IPM News and Events Roundup 08/22/2025
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.
This work is supported by The Northeastern IPM Center, project reward Grant #2022-70006-38004, from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
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.
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EPA Releases Documents on Genetically Engineered Mosquitoes for Public Comment and Peer Review
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released its white paper and supporting materials on genetically engineered (GE) mosquitoes for mosquito control. These materials outline considerations for the design of these insects and propose analytical methods for determining the absence of novel proteins in the saliva of GE female mosquitoes. These materials are being released for public comment and peer review by the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) Scientific Advisory Panel (SAP).
This document announces the Agency's receipt of and solicits comment on requests by registrants to voluntarily cancel their pesticide registration of certain products and/or to amend their product registrations to terminate one or more uses. In accordance with the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), EPA provides a periodic notice of receipt addressing requests received by EPA since the last notice of receipt was issued and uses the month and year in the title to help distinguish one document from the other. EPA intends to grant these requests at the close of the comment period for this announcement unless the Agency receives substantive comments during the comment period that would merit further review of the requests, or the request is withdrawn by the registrant. If these requests are granted, EPA will issue an order in the Federal Register cancelling the listed product registrations, after which any sale, distribution, or use of the products listed in this document will only be permitted after the registrations have been cancelled if such sale, distribution, or use is consistent with the terms as described in the final order.
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is announcing the release of the Pesticide App for Label Mitigations (PALM), an easy-to-use, mobile-friendly tool to serve as a one-stop shop that helps farmers and applicators use EPA’s mitigation menu to reduce pesticide exposure to nontarget species from agricultural crop uses. Quickly accessible in the field, at users’ fingertips, PALM will make mitigation information from the final Insecticide Strategy, Herbicide Strategy and other strategies readily available in an intuitive, user-friendly format. This action supports Administrator Zeldin’s Powering the Great American Comeback Initiative Pillar 1: Clean Air, Land and Water for Every American.
EPA has released multiple resources to assist applicators in determining what mitigation options are available to them, including the spray drift and runoff calculators. PALM now saves time for farmers and applicators by combining the functionality of both of these calculators in a mobile-friendly and easy-to-use web interface. This nimble application incorporates information from the Ecological Mitigation Support Document to Support Endangered Species Strategies Version 2.0 (published in April 2025), as well as the Insecticide Strategy and Herbicide Strategy. PALM also provides a useful summary to show how users can calculate their runoff and erosion mitigation points or ecological spray drift buffer reductions and what field characteristics or application parameters are applicable to their individual applications. As an on-the-go solution, the tool will help pesticide users understand available mitigation measures without the need for redundant data entry or any additional software or models.
Research in the news
Performance of novel alternatives to neonicotinoid insecticide seed treatments for managing maggots (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) in large-seeded vegetable crops
Highlights
- Cyantraniliprole and spinosad controlled Delia spp. in snap bean but not dry bean.
- Spinosyns, diamides, and isoxazolines matched neonicotinoids in sweet corn.
- Other pests, risk to non-target organisms, and costs must be considered before adopting non-neonicotinoid seed treatments.
Pesticide drift into field margins threatens bee pollinators and other beneficial insects (academic.oup.com)
Pesticide drift into sensitive habitats is an increasing concern in agricultural landscapes due to negative impacts on non-target animals including wild bees and other beneficial insects. Creating buffer zones between the crop and sensitive habitats has been commonly proposed as a mitigation measure for reducing off-target pesticide deposition. Given prior evidence of significant pesticide deposition in wildflower plantings adjacent to highbush blueberry farms in Michigan, the aim of this study was to determine the buffer zone needed to significantly reduce pesticide deposition in these plantings.
Brain abnormalities seen in children exposed prenatally to widely used pesticide (medicalxpress.com)
A new study reports evidence of a link between prenatal exposure to the widely used insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF) and structural abnormalities in the brain and poorer motor function in New York City children and adolescents.
The findings are the first to demonstrate enduring and widespread molecular, cellular, and metabolic effects in the brain, as well as poorer fine motor control among youth with prenatal exposure to the insecticide.
The scent of a crowd (science.org)
Plants have evolved complex systems to perceive and integrate information about their environment, such as light intensity, nutrient availability, and attacks by pathogens. They also respond to the density of the local plant community, that is, the number of individuals growing per area. However, it remains unknown how density is perceived and translated into a physiological response. On page 698 of this issue, Guo et al. (1) report that linalool, a volatile compound that many plants release into the air, acts at the top of a density signaling cascade. Above a threshold concentration, linalool triggers a chemical response in the root of maize plants (Zea mays). This ultimately leads to alterations to the microbial community in the soil—the microbiome—which has a lasting effect on plant growth and defense. These findings could help develop plants specifically adapted to modern agriculture.
Biochar in the circular bionutrient economy (pnas.org)
The spatiotemporal disconnect between nutrients derived from excreta and food waste on the one hand and nutrients required for crop production on the other has led to global environmental pollution, disproportionate energy demands, loss of nutrients, and therefore dwindling supplies of finite resources. By strategically managing organic residues, a circular bionutrient economy reduces health and environmental impacts [e.g., greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and eutrophication] while sustaining crop production. Here, we examine what role biochar can play in transforming nutrients from residues, specifically excreta, that pose an environmental burden into fertilizer products to grow crops.
News
Urban Wilderness: New Genus of Flea Beetle Discovered in Bustling City Parks
“Discovering an entirely new genus—rather than just a new species—in such a heavily urbanized area was unexpected,” say coauthors Yongying Ruan, Ph.D., of Shenzhen Polytechnic University and Albert Damaška, Ph.D., of Charles University. “These beetles were found right along park trails and pavement edges, areas frequented by visitors yet somehow overlooked by science until now.”
New pesticides provide challenging alternatives to neonicotinoids (news.cornell.edu)
New Cornell research offers alternatives to a class of insecticides that has devastating ecological impacts, especially to pollinators, beneficial insects and aquatic invertebrates. A paper published Aug. 5 in Crop Protection examines a number of alternatives to neonicotinoids (neonics) that might work for farmers who grow large-seeded vegetable crops such as snap bean, dry bean and sweet corn.
Two Passes, One Win: How Herbicide Sequence & Timing Affect Weed Control in Enlist E3 Soybeans (growiwm.org)
When is applying a postemergence herbicide too postemergent? Researchers at the University of Minnesota recently explored this question and uncovered the optimal herbicide timing and sequence to fight waterhemp and common lambsquarters in Enlist E3 soybeans.
They found that an early-postemergence herbicide at the V1 soybean growth stage (when the first trifoliate leaf is fully expanded) is necessary to control at least 80% of waterhemp. Weeds gained the upper hand and were 3 inches taller when researchers waited until the V3 growth stage to spray postemergence herbicides.
Study Finds High Pesticide Drift Into Wildflower Buffer Zones Near Crop Fields (entomologytoday.org)
Pesticides have been linked to population declines in hundreds of wild bee species in the United States, as well as to bumble bee activity in Europe. While efforts like integrated pest management have aimed to reduce pesticide use, pesticide applications have increased worldwide, threatening pollinator populations.
The Crop Science Podcast Show - Dr. Vipan Kumar: Weed Management Focus | Ep. 87
In this episode of The Crop Science Podcast Show, Dr. Vipan Kumar from Cornell University shares his journey in weed science and his work addressing weed management challenges in field crops. He explains the spread of invasive species, such as Palmer amaranth and waterhemp, crop rotation dynamics, and silage-related weed issues. Dr. Kumar also highlights current research on herbicide resistance, integrated management strategies, and new opportunities for growers.
The US plans to build a $750M fly factory in Texas to stop a flesh-eating cattle parasite (apnews.com)
The U.S. plans to build a $750 million factory in southern Texas to breed billions of sterile flies, ramping up its efforts to keep flesh-eating maggots in Mexico from crossing the border and damaging the American cattle industry.
Secretary Brooke Rollins announced Friday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture hopes to be producing and releasing sterile male New World screwworm flies into the wild within a year from the new factory on Moore Air Base outside Edinburg, Texas, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from the border. She also said the USDA plans to deploy $100 million in technology, such as fly traps and lures, and step up border patrols by “tick riders” mounted on horseback and train dogs to sniff out the parasite.
Pest Talks (growertalks.com)
What the ... ?
SLF in SC
BioPhyter Launched
IR-4 Grower Survey
BioControl Conference
AFE Webinar
Leafminer in Mums
Participation Requested
Instructions:
- Record sightings during the month of August.
- Submit a separate report for each flock of turkeys observed, including those without poults.
- Do NOT double count poults as 'Unknown Age/Sex'. Example: if you see 2 hens and 14 poults and no other birds, enter 2 adult hens and 14 poults. Do not enter any for 'Unknown Age/Sex' in this scenario.
- Record the sex for all adults present. Generally, but not always, adult birds will be the same sex in any given flock.
- Make an attempt not to report the same flock multiple times. Numerous duplications will bias the results.
Thanks for your help!
Regional IPM Centers Proposal Reviewer Sign-up
Every year, the four Regional IPM Centers run IPM proposal review panels. There is a need for reviewers with applied experience in IPM or related fields to serve on these panels. This is a great opportunity for an early career professional to learn how the review process works and for more experienced professionals to share their wisdom.
Review panels are typically virtual and meet in January. Reviewers typically serve on panels outside of their own region to avoid Conflicts of Interest. For example, reviewers volunteering from the Southern region may serve in the North Central Region. The review panels are typically a 3-4 hour virtual meeting and panelists are typically asked to review between 6-9 proposals.
If you are interested in being a reviewer on a Regional IPM panel, please fill out the attached form. If you have previously completed this form, you do not need to submit it again. If your expertise aligns with a panel’s needs, you may be contacted. A list of reviewers will be shared with all four regional centers.
Webinars, seminars, meetings, and more
Newly featured this issue
Biocontrol Blitz: Fundamentals for Using Good Bugs in the Greenhouse
UNH and UVM collaborating
In Person! Hands-on!
Six New England Pesticide Applicator recertification credits will be awarded.
Using biocontrols in the greenhouse to help manage common pests of ornamental plants can reduce sprays and increase salability, but it can be challenging to know where to start. Some of us may have dabbled in using biocontrols and were unsatisfied with the results. At this day-long, hands-on workshop, not only will we learn how to use, plan and select biocontrols, but we will leave with a game plan for Spring 2026 that includes numbers, organisms and methods to start (or restart!) your biocontrol program.
October 9, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
DS Cole Growers
251 N. Village Road, Loudon
Cost: $80 per person
Lunch is provided
Learn more, full schedule and registration link: https://extension.unh.edu/event/2025/10/biocontrol-blitz-fundamentals-using-good-bugs-greenhouse
Previously featured
Live Stream: Spend a Little, Save a Lot
On Wednesday, August 27, GrowerTalks will be hosting a live stream on proper application timing of pre-emergence herbicides. Keeping weeds from popping up in the first place can be the most effective tool to reduce pressure and the need to hand pull nuisance plants. Envu sponsored a third-party assessment of the costs and savings of a comprehensive weed control program.
This event includes two expert guests, Janna Beckerman, Ph.D. and Steve Larson. Janna is an ornamentals technical specialist at Envu and part of their Green Services Team and Steve is the Greenhouse and Nursery Specialist. Both bring decades of experience to share from both academic and commercial backgrounds.
Just like weeding, neglecting this opportunity can be costly! The live stream is free and you can register using this link here. We hope to see you at 1 p.m. Eastern, Noon Central on August 27!
2025 New York Invasive Species Expo
The 2025 New York Invasive Species Expo returns to Saratoga Spa State Park as New York’s premier conference on invasive species. Transcending conventional conference formats, the Expo creatively uses the park’s scenic outdoor spaces and historic buildings to offer dynamic, hands-on experiences alongside traditional presentations and posters. Connect with leading resource experts to explore and learn the latest updates and advancements in invasive species management.
September 14 - 16, 2025
Saratoga Spa State Park / Saratoga Springs, NY
CHAINSAW SAFETY, OPERATION AND CUTTING TIPS
This workshop will dive into the parts of the chainsaw that need to be fully operational in order to comply with safety regulations as well as go over necessary PPE, body posture, and cutting tips to enable you to address falling trees, limbing, bucking and cutting in general.
Fee: $140
Wednesday, September 3, 2025, 9:30 AM - 2:30 PM
*RAINDATE: SEPTEMBER 4, 2025
Flyer: Chainsaw Program
Register: Chainsaw Safety, Operation and Cutting Tips
“Best Picks for '26”
Which new flower introductions does Sue Adams recommend? She visits trials at Lucas Greenhouses, Penn State, Pleasant View Gardens and D.S. Cole, conducts her own trial and has worked with S.U.N.Y. Cobleskill to establish a trial at their campus.
September 9, 2025, 7 pm
Meeting id 891 4723 5779 Passcode 741953
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89147235779?pwd=hhJKHo3j64EF279uQr9DUtrbvzmVFw.1
Adam Osgood, Joel Voron and Richard Pollack, three experts and leaders of the MuseumPests community will be presenting a free webinar From Awareness to Action: Advocating for Integrated Pest Management in Cultural Spaces on August 27, 2025 at 1:00-2:00pm ET
Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an important part of protecting collections in cultural institutions. This webinar will provide a brief overview of IPM and focus on how to build support for it within your institution. Attendees will learn which tasks can be handled by staff and when it’s necessary to bring in a pest management professional (PMP). The session will also cover what to expect from a PMP contractor, how to write contracts that reflect your institution’s IPM goals, and how to work with service providers to ensure they deliver effective and collection-safe pest management. This webinar is ideal for anyone looking to start or improve an IPM program with strong institutional backing and contractor support.
Enhance your knowledge of blueberry production by joining our four-part webinar series, featuring leading experts who will share research-based strategies for managing common challenges in blueberry cultivation. Each session will focus on a key topic: disease management with Dr. Bill Cline (September 30), insect management with Dr. Rufus Isaacs (October 7), weed pest management with Dr. Thierry E. Besançon (October 14), and fertility and nutrition with Kathy Demchak (October 21).
Register By: September 29, 2025.
Tuesdays
September 30, 2025, and October 7, 14, & 21, 2025
(1:00 PM-2:00 PM)
See event fee details
Northeast Greenhouse Conference and Expo
Save the Date
2025 Northeast Greenhouse Conference & Expo
November 12 & 13, 2025
Doubletree by Hilton Manchester Downtown Hotel and Expo Center
Join us for the 2025 Maine Rodent Academy in Portland (or virtually!)
Join us for a Rodent Integrated Pest Management (IPM) training (Rodent Academy) led by nationally recognized rodentologist Dr. Bobby Corrigan, hosted by the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. This engaging, credit-approved training takes place August 28–29 in Portland, Maine (virtual option available on August 28) and offers up to 11 Maine pesticide credits (6 credits for virtual attendees). Pre-register at this link to be the first to hear when registration opens. Slots fill up very quickly!
Save the Date!
New York State Agritourism Conference
November 10 and 11, 2025
Saratoga Springs, NY
2025 Webinar Series for Greenhouse, Nursery and Garden Center Professionals.
These monthly webinars address topics of plant health and greenhouse operations and award one New England pesticide applicator recertification credit each.
Monthly, 6:30 – 8:00 PM, $10 each.
Registration and more info: https://extension.unh.edu/blog/2025/01/2025-webinar-series-greenhouse-nursery-garden-center-professionals
August 26 | Ultra low volume sprayers: Are foggers right for you? Calibrating and mixing with Jason Grimmett, Dramm Corporation
September 30 | How to choose pesticides and build effective spray regimens with Jonathan Ebba, UNH
October 28 | How to train employees to water with Jonathan Ebba, UNH
November 25 | A biocontrol starter pack with Jonathan Ebba, UNH
December 16 | In-house root zone testing with Jonathan Ebba, UNH
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 2025 What’s Bugging You First Friday schedule is available on the program’s website, and you can register for multiple events using our registration form.
September 5: Top 5 rodent exclusion tips | Feeding Friendly Insects: Get ready to plant
October 3: Winterize your home orchard | Feeding Friendly Insects: Fall is for planting
November 1: Understanding indoor cockroaches | Invasive tawney field cockroach
December 5: IPM for clothes moths and pantry moths
Newly featured this issue
Invasive Plant Species and Ecosystem Restoration Specialist
Organization: Swamp Yankee Earthcare
Location: Currently based in Westbrook, work to performed throughout Connecticut
Position Type: Part time, up to 40 hours a week (contract dependent)
Position Overview:
We are seeking a motivated and skilled individual to join our team as an Invasive Plant Species and Ecosystem Restoration Specialist. This position plays a crucial role in our efforts to restore native habitats by managing invasive plant species without the use of pesticides. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in invasive species management, native plant species, and/or natural resource management, coupled with a passion for conservation and ecological restoration.
Coastal Mountains Land Trust
The Stewardship Coordinator is responsible for organizing monitoring of Land Trust’s preserves (fee owned) and conservation easements; maintenance of stewardship records; recruitment and engagement of stewardship volunteers; and the overall management of the conservation easement program. The position is highly collaborative, working with a dynamic team of full-time staff, seasonal staff, and volunteers to achieve Land Trust’s goals, and reports to the Stewardship Director.
Previously featured
Research Foundation - Biodiversity Data Researcher (Research Scientist)
The New York Natural Heritage Program (NYNHP) is seeking a Biodiversity Data Researcher to assess the impacts of invasive species on native biodiversity for a short-term, project-based appointment. In collaboration with NYNHP science staff and regional invasive species managers, the Biodiversity Data Researcher will analyze decades of data collected on rare species, significant natural communities, and invasive species in New York State to quantify impacts to biodiversity and provide information to stakeholders that aids in strategic invasive species management decisions.
NYNHP has been documenting conditions of and threats to rare species and significant natural communities across the state for 40 years. NYNHP has also been managing invasive species data from all stakeholders for the state for 15 years. Throughout New York State, there are currently over 17,000 documented locations of rare species and over 350,000 observations of invasive species. An initial spatial analysis of these extensive spatial datasets shows that 28% of documented rare species occurrences are co-located with invasive species observations. However, not all species intersections will be impactful depending on species' biology or site-characteristics.
IR-4 Project Executive Director
The primary function of the North Carolina Agricultural Research Service (NCARS) unit is to develop the knowledge and technology needed to improve productivity, profitability and sustainability of industries in agriculture and the life sciences; develop ways to conserve and improve the state’s natural resources and environment; improve the health, well-being and quality of life of North Carolina’s citizens; and provide the science based research for academic and extension programs.
The IR-4 Project is a national Federal/State partnership research program to assist farmers of fruits, vegetables, nuts, herbs, ornamentals, and other specialty crops by facilitating registration of safe and effective chemical and bio-based pest management products. The IR-4 Project is needed because the crop protection industry focuses their research efforts on major crops such as corn, soybean, and cotton that provide the companies adequate return on their development investment. The IR-4 proactively identifies available and emergent products to provide strategic pest-management tools to enhance profitability and sustainability outcomes for farmers of specialty crops. IR-4 Project Headquarters provides national leadership, coordination and regulatory compliance for the IR-4 Project research activities performed by approx. 125 scientists at over 20 public sector research farms and four analytical laboratories throughout the United States.
Work with a team of innovative researchers and educators to help us conduct applied agricultural research in sustainable pest management. Projects include work on fruit, vegetable, and ornamental crops, as well as insect, plant disease, and weed pests. Work will be done both on research farms in Geneva, and on commercial farms in central and/or western NY (requiring some travel, but no overnight stays). This is a fully in-person position located at Cornell AgriTech in Geneva, NY. Specific tasks may include: helping maintain field trials, measuring field soil data and plant parameters, scouting for insects, entering data, taking pictures, helping with crop harvest, assessing plant quality, and assisting with logistics for educational events (either virtual or in-person). Plant maintenance tasks may include loading and driving supplies to fields in a project assigned pickup truck, mowing with a walk-behind mower, weeding, pruning, and keeping appropriate records of activities and results. You may work with plants that have been treated with pesticides. We will provide all necessary personal protective equipment and training.
4-H Extension Educator II - Mt. Ida (Hybrid Opportunity)
The 4-H Extension Educator for the Norfolk and Suffolk Counties, located at the Mount Ida Campus, will provide programmatic leadership and management for the Massachusetts 4-H Youth Development Programs. Develop and implement educational programs and resources for youth ages 5-18 while providing support and oversight for collaborating with adult volunteers and partner organizations. The Educator is part of a team that coordinates activities, processes and functions with other 4-H educators and administrators across the state.
EIQ and Neonicotinoid Economics Support Specialist
The New York State Integrated Pest Management Program (NYSIPM) at Cornell AgriTech is part of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS). The Program/Extension Aid III will provide support to the improvement of the EIQ, a web-based decision support tool that consolidates potential pesticide risks to farm workers, consumers, and non-target organisms into a single metric. As a critical tool for promoting sustainable pesticide use and mitigating environmental and human health risks, the EIQ requires ongoing maintenance and enhancement. With the availability of new pesticide exposure data, there is a need to refine the calculation methodology to improve its accuracy and applicability. This person will support the expansion and improvement to strengthen the NYSIPM scientific rigor, usability, and impact of the EIQ, ensuring its continued role as a valuable resource for sustainable pesticide management in New York and beyond.