IPM News and Events Roundup 12/1/23
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.
Connect with the Northeastern IPM Center
Website | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | IPM Insights Newsletter | Impact Statements | Find a Colleague | Northeast Priorities
Northeastern IPM Center News
The Use of IPM in Beekeeping to Control Parasitic Varroa Mites
March 11, 2024 – 11:00 a.m.
Register at cornell.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_aG2wk8EKSXC2OTvB70BdrA
During this talk, you will learn about the parts of the IPM pyramid as they relate to controlling the parasitic varroa mite, widely the biggest problem in beekeeping. You will learn about breeding for mite resistance, cultural and mechanical controls, and chemical controls that are both organic-approved and synthetic. These items will be presented as a year in the life of a beekeeping operation.
Dr. Robyn Underwood received her BSc in Entomology and Applied Ecology from the University of Delaware and her PhD in Entomology from the University of Manitoba. As Penn State’s Extension Educator of Apiculture, she conducts scientific research projects to study beekeeper-applied questions and brings the results of the projects to the beekeepers through extension products that aim to make beekeeping a more successful venture.
Research in the News
Postharvest bacterial succession on cut flowers and vase water (journals.plos.org | 10/2023)
Yen-Hua Chen, William B. Miller, Anthony Hay
In cut flowers, xylem occlusion or blockage by bacteria negatively affects water balance and postharvest quality. Many studies have used culture-based methods to examine bacterial populations in vase water and their effects on flower longevity. It is still unclear if and how bacterial communities at the 16S rRNA gene (16S) level change during the vase period and how such change might correlate with postharvest longevity. This study compared the sequences of 16S amplicons from 4 different types of flowers and their vase water over the course of 7 days (Rosa spp., Gerbera jamesonii, and two Lilium varieties). The relative abundance of plant chloroplast and mitochondria 16S decreased significantly over the course 7 days in all 4 flowers as bacterial diversity increased. Richness and evenness of the bacterial communities increased over time, as did the number of rare taxa and phylogenetic diversity. Bacterial communities varied with time, as well as by flower source, types, and sample location (water, stem surface, whole stem). Some taxa, such as Enterobacteriacea and Bradyhizobiaceae decreased significantly over time while others such as Pseudomonas spp. increased. For example, Pseudomonas veronii, implicated in soft rot of calla lily, increased in both whole stem samples and water samples from Gerbera jamesonii. Erwinia spp., which includes plant pathogenic species, also increased in water samples. This work highlights the dynamic and complex nature of bacterial succession in the flower vase ecosystem. More work is needed to understand if and how bacterial community structure can be managed to improve cut flower vase life.
Evaluating a decade (2011–2020) of integrated forest pest management in the United States (academic.oup.com)
To sustain healthy forests in the United States, the USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Protection and cooperators utilize integrated pest management (IPM) programs to prevent, suppress, and eradicate insect and disease outbreaks affecting trees across all land ownerships. Forest pest management projects supported by federal funding from 2011 to 2020 were assessed to determine the most frequently used project types, IPM strategies and tactics, identify the dominant forest pests and associated hosts managed, and identify the most comprehensive forest IPM programs in practice. Forest pest management projects were obtained primarily from two centralized databases and included 2,416 projects that treated a total of 2,284,624 ha.
DEC News
Changes in the Pesticide Reporting Law (PRL) - DEC Releases Videos on 'How to Report Electronically'
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation sent this bulletin on 11/28/2023 02:41 PM EST
|
Changes in the PRL: How To Report Electronically |
|
What is the Pesticide Reporting Law (PRL)? Environmental Conservation Law Article 33, Title 12 is also known as the Pesticide Reporting Law (PRL). The PRL was enacted in 1996 and requires Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicators, Certified Commercial Pesticide Technicians, Aquatic Anti-Fouling Paint Applicators, and Commercial Permittees (including Importers, Manufacturers, and Compounders) to submit annual reports detailing pesticide activities for the prior calendar year. The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is responsible for implementing the data collection portion of this law. Amendments to the PRL Now Require Electronic Reporting A 2022 amendment to the law requires all PRL annual reports due February 1, 2024 and thereafter to be reported in an electronic format developed or accepted by the DEC. How to Comply with the Changes in the PRL
Start watching the how-to videos!
For additional information regarding the PRL, please contact the DEC’s Pesticide Reporting and Certification Section at 518-402-8748 or prl@dec.ny.gov. |
News
North Central IPM Center Updates
Highlights: Cover crops in peppers and broccoli, electrical weed control, agroforestry, and specialty crop resources
Are Trees in Species-Rich Urban Plantings Less Susceptible to Pest Damage? (entomologytoday.org | 11/17/2023)
In the eastern United States, gloomy scale (Melanaspis tenebricosa) is a pest on urban red maple trees but rarely a problem for red maples in forests. Gloomy scales on hot urban trees produce more eggs than their counterparts in forests, especially if host trees are simultaneously water stressed, which they often are. Gloomy scales are targeted by multiple parasitoid wasp species and are consumed by many generalist insect predators such as lady beetles and lacewing larvae. However, these natural enemies (the collective term for insect predators and parasitoids) rarely reduce gloomy scale populations below damaging densities on urban red maples.
Sometimes, Mosquito Control Efforts Give Larvae More Room to Grow (entomologytoday.org | 11/20/2023)
Among mosquitoes in the genus Aedes, species whose larvae develop in small water-holding vessels (referred to as “container Aedes”) are some of the most important vectors of human viral diseases, including dengue, yellow fever, Zika, chikungunya, and viral encephalitis. Their preferred habitats for oviposition (i.e., laying eggs) and larval development range from natural rot holes in trees to human-made containers such as discarded tires or plastic containers, cemetery vases, and other containers that collect water. These sorts of containers are often common near houses and workplaces, resulting in exposure of people to biting Aedes populations.
Marronoids: The (Mostly) Little Brown Spiders With a Big Story to Tell (entomologytoday.org | 11/30/2023)
It may be the birdwatching community that coined the phrase “little brown jobs” to describe hard-to-identify organisms (similar to “damn yellow composites” in plants), but little brown jobs—or LBJs, for short—is now commonly applied to bats, moths, fungi, and even spiders! The phrase is often used pejoratively, though those who study LBJs may use the phrase with a glint of admiration. Likely due in part to their nondescript features, LBJs are often understudied when compared to their larger, more colorful counterparts.
One group of LBJs are the “marronoid” spiders. These spiders were not previously thought to form a single monophyletic group, or a group with shared evolutionary history culminating in a common ancestor.
Webinars, Seminars, Meetings, and More
The Sustainable SWD Management Team Presents: Advances in Biological Control for Management of Spotted-Wing Drosophila
Date & Time: December 4, 2023 12:00 PM EST
Description: In this webinar, the Sustainable SWD Management Team will present findings of our research and highlight recent advancements in biological control to manage spotted-wing drosophila Recordings of the webinars are available after the event. More info https://swdmanagement.org/webinars/
To register for this webinar, please follow this link: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_z6DZY3p_RIGr4So-zhJXaQ
Wild Spotter Invasive Species Ambassador Training Course (Invasives Free USA)
December 5 – 7, 2023 | Coeur D’Alene, Idaho | $300
This intensive training will include: building relationships and partnerships and engaging stakeholders; branding and marketing programs; using innovative tools and technologies; and leveraging volunteer citizen-science coordination, recruitment, and retention to meet invasive species management goals and expand local community capacity for action.
This gathering will have limited attendance through a merit selection process. Priority will be given to participants who can demonstrate their commitment to building invasive species management capacity within their community.
2023 High Tunnel Production Conference | Revitalizing Your Tunnel Vision
University of Vermont, in cooperation 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 “Revitalizing Your Tunnel Vision” will be held December 6 and 7, 2023 in West Lebanon, NH. Speakers from the organizing institutions, along with specialists from Purdue University, and various regional companies and USDA agencies will present the latest best practices for high tunnel production. Hands-on sessions on insect and disease diagnosis and soil fertility will be offered as well as irrigation technologies, cover cropping, soil sterilization, market strategies, and more. As weather events become more extreme, high tunnel production is becoming the norm for many vegetable farmers. However, growing under plastic presents unique challenges. This conference will help new and experienced growers improve their crop yields and quality through better production practices.
In the morning of Day 1, a tour will be offered by the farmers of Spring Ledge Farm, in New London, NH. (https://www.springledgefarm.com). The afternoon of Day 1 will include hands-on sessions on how to id insects and diseases and interpret soil tests. Day 2 will be a full program of presentations on diverse key topics associated with growing the best crops. The event will encourage grower interactions to ensure the program addresses practical issues and will allow for grower-to-grower exchange of ideas. Pesticide re-certification credits (3 on Day 1; 3.5 on Day 2) will be awarded to attendees from states with reciprocal arrangements with New Hampshire.
The program is available at: https://www.uvm.edu/~htunnel/High%20Tunnel%20Conference%20Registration%20Flyer%20v9-28-2023.pdf
On-line registration is at: https://bit.ly/TUNNEL23
Contact Cheryl Sullivan at (802) 656-5434, cfrank@uvm.edu for details or to request a disability-related accommodation to participate.
2023 NAISMA Annual Biocontrol Summit
USING WEED BIOCONTROL TO REDUCE WILDFIRE RISK AND MITIGATE WILDFIRE IMPACTS
The North American Invasive Species Management Association’s 4th Annual Weed Biocontrol Summit will be held virtually on December 7, 2023, from 11:00 am – 3:00 pm CST. The Biocontrol Summit communicates the latest in classical weed biocontrol research to North American invasive plant managers and educators and aims to connect researchers to on-the-ground practitioners. This year, NAISMA is highlighting the role weed biological control can play in reducing wildfire risk and mitigating wildfire impacts throughout North America. The Biocontrol Summit integrates research and implementation of biocontrol from the regional land managers' perspective.
December 7, 2023 from 11:00 am - 3:00 pm (CST)
Insect Protein Perception Survey
Please take part in our Insect Protein Perception Survey. This survey is being conducted as part of a capstone project for the Cornell University Dyson Grand Challenges program (AEM 4000) in order to gain insights of consumers perception of insect protein and willingness to change. Completion should take approximately 3-4 minutes. The results will be viewed only by the project members and AEM 4000 staff and be presented in summarized form. All responses are kept strictly confidential, with only numeric coding on the surveys.
Your feedback will help us drive positive sustainable change and understand consumer preferences regarding insect protein. Thank you!
NOFA-NY's 2024 Winter Conference
NOFA-NY’s Annual Winter Conference draws hundreds of farmers, food system professionals, educators, advocates, researchers, homesteaders, and gardeners who are passionate about building a better food system.
Saturday, January 20 – Sunday, January 21, 2024
at the Marriott Syracuse Downtown
Classical Weed Biological Control 101 Short Course
The North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) Classical Weed Biological Control 101 Short Course is an asynchronous, professional, online short course that was created to provide you with knowledge about the science, application, and regulation of classical weed biological control. Experts from NAISMA have created this content just for you!
This asynchronous course consists of six sequenced video presentations, along with supplemental materials for in-depth learning and assessment. It takes approximately three hours to complete this online short course. This class was developed by professionals with real world experience managing invasive plants.
Registration Fee:
Free for all thanks to funding from the USDA Forest Service.
FREE TALK! Pollinate Now: Habitat Restoration in the Hudson River Watershed
Tuesday, December 5, 2023 at 7:00 pm
Learn about the largest pollinator corridor plan in the United States! This roadmap for a wide range of landscapes promotes biodiversity by creating beautiful habitats that will support at-risk bees, butterflies and moths in the Hudson River watershed.
About the Speaker: Evan Abramson, MSc is a designer and planner on a mission to rebuild biologically diverse ecosystems. Since 2019, Landscape Interactions has installed over 300 acres of habitat in the Northeast. He holds a Master of Science in Ecological Design from the Conway School of Landscape Design, Certificates in Permaculture Design and Biodynamic Gardening, and is the author of numerous publications.
Register at: https://forms.office.com/r/NRwuNMEg0E
Get Outdoors this Winter! SLELO PRISM in collaboration with partners, will hold our annual Virtual Hike Challenge (VHC) happening November 2023, through March 2024. This challenge encourages community members to get outdoors and provides simple instructions to help you keep an eye out for hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA). HWA is an invasive forest pest that kills hemlock trees which play an important role in water quality and provide many ecoservices for nature and people. HWA is confirmed to be present in Oswego County and is spreading along the Eastern Lake Ontario shoreline. Participating in the VHC is easy, all you have to do is sign-up, visit your favorite hiking trail (or visit one of our suggested survey sites), look for HWA, report your observations to iMapInvasives, and share your experience on social media! Not only will you have an excuse to get outside this winter, but you’ll be protecting your forests and will win a prize for your efforts!
If you’re interested in a more “hands-on” experience, SLELO PRISM and the Tug Hill Tomorrow Land Trust are hosting guided walk and talks to train volunteers to survey for HWA. Participants will learn to identify hemlock trees, recognize the signs of HWA, and report observations using a free community science mobile app called iMapInvasives. Below is a list of upcoming hikes occurring November through March (registration is required).
2023-2024 Walk & Talk Schedule (held from 10 AM- 12 PM) Click to Register
- 12/13/23 Salmon River Falls, Orwell
- 1/10/24 Trenton Greenbelt, Holland Patent
- 2/14/24 Forest Park, Camden
- 3/13/24 Great Bear Rec. Area, Fulton
Take the Pledge to Protect: Are you looking for an easy and fun way to protect your favorite outdoor spaces now and for generations to come? Take the Pledge to Protect and learn simple and fun ways you can protect your favorite hiking trails, paddle-ways, forests, garden and community from invasive species.
The Pledge to Protect was developed by SLELO PRISM as a resource intended to educate and inspire you to protect your lands and waters from the impacts of invasive species. Upon taking the Pledge, you become a “Protector” and are sent monthly email blogs that provide simple actions you can take to protect your favorite outdoor spaces from invasive species and chances to win prizes by taking the suggested actions. In addition, the Pledge to Protect offers a social media toolbox, and virtual toolboxes themed for 5 pledge categories including: gardens, communities, waters, forests, and lands & trails. Each toolbox provides you with resources relevant to the environmental category and includes, invasives you may encounter, best management practices, regional and state-wide community science opportunities, prevention methods, and many links to helpful apps and other resources. To sign up to take the pledge visit iPledgeToProtect.org.
Beech Leaf and Bark Diseases: An Emerging Threat to all Beech Trees
December 5, 2023 | 2:00 – 3:30 PM ET
Diseases impacting beech trees are an emerging forest health threat. The iconic American beech has been prized for centuries by people for its dense, shady canopy, form, stature, smooth bark, and the many nuts that benefit wildlife. Two recently emerged diseases – beech leaf disease and beech bark disease - have arborists, foresters, and homeowners concerned. These diseases also attack the European and other beech varieties. Beech leaf disease, associated with a nematode, causes leaf death, crown thinning, and eventual tree death. Beech bark disease results from an infestation of beech bark scale that predisposes trees to fungal infection. These fungi kill the inner bark tissue leading to tree death. As beech trees are some of the most desired specimen trees in public and private landscapes, these diseases are affecting people’s property values, and public park landscapes.
This webinar will provide the attendees an opportunity to obtain continuing education credits from 32 state agencies plus other organizations.
Registration Link: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/4483444913702781023
Northeast RISCC Management Network
'Tis the season for RISCC coffee talks!
December 6, 2023 (11am–12pm ET)
Coffee Talk: Managing for Stiltgrass in a Changing Environment
How can local management actions and priorities adapt as we navigate climate change? Join the Northeast RISCC for a conversation with Shikha Singh about “Japanese Stiltgrass: Lessons Learned While Managing for Stiltgrass in a Changing Environment.” After a brief presentation by Shikha on the successes and challenges of managing Japanese stiltgrass in public and private areas, we’ll invite your participation in a Q & A and discussion on how to meet these new challenges.
Register for our Stiltgrass Coffee Talk here!
December 14, 2023 (11am–12pm ET)
Coffee Talk: Out of Control? The Effects of Climate Change on Biological Control Agents and their Target Hosts
How does climate change affect biocontrol agents and their hosts? Join the Northeast RISCC for a coffee talk discussion on our new Management Challenge, Out of Control? The Effects of Climate Change on Biological Control Agents and their Target Hosts.
After a brief summary of the ways climate change can impact biocontrol agents and their target hosts, we will invite you to share your own experiences, questions, and concerns related to climate impacts on biocontrol programs.
Register for our Biocontrol Coffee Talk here!
30-HOUR PESTICIDE CERTIFICATION COURSE AND DEC EXAM - ELMSFORD NY
This program is designed and approved by the DEC to meet the requirements to become a Commercial Pesticide Technician in category 3a or 3b. To become a fully and finally licensed pesticide applicator, after completing this 30-hour course and passing the exam, you will then only need to either have:
• one year of verifiable experience as a
technician with an additional 12 hours of category
• specific recertification training; or
two years of verifiable experience as a technician
(Without the additional recertification training)
Several Classes offered dates ranging from January 22, 2024 – February 1, 2024
Click here to view flyer and see details
Mitigating Arboviral Threats and Strengthening Public Health Preparedness: A Workshop
- Day 1: Tuesday, December 12, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. ET
- Day 2: Wednesday, December 13, 2023, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
Attend virtually:
- You will receive the relevant link(s) to attend virtually via email.
Attend in person:
2101 Constitution Ave NW
Washington D.C. 20418
Maryland Water Monitoring Council Environmental DNA (eDNA) Workshop
Maryland Water Monitoring Council announces that registration is now open for a free Environmental DNA (eDNA) Workshop: State of the Science and its Application in Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed.
Date: December 8. 2023
Location: U.S. Geological Survey Maryland-Delaware-D.C. Water Science Center
Conference Room, 5522 Research Park Drive, Catonsville, Maryland
Format: Hybrid meeting
Time: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (In-person registration opens at 8:30 a.m.)
Join your colleagues and friends at the MWMC eDNA Workshop on Friday, December 8, 2023 at the USGS Water Science Center in Catonsville. Six eDNA researchers will share their experiences, knowledge, and wisdom on a range of topics that include development of eDNA as a monitoring tool, field and lab best practices, eDNA results interpretation and how to communicate them, and case studies of how eDNA is/can be used for natural resource management.
Time is set aside for a roundtable discussion with the speakers, so bring your ideas and your questions and let’s explore the new tool in our assessment toolbox!
Lessons learned in Texas, including the implementation of School IPM Programs
Integrated pest management (IPM) has been around for over 50 years and yet overall adoption and implementation is lagging. At the same time, the recent changes to the Food Modernization Safety Act (FMSA), the Endangered Species Act (ESA) which resulted in changes towards the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) have brought back the emphasis on IPM. However, is the public ready for this concept or are they still willing to make choices based on speed not knowledge? How do we reframe IPM so that its more widely accepted by our audiences. How do we bring and implement this in our schools? Lessons learned from the Texas IPM program.
Speaker: Janet A. Hurley, ACE, MPA
Senior Extension Program Specialist IPM, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Date: December 20, 2023 Time: 11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Location: Zoom Register to attend
The objective of the Food Processing Pest Management Workshop and post-workshop sessions is to provide information to enable structural and food industry pest control operators and their clientele to improve their pest management skills.
Recertification credits have been assigned for applicators certified in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey.
Date: February 6, 2024 - February 7, 2024
Time: 7:15 am - 11:30 am
Location
RIT Inn & Conference Center, Henrietta, NY
Soft rot diseases of potato: domestic problems and exotic solutions
Bryan Swingle, USDA-ARS
Plant Pathology & Plant-Microbe Biology Section – AgriTech
Tuesday, December 5, 11:20 am – 12:10 pm, A134 Barton Lab & Zoom Passcode: Seminar
Vegetable Seed Production Course and Mentorship Available to Growers Throughout the Northeast
To increase the number of growers able to produce high quality regionally adapted vegetable, herb, and flower seed in the northeast a group of educators, experienced seed producers, and regional seed companies is working together to offer a training in seed production and connect participants to markets for their seed. Last year 65 commercial growers participated in the course, and we are inviting another 65 to participate this season. The course is free through generous support of a Northeast SARE Research and Education grant, but we expect participants to fully engage in the course and to share their experiences with us at the end of the course.
The online course, which starts January 10thand runs for 10 weeks, is designed to help growers determine whether seed production is a good choice for their farm and then to guide them in selecting an initial seed crop to grow for sale, on-farm, or community use. Each week will feature guest speakers with expertise in seed production, plant pathology, seed economics, and more. During the course participants will form learning cohorts and will work with a mentor throughout the 2024 growing season to successfully produce a quality seed crop. The cohorts will have monthly group check-ins via Zoom and one-on-one access to a grower mentor experienced in producing their chosen seed crop. At the end of the season, participants can sell their marketable seed crops back to the companies that provided stock seed.
The Northeast Seed Network (NSN) is a new partnership working to increase the accessibility of genetically appropriate, source-identified seeds and plants for the ecoregions of the U.S. Northeast and North-Mid Atlantic states. I am working with the Ecological Health Network to carry out research on behalf of the NSN, with the goal of better understanding the needs and desires of native seed and plant material buyers. The goal of this project is to improve the availability of desired species and reduce shortages. If you purchase or use native seed and plant materials in your work, please consider taking the survey. The questionnaire is short, taking about 20 minutes to complete, and can be accessed at the following link: https://umassamherst.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8uniH8wVUFYpdbw.
Research Topic “Focus on Spotted Lanternfly” edited by Drs Houping Liu, Xiaoyi Wang, and Miriam Cooperband has been published as an eBook by Frontiers of Insect Science. It addresses current knowledge gaps in biology, ecology, and management of SLF through the collection of 20 outstanding articles generated by various research groups in the forefront of the struggle from the United States and China. Follow the link (https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/35779/focus-on-spotted-lanternfly) for a FREE copy (PDF/EPUB) of this 245-page eBook if interested.
Save the Date!
2024 Spotted Lanternfly Summit
Date: February 27th – March 1st
Location: Central Pennsylvania
Key Highlights:
New research findings
Outreach and management discussions
Strategic plan updates
Employment Opportunities
University of Maine Cooperative Extension
This position will develop and conduct educational programs and applied research projects throughout the state with an emphasis on Maine’s green industry. Maine agricultural industries of focus include floriculture, nurseries, garden centers, arboriculture, greenhouse production, and clients involved in consumer horticulture. This position works with other extension faculty, advisory boards, and commodity associations to offer programs addressing the educational needs of Maine’s landscape designers, landscape professionals, nursery growers, propagators, arborists, growers, and professional gardeners.
Post-Doctoral Associate Position Shrewsbury Lab - Biological Control / IPM
University of Maryland – College Park
The Shrewsbury Lab is seeking a highly motivated Postdoctoral Research Scientist to conduct research and Extension activities on biological control of the invasive spotted lanternfly (SLF), Lycorma delicatula. As part of a collaborative effort between UMD and USDA APHIS, the incumbent will examine the efficacy and impact of biological control approaches using pathogens and other natural enemies against SLF. The overall goal of the project is to provide less toxic and sustainable pest management tools to stakeholders. Click here for a full position description. Review of applications will begin immediately, and applications will be considered on a rolling basis until a suitable candidate is identified. It is strongly preferred the candidate be able to start the position by the end of October 2023 or earlier.
Assistant Professor, Extension Specialty Crops Plant Pathologist
The University of Tennessee - Knoxville: UT Institute of Agriculture: Entomology & Plant Pathology
The recruited individual is expected to develop and deliver a vibrant, nationally recognized innovative applied research and Extension education program focused on diseases of important and emerging crops of Tennessee (e.g., fruits, vegetables, tobacco, hemp, hops). The individual will provide technical expertise on disease management, will develop an educational program(s) using traditional and innovative outreach tools for diverse audiences (e.g., Extension agents and specialists, producers, regional and state leaders, Master Gardeners), and will provide leadership in developing a specialty crop Extension and outreach programs that meet the needs of all eligible clientele regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, and parental status. The candidate also is expected to develop an innovative applied research program of state, regional, or national importance that addresses important plant health and disease issues of specialty crops, to participate in the training and mentoring of undergraduate and graduate students, and to provide service to the department, university, and professional societies or organizations.
Extension Assistant Professor - Sustainable Fruit & Vegetable Production
UMass Amherst
The Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst invites applications for a full-time, 12-month, Extension faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor. The successful candidate will participate as a full member of UMass faculty in a 12-month, non-tenure track appointment.
We are looking for a candidate who will develop applied research and Extension programs that will support commercial fruit and vegetable production while investigating and implementing innovative and sustainable production systems that support farm sustainability and viability. Instructional responsibilities may include courses in sustainable horticulture, fruit or vegetable production, or related courses in the candidate’s disciplinary area.
Click HERE for more information on the position and how to apply.
Review of applicants will begin November 15, 2023, and will continue until an ideal candidate is identified. Questions can be directed to the search committee chair, Dr. Jaime Piñero (jpinero@umass.edu).
Assistant/Associate Extension Educator for Controlled Environment Agriculture
University of Connecticut
This full-time, 11-month appointment for a non-tenure-track position at the rank of Assistant/Associate Extension Educator in CAHNR to collectively advance Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA). The successful candidate is expected to develop strong working relationships with producers throughout the state; interact with UConn faculty, state, and federal agency personnel; and develop interdisciplinary extension programs. This is an off-campus, county-based position. Assignment of office location is negotiable in the northwest or northeast part of the state and requires the individual to travel.
Extension Assistant Professor - Urban Agriculture
UMass Amherst
The Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts Amherst invites applications for a full-time, non-tenure track, 12-month, Extension faculty position at the rank of Assistant Professor. We are looking for a candidate who will develop an integrated program in urban agriculture involving Extension, teaching, and research.
Urban agriculture encompasses a wide range of skills and expertise that includes, but is not limited to, horticulture, indoor production, environmental remediation, soil health, community and urban development, nutrition, and food systems. A new faculty member would link efforts in these areas in Stockbridge, the Center for Agriculture, Food & the Environment, and the University in an urban agriculture and food systems program. The new faculty member will have the opportunity to modify and develop courses in urban horticulture and food systems in Stockbridge for both campus and online programs, and guide students in related internships.
Click HERE for more information and to apply.
Review of applicants will begin December 1, 2023, and will continue until an ideal candidate is identified. Questions can be directed to the search committee chair, Dr. Daniel Cooley (dcooley@umass.edu).
Northeast SARE - Hiring Administrative Operations Coordinator
The University of Vermont seeks a full-time Administrative Operations Coordinator for the Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which is funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA).
The Administrative Operations Coordinator oversees internal administrative operations of USDA/NIFA’s Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program, which funds applied research in twelve Northeast states and the District of Columbia. They co-manage the Northeast regional SARE office, to fulfill the University of Vermont’s obligations as a host institution for the SARE program. This involves: supervising 4 administrative staff located at UVM; collaborating with the Director to manage relationships with UVM departments and administration and to setup the cooperative agreement with NIFA; overseeing contracting processes with all grantees; serving as staffing coordinator for Northeast SARE; coordinating the organization’s policies and procedures; and overseeing the budget of five concurrent cooperative agreements with USDA by monitoring available funds, allocations made by the Administrative Council, operating expenses, and funds awarded in seven different programs.
This position is with the Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB), and is located at Forest Glenn Annex, Silver Spring MD.
- Serve as the senior entomologist and technical expert with the Strategy and Information Division (SID), Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB).
- Receive, evaluate, research, coordinate, and prepares interim and final responses to inquiries pertaining to tactical herbicides locations from various offices.
- Provide instruction on technical work matters and integrate the work of other team members to produce a consistent, unified, and practical product.
- Oversee information product materials, including updating, editing, and reviewing technical guides, Department of Defense Instructions (DoDI’s), Department of Defense Manuals (DoDM’s), Website, and Disease Vector Ecology Profiles (DVEPS).
The Department of Entomology at the University of California, Riverside is seeking to fill two tenure-track positions for Assistant Professors/Assistant Entomologists, starting July 1, 2024. These positions are part of a cluster hire in the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, aimed at enhancing the research and teaching excellence in the areas of agroecology and sustainable pest management, and genetics and genomics of arthropod vectors of human diseases.
The successful candidate will develop an innovative, fundamental and applied research program on the interface of sustainability, global change biology, landscape ecology, and integrated pest management to develop responses to endemic and invasive arthropods and vector-borne pathogens affecting commercial agriculture and urban farms. Teaching responsibilities may include participation in existing courses in IPM, insect ecology, population biology, and pest management, developing new courses in agroecology, global change and the sustainable pest management sciences, as well as supervision of graduate and undergraduate students. For more details and application instructions, please visit this link.
The successful candidate will develop a strong basic and/or translational research program investigating the molecular, genetic, and/or genomic basis of arthropod vectors of human diseases. Teaching responsibilities may include participation in existing courses on medical entomology, molecular biology, genomics, disease transmission, and population genetics, as well as development of new courses and supervision of graduate and undergraduate students. For more details and application instructions, please visit this link.
Northeast SARE Administrative Council Seeking Members
The Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) program is seeking people to serve on its Administrative Council (AC). Northeast SARE is one of four regional SARE programs funded by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA). The program offers competitive grant programs for farmers, educators, agricultural service providers, researchers, graduate students and others to address key issues affecting the sustainability of agriculture. To learn more about Northeast SARE, visit www.northeastsare.org
Currently, Northeast SARE is seeking to fill three open seats:
- a farmer representing the aquaculture farming community;
- a farmer representing the BIPOC farming community, and
- a person with experience working in an organization representing migrant farm employees.
To learn more about the role of the AC please visit: https://northeast.sare.org/about/our-team/northeast-sare-administrative-council/
Interested individuals should submit, preferably as a single PDF file: a letter briefly describing 1) which open AC seat they are applying for, 2) their relevant experience 3) why they are interested in serving on the AC, 4) the business or organization where they work, along with 5) their resume. Please send this information to Northeast SARE director Dr. Vern Grubinger, Northeast SARE director, at vernon.grubinger@uvm.edu by December 31, 2023.
Extension Specialist, Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP)
The University of Illinois Pesticide Safety Education Program is seeking a full time Extension Specialist to prepare and conduct training programs for commercial and private applicators. Illinois PSEP has administration support, sustainable funding, and a great working relationship with our state lead agency, the Illinois Department of Agriculture. We have a wonderful team, and we look forward to growing our program with the successful candidate.
See the attached document or this link for specific duties and responsibilities. The deadline for applications is December 6, 2023. Please note that all applications must be received through https://jobs.illinois.edu/.
Part-Time Program Assistant - Pennsylvania IPM (Integrated Pest Management) Program
The Pennsylvania IPM (Integrated Pest Management) Program, based in the Dept. of Entomology at Penn State, seeks a bilingual (English/Spanish) Outreach Specialist to work in urban communities in Philadelphia and beyond to implement IPM programs and maintain and develop relationships with PA IPM partners. The successful applicant will work as part of a team to support and sustain IPM using face-to-face and online activities to teach the public how to control pests (bed bugs, cockroaches, mice, rats, etc.) in structures in urban communities, including single family homes, row houses, schools, commercial buildings, and other settings. The successful applicant will conduct public outreach including attending community and task force meetings, and events such as health and community events. Latinx residents make up over 15% of Philadelphians, and even higher proportions in some collar-counties (e.g., Latinx make up over 23% of Berks residents). This is an important and growing constituency for IPM outreach and adoption, and will be a major focus for this position. Spanish speaking, reading, and writing fluency is required. Additionally, one must be a trusted worker who is respected by the people they serve and able to apply their own unique understanding of the experience, socio-economic needs, language, and/or culture of the communities served.
Environmental Horticulture Program Manager
The IR-4 Project seeks an Environmental Horticulture Program Manager to join its Headquarters team based on North Carolina State University’s Centennial Campus.
Reporting to the Executive Director, this role will coordinate research and pesticide (bio-based and chemical) registration activities on non-food, ornamental plant species. This position is aligned with the IR-4 Project mission to facilitate regulatory approval of sustainable pest management technology for specialty crops, including ornamental crops and other environmental horticulture uses. This is a full-time (40 hours per week), EHRA non-faculty position.
Visit our Careers page to learn more about the role and apply.
Funding Opportunities
Regional IPM centers 2024 calls for proposals/requests for applications (RFAs)
- Western IPM Center: RFA opening October 4. Submission deadline Friday, December 8, 2023, 5:00 p.m. Pacific
Regional IPM Centers Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) RFA's
New IPM Funding for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Available
The Regional IPM Centers today are releasing three new diversity-focused funding opportunities with a total of about $200,000 available nationally. Specifically, the Centers are offering Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility grants, fellowships and mini-grants.
The goal of the Regional IPM Centers' DEIA grants and fellowships are to make diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility both essential and commonplace within the IPM community.
Here are the details:
- DEIA Grants: $120,000 available with awards up to $20,000 each. Applications will be considered as received, through January 31,2024 or until funds are exhausted.
- DEIA Fellowships: Up to eight fellowships of up to $6,000 each will be awarded. Individuals eligible to apply should belong to the faculty, staff or student body of an 1890, 1994, HBCU or HSI institution and should be actively involved in integrated pest management or plant health activities. Applications will be considered as received until funds are exhausted.
- DEIA Mini-Grants: Up to $30,000 available with awards of up to $5,000 each. Applications will be considered as received until funds are exhausted.
For all three programs, the proposed work or grant activities must be completed by September 17, 2024.
There was a Zoom meeting held on November 7, 2023 to answer questions and
provide more information. Recorded link: https://youtu.be/sdVAKzO2YJs
If you have any questions or would like to discuss your ideas for this grant prior to applying, please
contact DEIA Director, Dr. Katie Hartmann: kh4@iastate.edu.
Specialty Crop Multi-State Program
Program Purpose
The SCMP supports collaborative multi-state partnerships to enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops through competitively funded projects The focus is to address regional or national level specialty crop issues, including food safety, plant pests and disease, research, crop-specific projects addressing common issues, and marketing and promotion. Projects must enhance the competitiveness of U.S. or U.S. territory-grown specialty crops in either domestic or foreign markets.
Project Area Types
Multi-state partners must develop projects that bring together teams for solutions to practical problems that cross State boundaries and address the needs of specialty crop growers in the areas of food safety, plant pests and disease, research, crop-specific projects addressing common issues, and marketing and promotion.
All project area types are 3-year projects with funding ranging between $250,000 and $1,000,000. Available Funding Approximately $10 million will be available to fund SCMP projects in FY 2023.
Eligibility
Entities residing in a participating state must apply through their State Department of Agriculture. Entities residing in a participating state are ineligible to apply directly to AMS.
Entities in a non-participating state may apply to AMS directly or choose to contact an adjacent participating state to apply on behalf of the entity.
Non-profits entities must apply directly to AMS.
All applicants must be domestic entities owned, operated, and located within the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, the United States Virgin Islands, or the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
Applications for Multi-State Partners to Participating States are due December 22, 2023, and for Participating States to AMS on January, 31, 2024.
Crop Protection and Pest Management
Crop Protection and Pest Management Competitive Grants Program
The purpose of the Crop Protection and Pest Management program is to address high priority issues related to pests and their management using IPM approaches at the state, regional and national levels. The CPPM program supports projects that will ensure food security and respond effectively to other major societal pest management challenges with comprehensive IPM approaches that are economically viable, ecologically prudent, and safe for human health. The CPPM program addresses IPM challenges for emerging issues and existing priority pest concerns that can be addressed more effectively with new and emerging technologies. The outcomes of the CPPM program are effective, affordable, and environmentally sound IPM practices and strategies needed to maintain agricultural productivity and healthy communities. ?
The technical assistance webinar related to this FY 2024 funding opportunity is now scheduled. Please see details about the webinar, including the registration link, date, and time, via the technical assistance webinar button below. The recording and supporting documents will also be posted to this page after the event.
Closing Date for applications: February 15, 2024
Agency Name: Environmental Protection Agency
Description: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of manufactured chemicals that have been widely used in industry and consumer products since the 1940s. PFAS are resistant to environmental and metabolic degradation and can build up in the environment and the human body over time [1]. The substances may be found in soil, air, water, and food as well as in materials in homes or workplaces (e.g., fire extinguishing foam, food packaging, biosolids, personal care packaging, etc.) [2,3]. Due to their widespread use, most people in the United States have been exposed to some level of PFAS. Exposure to certain PFAS may lead to detrimental health impacts including reproductive effects, developmental effects, increased risks of cancers, weakening of the immune system, and endocrine system disruption [4,5]. Agriculture and PFAS chemicals can intersect through soil, air, and water. These resources may be contaminated through dust particles, application of biosolid residues, and leaching [6,7,8,9].
A large portion of current PFAS research has prioritized data generation and information collection through theoretical science instead of practical application. Identifying, characterizing, and understanding PFAS uptake within agricultural environments will provide vital information related to exposure pathways and will help inform the development of scalable solutions. Research is essential to increase knowledge related to biological uptake in agricultural and rural settings, improve farm viability, and to explore approaches to understand PFAS accumulation in plants and animals. Future research should build upon previous foundations and develop science that has the potential to guide scalable on-farm solutions. Further research is needed to explore the exposure mechanisms of PFAS, develop mitigation strategies, and increase the general knowledge of PFAS and its health risks.
EPA is soliciting novel research that proposes innovative and multidisciplinary approaches to better understand PFAS uptake in plants and animals in agricultural environments. PFAS mitigation and contamination prevention strategies should also be an aspect of the research.
Closing Date: December 6th, 2023
Armed Forces Pest Management Board - FY24 Deployed Warfighter Protection (DWFP) Program
The Armed Forces Pest Management Board (AFPMB) invites pre-proposal applications for the Fiscal Year 2024 (FY24) Deployed Warfighter Protection (DWFP) Program, for research projects up to 3 years and up to US $975,000. Pre-proposals should describe original, innovative research designed to develop new interventions for the protection of deployed military personnel from medically relevant pests including arthropod disease vectors. The program supports the product development of: (1) new toxicants or the adaptation of existing toxicants to medically relevant pests; (2) new insecticide application techniques; (3) new personal protection tools for bite prevention; (4) new decision support tools and (5) surveillance tools that link to improved vector control outcomes. Research should be product-oriented, consisting of advanced research related to a particular technology or new capability, field evaluation of products for military uses, or research directed towards the development of an existing prototype product for future commercialization and U.S. EPA registration (as appropriate).
The FY24 DWFP pre-proposal package is due 12 December 2022. The package consists of a fillable PDF pre-proposal form and project summary slide (i.e., quad chart).
For more information, see the FY24 DWFP Pre-Proposal Announcement and Broad Agency Announcement AFPMB-BAA-24-01 here. The FY24 DWFP Pre-Proposal Announcement is also attached to this message. For scientific questions, contact Dr. Gabriela Zollner at osd.pentagon.ousd-atl.mbx.afpmb-dwfp@mail.mil (do not reply to this message). Due to the high volume of messages, allow 2-4 business days for a response.
For technical issues with forms, contact the AFPMB Webmaster at osd.pentagon.ousd-atl.mbx.afpmb@mail.mil.
NOAA’s Great Lakes Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) for Indigenous Communities Federal Funding Opportunity is now open.
Applications due March 1, 2024, by 11:59 p.m. ET
B-WET is a competitive grant program that supports environmental and place-based educational programs in the Great Lakes watershed. The program is seeking applications for projects that provide Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences (MWEEs) for youth that incorporate Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge (ITEK) in the Great Lakes watershed.
This Great Lakes B-WET program funding opportunity is for meaningful, place-based educational experiences that incorporate Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge as it relates to Tribal community(ies) and the local watershed. For Great Lakes B-WET, applicants may be located in any U.S. state; however, education projects must target youth in the Great Lakes region. For the purposes of this solicitation, the Great Lakes region includes counties in the Great Lakes watershed in the states of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
It is anticipated that approximately $300,000 will be available in FY 2024, in award amounts to be determined by the proposals and available funds. For each proposal, the total amount requested from NOAA should not exceed $100,000. The minimum Federal amount to request from NOAA is $50,000. Awards periods can be up to 24 months. The Great Lakes B-WET program is funded through the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
The Notice of Funding Opportunity includes information on the application process and evaluation criteria for proposals. Access the full notice and apply at Grants.gov, search NOAA-NOS-ONMS-2024-2008201
Informational webinars about the Great Lakes B-WET Indigenous Communities 2024 funding opportunity will be held:
Wednesday, December 13 at 2:00 – 3:00pm EST
Google Meet link: https://meet.google.com/tor-jzib-cry
Or dial: ?(US) +1 317-961-0737 PIN: ?847 006 002#
For additional resources on developing an application and examples of previously funded projects, including 2023 recipients of B-WET for Indigenous Communities awards go to the Great Lakes B-WET website.