IPM News and Events Roundup 11/14/2025
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.
Connect with the Northeastern IPM Center
Website | YouTube | IPM Insights Newsletter | Impact Statements | Find a Colleague | Northeast Priorities | Annual Reports | IPM Wheels Poster | "The IPM Toolbox" Webinar Series
Northeastern IPM Center News
The Northeastern IPM Center is closing its doors as of November 15, 2025, due to a loss of core funding.
We hope that this is temporary, and for now the Southern IPM Center is providing to the Northeast some of the programming that we have been providing. To start with, they have released a Partnership Grants RFA as of October 31, 2025. Kevin Judd and the SIPMC have been working to move websites to the SIPMC infrastructure where they’ll be maintained for the time being. Listservs will be managed by the SIPMC as well but may come from other emails.
We also hope that some of the other programming from the Northeastern IPM Center will be continued temporarily by the Southern IPM Center. However, there will be hiatus in the IPM Weekly News and Roundup and in other efforts such as the Research Updates and Toolbox Webinars.
The entire team joins in thanking you for your outstanding work and for your collaboration with the Northeastern IPM Center. We have enjoyed and appreciated all the relationships developed over the years.
Northeastern IPM Center Annual Report 2025
Highlights:
- Note from the Director
- Results and Impacts
- Outstanding Achievements in IPM Award
- IPM Partnership Grants
- IPM Toolbox Webinar Series
- IPM Insights Newsletter
- Communication
- Advisory Council and Steering Committee
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing an updated review of the potential for the pesticide paraquat to volatilize from treated agricultural fields. As a result, EPA will be issuing a data call-in (DCI) notice to paraquat manufacturers requesting additional data.
The updated review being released, incorporates the new vapor pressure study with previously existing data and presents EPA’s conclusion that there is greater uncertainty regarding the potential for paraquat to volatilize than previously considered. To resolve the uncertainty around the volatilization potential of paraquat, EPA will issue a Data-Call In (DCI) notice to paraquat manufacturers under the authority of FIFRA section 3(c)(2)(B). EPA follows the review and approval process through the Office of Management and Budget which is needed prior to release of the DCI. Once the data is received and reviewed by EPA, an updated analysis will be performed and published as part of the ongoing registration review process for paraquat along with any possible refinements of EPA’s bystander inhalation exposures analysis.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released a proposal to improve the scope of its perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) reporting regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to make them more practical and implementable and reduce unnecessary, or potentially duplicative, reporting requirements for businesses while maintaining the ability to obtain important use and safety information on PFAS.
Upon publication of the Federal Register notice, EPA will accept comments on the proposed changes for 45 days in docket #EPA-HQ-OPPT-2020-0549 on www.regulations.gov. View a prepublication version of this proposal here.
Cyclobutrifluram; Pesticide Tolerances
This regulation establishes a tolerance action for residues of cyclobutrifluram in or on the food and feed commodities of cotton, gin byproducts; cotton, undelinted seed; lettuce, leaf; soybean, seed. Under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA), Syngenta submitted a petition to EPA requesting that EPA establish a maximum permissible level for residues of this pesticide in or on the identified commodities.
Research in the news
Laser Weeding Technology: A Precision Approach for Sustainable Weed Management in Vegetable Crops (ingentaconnect.com)
Synthetic herbicides were first commercialized in the 1940’s and rapidly adopted in agriculture because of their high effectiveness. By 1988, the chemical weed control toolbox had expanded to over 30 sites of action (Heap 2025). The introduction of herbicide‐resistant agronomic crops in the late 1990s simplified weed control and increased reliance on a few broad‐spectrum herbicides across millions of hectares. Many growers still rely on transgenic crops as the foundation of their weed management programs with herbicide‐resistant crops grown on 167 million hectares worldwide in 2019.
News
Pesticide regulators extend restrictions on certain rodenticides (news.clemson.edu)
Clemson University pesticide regulators are extending a statewide restriction on the use of second-generation anticoagulant rodenticides, known as SGARs.
The original one-year restriction was enacted on February 1, 2025, under state pesticide regulation, Chapter 27–1075, Section B. The restriction will be extended indefinitely.
Pest Talks (growertalks.com)
What the ... ?
Rust Disease
Atticus' New Products
Anthracnose on Snake Plant
$5M grant will fund study of how solar panels can boost crops (news.cornell.edu)
The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has awarded Cornell’s College of Agriculture and Life Sciences $5 million to build solar arrays at university farms in Ithaca and the Hudson Valley, enabling research in agrivoltaics – the practice of co-locating food and energy production.
Cyclamen: Targeting INSV (e-gro.org)
Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) is a detrimental virus and can be spread very easily by Western Flower thrips, but how do you know if INSV is present in your greenhouse? With best
management practices, growers can mitigate problems.
Climate Intervention Techniques Could Reduce the Nutritional Value of Crops, New Study Finds (sebsnjaesnews.rutgers.edu)
A new study published in the journal, Environmental Research Letters, reports that cooling the planet by injecting sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere—a proposed climate intervention technique—could reduce the nutritional value of the world’s crops.
Scientists at Rutgers University used global climate and crop models to estimate how stratospheric aerosol intervention (SAI), one type of solar geoengineering, would impact the protein level of the world’s four major food crops, maize, rice, wheat and soybeans. The SAI approach, inspired by volcanic eruptions, would involve releasing sulfur dioxide into the stratosphere. This gas would transform into sulfuric acid particles, forming a persistent cloud in the upper atmosphere that reflects a small part of the Sun’s radiation, thereby cooling the Earth.
Australia’s unprecedented toxic algal bloom has a surprise culprit (science.org)
For 8 months, South Australia has been besieged by mysterious toxic algae. Dead rays, octopuses, crabs, and other marine species, some shrouded in grayish foam, litter tens of kilometers of shoreline. “There’s a very strange feeling when you’re on the beach,” says marine biologist Shauna Murray of the University of Technology Sydney. “It’s just eerie.” Besides sickening people, the toxins have caused large economic losses in fisheries, aquaculture, and tourism.
Take Action’s 2026 Herbicide Classification Chart Now Available! (growiwm.org)
Do you know how many different modes of action are in your spray tank this fall? How about next spring’s burndown application, or the postemergence pass you’ll need to tackle your summer annual weeds?
If you answered no, you need the 2026 Take Action Herbicide Classification chart. If you answered yes, you still need it – to check your math!
Survey
2025 NAISMA Survey
As we close out another impactful year, we’d love your feedback to help us make the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) even stronger in 2026.
Your input helps shape our programs, events, and communications from the NAISMA Conference and NAISMA Academy to campaigns like PlayCleanGo® and Know Your Invasives. Whether you’ve been involved for years or are just getting started, your perspective matters.
Please take a few minutes to complete our Annual Survey:
|
|
It only takes about 5 minutes, and your responses will directly inform how we can better serve members, partners, and the broader invasive species management community.
Thank you for being part of the NAISMA network and for helping us grow, learn, and make a difference together.
With appreciation,
The NAISMA Team
Announcements
The Northeast Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Management Network is inviting submissions for contributed talks at our 2026 Symposium! The annual NE RISCC Symposium brings together invasive species and climate change practitioners and researchers in the Northeastern U.S. and Central and Eastern Canada to share knowledge and build relationships.
SUBMIT HERE, and see below for more information.
The 2026 symposium will be held virtually via Zoom on March 24 & 25 from 10:00 am - 3:00 pm EST each day. There are two types of contributed talks described below. Your talk could be scheduled for either day. The deadline for submissions is Friday, January 16, 2026 by 5:00 pm.
Topics for either format should address the intersection of climate change and invasive species, and may include impacts, management, monitoring, public health, policy and regulation, public perception, or communication and outreach. We welcome perspectives from practitioners, policy makers, educators, and researchers working in government agencies (federal, state, provincial, municipal, & Indigenous), Indigenous organizations, non-profits, academic institutions, and community groups. Talks may center around observations from the field, original research, case studies, practitioner success stories or lessons learned, or related topics. We especially encourage practitioners to submit an abstract to share the knowledge you have gained in your practice. Notification for accepted talks will be provided by Friday, February 6, 2026.
Long Form Presentations:
20 minute talk (including Q&A) with slideshow presentation
Short Form Presentations:
10 minute talk (including Q&A) with or without slideshow presentation
Please contact the NE RISCC symposium team at risccmanagement@gmail.com with questions.
Webinars, seminars, meetings, and more
Previously featured
The 13th U.S. Symposium on Harmful Algae will be held October 25-29, 2026, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. This is a biennial includes anyone involved in the study, management, or mitigation of harmful algal blooms (HABs) as well as those addressing the impacts of HABs on ecosystems, public health, or communities.
Allies Against an Invasive: Interactions Between Spotted Lanternflies and Native Species
Join Cornell IPM Wednesday, November 19 at 11:!5 a.m. for our October Academic Seminar, "Allies Against an Invasive: Interactions Between Spotted Lanternflies and Native Species," a talk by Penn State University Post Doctoral Researcher Anne Johnson.
Johnson will share insights from her current research on the predators currently feeding on spotted lanternfly and offer a look at which North American predators are most effective at controlling SLF. She will also share early findings from her work to determine how milkweed consumption impacts SLF.
Date & Time
November 19, 2025
11:15 am - 12:15 pm
The Northeast RISCC's 2026 Invasive Species & Climate Change Symposium is scheduled for March 24-25, 2026, from 10am - 3pm Eastern on Zoom each day. Mark your calendars and keep an eye out for more details soon!
New England Regional Milkshed Workshops
Help shape strategies that support agricultural businesses and communities in the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak. Over four sessions (held once a month), participants will identify challenges and possible solutions for New England’s dairy industry. These workshops build on input gathered during the New England Milkshed Community Project meetings held during late 2024 and early 2025. Registration - Please let us know which workshops you plan to attend. Your participation is valued no matter how many workshops you attend. Stipends are available for eligible farmers who attend any or all of the workshops. If you want to request a stipend for attending, please let us know in the questions and comments section.
Date & Time
You can choose to attend one or more of the following sessions.
Dec 10, 2025 01:00 PM
Jan 14, 2026 01:00 PM
Feb 11, 2026 01:00 PM
Register NOW for the 2025 High Tunnel Production Conference!
The University of Vermont, in collaboration with the Univ. of New Hampshire and Univ. of Maine is holding a conference on high tunnel production in northern New England. The event, titled “Enhance Your Tunnel Vision” will be held December 10 and 11, 2025 at the Fireside Inn and Suites in West Lebanon, NH.
Speakers from the organizing institutions will present the latest best practices for high tunnel production. In the morning of the first day, a tour will be offered by the farmers of Edgewater Farm, Plainfield, NH. The afternoon is full of cucumber and winter green production farmer to farmer sessions. On day two, session topics include high tunnel engineering, irrigation and nutrient management, abiotic issues, pest management, strategies to conserve natural enemies, economics and more. Pesticide re-certification credits (number still pending) will be awarded. The registration cost is $120 for both days and $90 for each additional person from the same farm.
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!
NOFA-NY's Annual Winter Conference convenes hundreds of farmers, food system professionals, educators, advocates, homesteaders, and gardeners who are passionate about advancing the organic principles that create better food and farming systems.
Friday, January 9: We will kick off the conference with a series of in-depth intensives followed by an opening event that features networking at the trade show—complete with live music, local food, drinks, and great company!
Saturday, January 10: The conference will offer more than 30 educational workshops and events along with the trade show, breakfast, lunch, and more!
Save $10 with an early bird ticket! Offer expires December 12, 2025.
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
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
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
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.
December 5: IPM for clothes moths and pantry moths
The University of Massachusetts is seeking an innovative leader, experienced scientist, and Extension educator to serve in a full-time, 12-month appointment as Extension Associate or Full Professor and Director of the UMass Cranberry Station located in East Wareham, Massachusetts. The Director will provide: 1) vision, support, and coordination in planning, developing and implementing departmental programs in research and extension in accordance with the Land Grant Mission; 2) leadership in recruiting and fostering academic growth and professional development of faculty, staff, and students; 3) administration of human, physical and financial resources; and 4) promotion of external funding opportunities.
Funding Opportunities
Newly featured this issue
Farming Community Call for Proposals (CFP) Packet
The Northeast SARE Farming Community Grant applies social science research and education projects that strengthen farming and food systems at the community level. These projects explore innovative approaches to improving the health and sustainability of agricultural communities in the Northeast.
This program supports projects that are grounded in community partnerships and informed by the lived experiences of farmers. It encourages collaboration among farmers, service providers, researchers, and nonprofit organizations to co-create solutions that are responsive to local needs and scalable across the region.
By law, projects that Northeast SARE funds must help improve farming in at least one of the following
ways:
1. Maintain and enhance the quality and productivity of the soil;
2. Conserve soil, water, energy, natural resources, and fish and wildlife habitat;
3. Maintain and enhance the quality of surface and ground water;
4. Protect the health and safety of persons involved in the food and farm system;
5. Promote the wellbeing of animals; and
6. Increase employment opportunities in agriculture.
Grant amount and total allocation.
There is no cap on total grant requests, however, requests typically fall between $50,000 and $250,000. A total of $3,300,000 has been allocated to fund projects this cycle.
Q&A Sessions for Inquiring Applicants
Northeast SARE staff will be hosting 3 Q&A sessions on the four large grant programs: Farming
Community, Professional Development, Research & Education, and Research for Novel Approaches.
Registration is available at northeast.sare.org/largegrantqa where all session recording and questions
will be posted.
• Monday, December 8, 2025 from noon – 1pm EST
• Wednesday, January 7, 2026 from 10am – 11am EST
• Wednesday January 14, 2026 from 4pm – 5pm EST
Proposal Due Date: Monday, February 23, 2026, 5:00 pm ET
Proposals must be submitted online at: projects.sare.org
Research & Education Call for Proposals (CFP) Packet
The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Program offers competitive grants to farmers, educators, service providers, researchers, nonprofit staff, graduate students and others to address key issues affecting the sustainability of agriculture throughout our region. Northeast SARE is one of four regional SARE programs funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture
(NIFA).
By law, projects that Northeast SARE funds must help improve farming in at least one of the following
ways:
1. Maintain and enhance the quality and productivity of the soil;
2. Conserve soil, water, energy, natural resources, and fish and wildlife habitat;
3. Maintain and enhance the quality of surface and ground water;
4. Protect the health and safety of persons involved in the food and farm system;
5. Promote the wellbeing of animals; and
6. Increase employment opportunities in agriculture.
Grant amount and total allocation
There is no cap on total grant requests, however, requests typically fall between $30,000 and $250,000. A total of $1,560,000 has been allocated to fund projects this cycle.
Q&A Sessions for Inquiring Applicants
Northeast SARE staff will be hosting 3 Q&A sessions on the four large grant programs: Farming
Community, Professional Development, Research & Education, and Research for Novel Approaches.
Registration is available at northeast.sare.org/LargeGrantQA where all session recording and questions
will be posted.
• Monday, December 8, 2025 from noon – 1pm EST
• Wednesday, January 7, 2026 from 10am – 11am EST
• Wednesday January 14, 2026 from 4pm – 5pm EST
Proposal Due Date: Monday, February 2, 2026, 5:00 pm ET
Proposals must be submitted online at: projects.sare.org
Research for Novel Approaches Call for Proposals (CFP) Packet
The Northeast SARE Research for Novel Approaches grant program funds ‘proof of concept’ applied research projects that are designed to confirm the benefits and/or feasibility of new practices and approaches—i.e., Novel Approaches—in agriculture.
These applied research projects must have some existing evidence from previous experiments or pilot projects (your own or others) suggesting that the practice or approach is beneficial and feasible, but further testing, data, and refinement are needed before it can be recommended for widespread adoption by farmers.
By law, projects that Northeast SARE funds must help improve farming in at least one of the following
ways:
1. Maintain and enhance the quality and productivity of the soil;
2. Conserve soil, water, energy, natural resources, and fish and wildlife habitat;
3. Maintain and enhance the quality of surface and ground water;
4. Protect the health and safety of persons involved in the food and farm system;
5. Promote the well-being of animals; and
6. Increase employment opportunities in agriculture.
Grant amount and total allocation
There is no cap on total grant requests, however, requests typically fall between
$30,000 and $200,000. A total of $1,300,000 has been allocated to fund
projects this cycle.
Q&A Sessions for Inquiring Applicants
Northeast SARE staff will be hosting 3 Q&A sessions on the four large grant programs: Farming
Community, Professional Development, Research & Education, and Research for Novel Approaches.
Registration is available at northeast.sare.org/LargeGrantQA where all session recording and questions
will be posted.
• Monday, December 8, 2025 from noon – 1pm EST
• Wednesday, January 7, 2026 from 10am – 11am EST
• Wednesday January 14, 2026 from 4pm – 5pm EST
Proposal Due Date: Monday, February 2, 2026, 5:00 pm ET
Proposals must be submitted online at: projects.sare.org
Professional Development Call for Proposals (CFP) Packet
The Professional Development Grant program funds projects that help service providers improve the way they work with farmers through research-based education. These projects result in a change in practice or behavior by service providers that supports farmers in sustainable agriculture innovation.
Northeast SARE’s definition of a service provider is a professional who assists farmers as part of their work. Typical audiences include extension educators, consultants, agency personnel, and not-for-profit organization staff. Project audiences may include realtors, bankers, attorneys, or farmers who help other farmers.
By law, projects that Northeast SARE funds must help improve farming in at least one of the following
ways:
1. Maintain and enhance the quality and productivity of the soil;
2. Conserve soil, water, energy, natural resources, and fish and wildlife habitat;
3. Maintain and enhance the quality of surface and ground water;
4. Protect the health and safety of persons involved in the food and farm system;
5. Promote the well-being of animals; and
6. Increase employment opportunities in agriculture
Grant amount and total allocation
There is no cap on total grant requests, however, requests typically fall between
$30,000 and $150,000. A total of $750,000 has been allocated to fund projects
this cycle.
Proposal Due Date: Monday, February 2, 2026, 5:00 pm ET
Proposals must be submitted online at: projects.sare.org
Please note that awards provided under these Calls are contingent upon USDA-NIFA authorizing the funding to our Host Institution, Montana State University.
Sabbatical Research & Education: Western SARE Sabbatical Grants provide an opportunity for faculty around the world to partner with farmers, ranchers, agricultural professionals, and researchers of the Western U.S. region for conducting research, education, and Extension activities.
Graduate Student Research & Education: This grant program involves full-time graduate students enrolled in an accredited university of Western U.S., their academic advisor and at least one producer implementing projects to address identified needs in sustainable agriculture. Projects must integrate rigorous research and education aiming to advance the three components of sustainable agriculture- environmental, economic, and social.
On-line Graduate Student Grant writing Webinar: January 28, 2026 4 pm MT. Registration Required.
Previously featured
IPM Partnership Grants Program
In FY2026, the Southern IPM Center (SIPMC) at North Carolina State University will temporarily administer the Northeastern IPM Partnership Grants Program on behalf of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (USDA-NIFA).
Our annual competitive grants program, Northeastern IPM Partnership Grants, regionally addresses important issues in IPM including but not limited to: Community IPM; IPM and Organic Systems; Pollinators; Next Generation Education; Advanced Production Systems; Emerging Invasive Species; Pesticide Resistance; and Economics. We use a competitive process each year to solicit and select projects for funding.
The RFA opens on October 31, 2025, and closes on December 19, 2025, at 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time.
Specialty Crop Block Grant Applications Open Nov. 3
The 2026 Specialty Crop Block Grant Program Phase I Grant Opportunity Request for Applications opens on Monday, November 3, 2025.
Applications are due by December 19, 2025, at 5:00 p.m. EST. Please review the Request for Applications before applying.
Q & A Webinars will be hosted through Zoom on the following dates and times:
- November 24, 2025, 11 AM
- December 9, 2025 2 PM
The registration links will be available on November 3, 2025.
The USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program (SCBGP) program is a competitive grant program solicited once a year. The SCBGP funds market research, market promotion and new technology projects specifically to benefit specialty crop producers. Grant-funded projects must benefit Maine’s specialty crop industry and may not be intended to support an individual business or organization.
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
December 5: Completed application due by 5 p.m. Pacific Standard Time
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 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.
Closing Date
Thursday, December 31, 2026
Contact for Electronic Access Problems
grantapplicationquestions@usda.gov
Funding Opportunity Number
USDA-NIFA-AFRI-011134
Assistance Listing Number
10.310
Estimated Total Program Funding
$300,000,000
Cost Sharing or Matching Requirement
For equipment grants and if commodity specific. See RFA for details.
Range of Awards
$10,000 - $10,000,000