IPM News and Events Roundup 11/19/2021
A weekly collection of IPM news, webinars, employment and funding opportunities and more from the NE IPM Center. If you have IPM-related research, events or other IPM news you would like to have included, please email me at nec2@cornell.edu. If you would like to subscribe to the weekly Roundup, please email northeastipm@cornell.edu. Past Roundups are archived here.
AmericanHort Association survey
AmericanHort continues to keep a pulse on what members and non-members alike feel is important. That’s critical and a sign that the association realizes members play a vital role in the shaping of the direction of "their" professional organization. But they can’t continue to serve your needs unless you tell them what you need.
North Central Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Network (NC RISCC) practitioner survey
The team at the North Central Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Network (NC RISCC) seeks to connect stakeholders and researchers to more effectively tackle the unique challenges these pressing ecological issues entail. To make our efforts as effective as possible, we are conducting a survey of North Central stakeholders and researchers about their current knowledge, efforts, and success in this area. The purpose of the study is to investigate current management strategies, knowledge, and concerns regarding the combination of invasive species and climate change in the North Central region of the U.S.
Rotate Soybean Cyst nematode-resistant seed varieties for optimal protection
Understanding the difference between soybean cyst nematode-resistant varieties may help soybean growers understand the importance of rotating sources of resistance, which is one of the “active SCN management” strategies advised by The SCN Coalition. For combating SCN during the 2022 growing season, The SCN Coalition encourages growers to work with their advisors to select the appropriate SCN-resistant varieties.
Northeast SARE Fall Innovations newsletter
Learn about their recently funded Urban Farming projects, Two-Spotted Spider Mite IPM for Urban Ag, or join NE SARE’s leadership committee – they are looking for a farmer. They are also hiring for 3 open positions.
The Central Issue for November, Newsletter of the North Central IPM Center, is now out.
Read about several new videos on ticks and other topics; updates from EPA and USDA; new research and a job board.
Entomological Society of America is now offering a Certified IPM Technician credential
Designed for professionals with less than five years' experience in pest management, the Certified IPM Technician (CIT) credential demonstrates a foundational skillset and commitment to the principles and practices of integrated pest management (IPM). Applications for the credential are now being accepted by the ESA Certification Corporation.
Soil Health Policy: Developing Community-Driven State Soil Health Policy and Programs, Yale Center for Business and the Environment
In response to this growing demand, the Soil Health Policy guidebook provides practical advice for anyone who is interested in developing community-driven, state-level soil health policy or programs. Readers will learn how to build an effective and inclusive soil health coalition, logistics to help mobilize a coalition, steps to develop a soil health policy or program, and funding opportunities. The approach presented within the guidebook is drawn from interviews with over 30 experts, including farmers, ranchers, academics, scientists, funders, state agency staff, and nonprofit organization staff. Each state has its own policy and agricultural context, so the reader is encouraged to utilize the recommendations that fit their own circumstances. Case examples through the guidebook highlight the best practices identified by soil health policy experts. Free download.
Manage Weeds on your Farm: A Guide to Ecological Strategies, SARE
Manage Weeds on Your Farm: A Guide to Ecological Strategies provides you with in-depth information about dozens of agricultural weeds found throughout the country and the best ways of managing them. In Part One, the book begins with a general discussion of weeds: their biology, behavior and the characteristics that influence how to best control their populations. It then describes the strengths and limitations of the most common cultural management practices, physical practices and cultivation tools. Part Two is a reference section that describes the identification, ecology and management of 63 of the most common and difficult-to-control weed species found in the United States. Free download
Louisiana strawberries hit by crown rot disease
Louisiana growers have not yet finished planting this year’s strawberry crop, and a disease called crown rot has already been detected in a commercial field. This disease is caused by a soil-borne, fungal-like microorganism genus called phytophthora. Sometimes it is called water mold. Phytophthora is known as “the plant destroyer.” The name originates from the Greek words phytón, meaning plant, and phthorá, meaning destruction. Symptoms of crown rot begin with random wilting of plants in the field. Diseased plants may appear stunted compared to nearby healthy plants. These symptoms may resemble another root rot disease called red stele.
Invasive Species:
Spotted Lanternfly News:
The Spotted Lanternfly map has been updated by the New York State IPM Program. Once again, thanks to their staff for keeping up on this.
Counties added as having established populations are: Broome, Nassau and Suffolk in NY and Rockingham in VA. Counties added with a single SLF found are: Augusta, Rockbridge and Carroll all in VA.
Marbled Crayfish: The Mutants have Landed
These modified crayfish are mid- to large sized, from 10 to 15 cm (4-6 inches). Typically they are olive to dark brown, but infrequently appear reddish, blue or tan just to throw us off. Also, their claws are narrow, with tinier pincers than those of native crayfish. The secret to mottled crayfish fecundity is that a female lays viable eggs – around 700 at a pop – without the hassle of finding a mate. All her
offspring are females, which soon mature and begin cloning themselves
Asian Giant hornet in Washington State: Update from the Center for Invasive Species
They’re still here … and perhaps more widespread than thought last year. What officials have learned is that colonies are often high up in trees, not in the ground, as expected based on behavior in Asia. This makes detection and control especially difficult.
Research:
Morphological consequences of climate change for resident birds in intact Amazonian rainforest
Warming from climate change is expected to reduce body size of endotherms, but studies from temperate systems have produced equivocal results. Over four decades, we collected morphometric data on a nonmigratory understory bird community within Amazonian primary rainforest that is experiencing increasingly extreme climate. All 77 species showed lower mean mass since the early 1980s—nearly half with 95% confidence. A third of species concomitantly increased wing length, driving a decrease in mass:wing ratio for 69% of species.
Ticks' ability to survive harsh winter conditions is influenced by numerous factors including species, variability in temperature, and suitability of the overwintering habitat. A recent study investigated the influence of elevation and insulation coverage on survivability of three tick species recently invading southwestern Virginia, Amblyomma americanum, Amblyomma maculatum, and Haemaphysalis longicornis, and one already established, Dermacentor variabilis. Elevation and insulation coverage had limited effect on the predicted overwintering survival of A. americanum, H. longicornis, and A. maculatum. The key factor in survival of A. americanum and H. longicornis was the life stage of the tick.
Temperate forest health in an era of emerging megadisturbance
Temperate forest ecosystems have shown remarkable resilience to human disturbances and climate change over recent decades. However, increases in the frequency and severity of climatic events, and the interaction of climate events with other disturbances (e.g., impacts of invasive species), can reduce the resilience of forests (i.e., prevent them from rebounding back to their original state). These unprecedented ‘megadisturbances’, as described by Millar and Stephenson (2015), are threatening to push ecosystems past the threshold of natural resilience and into alternative states. This is happening more frequently in the western and southern U.S., whereas eastern and northern forests are still relatively resilient.
Webinars, Conferences, Meetings and more:
Invasion, impact and management of box tree moth in Europe, Dec 2 11am ET
The box tree moth, Cydalima perspectalis, is a pest of boxwood (Buxus spp.) originating from East Asia. Since 2007, it has invaded Europe and the Caucasus, causing severe damage to planted and wild Buxus species, in particular the European boxwood Buxus sempervirens. In 2018, it was found in Toronto. In Europe, boxwood is quickly disappearing from private gardens, parks and forests, causing serious concern for the ecological survival of the tree species. In this presentation, the speaker will share the European perspective on the insect - its impact, identification, biology and management.
Managing Troublesome vines, EPA IPM Series, Dec 7, 2pm ET
The encroachment of invasive, weedy vines threatens the ecology of many ecosystems, including rights-of-ways, Tribal lands, and home landscapes. During this webinar, experts will explain how to manage mile-a-minute vine, kudzu, and poison ivy to protect the function of local ecosystems and provide a more suitable habitat for wildlife. This webinar is geared toward foresters and arborists, municipal land managers, grounds managers, and Tribal leaders. The whole series can be seen here.
Spray safe, Spraw Well – Reducing Pesticide Use Risks for Ortanic and Beginning Farmers, a bi-lingual workshop series, Dec 8 – March 30
Join this free eight-part, bilingual, winter workshop series focused on the basics of when and how to use OMRI-listed pesticides on your vegetable farm. Participants in Eastern New York will also have the opportunity to receive individual on-farm follow up support from the project team in the spring and summer of 2022. On Dec 8, An Introduction to Integrated Pest Management for Vegetable Growers
Vegetable Farmer Business Forum, Brian Moyer, Penn State Dec 8-March9 11:30am ET
Whether you farm organically or conventionally, 2022 could be a challenging year for your business. There are things we can control and things we can't such as continued disrupted supply chains that can affect our input costs. Some ag economists suggest that the decade of the 2020s is the decade of focusing on your ag business. For farmers and vegetable producers. Create a peer-to-peer network of support to focus on what we can control and retain our margins and be successful.
Black Farmer Justice: Past, Present and Future, Dec 8 1pm ET
Black farmers have a rich history and promising future in the United States, even though the Black history of agriculture is often reduced to slavery and cotton plantations. In Farming While Black (2018), Leah Penniman argues that justice for Black people, farmers and otherwise, requires learning about Black histories of agriculture, creating new experiences in the natural world, and getting in touch with our food systems. With a panel of Black scholars, farmers, and activists, in this webinar we explore what justice for Black farmers is today, what it has been in the past, and what it can be in the future
New England Fruit and Vegetable Conference, Dec 13-17, virtual
The premier vegetable and fruit conference in the Northeast will take place December 13-17, 2021. Conference organizers have designed a high quality program with grower input, recruiting some of the most innovative farmers, educators and researchers across the northeast and beyond. $50 registration fee gains you full access to the program and 3-months access to the recordings. Each person seeking pesticide or CCA credits must register individually and join the zoom-meeting from your unique device (2-farmers seeking credits cannot be sharing 1 computer to view the talks).
76th Texas A&M University Urban Pest Management Conference and Workshop, Jan 5-7 2022, Bryan, TX, in person
Registration is open, no refunds will be given after Dec 17 so register now.
New York State Agricultural Society Annual Meeting, Jan 6, 2022, Syracuse, in person
The New York State Agricultural Society will host the 190th Annual Meeting and Agricultural Forum on January 6, 2022. The Forum, which is traditionally the oldest and largest meeting of its kind in the State, returns in-person in 2022, bringing together representatives from all sectors of the agri-food system and natural resource industry at the Syracuse OnCenter. This upcoming year’s forum will focus on “Growing a Greener Planet,” with panelists and speakers discussing research, technology, and policy-making that will help fight climate change and provide economic opportunities for stakeholders. State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball will deliver the 2022 State of Agriculture Address.
Boots-2-Bushels: Boot camp for Market Gardeners and Farmers, Univ of Maine, Jan 11-Sept 6 2022, virtual,
University of Maine Cooperative Extension Maine AgrAbility is offering a nine-month hybrid training program for all beginning farmers of all abilities interested in growing and selling their own farm produce. The program begins online Jan. 11, continues twice monthly through Sept. 6 and includes farm field days.
NOFA-NY Winter Conference Jan 18-23, 2022, virtual
NOFA-NY’s Winter Conference is one of the largest organic food and farming conferences in the nation – gathering hundreds each year to meet old friends, learn new skills, provide support, and celebrate community. And, while we have made the difficult decision to host a virtual conference, 2022 will be no different! We will miss seeing all of you in person, but we look forward to applying what we learned during last year’s virtual conference to make it an even better experience.
8th 3Rs Symposium, Animal Welfare Information Center, March 9, May 11, virtual
The Animal Welfare Information Center (AWIC) is a centralized location for information on current research, technologies, and approaches using 3Rs alternatives (replacement, reduction, and refinement of animal use) in animal research, teaching, and testing. One free resource that AWIC provides are the recorded video presentations from the Annual 3Rs Symposium. Meeting the requirements of the Animal Welfare Act registration.
Employment Opportunities:
Assistant Director of Animal Industry, NY Dept of Ag and Markets
New York State Dept of Agriculture and Markets is seeking an Assistant Director for the Division of Animal Industry. The Division is responsible for ensuring animal and public health through control and eradication of infectious and contagious diseases in New York State livestock and poultry and implementation of pre-harvest food safety measures at the farm level.
Northeast Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education has three positions open, located at the University of Vermont in Burlington
The University of Vermont (UVM) is seeking applications for three open positions at Northeast SARE. All are 12-month, full-time positions with full benefits, based at UVM Extension's South Burlington, VT office or other UVM Extension office. Northeast SARE is committed to engaging agricultural Communities of Color and others that have been historically underrepresented in our regional farm and food systems. Each of our team members are essential in the implementation of our strategic plan to address diversity, equity, and inclusion in our organization. Grant Program Assistant; Communications Professional and Administrative Assistant
The Northeast Vector-Borne Center has a large compilation of employment opportunities in entomology, environmental protection, vector biology and more.
Funding Opportunities:
North American Plant Protection organization call for project proposals
The North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO) has issued a call for projects. NAPPO is seeking proposals for new plant health standards and new tools that support the implementation of existing standards. NAPPO standards play a critical role in safeguarding plant resources and creating new export opportunities for producers and exporters. Proposals may focus on the development or revision of regional standards, workshops to improve the implementation of standards, technical and scientific documents, protocols, or other projects to develop similar and consistent approaches for plant health measures. Priority will be given to proposals that have the largest potential regional impact, contribute to the purpose of NAPPO, can be implemented at the regional level, clearly identify problems that need to be resolved through the development or implementation of standards, and for which there is adequate technical information available to support the proposed initiative. Proposals are due January 15, 2022.