IPM News and Events Roundup 10/17/2025

IPM News and Events Roundup

A weekly collection of IPM news, webinars, employment, funding opportunities, and more from the Northeastern IPM Center

If you have IPM-related research, events, or other IPM news you would like to have included, please email Jerrie Haines at jlh472@cornell.edu . If you would like to subscribe to the weekly Roundup, please email northeastipm@cornell.edu. Past Roundups are archived on our website.

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.

Connect with the Northeastern IPM Center

Research in the news

Greater noctule bats prey on and consume passerines in flight (science.org)

Editor’s summary

Bats have evolved to be efficient aerial predators for a wide array of prey. Although most people think of them as insectivores, there are bats that eat mammals and amphibians and even birds. Three bat species have been recorded preying on birds, but how and when they do this has been mostly unknown. Stidsholt et al. monitored greater noctule bats in flight and found that individuals track migrating birds using echolocation and consume them on the wing. These observations suggest that these efficient aerial predators have also evolved to prey on migrating birds. —Sacha Vignieri

Prioritizing IPM training needs of North Carolina extension professionals: A Borich model needs assessment Open Access (academic.oup.com)

In the United States, the Cooperative Extension System provides vital Integrated Pest Management (IPM) resources to stakeholders. Improved understanding of the IPM training needs of Extension agents serves as a resource for training development decisions. The purpose of this study was to use a Borich-style needs assessment to determine the IPM training needs of Extension professionals in North Carolina. The results of this study produced a prioritized list of IPM training needs based on 35 different IPM competencies covering six IPM categories: (i) Extension Master Gardener Volunteers, (ii) Prevention, Avoidance, Monitoring, and Suppression, (iii) Pest Identification, (iv) Pesticide Safety, (v) Pesticide Use, and (vi) Pollinators. Extension agent workshops and trainings should prioritize the top IPM training needs found in this study. The development of a new Extension agent onboarding IPM webinar and resource packet is also recommended to provide new Extension agents with baseline IPM technical knowledge.

Customized and rapid observational delimiting surveys for plant pests based on transect data and scouting (biorxiv.org)

We have created a complete, standard methodology for designing customized observation-based delimiting surveys for localized incursions of non-endemic plant pests. We propose using transects customized for the species and situation to do the following:

Collect data for ∼120 detections
Fit an exponential function to the histogram using an extreme values analysis peaks-over-threshold (EVA POT) technique
Calculate a percentile-based boundary distance that accounts for two-dimensional (radial) spread
Use field scouting for verification

Critical habitat thresholds for effective pollinator conservation in agricultural landscapes (science.org)

Editor’s summary

Many species are declining, with lack of adequate habitat being a primary driver. Providing habitats in human-dominated landscapes is essential for maintaining populations and supporting ecosystem functions such as pollination, but habitat protection targets in such landscapes are poorly defined. Bishop et al. developed a framework to assess habitat needs based on the threshold at which populations respond more to increased habitat quality than quantity. They used a meta-analysis to define habitat quantity thresholds, using floral resources as a proxy for habitat quality, for insect pollinators (bumble bees, solitary bees, butterflies, and hoverflies) in agricultural landscapes. Hoverflies had a much lower threshold. This framework could be adapted to guide targets for other taxa. —Bianca Lopez

News

Southern IPM Center – October Newsletter

Upcoming Meetings and Events

Entomological Society of America (ESA) Branch Meetings 2026

Southwestern Branch
? March 29–April 1, 2026
? Amarillo, Texas

Southeastern Branch
? March 8–11, 2026
? Hilton Head, South Carolina

Southern Weed Science Society Annual Meeting

Nashville, Tennessee: January 26-29, 2026
Registration

WNY PRISM’s Fall 2025 Newsletter is here!

What you’ll find inside:

Paddling Ahead of the Problem – discover how early detection plays a vital role in protecting our waterways from invasive species.
Invasive Species Profile – meet the elm zigzag sawfly, a data gap, priority species in our region.
Partner Spotlight – learn about the Niagara River Greenway and their efforts to improve the Niagara River and its surrounding communities.
Look twice! Strengthen your ID skills with tips to distinguish some common (and uncommon) invasive plants from their native lookalikes throughout the fall and winter seasons.

Click here to view or download the Fall 2025 Newsletter!

Naturally Occurring Fungi Could Curb Moose Tick Plague, UVM Entomologists Find (uvm.edu)

Cheryl Sullivan was in the woods one warm October day, flicking yet another tick from her leg, “which felt like the tenth of the day,” she says.

Lyme-disease bearing deer ticks like the ones climbing on Sullivan, a Ph.D. student in UVM’s Entomology Research Lab, were certainly causing problems for humans, she remembers thinking. But a different species – the winter tick – was an even worse scourge for one of the northern woods' most iconic species, the moose, for whom the parasite was an existential threat. A 2018 study published in the Canadian Journal of Zoology found that winter ticks, also known as moose ticks, were the primary cause of an unprecedented 70 percent death rate among moose calves in northern New England over a three-year period.

Unique Egg-Laying Behavior Re-Discovered in Culex Mosquito Species (entomologytoday.org)

In 1975, prolific mosquito systematist Peter F. Mattingly, Ph.D., received an unusual package in the mail. It was sent from his colleague, the entomologist J.N. Belkin, Ph.D., and contained mosquito eggs hastily stuck to a paper strip, along with the female that had laid them. The species was Culex antillummagnorum, an understudied member of the subgenus Micraedes found on islands across the Caribbean.

OSU entomologists work to save beetles important to human and livestock health (agresearch.okstate.edu)

Worldwide, beneficial insects face growing threats from changes to weather patterns, natural ecosystems and the food they eat as well as unintentional exposure to insecticides. These threats have decreased the population and dispersal rate of some species by more than 90%.

When the American burying beetle buries animal carcasses, it returns nutrients to the soil and controls fly populations. The saliva the beetle uses to break down animal carcasses contains unique antibiotic and antifungal properties that could lead to new medications for humans and livestock as the world faces increased antibiotic resistance.

Spotted Lanternfly Management Calendar for Ornamental Growers in the Southeastern U.S. (blogs.clemson.edu)

Dr. Zee Ahmed (Clemson University) and his colleagues—Dr. Shimat Joseph (University of Georgia), Dr. Midhula Gireesh (University of Tennessee), Karla Addesso (Tennessee State University) and Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdivia (Virginia Tech) developed a management calendar to support early detection and proactive control efforts for ornamental growers in the Southeastern U.S. This seasonal framework offers practical guidance to help growers address SLF concerns proactively from late summer 2025 through summer 2026.

Greenhouse Grower to Grower (podbean.com)

IR-4 Executive Director, Jerry Baron, is featured in episode 61 of "Greenhouse Grower to Grower," a podcast by Greenhouse Grower. Tune into the conversation, hosted by Editor Brian Sparks, to hear Jerry's thoughts on the evolution of crop protection products for specialty crops, as well as reflections on his 40-year career with IR-4 and how the organization has grown over time. As Jerry approaches retirement, his perspective is invaluable. We encourage you to listen and share the episode

Poisonous sacs helped toads conquer the world (science.org)

No one is sure exactly when or how the invasion began. But in 2014, when Asian common toads (Duttaphrynus melanostictus) were officially spotted in Madagascar’s largest seaport, scientists immediately sounded the alarm. These invasive amphibians secrete a toxic slime, stored in specialized glands behind their eyes, that could spell death for any native predators that try to eat them—a major threat to Madagascar’s unique biodiversity. Cane toads (Bufo marinus), which can remain toxic long after they’re dead, created a similar problem when they were introduced to Australia in the 1930s.

New York confirms 1st locally acquired case of chikungunya virus in 6 years in US (abcnews.go.com)

The New York State Department of Health has confirmed a case of locally acquired chikungunya on Long Island, marking the first case of the virus reported to be locally acquired in New York and the first locally acquired case to be reported in the United States since 2019.

Slender-billed curlews are officially extinct – here’s why the loss of these migratory birds really matters (theconversation.com)

The slender-billed curlew (Numenius tenuirostris) has been officially declared extinct by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

This is the first-ever recorded global bird extinction from mainland Europe, North Africa, and West Asia. An accolade that no species wants. Yet, sadly, here we are. So how did we get here and what does this tragic extinction mean?

Announcements

Join the Call: Support Smarter, Safer Pest Management (ipminstitute.org)

The IPM Institute of North America has launched a national campaign calling for $100 million in annual federal funding for integrated pest management research and outreach.

They are inviting organizations nationwide to sign a letter to the U.S. Secretaries of Health and Human Services and Agriculture, urging a $100 million annual investment in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) research and implementation.

Why IPM Matters

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a science-based approach that helps farmers manage pests effectively while reducing reliance on chemical pesticides. IPM protects human health, safeguards the environment, and supports farmer productivity and profitability.

Diversify Control Options: IPM incorporates biological, cultural, and mechanical strategies along with chemical tools to improve long-term outcomes and mitigate risks.
Enhance Sustainability: By integrating diverse pest management strategies, IPM promotes long-term ecological balance and resilience.
Support Farmers: IPM provides growers with tools to manage pests effectively, leading to improved productivity and profitability.
Protect Public Health and the Environment: Reduced pesticide use lessens exposure risks to humans and wildlife, contributing to healthier ecosystems.

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.

Become a Northeast SARE Grant Reviewer

We invite YOU to review grant proposals with Northeast SARE!

Northeast SARE is anticipating the possibility of needing a high number of grant reviewers in the fall and winter of 2025-2026. To account for this, we are welcoming in new reviewers!

Northeast SARE compensates eligible reviewers at a rate of $52.93/hour and most review processes are a total commitment of 20-30 hours spread out over a month.

Our only requirements are: 1) experience with sustainable agriculture in the Northeast and 2) access to reliable internet.

While anyone meeting these requirements is encouraged to apply, we are especially seeking people with the following experience:

Ability to review research methodology
Social science
Aquaculture
Entomology/IPM
Agricultural engineering
Mycology/mushrooms
Beekeeping
Agroforestry
Livestock and/or vegetable and/or fruit production

To apply please:

Review this document for more details and

Fill out the form here

Join Northeast SARE’s Administrative Council

Northeast SARE’s Administrative Council is a 23-member governance body that sets program policies for Northeast SARE, participates in the grant review process, and makes final award decisions for all grant programs. AC members include farmers, agency personnel, Extension, nonprofit staff, researchers, industry representatives and others from across the Northeast.

Currently, Northeast SARE is seeking to fill three open seats:

A Beginning Farmer (profit/non-profit/cooperative) producing and distributing for local and regional markets.
A Social Scientist knowledgeable about environmentally efficient agriculture and community development.
An Agricultural geologist/Agrogeologist knowledgeable about one or more of the following fields: 1. soil formation/properties; 2. mineral applications; 3. land management; 4. water resources; and/or 5. environmental management.

For your nomination to move forward, submit a letter describing your interest and summarizing your relevant experience, plus a brief resume. Our process is that the Executive Committee of the AC will review your information and then send your nomination to the AC for a vote. New members will then join us at the summer meeting.

Submit materials here

Webinars, seminars, meetings, and more

Newly featured this issue

New Frontiers: Tips for Proposal Success at Northeast SARE

The Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (SARE) is a national farmer first program funded by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), USDA.

Northeast SARE covers the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states of CT, DE, ME,MA, MD, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, WV, VT and also DC.

As a Federally funded program, there has been a shift in the criteria of what is viewed as fundable. In this webinar, this new frontier will be explored and approaches to scoping projects discussed.

The webinar, hosted by Northeast SARE Regional Director Dr. Teresa Leslie, will take place on October 23 from 11-12 EST. To register, visit: https://northeast.sare.org/NewFrontier

Research and Education Webinar!

Join us for a Research and Education Grant webinar on October 21, 2025 at 10am Central. NCR-SARE intends to record the webinar and post it online. Register for the webinar.

Crop and Pest Management School 2026

The Crop and Pest Management School (CPMS) will be held January 14-15, 2026, at the MSU Billings Strand Union Building and will present accurate information designed to update participants on areas of new and proven agricultural techniques and emphasize sustainable management systems. Participants will learn to recognize the damage caused by pests and to integrate management methods in decision making. Click here for more information and a full agenda!

NE RISCC webinar: Combining storm flood water level and topography to prioritize inter-basin transfer of non-native aquatic species in the United States

Flooded areas can create temporary connections between adjacent drainages and are a relatively understudied pathway for the spread of aquatic invasive species. The Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database’s Flood and Storm Tracker (FaST) maps were developed to help natural resource managers with post-storm aquatic invasive species detection and assessment efforts. As of 2024, 20 FaST maps have been published from hurricanes and flooding events in the United States and territorial islands. The FaST maps provide resource managers with information about new aquatic invasions due to potential flood dispersal that can assist with early detection and rapid response systems. We use publicly available hydrologic and elevation datasets along with stream and wave heights during major storms and floods to infer potential watershed boundary breaches that could be temporary corridors for non-native aquatic species introductions. The FaST maps are published soon after major storms and floods to display where species of interest were reported prior to flood conditions and which neighboring watersheds are now at risk of new introductions by those species due to flooding.

Date & Time

Nov 12, 2025 11:00 AM in EST

Previously featured

Increasing resource conservation through adoption of Integrated Pest Management 595 conservation practice systems

Integrated Pest Management (IPM) has substantial value in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and other NRCS conservation programs to address resource concerns for plant health, water, air and biodiversity resources. This webinar explains the basics of IPM that make it useful in resource conservation efforts. Using practical examples based on real world experiences, presenters describe how NRCS and conservation district staff, land grant scientists, Extension agents, and crop consultants can work together in supporting development and use of 595 pest management conservation systems.

October 23, 2025

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Location: Virtual

2025 Mid-Atlantic Invasive Plant Council Conference

The Mid Atlantic Invasive Plant Council is hosting a conference in Richmond, Virginia on October 20 and 21 at the Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens.

The full agenda is finalized and registration is open. We've arranged a fantastic lineup of speakers from local to federal government and from practitioners and academia.

Information about lodging and registration is here: https://invasivesfree.org/maipc-conference/.

Registration is $150 for General Admission and $75 for Students.

CEU's for pesticide licensure (NJ, PA, DE, Md, DC, VA, and WV), and ISA and SAF credits have been applied for.

Sponsorship opportunities are available and are live on the registration page.

Please direct all questions to info@maipc.org with CONFERENCE in the subject line.

NOFA-NY’s - 44th Annual Winter Conference

NOFA-NY’s Winter Conference convenes hundreds of farmers, food system professionals, educators, advocates, homesteaders, and gardeners who are passionate about advancing organic principles that create better food and farming systems. Please stay tuned for more.

Save the Date: January 9-10 at Purchase College

Submit a Proposal

Nominate a Farmer

Please join UVM Ext NWCS and NECCC

on Wednesdays from October 22, 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. 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

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.

November 20: Autumnal Antagonists: Pests during Fall

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

November 19: Starting Cut Flowers
December 17: Cut Flower Workshops and Events (Fresh and Dried)

Previous webinars can be viewed at: https://www.youtube.com/@ccecutflower/videos

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

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.

November 1: Understanding indoor cockroaches | Invasive tawney field cockroach

December 5: IPM for clothes moths and pantry moths

Employment Opportunities

Newly featured this issue

Assistant Professor – Crop Resilience to Environmental Stress

Stockbridge School of Agriculture, UMass Amherst (Full-time, 9-month, tenure-track |Job no: 528605). The Stockbridge School of Agriculture seeks a tenure-track Assistant Professor to develop a research and teaching program on crop responses and adaptation to environmental stresses (e.g., drought, heat, salinity, pathogens, pollutants). Candidates should integrate molecular biology, physiology, and molecular breeding tools (e.g., CRISPR-Cas, gene pyramiding, association mapping) to enhance crop tolerance and productivity under climate variability. Teaching includes undergraduate and graduate courses in plant biotechnology, crop improvement, or stress physiology. Faculty benefit from state-of-the-art greenhouses, research farms, and collaboration across UMass Amherst. Qualifications: Ph.D. in Crop Sciences, Plant Biology, or related field; research excellence; scholarly productivity; potential for external funding; strong communication skills. Full position details and application link HERE.

Assistant Professor – Plant Health and Plant-Microbe Interactions

Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts Amherst. Full-time, 9-month, tenure-track appointment, Job no: 528621

The Stockbridge School of Agriculture invites applications for a tenure-track Assistant Professor in Plant Health and Plant–Microbe Interactions, starting September 1, 2026. The position focuses on developing innovative, sustainable solutions for managing plant diseases affecting horticultural and specialty crops in Massachusetts and New England.

Candidates should integrate fundamental and applied research (e.g., host resistance, biocontrol, plant–soil–microbe ecology, diagnostics, or precision disease management) using modern molecular, genomic, or computational tools. Collaboration across UMass programs, Extension, and regional stakeholders is expected.

Qualifications: Ph.D. in Plant Pathology, Plant Biology, Horticulture, or related field (by start date), record of research productivity and potential for extramural funding, teaching and mentoring ability at undergraduate and graduate levels.

Full position details and application link available HERE.

Previously featured

IPM Shelter Coordinator, Bureau of Veterinary and Pest Control Services.

The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Division of Environmental Health works to prevent and control illness and injury related to environmental and occupational health risks through outreach, education, surveillance and enforcement.

DUTIES WILL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
- Oversee Integrated Pest Management work in homeless shelters throughout the city.
- Organize and provide educational workshops to Educate homeless shelter staff on best practices in pest control.
- Liaise with the Department of Homeless Services and review inspection reports collected by the Shelter inspection team.
- Participate in the development of written reports summarizing work completed in the Homeless facilities areas.
- Coordinate follow-up in assigned homeless facilities with the Senior Exterminating team and with other City Agencies as needed.
- Supervise and conduct environmental investigations related to rodents and pests' infestations in Homeless facilities & any other applicable city areas for rat infestations or environmental issues conducive to rodent infestation.

IPM Department Manager / Horticulture Pest Management Lead

We are seeking a hands-on IPM Department Manager / Horticulture Pest Management Lead to direct our Integrated Pest Management program. This is a full-time, year-round leadership role where you will oversee chemical control programs, monitor plant health, and manage a talented IPM team.

East Stroudsburg University is hiring a Temporary Public Health Assistant

As the Temporary Public Health Assistant, you will need to think creatively and be comfortable supporting the educational outreach program for Lyme disease and tick prevention. You will be an active member of the Dr. Jane Huffman Wildlife Genetics Institute team and will work closely with the Director to identify or report tick species using geospatial analysis technology and communicating this to the ESU Campus Community. You will thrive in this role if you like combining your public health or biology background and clerical experience skills all while serving as the primary point of contact to assist customers for the department. To be successful in this role, you must be self-motivated, organized, and detail-oriented.

Program Associate, part-time (24 hours/week)

The Cayuga Lake Watershed Network (the Network) seeks a Program Associate to

join our small but mighty team and support our mission of protecting Cayuga Lake and its

watershed. Founded in 1998, the Network advocates for the health of Cayuga Lake and its

watershed in a changing world by building a network of individuals, institutions, and

communities united in the protection of our region’s water resources. We do this through

community engagement, developing researched positions on issues of concern, and

collaborative watershed stewardship activities.

Highlights

-Pay: $25–$29.50/hour (total compensation, includes customizable benefits)
-Based at our Cayuga Nature Center office (some flexibility)
-Great fit for someone passionate about environmental stewardship, community, and collaboration
-Apply today! Open until filled

Postdoctoral Fellow in invasion ecology and biogeography

The New York Botanical Garden is hiring a postdoctoral fellow to work on an NSF-funded project led by Curator Evelyn Beaury. The project focuses on mapping the geography of U.S. plant trade as a driver of biological invasions, using a large dataset of historical and contemporary trade records (https://doi.org/10.1002/ecy.4106) to examine how plant introductions influence species distributions, invasion dynamics, and socioeconomic trade-offs. The research will investigate 1) how spatial and temporal patterns of trade over the past 200 years explains contemporary hotspots of plant invasion, 2) how introduction history informs our fundamental understanding of niche and range dynamics, and 3) how the socioeconomic and cultural benefits of plants in trade compare to the risk of new invasions. Funding includes all research expenses and participation at domestic and international conferences.

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.

Funding Opportunities

Previously featured

Southern IPM Grants

RFA is now open and closes on November 21, 2025 at 5pm Eastern.

Our annual competitive grants program, Southern IPM Grants, regionally address Global Food Security challenges including invasive species, endangered species, pest resistance, and impacts resulting from regulatory actions. We use a competitive process each year to solicit and select projects for funding.

RFA Planning

We recommend reading through the entire RFA before beginning your planning and to give yourself ample time to enter your information into our online grant management system. Any changes to the RFA from last year are in red font.

Notable changes for the 2026 RFA include a new application question about the disclosure of generative AI use, and now at least one letter of stakeholder support is required for all proposals.

Timeline

The RFA for the Southern IPM Grants open in September and close in November of each year, and are awarded on an annual basis (contingent on continued federal funding).

The review panel for Southern IPM Grants sits in mid-January to make decisions regarding the funding of proposals. Applicants will be notified in a timely manner so projects can begin on March 1.

Funding

Categories

Seed Projects
Capstone Projects
Working Groups (New or Continuing)

Amounts

Targeted total funding for all Seed, Capstone, and Working Group projects is $250,000. Most projects are limited to $30,000 although in special circumstances IPM Working Group proposals may qualify for up to $40,000 per proposal.

Southern SARE 2026 Research and Education Grant Call for Pre-proposals Now Open
Southern SARE has released its Call for Pre-proposals for the 2026 Research & Education Grants program.

The release timeline for the 2026 Research & Education Grants Pre-proposal, along with the full proposal invite, has been adjusted. Please make a note of this one-time, modified schedule. Awarded grants under this funding cycle will not be allowed a no-cost extension.

Research & Education Grant pre-proposals focus on sustainable agriculture based on a systems approach to research, which aims to understand how the components of a system interact with each other and function as a whole. Proposed projects must focus on Southern SARE’s program objectives in developing sustainable agriculture systems or moving existing farming systems toward sustainability, as defined by Congress in the 1990 Farm Bill. Applicants specifically should be aware of this definition, as proposals will be reviewed with this legal definition in mind. The central purpose of research proposals is research-based projects with an educational/outreach component involved to share project results. SSARE is looking for systems research pre-proposals of around $400,000, though smaller proposals are also welcomed. Download to follow the guidelines for writing and submitting the grant application. The deadline for submitting pre-proposals is November 21, 2025 at 12 p.m. (noon) EST. If selected, applicants will be invited to submit a full proposal in February 2026. Grants will be announced in August of 2026. Projects begin September 1, 2026.

Invasive Species Grant Program

Approximately $4 million is now available through the fourth round of the Invasive Species Grant Program. This grant program, supported by New York’s Environmental Protection Fund, is designed to advance projects that target aquatic and terrestrial invasive species across the state. Municipalities, academic institutions, and not-for-profits may submit up to two bids for eligible projects in the following categories:

• Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Prevention or Boat Decontamination;

• Terrestrial and Aquatic Invasive Species Rapid Response and Control;

• Terrestrial and Aquatic Invasive Species Research; and

• Restoration and Resiliency of Sites Impacted by Invasive Species.

Grant awards range from a minimum of $11,000 to a maximum of $250,000, with a required 25 percent match. Project locations must be wholly within New York State. Priority will be given to projects that include opportunities for public participation, are on or close to public lands or waterbodies, and include strategies to help ensure long-term success. Multiple bids may not be for the same project or project location.

Bids are due by 3 p.m. on December 17, 2025.

Western IPM Center Grants Open

The 2026 Western IPM Center annual grant program uses a proposal management system that requires information for the proposal body be filled into form fields.

Exceptions are the Application Form, Conflict of Interest and Current and Pending Support forms that are supplied as Microsoft Word documents – project directors should have these filled out and uploaded as PDF files. Electronic signatures are acceptable on the Application Form. If these three forms are not completed in their entirety, the proposal will not receive a review. If you do not have access to the portal to submit your proposal electronically, please contact Matt Baur for assistance (530-750-1271).

Grants available in this RFA include Project Initiation, Work Groups, and Outreach and Implementation. The Planning Documents project type has been moved to a separate RFA that is open all year long. Please see westernipm.org or the newsletter for details.

Proposals are due by 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on Friday, December 5, 2025.

For electronic applications, applicants must register at https://grants.ipmcenters.org

The total amount available this year is approximately $320,000. The maximum award for each project is $40,000. Funding of new projects is contingent on continued funding from U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

If you encounter any problems or have questions please contact Western IPM Center

Grant Panel Manager Jill Schroeder at jischroe1@gmail.com.

Key Dates

November 6: RFA Webinar (2 p.m. Pacific Standard Time)

December 5: Completed application due by 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time

Maine DACF Opens Applications for $3.5 Million in PFAS Research Grants

The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry (DACF) announced today that the Fund to Address PFAS Contamination (PFAS Fund) is accepting research proposals for $3.5 million in Major Grants and Targeted Grants for the study of PFAS in agriculture.

This is the second round of research grant funding offered by the PFAS Fund to support research to help Maine farmers determine their best options for maintaining and enhancing viability despite the presence of PFAS on their property.

Three million has been set aside for Major Grants that will fund multiple projects valued between $100,000 and $500,000 over two years. The priority research topics are:

PFAS in Agricultural Settings: Water, Soil, and Plant Studies
PFAS in Agricultural Settings: Animals and Animal Product Studies
Understanding and Managing PFAS in On-Farm Agricultural Settings and Products?

Another $500,000 has been allocated for Targeted Grants that will fund projects valued up to $100,000 over 18 months. Targeted Grant proposals should focus on research questions specified within the Request for Applications (RFA). The research questions address topics such as management of waste products (e.g., manure) on a farm, safe sources of food for hogs, effective communication strategies, and the extent of PFAS accumulation in pollinators.

U.S.-based public and private institutions of higher education, public and private nonprofit institutions and organizations, state and local governments, and Tribal governments are eligible to apply. All applicants are encouraged to collaborate with Maine-based producers, agricultural service providers, and/or institutions.

Mandatory pre-proposals are due November 10, 2025, and full proposals must be received by February 13, 2026. The full Request for Applications can be found at https://www.maine.gov/dacf/ag/pfas/pfas-fund-research.shtml. Questions can be submitted to PFASFund.DACF@maine.gov.

The Northeast SARE Farmer Grant program is calling for proposals.

The Northeast SARE Farmer Grant program provides funds to farmers to explore innovative concepts in sustainable agriculture conducted through experiments, surveys, prototypes, on-farm demonstrations or other research and education techniques. Farmer Grant projects must:

Be led by a farmer who meets Northeast SARE’s definition of a farm
Collaborate with a technical advisor.
Impact both the farmer Project Leader and other farms in the region.
Explore an innovative practice and/or introduce an existing practice to a new audience of farmers.
Include outreach activities, or sharing of project impacts and results, to farmers beyond the project team and project participants.
Align with proposal criteria

This grant program is open to farmers in the Northeast region.

Approximately $800,000 has been allocated to fund projects
Projects typically range from $5,000 to a maximum of $30,000
Proposals are due no later than 5:00 p.m. EST on December 9, 2025
Projects beginning in March 2026
Must take place in Northeast (Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, West Virginia, Vermont, and Washington, D.C.)
Q&A Sessions are taking place from 12-1 p.m. EST on November 4, 11, 18, 25

2026 Funding Available from the North Central IPM Center

The North Central Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Center has funding available for 2026 Critical Issue research projects, Working Group projects, IPM Partnerships, and IPM Mini-grants.
The Center anticipates awarding 12 to 15 projects with available funds. Each project may receive up to $30,000 for a 12-month period. Note that no end-date extensions will be available for 2026 funding as the Center’s four-year grant cycle comes to an end.
Download the Critical Issue, Working Group, and IPM Partnerships RFA or the IPM Mini-Grants RFA for more details.

The application deadline is Monday, December 1, 2025, at 6 p.m. ET (5 p.m. CT) except for mini-grant proposals, which will be available until funds are depleted.

The North Central Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education Program (NCR-SARE) 2026 Partnership Grant Program Call for Proposals is now available online at: https://northcentral.sare.org/Grants/Apply-for-a-Grant/Partnership-Grant/.
NCR-SARE’s Partnership Grant Program is intended to foster cooperation between agriculture professionals and small groups of farmers and ranchers to catalyze on-farm research, demonstration, and education activities related to sustainable agriculture.
Individual grants are limited to $50,000 total funding request per application is allowed. A total of $1,000,000 is available to fund roughly 20 projects this year.
Deadline
The deadline for Partnership Grant Program proposals is November 20, 2025 by 4pm Central. The call for proposals is online.
NCR-SARE will accept online submissions for the Partnership Grant Program. The call for proposals provides more information about the online submission system.

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