IPM News and Events Roundup 02/06/2026
IPM News and Events Roundup
A weekly collection of IPM news, webinars, employment, funding opportunities, and more from the Regional IPM Centers
The Southern IPM Center is teaming up with several NE IPM Center "veterans" to continue delivering programming to the Northeast (see the funding acknowledgement). Watch for emails from Deb Grantham (deborahggrantham@gmail.com) and Jerrie Haines (ipm.communicator@gmail.com). Roger Magarey, co-director of the Southern IPM Center is the primary contact related to this effort.
If you have IPM-related research, events, or other IPM news you would like to have included, please email Jerrie Haines at ipm.communicator@gmail.com. If you would like to subscribe to the weekly Roundup, please email Jerrie at ipm.communicator@gmail.com. Past Roundups are archived on our website.
This work is supported by The Southern IPM Center, Project Award Grant #2022-70006-38002, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture’s Crop Protection and Pest Management (CPPM) Program.
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and should not be construed to represent any official USDA or U.S. government determination or policy.
Connect with the Southern IPM Center
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Southern IPM Center February Newsletter
- Cotton Region Pest Management Strategic Plan Workshop Summary
- Pest Management Strategic Plan Survey for Macadamia
- Pest Management Strategic Plan Workshop for Sugarcane
- Management of Insecticide-Resistant Western Flower Thrips in Fruiting Vegetables Project
- 2026 Friends of IPM Awardee Spotlight - Dr. Muhammad Haseeb
- Latest at Bugwood
- A New Free Tool Calculates the Return on Investment in Smart-Spraying Technology
- IR-4 Events
- Upcoming Webinars
- Upcoming Meetings and Events
Revolutionizing Cotton Breeding to Grow Better Fiber and Boost Farming Success (scientificdiscoveries.ars.usda.gov)
ARS researchers at College Station, TX, and collaborators developed high-quality genome sequences for three American Upland cotton cultivars and the cotton standard genetic reference line. Upland cotton is the most widely grown cotton species, with upland varieties accounting for nearly 95% of the total cotton acreage. The new genome sequences improve cotton by adding superior traits from different types of cotton plants, providing cotton breeders with more options for growing better crops. Scientists also identified genes for cotton fiber development that can improve fiber quality, much needed for today’s cotton processing and products.
Connect with the North Central IPM Center
YouTube | Newsletter | Center Impacts | Pest Alerts | Regional Priorities | IPM Data | Podcasts
Connect with the Western IPM Center
YouTube | Newsletter | Impact Assessment | Priorities | Signature Programs | IPM Data | PMSPs and Crop Profiles
The Western Front February 2026
Newsletter of the Western Integrated Pest Management Center
- New World Screwworm Detections in Mexico
- USDA Shifts Sterile Fly Releases North
- Screwworm Grand Challenge: $100 million Available, 20 Awards Anticipated
New Management Methods Emerge for Walnut Husk Fly (entomologytoday.org)
The walnut husk fly is a yellowish-brown fly with a dark, triangular band on its wings. Though this fly has just one generation per year, adults can emerge across multiple months. Depending on the climate, this period can range from as early as mid-May to as late as October. Due to this prolonged emergence, managing this pest relies on intensive monitoring and well-timed insecticide sprays and often requires multiple applications throughout the season.
Government Agency News
Chlorate; Exemption From the Requirement of a Pesticide Tolerance
This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of chlorate (CAS Reg. No. 7775-09-9) in or on several food commodities. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), TriNova LLC submitted a petition to EPA requesting an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of this pesticide when used in accordance with the terms of the exemption.
PDHP 68949; Exemption From the Requirement of a Tolerance
This regulation establishes an exemption from the requirement of a tolerance for residues of PDHP 68949 in or on all food commodities if used according to the label and good agricultural practices. Plant Health Care, Inc. submitted a petition to the EPA under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), requesting an exemption from the requirement of tolerance. This regulation eliminates the need to establish a maximum permissible level for residues of PDHP 68949 under FFDCA when used in accordance with this exemption.
This document announces the Agency's receipt of and solicits public comment on initial filings of pesticide petitions requesting the establishment or modification of regulations for residues of pesticide chemicals in or on various commodities.
Pesticide Product Registration; Receipt of Applications for New Active Ingredients November 2025
This document announces the Agency's receipt of and solicits comment on applications to register pesticide products containing active ingredients not included in any currently registered pesticide products.
Pesticide Product Registration; Receipt of Applications for New Uses November 2025
This document announces the Agency's receipt of and solicits comment on applications to register new pesticide products containing currently registered active ingredients that would entail a change in use pattern.
EPA Accelerates Crackdown on Toxic and Poisonous Imports in Concert with CBP, Keeping Americans Safe
Assistant Administrator Jeffrey Hall, who oversees the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance (OECA), and his Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator Craig Pritzlaff traveled to southern California to accelerate law enforcement efforts to stop foreigners from profiting off sending poisons and pollution to the United States. Under the Trump administration, EPA is dramatically expanding its imports investigative capacity and enforcement scope beyond the limited efforts of previous years, launching broader investigations that target illegal pesticide and chemical smuggling operations across multiple sectors to safeguard communities, agricultural integrity, and national security. This stepped-up enforcement has led to the blocking of 1,632,602 pounds of illegal pesticide imports at ports across America this year.
USDA APHIS Shifting Sterile Fly Dispersal Efforts
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has announced a significant shift in its sterile fly dispersal strategy aimed at stopping the northward spread of New World Screwworm (NWS). The adjustment moves dispersal operations closer to the U.S.-Mexico border to reinforce protection efforts as cases continue to spread in northern Mexico.
Enhancing Automation for Specialty Crop Production
Specialty crops—such as fruits, vegetables, tree nuts, and nursery plants—are a vital part of U.S. agriculture. Properly designed and implemented automated technologies can play a critical role in improving efficiency across growing, harvesting, and processing operations.
Researchers at Land-grant Universities are collaborating with Extension professionals and industry partners to develop automated systems that optimize specialty crop production.
Research in the news
Artificial light at night extends pollen season and elevates allergen exposure (academic.oup.com)
Artificial light at night (ALAN), a growing environmental stressor in urban ecosystems, disrupts natural light–dark cycles and alters plant phenological events such as leaf-out and flowering. However, the extent to which ALAN influences airborne pollen season timing and exacerbates allergy-related health risks remains largely understudied. This study investigates how ALAN influences the timing and duration of the airborne pollen season across the Northeastern United States from 2012 to 2023 and the consequences of allergenic pollen exposure. Using daily pollen concentrations from the National Allergy Bureau, ALAN data from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite product, and gridded Daymet climate data, we derived three key pollen season metrics: start of season, end of season, and season length, and examined their relationship with environmental conditions.
Lithium metal-mediated electrochemical reduction of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (nature.com)
Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have substantial environmental and health hazards. Unfortunately, current degradation routes require high temperatures or corrosive conditions and/or lead to incomplete defluorination and the generation of shorter alkyl chains. Inspired by the lithium-metal battery literature, here we develop an electrochemical degradation process that leverages reactive metals and highly reducing environments. We show that electrodeposited lithium metal can enable 95% degradation and 94% defluorination of perfluorooctanoic acid to LiF without forming any shorter C2–C6 PFAS as end products. Using computational simulations, we find that electron transfer from lithium to perfluorooctanoic acid leads to rapid C–F bond cleavage, fluoride formation and carbon chain fragmentation.
Oxidizing pollutants can disrupt nestmate recognition in ants (pnas.org)
Ants make up to two-thirds of the biomass of all insects and have efficiently colonized most parts of the world. One reason for their success is likely their social structure. Ants can distinguish nestmates from non-nestmates based on colony-specific cuticular hydrocarbons on their bodies. In the Anthropocene, the amount of oxidant pollutants, such as ozone, in the atmosphere has increased. Here, we demonstrate that even slight increases in ozone levels can degrade some of the ants’ hydrocarbons, thereby negatively impacting nestmate recognition in numerous ant species.
Traps baited with dry ice outperform cloth drags for capturing ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) in 3 widely separated geographic regions (academic.oup.com)
Surveillance is crucial for monitoring tick populations and assessing disease risk. We tested the hypothesis that dry ice-baited traps with a downward-facing sticky surface and traditional drag cloths would be equally effective in capturing ticks in Texas, Oklahoma, and Wisconsin. Experiments ran for 69 to 100 d in the spring-summer of 2023 with three, 60-m-long rows of 4 traps each, spaced 20 m apart, perpendicular to 3, 60-m-long dragging transects with traps spaced 10 m on either side. Traps captured 84.2% of a total of 25,596 ticks, and 64.3% after adjusting the data to equalize the number of person-hours expended for each sampling method. For all 3 life stages of lone star ticks, Amblyomma americanum (L.), traps almost always caught the most ticks per person-hour. For larvae and nymphs of blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis (Say), and adult American dog ticks, Dermacentor variabilis (Say), trapping was either superior or similar to dragging.
News
Federal Impact: New York State Farming and Agriculture (osc.ny.gov)
The agricultural sector is vitally important to New York State, as an economic driver and as the source of resilient local food supply chains. As reported by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Research, in 2022 New York’s 30,650 farms: 1) Contributed close to $3 billion to New York State’s gross domestic product. 2) In addition, farming-related businesses directly supported 163,148 jobs in 2019. 3) In New York’s rural counties, farming can be an especially significant contributor to the regional economy. The federal government affects farming and agriculture through policy, regulation, subsidies, insurance, and other assistance that affects the pricing of commodities, the availability of labor and the profitability of enterprises. Recent federal actions threaten to reduce certain support to farms, curtail the available agricultural workforce, and impact the financial viability of family farms.
Don’t get burned! Always review pesticide labels before application (e-gro.com)
A grower asked me to come out and help diagnose a problem with some plugs. What caused this damage? What was the solution? How could it be avoided in the future? After investigating potential causes, we determined it was phytotoxicity from a pesticide application. But it didn’t have to end like this!
Researchers Track Range, Impact of Non-Native Bee in U.S. (entomologytoday.org)
In the 1940s, 5 million managed honeybee colonies buzzed about the United States. Today, that number has nearly halved. Experts cite various factors, including a declining number of farms coupled with increasing opportunities for off-farm jobs, as well as drops in honey prices and the onset of Varroa mites and other bee health issues in the late 1980s.
Serious side effects dim hopes for the first chikungunya vaccine (science.org)
In March 2025, a chikungunya epidemic was sweeping this French territory in the western Indian Ocean, and 66-year-old company manager Joël Rivière was getting increasingly worried. The widespread viral disease is rarely deadly, but it can cause high fever and crippling joint pains. When Rivière asked his doctor about a vaccine, he learned one existed—but it turned out to have drawbacks.
Field Notes is NCR-SARE's newsletter
Featured stories from this Issue of Field Notes
- Groundwork: A Missouri Farm Family's Transition to Regenerative Practices
- Expanding Perspectives: Paths to Sustainability with Farm Labor
- Battling Herb-Resistant Weeds with Cover Crops
- Tarping for Weed Control Guide: A Low-Till Strategy for Vegetable Growers
- New Bulletin: The Basics of Farm Business Planning
- Soils: A Practical Guide for Organic Farmers and Gardeners
- NCR-SARE Welcomes New Regional Director
- Building Capacity for Forest Farming
- Join us! Review Grants with NCR-SARE
Learn the Latest on Biological Weed Control Methods from the GROW Network (growiwm.org)
When you can’t beat a weed with the usual methods, sometimes you need to hire some natural enemies from Mother Nature to help out.
This idea – of using naturally occurring organisms and weed predators such as insects, diseases, or even livestock – is known as biological weed control, or biocontrol for short. It’s not a new idea, but it is an expanding field. That’s why the GROW network is releasing a newly updated webpage on this form of weed management, authored by Penn State emeritus weed scientist Dr. William Curran.
Survey
Cover Crop Breeding Survey - Your Input Welcome!
The University of Missouri Center for Regenerative Agriculture invites farmers from across the U.S. to complete a short online survey to better understand the types of traits and characteristics producers value most in their cover crops. The results of the survey will directly inform future cover crop breeding and variety testing research — including that of the Cornell-based Cover Crop Breeding Network — as well as outreach efforts, to help meet the needs of farmers across the country.
The survey will take approximately 5 to 15 minutes and is completely voluntary. All types of producers are encouraged to participate, including both those with and without cover crop experience. Survey findings will be shared through presentations, publications in peer-reviewed literature, and farm media outlets. If you have any questions, please contact Etienne Sutton at etiennesutton@missouri.edu.
Follow this link to complete the survey: https://missouri.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8oJnvCLDdrNHiKi
Webinars, seminars, meetings, and more
Newly featured this issue
Insects in a Changing World: Navigating Human-Dominated Ecosystems and Their Challenges
Joan Casanelles Abella, Technical University of Munich
Land-use changes, like agricultural intensification and urbanization, have contributed to the decline of insects, resulting in complex and novel foraging landscapes, which are compounded by changing climates. Insect conservation efforts cannot be limited to natural and semi-natural ecosystems and there is growing interest in improving habitats for insects in human-dominated environments. Historically, research has focused on how land-use change—often measured by plant diversity or landscape heterogeneity—affects the abundance and species richness of specific insect groups, such as pollinators. However, to gain deeper insights into how insects cope with and potentially thrive in human-dominated ecosystems, it is important to examine individual and population-level metrics, particularly those focusing on functional traits that reveal how species respond to these landscapes.
February 25, 2026. 11:15 am - 12:15 pm ET
IPM Essentials: Tools, Tactics, and Techniques
Gain a deeper understanding of integrated pest management (IPM) in this four-part webinar series led by experts at Penn. State University who will share practical strategies for implementing sustainable pest control across diverse settings. Each session explores a key aspect of IPM—from foundational principles and pest monitoring techniques to identifying common pests and applying IPM practices in real-world scenarios.
Registration: https://extension.psu.edu/ipm-essentials-tools-tactics-and-techniques
When: Tuesdays. March 10, 17, 24, and 31, 2026 (12:00 PM-1:15 PM ET)
Registration fee: $20.00
Certified Tree Steward Program 2026
The Tree Steward Program is a comprehensive workshop dealing with arboriculture. Through both classroom learning and outdoor exercises, the participants will learn all about tree biology, identification, pruning, planting, rigging and much more. Personal protection as well as tree protection will be emphasized. DEC and ISA credits approved.
Date: 4/20/26, 4/22/26, 4/24/26, 4/27/26, 4/29/26, 5/1/26
Time: 9am to 3:30pm
Fee: Landscapers and Industry: $1,295, Municipality or County Employee: $1,050
Biting Pests: Understanding Tick Risks for Horses
Ticks pose rising risks to equine health, including Lyme disease and anaplasmosis, making proactive awareness essential. This webinar examines why ticks increasingly target horses, the dangers they present, and effective prevention strategies. Through clear guidance and practical steps, horse owners will learn how to safeguard their animals and reduce tick-related threats.
March 20, 2026
(12:00 PM-1:00 PM ET)
Register By: March 20, 2026
This event is free of charge.
Concrete to Canopy – Greening Cities with Native Species
Join us for a Zoom networking event to learn from and share with fellow practitioners interested in greening urban environments through thoughtful plant selection and regenerative land care, while considering multiple co-benefits. This event will provide a forum to discuss potential ecological, public health and safety, aesthetic, and climate adaptation co-benefits of greening in urban environments and share resources for/from a systems-based approach to achieve them, given a changing climate.
Thursday, February 12, 2026, 10:00-11:15 am Eastern
Register here!
Cooperative Extension’s second Winter Agricultural Webinar Series for farmers launches in February
The University of Rhode Island’s Cooperative Extension is hosting its second annual Winter Agriculture Webinar Series. The series is free and will be offered each Thursday in February from noon to 1 p.m., via Zoom. URI’s Cooperative Extension Winter Agricultural Webinar Series brings together experts from across the country to share knowledge on topics relevant to commercial fruit and vegetable growers. The program is catered to farmers but welcomes backyard gardeners as well.
Feb. 12 – Stefan Gailans and Kate Edwards, On-Farm Research for On-Farm Answers. Gailans is the research director of Practical Farmers of Iowa. He leads a program there empowering farmers to generate and share knowledge through timely, relevant farmer-led research. Edwards operates Wild Woods Farm in Iowa and enjoys sharing about her career path to farming, returning to her family’s heritage from a career in engineering. In the business of vegetable farming since 2010, Edwards now operates a successful CSA (Community-Supported Agriculture).
Feb. 19 – Rebecca Maden, Soil Health in High Tunnels. Since she fell in love with organic farming in high school, Maden has made a career working on farms and worked as a commercial vegetable grower for 25 years. At University of Vermont Cooperative Extension, she helps vegetable farmers with nutrient management and high tunnels, with a focus on working with vegetable growers on soil health management.
Feb. 26 – Lincoln Fishman, Growing Vegetables in Living Mulch. Fishman is director of Momentum Ag in western Massachusetts, which helps farmers “grow knowledge,” by coordinating and funding farmer-led research into climate-smart agricultural techniques and funding farmer-to-farmer adoption of these techniques. Momentum is running trials on cash crop production in perennial clover living mulch.
Previously featured
As part of its 30th anniversary year, Bugwood will host a virtual Bugwood Summit on April 16 at 2:00 p.m. ET. The Summit will highlight recent enhancements across Bugwood Tools, including Bugwood Images, EDDMapS, Wild Spotter, and the Connect platform. Attendees will get a look at how these tools are being refined to improve usability, collaboration, and impact tracking. Registration is now open, and participants are encouraged to save a seat and join the conversation about what’s next for Bugwood. Visit this link
to register.
GrowON webinar: Challenges Associated with Managing Mealybugs in Greenhouse Production
Who: Dr. Raymond Cloyd, Professor, Kansas State University
What: Mealybugs are a challenge to manage in greenhouse production systems. In this webinar, Dr. Raymond Cloyd (Kansas State University) will discuss the biology, behavior, and feeding damage affiliated with mealybugs. He will then address plant protection/pest management strategies, including cultural, physical, insecticidal, and biological that greenhouse producers can implement to keep mealybug populations below plant damaging levels.
When: Wednesday, February 11th, 12-1pm EST (11-12 CST)
Where: on Zoom
CNY Natural History Spring Prophet Competition
Are you a Spring Prophet? Can you predict when these ten species will first appear in Central New York? The CNY Natural History Spring Prophet Competition is a fun, risk-free opportunity to think about the arrival of spring. There is an information form that will be posted that can be found in the "File" section under the group's photo banner.
To participate, enter your predictions on the following Google Form before February 15 at noon. We look forward to your participation!
Webinar Feb 20, 2026 on Sourcing and Distributing Native Seed
Interested in learning how to collect and source wild native plant seed? Join us for Sourcing & Distributing Native Seed: Wild & Commercial, hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County and the Long Island Native Plant Initiative (LINPI). Program highlights include seed biology, wild collection strategies, commercial harvesting, and case studies from leading experts. CEUs available for landscape architects (3.25 HSW) and CNLPs (4). Don’t miss this chance to deepen your knowledge of native seed sourcing!
Date: Friday, February 20, 2026
Time: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM (Zoom)
Fee: $45 (non-refundable)
Quality Assessment of Biological Control Agents
Welcome to the American Floral Endowment's Grow Pro Webinar Series! Throughout this series, our nationally recognized researchers, hosts, and speakers will offer ‘how-to’ advice based on AFE-funded and other research projects to help the industry navigate through these ever-changing growing challenges. The webinar topics are current and offer long-term opportunities for growers to focus on increased profit, greater sustainability, and improved labor efficiency. Each session includes a presentation and interactive Q&A. To see the full series calendar visit endowment.org/GrowPro.
The February 17th session of our series focuses on Quality Assessment of Biological Control Agents. Dr. Raymond Cloyd will provide a brief introduction of biological control and then will focus on the importance of quality assessment associated with biological control agents, such as predatory mites, parasitoids, and entomopathogenic nematodes. Raymond will provide examples of quality assessment based on his research program over the last 5 years.
Date & Time
Feb 17, 2026 01:00 PM EST
The Organic Apple Orchard Academy is a premier virtual event hosted by the IPM Institute of North America and the Organic Fruit Growers Association. This course will benefit anyone interested in learning more about managing a small orchard and will include content on site selection/site prep, orchard design and layout, varieties and rootstock, horticultural practices, marketing and organic approaches to pest management.
The Academy is ideal for any beginning grower, conventional or organic, beginning farm manager or someone on your existing farm staff stepping into a management role. This course requires some basic understanding of growing apples; pre-course reading, homework and handouts are included.
Secure your spot today for just $300—or only $275 for Organic Fruit Growers Association members.
February 9th, 11th, 16th and 18th 2026 | 4:30 PM- 7:30 PM Central Time
UMass Extension Landscape, Nursery and Urban Forestry Program
Climate change is a concern across the Commonwealth. While many communities prepare by discussing improvements to infrastructure and disaster preparedness, managed and natural landscapes will demand attention too. We will highlight some of the manifestations of climate change, plant responses to those changes (trees and shrubs) and the interplay with insects (including pests).
Learn how:
- Insect populations fluctuate in response to climate change.
- Climate change affects the functioning & composition of our forests.
- Urban heat islands and climate change increase urban tree stress & increase pest insect fitness (scale insects).
- To be better prepared to predict and manage insect pest outbreaks caused by warming temperatures.
Insects and Climate Change Education Day
Event date/time: Tue, Feb 24, 2026 : 9:30am - 1:30pm
Event Type: Online
Price: $65, pre-registration required.
Genetic Biocontrol of New World screwworm (NWS) and spotted wing Drosophila (SWD)
Used to suppress the New World screwworm (NWS) in the USA, the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) involves releasing mass-reared, radiation-sterilized insects into a targeted area. Because females that mate with sterile males produce no offspring, the pest population naturally declines.
To maximize efficiency, researchers have developed methods to mass-produce only sterile males for both NWS and the Spotted Wing Drosophila (SWD). This work highlights these advancements and explores future gene drive technologies, which offer even more precise and powerful tools for long-term pest management.
February 18, 2026 at 1:00 pm ET (12:00 pm CT)
Webinars are hosted by the North Central IPM Center and are held virtually the third Wednesday of each month at 1:00 pm Eastern/12:00 pm Central time. These virtual webinars are delivered via Zoom.
Upcoming Topics
- March 18, 2026: Pesticide Risk Tool: Understanding risk and measuring impact
- April 15, 2026: Tick Tech: Predictive Models and Bot-Assisted Management
- May 20, 2026: RNAi for varroa mite management
Welcome to UC IPM's Urban & Community Webinar Series!
Join us at noon on the third Thursday of every month to learn about pest identification, prevention, and management around the home, garden, and landscape. This series is free and open to the public but advance registration is required.
Topics and speakers are subject to change.
February 19, 2026 – Diseases and Disorders in Vegetable Gardens
Garden vegetables can be affected by a variety of diseases and abiotic disorders, ranging from powdery mildew to sun scald. But you need to know what’s wrong with your veggies before you can fix the problem. In this webinar, you’ll learn how to identify diseases and disorders and how to manage them.
March 19, 2026 – The Secret Life of Biopesticides
A simple, practical introduction to biopesticides. Discover what they are, how they’re discovered, and how they work. Then learn where to find them, and when and how to use them effectively in a home garden as part of a sustainable pest management approach.
April 16, 2026 – Spring Cleaning: Where Indoor Pests Could Be Hiding
Are you thinking about spring cleaning and how to tackle that pile of junk in the corner or clean out the pantry? Well, pests indoors aren’t always found where you expect. This webinar will go over the common pantry and indoor pests, and also some weird places you might encounter pests that you may not have noticed.
May 21, 2026 - Test your Pest ID Knowledge
Join us for this fun and interactive session where we will “quiz” attendees on look-alike pests, what’s causing plant damage, good bug vs. bad bug, weed ID, and more.
June 18, 2026 - When Composting Goes Rotten
Decomposition is happening around us all the time. Sometimes, the management of our compost piles gets complicated and we encounter pests and problems that challenge us! Learn the common mishaps to avoid when composting, as well as how to manage pests when they arrive.
Join Cornell Integrated Pest Management at Cornell University for our monthly seminar series designed to increase awareness of new research and techniques that advance Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and its adoption in all types of pest management settings.
Spring 2026 Seminar Schedule
February 25—Insects in a Changing World: Navigating Human-Dominated Ecosystems and Their Challenges Joan Casanelles Abella
March 18—Manure matters: Dung ecology and pasture insect management Bryony Sands
April 22—Bio-Innovation vs. Biological Chaos: CRISPR, AI & RNAi for Vector–Virus Control
Kiran Gadhave
Registration: 2026 IR-4 Project Industry Technology Session
The 2026 Industry Technology Session (ITS) will be held virtually (via Zoom) on Thursday, February 19. We anticipate a schedule of 11:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET, but exact timing is subject to change. This annual event invites companies to introduce their novel pest control technologies, present updates on products already in IR-4 research or share news about previously presented technologies or already known products.
Tree Fruit Scouting—Online Course
Wednesday evenings, February 25–March 25
This course trains tree fruit growers, orchard employees, industry professionals and interested students on the biology, identification and monitoring of major economically significant orchard pests, using an integrated pest management (IPM) approach.
Course Registration Deadline: Wednesday, February 18, 2026
Tree Fruit Scouting—Online Course
New England Regional Milkshed Workshops
Help shape strategies that support agricultural businesses and communities in the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak. Over four sessions (held once a month), participants will identify challenges and possible solutions for New England’s dairy industry. These workshops build on input gathered during the New England Milkshed Community Project meetings held during late 2024 and early 2025. Registration - Please let us know which workshops you plan to attend. Your participation is valued no matter how many workshops you attend. Stipends are available for eligible farmers who attend any or all of the workshops. If you want to request a stipend for attending, please let us know in the questions and comments section.
Date & Time
Feb 11, 2026 @ 01:00 PM
What’s Bugging You First Friday
Each month, experts will share practical information and answer questions on using integrated pest management (IPM) to avoid pest problems and promote a healthy environment where you live, work, learn and play. We’ll end with an IPM Minute, and cover a specific action you can take in the next few days to help you avoid pest problems.
When: Noon until 12:30 p.m. ET on the first Friday of each month.
Register to attend our events live on Zoom. You will receive a Zoom link the week of the event. The 2026 schedule is available below and on the registration form.
February 6: The value of insects | Feeding Friendly Insects: cut stems
March 6: Here come the Jorō spiders! | Lookout for termite swarms
April 3: Mole control | Feeding Friendly Insects: delay garden cleanup
May 1: Jumping worm management | Feeding Friendly Insects: look for seedlings
June 5: Protecting pollinators in urban areas | Say NO! to bug zappers
July 3: Cicadas & cicada-killer wasps | Feeding Friendly Insects: weed management (pre-recorded video only)
August 7: Managing Spotted Lanternfly at Home
September 4: Mosquitoes are still active | Is that a bee?
October 2: Fall clean-up for your flower and vegetable beds | Leaf piles and ticks
November 6: Emerald Ash Borer Biocontrol Update
December 4: Hemlock Wooly Adelgid Biocontrol Update
Employment Opportunities
Newly featured this issue
Join the ESF-NYS OPRHP Watercraft Inspection Steward Program this summer: now hiring 20 Watercraft Inspection Steward / Environmental Educator positions (four are within the WNY PRISM region), and two Lead Boat Steward positions. These are full-time seasonal positions working by the water and making a difference in invasive species spread prevention!
- Watercraft Inspection Stewards (20 positions across the Finger Lakes, WNY region, and Thousand Islands) – excellent experience in data collection, aquatic plant/animal ID, public outreach and fieldwork. Pay is $20.13/hr.
- Lead Boat Stewards (two positions based out of SUNY ESF in Syracuse) – supervisory role, well-suited for recent graduates. Pay is $23.48/hr.
Department of Biological and Environmental Engineering, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), Cortland, New York
As the Temporary Aquatic Invasive Species Strike Team Technician, you will contribute field experience and regional knowledge to monitoring site prioritization effort. Conduct surveys for submerged aquatic vegetation using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV)/underwater drone or snorkeling with a main focus on detection of hydrilla. Assist with general calibration and maintenance of pesticide application equipment and other duties.
Previously featured
Educator II, Sustainable Turf & Landscapes
UMass Extension is excited to be hiring an Extension Educator II for Sustainable Turf & Landscapes to work in UMass Extension’s Commercial Horticulture group. This position will support development and implementation of educational resources and programming and participate in delivery of research-based information to meet stakeholder needs. The sustainability and viability of managed spaces will be central to this role, within a framework of economic, human, and environmental health and enhancement.
This position serves as the chief administrative officer for Cooperative Extension and supports and implements the land-grant mission of The University of Delaware. The individual is responsible for the leadership and statewide coordination of programs including agriculture, horticulture, 4-H, nutrition, consumer food safety, and health and wellness.
Complete listing of the position can be found at https://careers.udel.edu/cw/en-us/job/502610/associate-dean-and-director-cooperative-extension-college-of-agriculture-and-natural-resources. This link also lists the required application materials. Applications submitted by January 31, 2026 will receive priority review,
Any inquiries or nominations can be directed to Greg Shriver, search committee chair, via email at gshriver@udel.edu.
Postdoctoral Associate - Entomology
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) is a pioneer of purpose-driven science and Cornell University’s second largest college. This position requires an experienced scientist to study the ecology of predator prey interactions and how to manipulate insect semiochemicals to protect plants in the Department of Entomology. This person will research biological control, including interactions mediated by a predatory stink bug and the prey itself to develop methods to control Colorado potato beetle. This position will combine field and lab experiments of insect behavior, movement, abundance, non-consumptive effects of predators, and plant induced resistance to investigate grower-friendly application methods that protect plants.
Funding Opportunities
Previously featured
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative:
Strengthening Agricultural Systems
USDA NIFA’s Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) Strengthening Agricultural Systems Notice of Funding Opportunity aims to help transform the U.S. food and agricultural system to increase agricultural production while enhancing farmer prosperity. Achieving this goal will require transdisciplinary approaches to address current and future food and agricultural challenges within the context of the economic viability of farm operations, quality of life for farmers and society as a whole, and the most efficient use of resources.
NIFA is soliciting applications under two Program Area Priorities:
Strengthening Agricultural Systems (A9201)
- New Uses and Expanding Markets for Agriculture and Forestry Products
- Solutions to Pests and Diseases of Plants or Animals
- Combating Food and Diet-Related Chronic Diseases
Artificial Intelligence for K-12 Food and Agricultural Sciences (A9231)
Deadline
Letter of Intent: Feb. 26, 2026
Application:
- March 26, 2026 (A9201)
- April 23, 2026 (A9231)
Anticipated Program Funding
$140,000,000
Farming Community Call for Proposals (CFP) Packet
The Northeast SARE Farming Community Grant applies social science research and education projects that strengthen farming and food systems at the community level. These projects explore innovative approaches to improving the health and sustainability of agricultural communities in the Northeast.
This program supports projects that are grounded in community partnerships and informed by the lived experiences of farmers. It encourages collaboration among farmers, service providers, researchers, and nonprofit organizations to co-create solutions that are responsive to local needs and scalable across the region.
By law, projects that Northeast SARE funds must help improve farming in at least one of the following
ways:
1. Maintain and enhance the quality and productivity of the soil;
2. Conserve soil, water, energy, natural resources, and fish and wildlife habitat;
3. Maintain and enhance the quality of surface and ground water;
4. Protect the health and safety of persons involved in the food and farm system;
5. Promote the wellbeing of animals; and
6. Increase employment opportunities in agriculture.
Grant amount and total allocation.
There is no cap on total grant requests, however, requests typically fall between $50,000 and $250,000. A total of $3,300,000 has been allocated to fund projects this cycle.
Proposal Due Date: Monday, February 23, 2026, 5:00 pm ET
Proposals must be submitted online at: projects.sare.org
Sabbatical Research & Education: Western SARE Sabbatical Grants provide an opportunity for faculty around the world to partner with farmers, ranchers, agricultural professionals, and researchers of the Western U.S. region for conducting research, education, and Extension activities.
Deadline March 5, 2026
Graduate Student Research & Education: This grant program involves full-time graduate students enrolled in an accredited university of Western U.S., their academic advisor and at least one producer implementing projects to address identified needs in sustainable agriculture. Projects must integrate rigorous research and education aiming to advance the three components of sustainable agriculture- environmental, economic, and social.
Deadline March 5, 2026