IPM News and Events Roundup 1/14/2022
A weekly collection of IPM news, webinars, employment and funding opportunities and more from the NE IPM Center. If you have IPM-related research, events or other IPM news you would like to have included, please email me at nec2@cornell.edu. If you would like to subscribe to the weekly Roundup, please email northeastipm@cornell.edu. Past Roundups are archived here.
The Northeastern IPM Center announces it’s Spring 2022 “The IPM Toolbox” webinar series
Tarping in the Northeast” A Guide for Small Farms, March 16, 11am ET
Pesticides: Part of the IPM Toolbox, March 30, 2pmET
Combating Slugs as pests of Soybeans and Corn, April 6, 11amET and
Taking a Closer Look: How Strawberry Diease risk varies with Microclimates at Canopy Level, May 4, 11am
The Northeastern IPM Center Starts a Diversity in IPM Initiative
The Northeastern IPM Center is developing a series of articles, roundtables, and talks about Diversity in IPM in 2022, in alignment with the various diversity-focused months throughout the year (Black, Hispanic, LGBTQ, Disability, Asian Pacific, American Indian, Women). To learn more about our initiative, and what you might be able to do to assist with it, please see our landing page. Please email Jana Hexter with your thoughts, suggestions, or feedback about how to develop this initiative.
The Western Front, newsletter of the Western IPM Center for January is out
Read about grant proposals received, Western Spotted Lanternfly update, and lots more news
Do you work in Extension? Consider taking this survey on the relationship between servant leadership style and job satisfaction. Sounds interesting!
“Hi, Friends! My name is Amy Ressler. I am working on a doctorate degree in Leadership Studies from Our Lady of the Lake University (San Antonio/Houston, Texas). I have worked for Extension for over 28 years (I know, it’s kind of late to be working on another degree... but I felt a calling). Throughout my tenure, I’ve met some really amazing people from across the country in Extension with true hearts for service. I started to wonder if there is a connection between Servant Leadership Style and Job Satisfaction for people who work for Extension. That’s why I am doing this research!”
The Golden State’s citrus industry faced a lethal threat. The solution would herald a new kind of pest control. In the early 1870s, ambitious farmers were cultivating the first seedless navel and sweet Valencia oranges amid the bountiful sunshine of California’s citrus groves. Soon these groves would become the proving grounds for the new science of biological pest control, pitting a rare species of ladybugs against an invading horde of pests in a battle for the future of citrus agriculture in California—and the world.
Avian Flu Case Numbers soar in Europe
To prevent further spread of disease, all sites with infections must kill their birds, resulting in hundreds of thousands of birds culled already this flu season, the Associated Press reports. The UK government implemented an Avian Influenza Prevention Zone on November 2, 2021 requiring domestic bird owners to keep their birds indoors and follow biosecurity measures such as disinfecting equipment and clothing, regularly cleaning housing, and minimizing contact between poultry and wild birds.
EPA Publishes 2021 Dicamba Report and Addresses 2020 Growing Season
On December 21, 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published a report titled “Status of Over-the-Top Dicamba: Summary of 2021 Usage, Incidents and Consequences of Off-Target Movement, and Impacts of Stakeholder-Suggested Mitigations.” The report is published to a “nonrulemaking docket” at Regulations.gov titled “Dicamba for Use on Dicamba-Tolerant Cotton and Soybeans”—an official repository for documents not part of a formal EPA rulemaking process but which impact EPA’s October 2020 five-year product registrations for dicamba-containing products. EPA announced that “[d]espite the control measures implemented in EPA’s October 2020 dicamba registration decision, the 2021 incident reports show little change in number, severity, or geographic extent of dicamba-related incidents when compared to the reports the Agency received before the 2020 control measures were required” and “EPA is reviewing whether over-the-top dicamba can be used in a manner that does not pose unreasonable risks to non-target crops and other plants, or to listed species and their designated critical habitats.” EPA also stated it is “evaluating all its options,” but that any changes “are unlikely to be fully implemented by the 2022 growing season” and that it is “unlikely to approve section 24(c) requests” from states for “special local needs” additional uses under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA). Multiple consolidated appeals to invalidate the October 2020 dicamba registrations remain pending in the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. See ALWR—Feb. 2, 2021, “Dicamba Registration Challenges Consolidated in D.C. Circuit Court.”
A new Snowtography Handbook puts water data into the hands of farmers and ranchers
A new handbook, Snowtography: Snowpack & Soil Moisture Monitoring aims to put snowmelt and soil moisture data directly into the hands of ranchers, small farmers and other stakeholders in the western U.S. The handbook describes the importance of snow monitoring and provides easy-to-understand instruction on how to build and maintain a snow monitoring station using automated trail cameras.
Inculdes links to research update on Iris Yellow Spot on onion; updated RFA application calendar; NIFA webinars and more
Maryland Department of Agriculture launches new Conservation video series
“Our new video series invites viewers to the farm to learn firsthand about conservation projects—both large and small—that Maryland farmers have installed to restore natural resources and make daily farm chores easier,” said Secretary Joe Bartenfelder. “Whether you’re a farmer with a conservation project in mind or someone who is curious about how farmers grow our food, there’s something for everyone in this series of short videos.”
Cornell AgriTech Summer Research Scholars Program accepting applications for Summer 2022
The student interns have the opportunity to work with faculty, their graduate students, postdocs, and staff on research projects that can be laboratory or field-based. Program starts on June 1, 2022 (May 31 travel) and runs through July 29, 2022 (July 30 travel)
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Justice, Belonging (DEIJB):
Who gets to use NASA's James Webb Space Telescope? Astronomers work to fight bias
The James Webb Space Telescope research proposal selection process was carefully designed to reduce the effect of unconscious biases or prejudices by forcing decision-makers to focus on the scientific merit of a proposal rather than who submitted it. The peer reviewed paper: Gender Correlated Systematics in HST Proposal Selection
Cultivating Conservation for Maryland and Delaware’s Small and Historically Underserved Farmers Jan -June, in person, various locations
The University of Maryland Extension and Agriculture Law Education Initiative team, in cooperation with University of Delaware Extension, Maryland and Delaware NRCS, and Soil Conservation District field offices, will deliver education and outreach through classroom and hands-on experiences and tours of conservation offices. The program will provide six hours of classroom instruction and will occur during evenings or weekends. It is free and open to anyone interested in adopting conservation practices on their farm.
Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences 2022 Conference, March 23-26, Jacksonville, FL, in person
This is the largest conference for minorities in agriculture, natural resources, and related science sectors and you do not want to miss it. This year’s conference is the first time in person in 3 years and they are excited to bring you incredible keynote speakers, workshops, networking opportunities and more.
Research:
Out of the Blue: New Nuisance neonative may invade the Gulf of Maine
Climate change has led to significant increases in ocean temperatures in the northeastern United States, which may increase tolerable ranges for many marine species. The blue crab, Callinectes sapidus, is one such species that is potentially shifting northward from its historical northern limit of Cape Cod, Massachusetts. As a result, the blue crab threatens to become an invasive “nuisance neonative”.
Ticks collected in 2021 from 2 New York City parks on Staten Island included adult and immature Gulf Coast ticks, Amblyomma maculatum, over half of which were infected with Rickettsia parkeri. This high rate of R. parkeri infection in a dense urban center is of concern to the medical community, who should be aware of this species' presence and the symptoms of R. parkeri rickettsiosis.
Incrimination of shrews as a reservoir for Powassan virus
The researchers conclude that shrews are a likely reservoir host for deer tick virus and that host bloodmeal analysis can provide direct evidence to incriminate reservoir hosts, thereby promoting our understanding of the ecology of tick-borne infections.
First detected in a New Jersey nursery, it is currently established in 28 states in the United States and has been detected in 13 additional states, 3 Canadian provinces, and at least 3 European nations. Adult beetles feed on over 300 host plant species, including many agricultural commodities such as fruits, field crops, and ornamentals, often causing severe economic damage. We discuss invasion history, ecology, biology, and management options for this invasive pest species in North America.
Webinars, Conferences, Meetings and more:
NOFA-NY Winter Conference, January 18-23, virtual
NOFA-NY’s Winter Conference is one of the largest organic food and farming conferences in the nation – gathering hundreds each year to meet old friends, learn new skills, provide support, and celebrate community. We will miss seeing all of you in person, but we look forward to applying what we learned during last year’s virtual conference to make it an even better experience.
New Year, New Pests, Jan 20, 12noon PT
This webinar will cover why invasive species are a problem, different types of key invasive species in California, and what action you can take to reduce their spread. Presented by Karey Windbiel-Rojas, Associate Director for Urban & Community IPM.
Integrated Rodent Management in Food Service Commercial Properties, January 20, 10am-2pm CT
EPA Region 6 (South Central), in collaboration with EPA’s Center for Integrated Pest Management (IPM), will host a 4-hour webinar about the implementation of integrated rodent management strategies in food service commercial properties, including restaurants, catering facilities, primary and secondary food packaging facilities, and large scale food transportation warehouses. This free webinar will complement EPA’s ongoing series of webinars featuring experts providing educational information and practical strategies for establishing and improving IPM programs.
Life Cycle Assessment in Food and Agriculture, January 25, 12noon CT
Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a method to identify all the inputs and outputs necessary to make a product and quantify the associated environmental and socioeconomic impacts. In its simplest form, the LCA method describes the inputs (e.g. energy, materials, and resources) to a process and all the resulting outputs including the desired product (functional unit), other co- or by-products, and the emissions and losses to the environment.
Pennsylvania Lake Erie Environmental and Invasive Species Forum, January 25, 1-4pm ET
The forum will focus on the impacts of invasive species in the watershed, with a special emphasis on the threat of the invasive carp. Invited speakers from the USGS, the State of Illinois Office of Water Resources, and the Pennsylvania Governor’s Invasive Species Council will come together to talk about invasive carp biology, the $858 million Brandon Road Interbasin Project, and how PA responds to the threat of invasive species. Also, the Great Lakes Commission will provide insight on water use statistics from PA and around the Great Lakes.
Invasive Woody Plant Management - Part 3, Feb 1, 2pmET
Removing invasive woody vegetation from ecosystems can diversify native species and improve habitats for birds and other wildlife. This webinar will discuss cost-effective and sustainable practices for controlling invasive bamboo, black locust, and autumn olive. Specific practices include mechanical controls (i.e., cutting and shredding), biological controls (i.e., beneficial organisms to manage pests), chemical controls (i.e., herbicides), and controlled fire. Presenters will also discuss how to properly identify species to develop integrated pest management strategies specific to their prevention and control. This webinar is a continuation of the webinar series “Invasive Woody Plant Management.” To view the first two webinars, visit: https://www.epa.gov/ipm/previous-webinars-about-integrated-pest-management
New Jersey Agriculture Convention and Trade Show, Feb 8-10, Atlantic City, In person
Plans are being made to offer exceptional educational sessions on a full range of topics such as Organic Production, Soil Health, New Technologies for Ag, New Crops & Innovative Marketing Ideas, Food Safety and Mandatory FSMA Produce Safety, just to mention a few. They will also be offering a session for the Beginner Farmer. Rutgers Cooperative Extension are coordinating these sessions. Pesticide credits will be offered at some of these sessions. The full schedule will be found on the website soon.
New York Farm Show, Feb 24-26, Syracuse, NY
The New York Farm Show is the leading farm show in the Northeast since 1985. The show hosts more than 400 exhibitors displaying the latest in farm equipment, tractors, combines and farm implements; seed and crop protection products; farm supplies and services, dairy and beef production, woodlot and related industry supplies.
Resilient Long Island, an Invasive Species Management Symposium, April 7 8am-6pm, virtual, Poster Request and Save the date
The poster slam will take place at 12pm – 12:30pm, where presenters will have 3 minutes each to provide a "slam" or a sort of elevator pitch of their poster and research. This will be followed by another half hour from 12:35pm – 1pm for poster presenters to have an opportunity to further discuss their poster and research with symposium attendees in their own assigned Zoom rooms. Poster presenters are able to attend the entire conference free of charge.
Employment Opportunities:
Program Manager, Soil Health Institute
The individual selected will report to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and will work closely with the CEO, Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), and Sustainability Specialist to transform ideas, needs, and
opportunities into funded projects for advancing soil health. Once those projects are staffed, they may be managed by the incumbent or by other SHI staff, as appropriate. The individual selected may be housed at SHI headquarters adjacent to Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, or at a remote location, as mutually agreed upon.
Western NY PRISM is hiring multiple positions
There are several seasonal positions open as environmental educator, GIS technician, and more.
Funding Opportunities:
USDA-NIFA Crop Protection and Pest Management Competitive Grans Program RFA is out
The CPPM program supports projects that address these challenges with IPM approaches developed by coordinated state, regional, and national research, and extension efforts. The impact of these research and extension efforts will be increased by the establishment of communication networks and stakeholder participation in setting priorities.
EPA Grants Award Process Webinars, January 26, 2pm ET
EPA invites all grant applicants and grant recipients to attend a Grants Award Process Webinar on Wednesday, January 26, 2022, from 2:00-3:30 pm ET. Hosted by EPA’s Office of Grants and Debarment, this high-level webinar will cover topics related to finding and applying for grants as well as the basics of managing a grant award. Participants will have the option to translate slides into a variety of languages, as well as access live transcripts of the webinar.