all you have to do is sign-up, visit your favorite hiking trail (or visit one of our suggested survey sites), look for HWA, report your observations to iMapInvasives, and share your experience on social media! Not only will you have an excuse to get outside this winter, but you’ll be protecting your forests and will win a prize for your efforts!

If you’re interested in a more “hands-on” experience, SLELO PRISM and the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust are hosting guided walk and talks to train volunteers to survey for HWA. Participants will learn to identify hemlock trees, recognize the signs of HWA, and report observations using a free community science mobile app called iMapInvasives. Below is a list of upcoming hikes occurring November through March (registration is required).

2023-2024 Walk & Talk Schedule (held from 10 AM- 12 PM) Click to Register

  • 2/14/24 Forest Park, Camden
  • 3/13/24 Great Bear Rec. Area, Fulton

Take the Pledge to Protect: Are you looking for an easy and fun way to protect your favorite outdoor spaces now and for generations to come? Take the Pledge to Protect and learn simple and fun ways you can protect your favorite hiking trails, paddle-ways, forests, garden and community from invasive species.

The Pledge to Protect was developed by SLELO PRISM as a resource intended to educate and inspire you to protect your lands and waters from the impacts of invasive species. Upon taking the Pledge, you become a “Protector” and are sent monthly email blogs that provide simple actions you can take to protect your favorite outdoor spaces from invasive species and chances to win prizes by taking the suggested actions. In addition, the Pledge to Protect offers a social media toolbox, and virtual toolboxes themed for 5 pledge categories including: gardens, communities, waters, forests, and lands & trails.  Each toolbox provides you with resources relevant to the environmental category and includes, invasives you may encounter, best management practices, regional and state-wide community science opportunities, prevention methods, and many links to helpful apps and other resources. To sign up to take the pledge visit iPledgeToProtect.org.

SLELO PRISM invites you to attend a series of Zoom webinars to be held beginning in January 2024 through May. The webinars are free and continuing education credits are available. Registration is required to receive a link to the Zoom webinar and recordings will be sent to registrants.

  • February, 2nd, 1 PM- 2:15 PM- Swallow-wort Biocontrol Research. Hosted by SLELO's Eastern Lake Ontario Swallow-wort Collaborative. Learn how researchers are using natural predators to aid the control of invasive swallow-wort plants and get updates on field applications occurring in the state and beyond.
  • March, 1st, 1 PM- 2 PM- What You Should Know About Jumping Worms. Jumping worms reduce soil health and can be easily and unknowingly spread by gardeners. Learn how to recognize jumping worms and prevent their spread.
  • April, 10th, 1 PM-2 PM- Enhancing the Health of Riparian Ecosystems Through Restoration and Invasive Species Management. Get an overview of our multiyear Riparian Restoration Initiative. Learn about the ecological importance of the project areas, invasive species impacts, control & restoration methods used, selected plants, community involvement, and future plans.
  • April, 10th, 1 PM-2 PM- Enhancing the Health of Riparian Ecosystems Through Restoration and Invasive Species Management. Get an overview of our multiyear Riparian Restoration Initiative. Learn about the ecological importance of the project areas, invasive species impacts, control & restoration methods used, selected plants, community involvement, and future plans.
  • May 17th, 1 PM-2 PM- Birds as Habitat Health Indicators. Conservation Director of the Albany Pine Bush Preserve Commission, Neil Gifford, will discuss a bird banding and tracking program used to determine ecosystem health on the preserve, the impacts invasive species can have on bird habitat, the benefits of invasive species management, as well as ways homeowners and land managers can support birds. 

 

2024 Ronald D. Gardner Food Processing Pest Management Workshop with Post-Workshop Fumigation and Structural Pest Management Sessions

The objective of the Food Processing Pest Management Workshop and post-workshop sessions is to provide information to enable structural and food industry pest control operators and their clientele to improve their pest management skills.

Recertification credits have been assigned for applicators certified in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.

Date:  February 6, 2024 - February 7, 2024

Time: 7:15 am - 11:30 am

Location

RIT Inn & Conference Center, Henrietta, NY

Register to Attend

 

Here Today, Gone Tomorrow: What to do if neonicotinoids are banned in New York State

Wednesday, February 7, 2024, 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM

The Birds and Bees Protection Act bill (A. 7640/ S. 1856-A) has been introduced in the New York State Senate and Assembly. If passed, this bill will ban use of these products for non-agricultural, turf and landscape purposes by 2027. Join us to learn about the current use of neonicotinoids; the pests they are suitable for, potential impacts to beneficial organisms and optimal use of neonics. Current alternatives to neonics will also be discussed with emphasis on preventative management strategies and curative management. We will also dive into the challenges of finding alternatives to these products and will address where these alternatives may be lacking compared to the neonics.

To register: Webinar Registration - Zoom

 

Cornell Cooperative Extension Agritourism Monthly Webinar Series

Via Zoom

Price: Free

2nd Tuesdays of the Month

12pm to 1pm

02/13 – Grants for Agritourism Operations

03/12 – Staffing your Agritourism Operation

04/09 – Working with your Local Tourism Office

TO REGISTER: HTTPS://TINYURL.COM/48RNM7HY

Questions can be directed to Lindsey Pashow at lep67@cornell.edu.

 

On-line Greenhouse Scout School

Register Now for the Greenhouse Scout School Certificate Program and Webinar Series February 13-March 26, 2024

Cornell University, the University of Vermont and the University of Maine have joined forces to offer a 7-week series in scouting for disease, insect and weed pests of greenhouse ornamentals. Learn how to identify the major pests of greenhouse floriculture crops, make scouting faster and easier, communicate with growers and owners, and find resources to help.  Sessions will be led by Stephanie Burnett, Margery Daughtrey, Betsy Lamb, Elise Lobdell, John Sanderson and Cheryl Sullivan. This program is offered in two formats – as a webinar series and as a certificate program. PAT credits are awarded!  

Please view the following link for more information and to register.  https://cals.cornell.edu/new-york-state-integrated-pest-management/outreach-education/events/greenhouse-scout-school

 

The Northeast Extension Fruit Consortium has six winter sessions scheduled across January, February, and March

January 31- Dr. Beatrice Amyotte, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, will share "Strawberry Breeding and Cultivar Update" information.

February 7-  Dr. Macarena Faruch, University of Maryland, will discuss the "Use, Efficacy and Cost of Reflective Ground Cover in the Orchard." She will be joined by grower Kristen DeMarree who will share her field experience with reflective ground cover.

March 6- Dr. Jaime Piñero, University of Massachusetts Extension & Stockbridge School of Agriculture, will provide updates on "Mass Trapping for Japanese Bettle Management" .

March 13-  Dr. Jessica McBride, University of Connecticut, will discuss "How to Effectively Engage With The Media". Andre Tougas, Tougas Family Farm and Chelcie Martin, Honey Pot Hill Orchard will share their experiences with the press from this year- what worked, what didn't and what they plan to do differently next time.

March 20- Dr. Kerik Cox, Ms. L?ga Astra Kalni?a will discuss “BioControl, Forecast Models and Apple Scab- Finding the Sweet Spot”.

 

Join the Northeast RISCC Management Network for our 2024 Invasive Species & Climate Change Symposium! 

When: February 27th, 2024 (11:00 AM – 2:55 PM, Eastern) & February 28th, 2024 (11:00 AM – 2:40 PM, Eastern)

Where: Virtually via Zoom (FREE!) 

What to expect:

  • Our NE RISCC signature blend of interactive sessions and networking covering terrestrial, freshwater, and marine habitats
  • Keynote talk by Laura Meyerson (University of Rhode Island, Co-Editor-in-Chief for the journal Biological Invasions and Associate Editor for the journal Neobiota)
  • Sessions on:
      • Challenges and opportunities at early stages of invasion
      • Challenges and opportunities at late stages of invasion
      • Communicating about climate change and invasive species
      • Invasive species impacts on climate change mitigation & adaptation
  • Lightning talks
  • Community Action Award—Nominate someone here!
  • For more details, please see our schedule.

Register here.

 

Encountering Bed Bugs While Traveling

January 30, 2024 | 2:00 – 4:00 PM ET

As more people travel, there are increasing instances of bed bug encounters domestically and abroad. This webinar will provide participants with comprehensive information on bed bugs including identification, ways they spread, inspections (when and how), preventing exposures, and control measures. Our experts will provide practical information to help you reduce the likelihood of bringing bed bugs home and what to do if you find they’ve followed you home. Enlisting the help of a pest management professional to deal with home infestations will also be discussed.

The webinar registration link is: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3009192236941677661 and is also on the attached outline.

CEUs will only be available for the live webinar on the above date. 

 

Recent Advances in Organic Pest Management of Spotted-wing Drosophila

Join Spotted-wing Drosophila organic pest management team members for a webinar on the recent advances in managing Spotted-wing Drosophila in organic fruit. This webinar will focus on recent efforts to release the classical biological control agent Ganaspis brasiliensis at organic sites nationwide with information from Dr. Jana Lee (USDA ARS), Dr. Kent Daane (UC Berkeley), Dr. Philip Fanning (UMaine) and more

Date & Time:  February 7, 2024 02:00 PM Eastern Time

Register here:  https://oregonstate.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_efBnBYi8QDSzu2NOGopQBg#/registration

 

Southern IPM Hour: Overwintering and Landscape Features Assoc. with Stink Bug Risk and Yield Loss in Corn

Date & Time:  January 31, 2024 01:00 PM in EST

Description

Full ARDP Title: Identifying overwintering and landscape features associated with stink bug risk and yield loss in corn PI: Dominic Reisig, North Carolina State University Brown stink bug, Euschistus servus, is the costliest and most problematic insect pest of corn in the southeastern US, and a major pest of soybean and cotton across the southern US. Some early season hosts, overwintering location, and the association of previous year's soybeans to brown stink bug prevalence in corn are known, but these factors have never been holistically studied to see if they are linked. This study better identifies corn fields at risk for brown stink bug.

Project Goals and accomplishments: 1. Measure stink bug populations in suitable host crops during the autumn where corn will be planted during the spring Soybean fields throughout North Carolina and South Carolina 2. Characterize overwintering habitats based on the categorization of host plants diversity and forest structure Overwintering habitats were characterized for fields 3. Measure brown stink bug colonization into spring corn adjacent to non-crop overwintering habitats and annual crops Stink bug colonization was measured from corn fields. 4. etc

The Southern IPM Hour presents research, issues, and programs in Integrated Pest Management from the Southern Region of the United States.

 

Sharpen Your Scouting Skills Workshop 2024 Webinar (Zoom)

Learn to recognize major pests and diseases of conifers, broadleaf trees and shrubs and

herbaceous perennials

Presenters: Margery Daughtrey: Plant Pathologist, Long Island Horticultural Research and Education

Center, Cornell University

Dan Gilrein: Entomologist, Long Island Horticultural Research and Education Center,

Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County

Karen Snover-Clift: Director, Plant Disease Diagnostic Clinic, Cornell University

Dates/Time: Thursdays, February 8, 15, and 22, 2024; 2-3:45pm via Zoom

 

February 8, 2024 Webinar 1: Scouting Skills for Conifers

Description: The panel will discuss common issues affecting conifers (pine, spruce, juniper, etc.)

commonly used in the landscape, with tips on scouting, recognition, and management strategies.

 

February 15, 2024 Webinar 2: Scouting Skills for Broadleaf Trees & Shrubs

Description: The panel will discuss common issues affecting broadleaf trees and shrubs, with tips

on scouting, recognition, and management strategies.

 

February 22, 2024 Webinar 3: Scouting Skills for Herbaceous Perennials

Description: The panel will discuss common issues affecting herbaceous perennials used in the

landscape, with tips on scouting, recognition, and management strategies.

 

Fee: $150/person early bird rate by January 31, 2024; $200/person after January 31. To register, click

here https://branchingoutwkp.securepayments.cardpointe.com/pay or call Shari Romar at 917-747-2286.

 

IR-4 Project Research Symposium: Food Crops Tuesday

The annual IR-4 Project Research Symposium: Food Crops will be held on Tuesday, April 9, 2024, from 1-4 pm ET. During this virtual event, presenters will share research results from Integrated Solutions and Product Performance trials on food crops. Results from these trials are used to identify potential pest management solutions for specialty crops and to support product registrations. We hope you’ll join us!

An agenda with presentation topics will be available closer to the event. View the 2023 Research Symposium presentations here.

 

International Invasive Species and Climate Change Conference

January 30, 2024 @ 11:00 am – January 31, 2024 @ 3:45 pm CST

Please join us for the INAUGURAL International Invasive Species and Climate Change Conference (IISCCC) organized by the Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Management Network on January 30 and 31, 2024. This conference is VIRTUAL allowing for more international attendance while reducing our carbon footprint.

Registration: FREE

Conference registration is free and features topics including sessions on:

  • New arrivals and emerging invasion pathways
  • Managing invasive species in a changing climate
  • Practitioner success stories
  • Lessons learned from island ecosystems
  • Download the full agenda

Because biological invasions and climate change are global issues that know no boundaries, the IISCCC strives to create space to share research and management practices, expand networks, and promote translational experiences.

REGISTER HERE

AGENDA

 

Biodegradable Plastic Mulch for Specialty Crop Production
Shuresh Ghimere, University of Connecticut
Plant Pathology & Plant-Microbe Biology Section – AgriTech
Tuesday, January 30, 11:20 am – 12:10 pm, A134 Barton Lab & Zoom Passcode: Seminar

From Phytophthora infestans to Phytophthora betacei: the ecological speciation of plant destroyers
Silvia Restrepo, Boyce Thompson Institute
School of Integrative Plant Science
Wednesday, January 31, 12:20 – 1:10 pm, 404 Plant Science & by Zoom

Data Science of Human-Environment Systems for Sustainable Development
Chaun Liao, Global Development
Department of Natural Resources & the Environment
Tuesday, January 30, 3:30 pm – 4:30 pm Fernow Hall G24 or Zoom  

Connect and Collaborate: Climate Action and the Energy Transition in Ithaca, NY
Peter Bardaglio, Tompkins County
Perspectives in Global Development
Wednesday, January 31, 12:20 – 1:10 pm, 175 Waren Hall

Black Plant Scientists: Exhibit Celebration
Mann Library & Center for Research on Programmable Plant Systems
Friday, February 2, 11:00 am – 2:00 pm, Mann Library Lobby

How do we know a soil is healthy, and how does it relate to soil carbon sequestration?
Joseph Amsili, Soil & Crop Sciences
Soil & Crop Sciences Section
Thursday, February 1, 12:20 – 1:10 pm, 135 Emerson & by Zoom

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.

 

Fellowship Opportunities  

ASPB Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships Application

Applications accepted December 11, 2023 - February 12, 2024 (11:59 PM EST)

The American Society of Plant Biologists (ASPB) Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowships (SURF) fund promising undergraduate students so they can conduct research in plant biology during the early part of their college careers. SURF recipients must present their research at ASPB’s annual Plant Biology meeting in the year following the fellowship award.

Award Details - Successful applicants receive a $6,000 summer stipend, membership in ASPB, and $700 (paid to the mentor or institution) for materials and supplies. Each fellowship also provides a stipend to support student travel to Plant Biology 2025, the ASPB annual meeting, to be held July 26-30, 2025, in Milwaukee. These travel funds are sent only to the SURF recipients who 1) register for the meeting (free to student), 2) submit proof of using social media or other outlets to engage the public or peers about the SURF project, and 3) author and submit an abstract (free to student) about their SURF project to present as a poster at the meeting, including at the Undergraduate Poster Session. 

Internship Opportunities     

Boyce Thompson Institute hosts two Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) programs

 

  • The NSF-funded Programmable Plant Systems Research Experiences for Undergraduates is funded through CROPPS, the Center for Research on Programmable Plant Systems, and involves trans-disciplinary research that connects engineering and plant science. This program involves labs and faculty members at both the Boyce Thompson Institute and Cornell University, as well as at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champain, IL campus.
    Click here for more information on the Programmable Plant Systems REU programs. 

 

Research Experiences for Undergraduates in Plant Science at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center

Fostering the next generation of plant scientists is critical to solving some of our planet’s biggest challenges. For ten weeks each summer, students in our Research Experience for Undergraduate (REU) summer internship program are immersed in a rich research environment that lays the foundation for a career in plant science.

Our REU program gives students experience with all aspects of modern scientific research, from design to experimentation to reporting. Faculty mentors and staff provide insight into the personal qualities that make a good researcher, the process and training involved in becoming a scientist, and the broader impact of scientific discovery. The program is made possible through generous support from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

 

Botany and Conservation Biology Research at the Missouri Botanical Garden

Application Deadline - February 28, 2024

Missouri Botanical Garden is pleased to announce the opening of the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program that will provide research opportunities for 10 students, for 10 weeks during the summer of 2024. Students will work on independent mentored projects in plant systematics, conservation biology, and ethnobotany. Participants will have access to the Garden’s herbarium of more than 7 million specimens, an excellent botanical library, rich garden collections, a laboratory facilities for plant anatomy, microscopy, digital imaging, SEM, and DNA analysis, and the Shaw Nature Reserve – a 2,400 acre ecological preserve featuring prairie, forest, glades, wetlands, and 14 miles of hiking trails.

Eligibility

Students must be returning to an undergraduate degree program in the fall following the REU program. If you will be graduating in May or June in the year of the program, you are not eligible. To be eligible you must also be a U.S. Citizen or Permanent Resident.

Employment Opportunities     

Assistant/Associate Extension Educator for Controlled Environment Agriculture

University of Connecticut

This full-time, 11-month appointment for a non-tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant/Associate Extension Educator in CAHNR to collectively advance Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). The successful candidate is expected to develop strong working relationships with producers throughout the state; interact with UConn faculty, state, and federal agency personnel; and develop interdisciplinary extension programs. This is an off-campus, county-based position. Assignment of office location is negotiable in the northwest or northeast part of the state and requires the individual to travel.

Applications close: Jan 31 2024 Eastern Standard Time

 

Part-Time Program Assistant - Pennsylvania IPM (Integrated Pest Management) Program

The Pennsylvania IPM (Integrated Pest Management) Program, based in the Dept. of Entomology at Penn State, seeks a bilingual (English/Spanish) Outreach Specialist to work in urban communities in Philadelphia and beyond to implement IPM programs and maintain and develop relationships with PA IPM partners. The successful applicant will work as part of a team to support and sustain IPM using face-to-face and online activities to teach the public how to control pests (bed bugs, cockroaches, mice, rats, etc.) in structures in urban communities, including single family homes, row houses, schools, commercial buildings, and other settings. The successful applicant will conduct public outreach including attending community and task force meetings, and events such as health and community events. Latinx residents make up over 15% of Philadelphians, and even higher proportions in some collar-counties (e.g., Latinx make up over 23% of Berks residents). This is an important and growing constituency for IPM outreach and adoption, and will be a major focus for this position. Spanish speaking, reading, and writing fluency is required. Additionally, one must be a trusted worker who is respected by the people they serve and able to apply their own unique understanding of the experience, socio-economic needs, language, and/or culture of the communities served.

 

Environmental Horticulture Program Manager

The IR-4 Project seeks an Environmental Horticulture Program Manager to join its Headquarters team based on North Carolina State University’s Centennial Campus.

Reporting to the Executive Director, this role will coordinate research and pesticide (bio-based and chemical) registration activities on non-food, ornamental plant species. This position is aligned with the IR-4 Project mission to facilitate regulatory approval of sustainable pest management technology for specialty crops, including ornamental crops and other environmental horticulture uses. This is a full-time (40 hours per week), EHRA non-faculty position.

Visit our Careers page to learn more about the role and apply.

 

Study Director - IR-4

IR-4 Headquarters, based at North Carolina State University, is seeking a Study Director. The Study Director position will report directly to the IR-4 Associate Director for Regulatory Sciences and National Laboratory Director. This position will be an integral part of the IR-4 Project Headquarters unit, with responsibilities including (but not limited to) study coordination, data package development, spearheading the implementation of new information technology, and leading the research coordinator team. Follow the link below to learn more about this role’s specific duties and qualifications.

View the job posting and apply here!

 

Fire Management Specialist

  • Certified as an NWCG certified Prescribed Fire Burn Boss Type 2 (RXB2) and/or Task Force Leader (TFLD) equivalent with ability to maintain this certification during the duration of employment with the ability to pass moderate (carrying of 25lbs/2 miles in 30 minutes) level work capacity test at a minimum, with the ability to pass arduous (carrying of 45lbs/3 miles in 45 minutes) level work capacity test preferred.
  • Advanced training in NWCG “S” courses and “RX” courses especially RX-301 – Prescribed Fire Implementation; RX 341- Prescribed Fire Plan Preparation; S212 - Wildland Saws; UTV operation qualified and First Aid and CPR at wilderness first responder qualification level preferred.
  • B.S. in ecology, conservation biology, forestry or related natural science major.
  • 7 years of relevant experience with core components including prescribed fire programs.

 

Orchard Manager

The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) seeks to hire a full-time Orchard Manager at its flagship

Meadowview Research Farms in Southwest Virginia. The Orchard Manager will work both

individually and as part of a team on essential land management tree breeding and seed harvest tasks

year-round. Reporting to the Director of Land Management, the ideal Orchard Manager will bring

skills, knowledge and willingness to learn in areas such as vegetation management, safe operation of

heavy agricultural equipment, handling and organization of biological samples, and natural resource

conservation. Knowledge and experience pertaining to plant biology and breeding is a plus. As a staff

member of Meadowview Research Farms, the Orchard Manager will interface professionally with

members of the public, connecting specific tree breeding and land management projects with TACF’s

overall mission.

Position: Orchard Manager

Position Type: Full-time permanent position with a robust benefits package

Position Location: Meadowview Research Farms, Meadowview, VA

Reporting to: Director of Land Management

Salary Recruitment Range (DOE): $21.19-$23.08 per hour - TACF is a living wage employer.

 

Many fantastic job opportunities with open calls for applications related to aquatic work happening in and around SLELO PRISM

  • Aquatic Invasive Species Research and Outreach Specialist (Research Support Specialist II)- Ithaca NYThis position represents a partnership between NYSWRI and the Invasive Species Coordination Section (ISCS) of the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Division of Lands and Forests. The ISCS is responsible for coordinating New York State’s comprehensive approach to all taxa of invasive species and for supporting programs via partnerships with state and federal agencies, academia, conservation organizations, private organizations, and the public. Major efforts include: prevention, early detection, facilitating responses, coordinating control and management projects at large-scales, coordinating and collaborating on research projects, remaining current on invasive species detection and management techniques, exploring active restoration actions. (details attached) A link to the official opportunity here.
  • SUNY Oswego and USGS GLSC : In collaboration with the United States Geological Survey Great Lakes Science Center, SUNY Oswego is hiring three aquatic biologists who will help support ongoing native fish restoration efforts. The three hires are focused on expanding collaborations with our regional partners, the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe (SRMT) and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC), to research topics associated with native fish (e.g., Atlantic salmon and coregonines) restoration efforts. If you know of any potential candidates, please share this information with them. The full job descriptions, which include the links to apply, can be viewed via the linked job titles below:
  • NY iMapInvasives: Two full-time positions open with the Invasive Species/ iMap team at the New York Natural Heritage Program (based out of Albany). Please share with others who may be interested!

iMapInvasives Project Specialist: https://esf.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=170867

iMapInvasives Advanced Data Manager: https://esf.interviewexchange.com/jobofferdetails.jsp?JOBID=170895

Biological Scientists

Department of Agriculture

Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service

USDA/Animal Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS), Biotechnology Regulatory Services is pleased to announce two Senior Biological Scientist positions within our Biotechnology Risk Analysis Programs. The positions are in Riverdale, Maryland, telework eligible, and are at the Federal General Schedule Level of 14. Salary begins at $139,395.

We are seeking bright and energetic applicants who are interested in Biotechnology.

The link for the USAJobs announcement number is https://www.usajobs.gov/job/772069000

Funding Opportunities     

Regional IPM Centers Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) RFA's

New IPM Funding for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Available

The Regional IPM Centers today are releasing three new diversity-focused funding opportunities with a total of about $200,000 available nationally. Specifically, the Centers are offering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility grants, fellowships and mini-grants.

The goal of the Regional IPM Centers' DEIA grants and fellowships are to make diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility both essential and commonplace within the IPM community.

Here are the details:

  • DEIA Grants: $120,000 available with awards up to $20,000 each. Applications will be considered as received, through January 31,2024 or until funds are exhausted.
  • DEIA Fellowships: Up to eight fellowships of up to $6,000 each will be awarded. Individuals eligible to apply should belong to the faculty, staff or student body of an 1890, 1994, HBCU or HSI institution and should be actively involved in integrated pest management or plant health activities. Applications will be considered as received until funds are exhausted.
  • DEIA Mini-Grants: Up to $30,000 available with awards of up to $5,000 each. Applications will be considered as received until funds are exhausted.

For all three programs, the proposed work or grant activities must be completed by September 17, 2024.

There was a Zoom meeting held on November 7, 2023 to answer questions and
provide more information. Recorded link:  https://youtu.be/sdVAKzO2YJs

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your ideas for this grant prior to applying, please
contact DEIA Director, Dr. Katie Hartmann: kh4@iastate.edu.

Learn more and apply

 

Specialty Crop Multi-State Program

Program Purpose

The SCMP supports collaborative multi-state partnerships to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through competitively funded projects The focus is to address regional or national level specialty crop issues, including food safety, plant pests and disease, research, crop-specific projects addressing common issues, and marketing and promotion. Projects must enhance the competitiveness of U.S. or U.S. territory-grown specialty crops in either domestic or foreign markets.

Project Area Types

Multi-state partners must develop projects that bring together teams for solutions to practical problems that cross State boundaries and address the needs of specialty crop growers in the areas of food safety, plant pests and disease, research, crop-specific projects addressing common issues, and marketing and promotion.

All project area types are 3-year projects with funding ranging between $250,000 and $1,000,000. Available Funding Approximately $10 million will be available to fund SCMP projects in FY 2023.

Eligibility

Entities residing in a participating state must apply through their State Department of Agriculture. Entities residing in a participating state are ineligible to apply directly to AMS.

Entities in a non-participating state may apply to AMS directly or choose to contact an adjacent participating state to apply on behalf of the entity.

Non-profits entities must apply directly to AMS.

All applicants must be domestic entities owned, operated, and located within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Applications for Multi-State Partners to Participating States are due December 22, 2023, and for Participating States to AMS on January, 31, 2024.

 

Crop Protection and Pest Management

Crop Protection and Pest Management Competitive Grants Program

The purpose of the Crop Protection and Pest Management program is to address high priority issues related to pests and their management using IPM approaches at the state, regional and national levels. The CPPM program supports projects that will ensure food security and respond effectively to other major societal pest management challenges with comprehensive IPM approaches that are economically viable, ecologically prudent, and safe for human health. The CPPM program addresses IPM challenges for emerging issues and existing priority pest concerns that can be addressed more effectively with new and emerging technologies. The outcomes of the CPPM program are effective, affordable, and environmentally sound IPM practices and strategies needed to maintain agricultural productivity and healthy communities. ?

The technical assistance webinar related to this FY 2024 funding opportunity is now scheduled. Please see details about the webinar, including the registration link, date, and time, via the technical assistance webinar button below. The recording and supporting documents will also be posted to this page after the event.

Closing Date for applications:  February 15, 2024

 

Methyl Bromide Transition Program

The Methyl Bromide Transition Program (MBT) addresses the immediate needs and the costs of transition that have resulted from the phase-out of the pesticide methyl bromide. Methyl bromide has been a pest and disease control tactic critical to pest management systems for decades for soilborne and postharvest pests. The program focuses on integrated commercial-scale research on methyl bromide alternatives and associated extension activity that will foster the adoption of these solutions. Projects should cover a broad range of new methodologies, technologies, systems, and strategies for controlling economically important pests for which methyl bromide has been the only effective pest control option. Research projects must address commodities with critical issues and include a focused economic analysis of the cost of implementing the transition on a commercial scale.

Closing date for applications:  February 13, 2024

Methyl Bromide Transition Program

 

We are pleased to announce the CRISP 2024 Request for Proposals to fund priority invasive species projects in the Catskills region! Priorities for funding include:

  1. Stop emerging invasive species through Early Detection and Rapid Response  Surveys for Tier 1 or Tier 2 Species beyond what is documented in iMapInvasives and EDDMapS and rapid response for Tier 2 Species found through surveys
  2. Raise public awareness of Tier 1 and Tier 2 Species to address introduction pathways and slow the spread of forest pests, pathogens, or species approaching or spreading within the region. A list of CRISP Invasive Species Tiers is available here: https://www.catskillinvasives.com/crisp-tiers 
  3. Improve the scientific understanding of the extent, ecological impact, and effective controls of invasive species in the CRISP region

We have revised the RFP Scorecard and included 10 points for those organizations that have signed the CRISP Cooperation Agreement

Selected projects will be funded up to $25,000 and must be completed in 2024. The deadline for applications is COB on February 9th. Additional information is available here: https://www.catskillinvasives.com/funding 

 

Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative

The Organic Agriculture Research and Extension Initiative (OREI) seeks to solve critical organic agriculture issues, priorities, or problems through the integration of research, education, and extension activities. The purpose of this program is to fund projects that will enhance the ability of producers and processors who have already adopted organic standards to grow and market high quality organic agricultural products. Priority concerns include biological, physical, and social sciences, including economics. The OREI is particularly interested in projects that emphasize research, education and outreach that assist farmers and ranchers with whole farm planning by delivering practical research-based information. Projects should plan to deliver applied production information to producers. Fieldwork must be done on certified organic land or on land in transition to organic certification, as appropriate to project goals and objectives. Refer to the USDA National Organic Program for organic production standards.

The technical assistance webinar related to this FY 2024 funding opportunity is now scheduled. Please see details about the webinar, including the registration link, date, and time, via the technical assistance webinar button below. The recording and supporting documents will also be posted to this page after the event.

Closing Date for Applications:  February 15, 2024

Estimated Total Program Funding: $44,000,000

Apply For Grant   Download RFA    Technical Assistance Webinar

 

Integrated Research, Education, and Extension Competitive Grants Program – Organic Transitions

The overall goal of the Organic Transitions Program (ORG) is to support the development and implementation of research, extension and higher education programs to improve the competitiveness of organic livestock and crop producers, as well as those who are adopting organic practices. NIFA administers the ORG program by determining priorities in U.S. agriculture through Agency stakeholder input processes in consultation with the NAREEEAB. ORG will continue to prioritize environmental services provided by organic farming systems in the area of soil conservation, pollinator health, and climate change mitigation, including greenhouse gases (GHG), as well as the development of educational tools for Cooperative Extension personnel and other agricultural professionals who advise producers on organic practices, and development of cultural practices and other allowable alternatives to substances recommended for removal from the National Organic Program’s National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. It is expected that all projects will integrate research, education and extension activities, as appropriate to project goals, although some projects may be weighted more heavily than others in one or more of these areas. However, all proposals should have activities and impact in research and at least one of the other areas: education and extension.

The technical assistance webinar related to this FY 2024 funding opportunity is now scheduled. Please see details about the webinar, including the registration link, date, and time, via the technical assistance webinar button below. The recording and supporting documents will also be posted to this page after the event.

Closing Date for Applications:  March 7, 2024

Estimated Total Program Funding:  $7,500,000

Apply For Grant   Download RFA    Technical Assistance Webinar

 

The Lower Hudson Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) is now accepting applications for the 2024 calendar year. Approximately $70,000 is expected to be available for management and outreach activities related to invasive species in the Lower Hudson Valley of New York. We expect that most funded projects will range between $2,000 and $20,000. Projects submitted in response to this RFP are subject to review and approval by NYSDEC.

Applicants are asked to follow the general guidelines of the LH PRISM’s current overall strategic plan, which is guided by 6 primary goals and specific objectives within those goals. These guiding goals and objectives can be found here 

 

The Lower Hudson PRISM Steering Committee would especially like to encourage proposals related to (but not limited to) the following for 2024:  

  • Projects that target restoration, recovery and revegetation at sites impacted by invasives species, particularly forest pests and pathogens
  • Projects that link invasive species management activities to protection of rare, threatened or endangered species and restoration of native critical habitat for those species
  • Projects that target high priority aquatic invasive species in inland lakes and waterbodies (note that these aquatic projects must operate independently of the former Aquatic Invasives Strike Force Crew in 2024)
  • Supporting student internships focused on the management of invasive species. Projects which focus on recruiting members of groups underrepresented in the environmental field are encouraged
  • Projects that implement chemical and non-chemical methods for Tier 2 species control and/or biocontrol methods for more established forest pests.

Please refer to New York State Invasive Species Tiers - New York Natural Heritage Program  for most current tiers. Make sure to filter by Lower Hudson PRISM geography for appropriate geography

  • Education and outreach programs to municipal planners, public works, nurseries, town and county parks staff, and/or to those in transportation and utility sectors with messages encouraging detection and ways to mitigate spread
  • Development of updated summary best management practice documents and guides that supplement current inventory on LH PRISM’s website

Applications are due by February 28, 2024 at 9 a.m. For more information, including how to apply, go to https://lhprism.org/apply-projects-or-funding  and scroll down to the "2024 Request for Proposals for LH PRISM Subcontract Projects" section. Note this is separate and distinct from the Request for Control projects section of the webpage.  

Please forward to potential applicants and reach out to us with any questions by emailing us at invasives@nynjtc.org