IPM News and Events Roundup 09/12/2025
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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Updated Priorities and Reports - Vegetable IPM Working Group
Updated membership - Vegetable and Small Fruit IPM Working Group
Chagas Disease, an Endemic Disease in the United States
Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi parasites, is considered endemic to 21 countries in the Americas, excluding the United States. However, increasing evidence of T. cruzi parasites in the United States in triatomine insects, domestic animals, wildlife, and humans challenges that nonendemic label. Several triatomine species are common in the southern United States, where they transmit T. cruzi and invade human dwellings. Wildlife, captive animals, and companion animals, especially dogs, are commonly infected with T. cruzi parasites in this region and serve as reservoirs. Autochthonous human cases have been reported in 8 states, most notably in Texas. Labeling the United States as non–Chagas disease–endemic perpetuates low awareness and underreporting. Classification of Chagas disease as endemic, in particular as hypoendemic, to the United States could improve surveillance, research, and public health responses. Acknowledging the endemicity of Chagas disease in the United States is crucial for achieving global health goals.
Research in the news
Global use of the Environmental Impact Quotient: A tool to indicate potential pesticide risk (sciencedirect.com)
This manuscript introduces and provides a comprehensive review of the Environmental Impact Quotient (EIQ), a globally adopted Pesticide Risk Indicator (PRI) initially developed by the Cornell IPM program in 1992. It highlights the EIQ’s widespread use due to its simplicity and minimal data requirements, particularly in evaluating IPM strategies and genetically modified crops. The review analyzes 113 studies and website analytics, showing frequent application in crops like corn, cotton, tomato, wheat, and soybeans. While the EIQ aligns well with similar indicators, the manuscript also identifies key limitations, such as asymmetric weighting, limited scoring, and strong correlation with application rate, and discusses recent updates aimed at improving its effectiveness and relevance.
Network for Environment and Weather Applications: An Overview of the Digital Pest Management Decision Support Tool (aetrjournal.org)
The manuscript presents an overview of NEWA, an online decision support system developed by Cornell IPM Program to aid growers in implementing IPM. Since its launch in 1995, NEWA has used real-time weather data from over 1,000 sensors to provide short-term pest and disease risk forecasts for 32 crop models. The platform features automated alerts, quality-controlled data, and customizable tools, supporting precision agriculture and long-term planning. It empowers Extension educators and growers with reliable, data-driven insights for sustainable crop management.
Letting go with the flow: directional abscission of dandelion seeds (royalsocietypublishing.org)
Seed dispersal through wind was historically considered a random process; however, plants can influence their dispersal through non-random seed detachment or abscission. Dandelion seeds facing the wind tend to abscise before those facing downwind, yet the mechanism that supports this has remained unclear. We measured the force needed for abscission in different directions and performed imaging of the detachment process. This revealed an asymmetry in the seed attachment morphology, which results in massive differences in the abscission force needed relative to the direction. We developed a mechanistic model to explain this directional bias and identified morphological factors that determine the properties of seed abscission. This discovery highlights plant adaptations that shape the seed dispersal profile to enhance reproductive success and can be used to improve population dynamic models of wind-dispersed plants.
PhytoPatholoBot: Autonomous Ground Robot for Near-Real-Time Disease Scouting in the Vineyard (onlinelibrary.wiley.com)
The grape and wine industry suffers substantial losses annually due to diseases like downy mildew and grapevine leafroll-associated virus 3. Effective control of these diseases hinges on precise and timely diagnosis, which is often hindered by the shortage of highly skilled disease scouts. This highlights the urgent need for alternative, scalable solutions. We introduce PhytoPatholoBot (PPB), a fully autonomous ground robot equipped with a custom imaging system and onboard analysis pipeline for near-real-time disease detection and severity quantification, enabling rapid disease assessments in vineyards. The imaging system uses active illumination to enhance image quality and consistency, addressing a key challenge in ensuring the generalizability of analysis models. The analysis pipeline incorporates a disease mapping near-real-time model, a custom segmentation model designed for deployment on low-power edge computing devices, allowing near-real-time inference. PPB was deployed in both research and commercial vineyards for field-based disease scouting. Experimental results demonstrated that its disease detection and severity quantification performance was comparable to those of experienced human scouts and advanced offline computer vision models, while maintaining high computational efficiency and low-power consumption suited to field robots. PPB's ability to map disease progression over the growing season and manage multiple disease types in previously unseen vineyards highlights its potential to advance agricultural research and improve vineyard disease management practices.
Microscopic robots navigate ‘artificial spacetimes’ (science.org)
Now, researchers have devised a way to help a tiny robot navigate without any communications or computational electronics at all, and they have drawn inspiration from an unlikely source: general relativity, or Albert Einstein’s theory of gravity. Using the math of general relativity, researchers can design light patterns that guide a robot, as if it were a spacecraft bending through curved space toward a black hole. Thanks to this so-called “artificial spacetime,” the robot can avoid obstacles and reach a target in a simple 2D maze.
Updated Seed Treatment Stewardship Guide Offers Stakeholders Best Practices (morningagclips.com)
The American Seed Trade Association (ASTA) and CropLife America (CLA) announce the release of the updated Guide to Seed Treatment Stewardship. The guide, launched in partnership with the Agricultural Retailers Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation, the American Soybean Association, the National Corn Growers Association, and the National Cotton Council, is an educational tool for farmers, retailers, applicators, and other stakeholders in the handling of treated seed.
Rare Chestnut Bee Discovered at SUNY ESF Orchard (esf.edu)
A rare bee species native to New York state was discovered in Syracuse at a SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry (ESF) research station in July.
ESF pollinator ecologist Molly Jacobson collected two specimens of Andrena rehni, also known as the chestnut mining bee, from native American chestnut trees—marking the first confirmed sighting of the species in Central New York and only the second known population in the state.
The bee, a solitary ground-nesting species, is a pollen specialist that relies exclusively on chestnut and chinquapin flowers. Its survival is closely tied to the presence of these trees, which were decimated by chestnut blight in the early 1900s. Andrena rehni was last recorded in southern New York in 1904, prompting the New York Natural Heritage Program to list the bee as ‘possibly extirpated’ in their 2022 Empire State Native Pollinator Survey assessment.
Switch On, Switch Off: The Dynamic Defense of a Deadly Plant Disease (btiscience.org)
The notorious pathogen that caused the Irish Potato Famine in the 1840s is still a major threat to potato and tomato crops worldwide. This oomycete water mold, Phytophthora infestans, can devastate entire fields, posing a constant threat to global food security. For decades, farmers have relied on fungicides like mefenoxam to manage the disease. But P. infestans is a cunning adversary.
Rare Ball-Nosed Planthopper Rediscovered by Entomologists in Iowa (entomologytoday.org)
Maybe it can’t top tall buildings in a single bound, but there’s a tiny, exceedingly rare planthopper with a leap so prodigious it can make its case as the Superman of the insect world. A male of a species dubbed the “ball-nosed planthopper” was observed by Iowa State University scientists covering 35 inches in a single leap, 250 times its length, which is only about the equivalent of the thickness of two stacked pennies.
Digging deep to help farmers (bbc.com)
A new farming method is having a dramatic effect on maize crops in Malawi. And assistance is coming from a solar-powered tractor. In the last of her visits to Malawi, Myra goes to a village where they are using a new method called Deep Bed Farming. It’s more than doubled the yield of some of the farmers and improved their standards of living. The method involves digging deep into the hard earth. This can be tough work but a new solar-powered tractor designed in the UK called Aftrak is helping the farmers. Malawi has been hit hard by the changing climate and often struggles to feed its population. So making it more food secure could improve the lives of millions.
Pest Talks (growertalks.com)
What the ... ?
Two-Spot Cotton Leafhopper
- Identification
- Biology
- Monitoring
- Management
Potato Leafhopper
Spider-Killing Fungus
Participation Requested
Newly featured this issue
Cornell Crop and Pest Management Guidelines Reimaging project
Cornell IPM is inviting you to share your feedback on how to improve the Crop and Pest Management Guidelines.
Cornell IPM is partnering with Illume Projects on this project and there are two ways you can help us:
- Interviews: Illume is in the process of scheduling brief interviews to gather input from users of the Cornell Crop and Pest Management Guidelines and would appreciate speaking with you. If you use the Guidelines and would like to participate in an interview or survey, please complete this brief form so Illume can reach you. CLICK FOR FORM
- Referrals: Illume is seeking referrals to others you know outside CCE who use the Guidelines (growers, consultants, industry reps, advisors, etc.) to also participate in interviews or a survey. Please provide any referrals through the form link above.
Consultants Kelly White and Sheila Squier from Illume Projects will follow up with more information to confirm details.
We look forward to your input on the Guidelines. We value your input and want to hear from you.
Please respond to the FORM by Friday, September 19th.
Webinars, seminars, meetings, and more
Newly featured this issue
IPM Institute of North America’s Tick IPM Working Group, with support from the North Central IPM Center, is excited to announce that the sixth annual Tick Academy will be held virtually via Zoom on October 15 and 16, 2025 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. CDT. The Tick Academy offers participants the opportunity to hear the latest research, explore new tools and strategies and connect with others working to stop the spread of ticks and tick-borne diseases.
The two-day virtual conference features eleven professionals representing a range of organizations and disciplines. Speakers will share new developments and research in the field of ticks, followed by interactive live Q&A sessions. This year’s event offers free registration for students along with a virtual student-poster presentation and an online sponsor trade show each day! For more information and to register, visit: https://ipminstitute.org/services/tick-academy
Please join UVM Ext NWCS and NECCC
on Wednesdays from October 1, 2025 to November 5, 2025, for a webinar series on cover crops, interseeding, and more. Each webinar will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Eastern time. When you pre-register, you will receive a confirmation email that includes the Zoom link information for the webinar.
The dates, topics, and speakers include:
Oct. 1 - Cover crops for forage with Heather Darby, University of Vermont
Oct. 8 - National Cover Crop Variety Testing Network: 2024-2025 Trial Results with Etienne Sutton, MU Center for Regenerative Agriculture
Oct. 15 - Cover crops and pest dynamics with John Tooker, Penn State
Oct. 22 - Cover crop interseeding and drone seeding with Jeff Sanders, University of Vermont, and Heidi Reed, Penn State
Oct. 29 - Cover crops and nutrient dynamics with Charlie White, Penn State
Nov. 5 - Cover crops and soil water dynamics with Daniela Carrijo, Penn State, and Cara Peterson, University of Maryland
Bi-monthly Webinar Series: Turf Management and Field Safety
Thursday, September 18, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Carl Schimenti, Urban Environmental Scientist at Cornell University, helps schools explore the health, environmental, and safety implications and pros and cons of synthetic verses natural turf. Register.
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County, in partnership with Statewide Cornell Cooperative Extension, is offering Seeds to Success: An Ag Education professional development program designed to give agriculture educators from CCE the tools, knowledge, and connections they need to better support farmers with business planning.
Through a mix of in-person sessions, on-farm learning, and interactive Zoom workshops, participants will explore key topics such as workforce development, farm business management, accounting, access to capital, and marketing. The program is open to educators in any role who work with producers and ag businesses, and each cohort is capped at 30 participants to ensure supportive, hands-on experience.
On-Farm Kickoff – Oct. 3 @ Ortensi Farm, Richfield Springs
5 Expert-Led Zoom Sessions – Oct. 10 – Nov. 7 (Fridays, 10 AM–Noon)
Finale & Wrap-Up – Nov. 14 @ CCE Oneida
Sessions feature Sarah Williford (Holistic Management International) and Cornell experts in farm business planning.
Continental breakfast + locally sourced lunch provided at in-person sessions.
Previously featured
Register for EPA’s Webinar on Mitigation Measures to Protect Endangered Species from Pesticides
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will hold a public webinar on September 16, 2025, at 2:00 PM ET to provide information on the ecological runoff/erosion and spray drift mitigation measures that can be used to protect endangered species from pesticides. These measures are part of EPA’s online menu of mitigation measures pesticide users can choose from depending on their crop, region, agronomic practices, and the individual field to protect endangered species. The mitigation menu approach is intended to improve flexibility for pesticide users by providing options that work best for their situation, while still achieving an appropriate level of mitigation.
Urban and Community Webinar Series
Host: UC IPM Program
This monthly webinar series focuses on pest identification, prevention and management around the home, garden and landscape. Dates and topics below, all begin at noon Pacific.
- September 18: When Wildlife Become Pests
- October 16: Tree and Shrub Pests
- November 20: Autumnal Antagonists: Pests during Fall
Seeds of change: Assisting gene flow for climate adaptation Coffee Talk
Join authors Eve Beaury (New York Botanical Garden), Matt Brincka (New York State Parks), Grace Gutierrez (University of Massachusetts Amherst), and Bethany Bradley (University of Massachusetts Amherst) to learn more about the newly published NE RISCC Research to Practice Paper "Seeds of change: Assisting gene flow for climate adaptation". Following a presentation on the conceptual background and a case study, we’ll answer questions and host a facilitated discussion with event participants. Anyone interested in climate adaptation and seed sourcing strategies is welcome to join this free event. This event is co-hosted by the Northeast Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Management Network (NE RISCC) and the Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (NE CASC).
Date: September 25, 2025
Time: 10:00 AM in EST
New York State School Environmental Health Conference 2025
Join us for a full day of learning and networking as we address indoor air quality topics and concerns for schools in New York State. Whether you are school facilities staff, a teacher, administrator, or health professional, this conference is perfect for anyone passionate about school environmental health.
Get ready to engage with expert speakers and connect with others who share your commitment to student and staff well-being. Don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights and resources to enhance the health and resilience of your school community. Learn about the different factors that influence indoor air quality, see how schools across the state have improved their indoor air, and so much more!
Thursday, November 6 · 7:45am - 4pm EST
Best Western Plus Kingston Hotel and Conference Center
503 Washington Avenue Kingston, NY 12401
The Cut Flower Program Work Team has a monthly webinar series with some IPM content. Information is at https://cals.cornell.edu/cornell-cooperative-extension/work-teams/cut-flower-industry/events (You might note that the September date is really September 17 – which I am trying to get fixed).
Previous webinars can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/@ccecutflower/videos
Join us for a guided nature walk at the stunning Salmon River Falls Unique Area in Richland, NY!
- Location:185 Falls Road, Richland, NY,
- Date: Friday, September 26th
- Time: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
We’ll gather in the parking area before heading out on the Upper Falls Trail, a scenic one-mile path along the north side of the river to Dam Road. Along the way, enjoy breathtaking views of the gorge and the iconic 100-foot waterfall.
IPM Network – Measuring Capacity, Framing the Future
Abstract: This presentation highlights the continued need for Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and outlines strategic goals for strengthening the public IPM enterprise. Despite shifts to competitive funding following the 2008 Farm Bill, a national network of 53 state programs and 4 regional centers has been maintained. The focus now is on enhancing collaboration, improving infrastructure, increasing IPM awareness, and expanding involvement beyond traditional pest disciplines. Efforts such as capacity benchmarking and infrastructure surveys aim to identify current assets and opportunities for improvement. By delivering timely, relevant information and investing in education and outreach, the IPM network seeks to protect people and the environment more effectively.
Presenter: Dr. Daren Mueller
September 17, 2025, at 1:00 pm ET (12:00 pm CT)
2025 Invasive Insect Certification Program from UMass Extension
Registration for UMass Extension's Invasive Insect Certification Program is now open.
This six-day webinar series looks at the characteristics of invasive insects, the impacts and costs they have regionally and nationwide, and highlights the biology, ecology, and identification of some of the most disruptive insects. Pesticide and association credits are available. Attendees may choose to attend all 6 webinars to receive certification or mix and match based on their interests and needs. Register by September 19th to attend all six days on Sept. 24, 25, Oct. 8, 9, 22 & 23rd.
Review a detailed agenda to learn more here: https://www.umass.edu/agriculture-food-environment/landscape/events/2025-invasive-insect-certification-program.
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
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
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
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
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.
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
Cornell University, Entomology/CALS
The Department of Entomology at Cornell University is seeking applications for a 9-month, full-time, tenure-track position in the area of Field Crops Entomology. The successful candidate will develop an internationally recognized research and extension program focused on Integrated Pest Management (IPM) of grain and forage crops, including corn (>1 million acres in New York State), alfalfa hay (500,000 acres), soybeans (350,000 acres), wheat (150,000 acres), other small grains, and hemp. We seek a highly collaborative scientist who will build trust and communicate effectively with field crop farmers and other stakeholders and will interact extensively with colleagues at Cornell to achieve its Land Grant mission. In this position, research will focus on novel practices that use biological, chemical, physical, and/or cultural control methods to manage important insect pests affecting field crop growers. Research should combine insights from field trials with other approaches, potentially ranging from lab-based analyses to modeling to landscape-scale observational studies, to devise pest management strategies that enhance productivity while minimizing environmental impacts. Extension will focus on developing an impactful program that addresses the needs of industry stakeholders and promotes the adoption of sustainable practices that will reduce pest risks and improve the profitability and long-term sustainability of field crops in New York State. The candidate is expected to work closely with industry and state partners (i.e. NY Corn and Soybean Grower Association, NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets) to understand and prioritize stakeholder needs.
Open Rank Senior (Asst., Associate, or Full Professor) Invasive Species Economist
The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and the College of Science (COS) at Virginia Tech are inviting applications for a 9-month (academic year) research and teaching position at the (Senior) Assistant, Associate, or Full Professor level in applied economics with a focus on invasive and other harmful species. This broadly encompasses any species that pose threats to terrestrial and / or aquatic ecosystems, impact markets, economic decision-making and outcomes. The academic home for this position will be either the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics (in CALS), or the Department of Economics (in COS). The position also carries expectations for funding summer activities through external grants, teaching, or other mechanisms. The successful candidate will have proficiency in theoretical, analytical, and quantitative tools and methods to tackle complex problems as part of a campus-wide invasive species cluster hire. This position requires occasional travel to attend conferences and meetings.
Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences
University of Maryland Extension (UME) seeks candidates for a 12-month tenure-track Extension Educator in the Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) program. FCS program promotes healthy and economically prosperous Maryland residents at every stage of life through education, research, and outreach programs. The Extension Educator will design, teach, implement, and evaluate interdisciplinary educational programs using research-based information for youth and adult audiences. FCS Programs will focus on improving the health and economic prosperity of residents and communities in Maryland. Specifically, this position will provide leadership and delivery of educational programming related to financial wellness, public housing affordability and eviction prevention and other areas of FCS. The FCS program includes consumer financial education, financial wellness, health literacy, mental health, and other relevant topics. This position will also create and facilitate community partnerships with local and state agencies, nonprofit organizations, school systems, businesses, and others that support extension programs and policy, as well as systems and environmental approaches. The position will conduct applied research and publish results that support the educational program. In carrying out these duties, the educator is responsible to the FCS Program Leader for programmatic leadership. For administrative matters, the individual is responsible to their respective Area or County Extension Director. The Extension Educator will be a faculty member on track for tenure and promotion to a higher rank in accordance with University policy and UME tenure guidelines within a defined timeframe.
Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences
University of Maryland Extension (UME) seeks candidates for a 12-month tenure-track Extension Educator in the Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS) program. The FCS program promotes healthy and economically prosperous Maryland residents at every stage of life through education, research, and outreach programs. The Extension Educator will design, teach, implement, and evaluate interdisciplinary educational programs using research-based information for youth and adult audiences. FCS Programs will focus on improving the health and economic prosperity of residents and communities in Maryland. Specifically, this position will provide leadership and delivery of educational programming related to nutrition education, chronic disease prevention and management, and other areas of FCS. The FCS program includes physical activity, healthy food preparation, consumer food safety and preservation, financial wellness, health literacy, mental health, and other relevant topics. This position will also create and facilitate community partnerships with local and state agencies, nonprofit organizations, school systems, healthcare providers, businesses, and other entities that support extension programs and policies, as well as systems and environmental approaches. The position will conduct applied research and publish results that support the educational program. In carrying out these duties, the educator is responsible to the FCS Program Leader for programmatic leadership. For administrative matters, the individual is responsible to their respective Area or County Extension Director. The Extension Educator will be a faculty member on track for tenure and promotion to a higher rank in accordance with University policy and UME tenure guidelines within a defined timeframe.
Extension Educator, 4-H Youth Development
University of Maryland Extension (UME) is seeking an Extension Educator responsible for organizing, developing, implementing and evaluating educational programs for youth, families and communities. The Educator would work with volunteers and youth development agencies to provide experiential learning opportunities for youth, leading to the development of life skills for youth. The educator is also responsible for developing an active, ongoing recruitment campaign to involve new volunteers and youth. As a tenure-track faculty member, the Educator will be responsible for providing leadership to develop focused youth development programs in cooperation with colleagues across the county and Lower Shore Maryland cluster. The faculty member will be on track for tenure and promotion to a higher rank in accordance with University policy and UME tenure guidelines within a timeframe defined.
Administrative Assistant - Owego, NY
This position will serve as the Administrative Assistant for the Workforce Program at Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Tioga County and, under the oversight of the Association Youth Workforce Development Educator, will provide administrative support, confidential data entry, communications, document control, coordinating client appointments, and voucher submissions. Under the direction of the Executive Director, this position will organize and maintain all office files, order and maintain office supplies, answer the phone, take messages and greet the public.
Previously featured
WNY PRISM is currently seeking a new Terrestrial Invasive Species Program Manager to join our team!
The Terrestrial Invasive Species Program Manager (Program Manager) will be responsible for the coordination and further development of WNY PRISM’s terrestrial and early detection species management efforts, which involves a broad, and challenging scope of work. Primary responsibilities will include coordination of field operations such as invasive species surveys, site assessments, removal and habitat restoration, ensuring project data is both complete and accurate, coordinating regional collaborative efforts, and communicating WNY PRISM information through meetings, workshops and additional outreach activities. Core programs include WNY PRISM’s Crew Assistance Program, where WNY PRISM assists partners with various management activities, and WNY PRISM’s Early Detection and Response Program, which has WNY PRISM leading regional efforts to survey, monitor and remove priority early detection species. The Program Manager will produce program reports, manage and analyze data, manage stewardship equipment and inventory, and ensure all necessary permits, permissions and insurance documents are in place for stewardship activities. The Program Manager will also hire, train and supervise a Field Crew Leader and the WNY PRISM Crew.
For more information, to view the full job description, and to apply, please visit: https://www.wnyprism.org/about/job-opportunities/.
This is a full-time position located in Buffalo, NY. The deadline for applications is Friday, September 26, 2025. Please follow all applications instructions, failure to do so may disqualify you from the position.
Questions about this position may be directed to Andrea Locke, WNY PRISM Coordinator, lockeas@buffalostate.edu. No phone calls, please.
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.
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.
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.
Funding Opportunities
The Finger Lakes PRISM (Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management) and Finger Lakes Institute at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, has officially released its 2025 Request for Bids (RFB) for pesticide control of hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae). See details below.
Request for Bids: Pesticide control of Adelges tsugae in the Finger Lakes Region.
Download here: HWA RFB 2025
Release Date: Monday, August 25, 2025
Due date and time: Friday, September 12, 2025 at 5:00 PM
- Project Title
Pesticide control of Adelges tsugae in the Finger Lakes Region.
- Project Description
In fall 2025, the certified commercial pesticide applicator will perform pesticide treatment of Adelges tsugae in Watkins Glen State Park (~106 acres).
- Project Term
Start September 14, 2025, End November 14, 2025
Details of the Request for Bids is available on the Finger Lakes PRISM website.
For more information and any questions, please contact Sam Beck-Andersen at BECK-ANDERSEN@hws.edu
Agriculture and Food Research Initiative - Foundational and Applied Science Program
The AFRI Foundational and Applied Science Program supports grants in six AFRI priority areas to advance knowledge in both fundamental and applied sciences important to agriculture.
The six priority areas are:
- Plant Health and Production and Plant Products
- Animal Health and Production and Animal Products
- Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health
- Bioenergy, Natural Resources, and Environment
- Agriculture Systems and Technology
- Agriculture Economics and Rural Communities.
Research-only, extension-only, and integrated research, education and/or extension projects are solicited in this Request for Applications (RFA). See Foundational and Applied Science RFA for specific details.
Estimated Total Program Funding
$300,000,000