IPM News and Events Roundup 4/22/2022
A weekly collection of IPM news, webinars, employment and funding opportunities and more from the NE IPM Center. If you have IPM-related research, events or other IPM news you would like to have included, please email me at nec2@cornell.edu. If you would like to subscribe to the weekly Roundup, please email northeastipm@cornell.edu. Past Roundups are archived here.
his will be my second to last issue of the IPM Roundup, as I am retiring next Friday, April 29. If you have items for the Roundup in future, please send them to Deborah Grantham until a new hire is in place. It has been my pleasure to launch and compile this Roundup for you weekly since January 2019. My colleagues have put together this kudos board if you would like to leave a message.
Northeastern IPM Center News:
Northeastern IPM Center IPM Toolbox Webinar
Taking a Closer Look: How Strawberry Disease Risk Varies with Microclimates at Canopy Level, Mengjun Hu Presenter, May 4 11am ET
Weather stations in strawberry fields might seem like good sources of highly local environmental data, but this assumes sun, wind, and shade affect an area evenly. There can be microclimate variations at the canopy level, especially when row covers are used for plasticulture strawberry production. See the fact sheet: A Closer Look: Microclimates and Disease Risk at Canopy-Levelfor more info.
The IPM Toolbox Webinar: Combating Slugs as Pests of Soybeans and Corn Is now available for your listening pleasure.
Massachusetts Dept of Agricultural Resources issues Spotted Lanternfly Reminder
Since this is the time of year that nurseries are receiving shipments of stock for the spring planting season, MDAR reminds growers and landscapers to inspect any plant material coming from states where SLF has been found to ensure it does not harbor SLF egg masses, and to report any finds to MDAR. This reminder is especially important as MDAR has recently received several reports that nursery stock from SLF-infested areas was sent to Massachusetts growers.
Maine Senate gives initial approval to bill for PFAS cleanup on farms
“PFAS contamination has already begun to hurt Maine farmers and their businesses,” said Sen. Jim Dill, D-Old Town, who chairs the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee. “Lawmakers must step up and support these folks as they work to address contamination on their land and keep themselves, their families and all of us healthy. This bill is a clear commitment to every Maine farmer facing down this issue and sends the message that yes, we are here to help and are fully behind you.”
Keep an eye out for Allium Leafminer emergence
This pest attacks plants in the Allium genus including onion, garlic, leek, scallions, shallots, and chives. It spends winter as a pupa in tissue at the base of plants in or adjacent soil, then emerges as adults in the spring over a 5 to 7-week period. After mating, females puncture leaves with their ovipositor to lay eggs and both males and females will feed on leaf sap. The oviposition marks are often the easiest method to scout for this pest, as they occur as a series of round wounds in a line, often found near the tip of leaves. The number of wounds can range but their placement in a line makes them fairly easy to recognize. Once hatched, larvae will mine their way down towards the base of the allium plant, feeding as they go and leaving a white streak of leaf mining damage. Once larvae completely develop, they will enter the pupal stage. This first generation will undergo summer aestivation and wait out the heat of summer as pupae, before emerging again in late September for a second 5 to 7-week flight period.
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) recently released its annual Shopper’s Guide to Pesticides in Produce, which includes two lists: the “Dirty Dozen” and the “Clean Fifteen,” which rank which types of fruits and vegetables have the highest and lowest levels of pesticide residue, respectively. But what should consumers do with this information? And how harmful is it to eat fruits and vegetables with pesticide residue? Here’s what you need to know, according to experts, including how to still safely consume your favorite produce.
PestTalks blog by JC Chong at Clemson University this week talks about Forest and Eastern tent caterpillars, as well as spongy moth…April is Hungry Pests month after all=. Learn more on his post.
Avian Influenza update:
PA reports its first case of HPAI, over 1M birds.
APHIS has updated their page to show commercial and backyard flocks, birds affected by state and total birds affected (28.1M as of 4/21). Wild birds affected found here.
Invasive Species:
Research:
The Invasion Ecology of Sleeper Populations: Prevalence, Persistence and Abrupt Shifts
Sleeper populations are established nonnative populations that persist at low abundance but could become invasive when triggered by an environmental change. The researchers emphasize the concept of sleeper populations rather than sleeper species - in other words, a species could be invasive in one area, established and unlikely to ever be invasive in another, and established and a potential sleeper in yet another area. Thus, identifying low-abundance nonnative populations and understanding the environmental factors that could cause an abrupt shift is an important research priority.
Scientists at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) have recorded the first North American case of a harmful phytoplasma disease known for its threat to fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops in South America and the Middle East. To make matters worse, scientists confirmed the host for the disease to be one of the most noxious and rapidly spreading weeds commonly found in a wide range of environments throughout the United States and into Canada. Article here.
Emerald Ash Borer intensifies harvest regimes on private land
To what extent will private landowners alter their harvest practices in response to insect invasions? Using a quasi-experimental design, we conducted a causal analysis to investigate the influence of the highly impactful emerald ash borer (EAB) on (1) annual probability of harvest; (2) intensity of harvest; and (3) diameter of harvested trees, for both ash and non-ash species on private land throughout the Midwest and mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. We found that EAB detection had a negative impact on annual harvest probability and a positive impact on harvest intensity, resulting in a net increase in harvested biomass. Article here.
Webinars, Seminars, Meetings and more
How to find and report spotted lanternfly and its host plant, tree of heaven, April 25, 2pm
Learn how citizen scientists are helping National Capital Region (DC) prepare for the inevitable influx of Spotted Lanternflies. Join this special presentation by Fairfax VA County Urban Foresters
IPM Training and Certification Opportunities, April 27, 10am CT
Hear how training your staff in integrated pest management (IPM) can improve the effectiveness of your sustainable pest control programs. Green Shield Certified (GSC) and the Entomological Society of America (ESA) cover the IPM training programs available in this GSC webinar.
K-6 Educator Workshop – Spotlight on Spotted Lanternfly, April 27, 4pm ET
Interested in invasive species and learning how to integrate this topic into your classroom curricula or program? This workshop is for you! The Spotted Lanternfly is a highly invasive pest that is a threat to agriculture in our region. Learn how you and your students can be part of "early detection" for Spotted Lanternfly in the Finger Lakes and beyond. Educators participating in this workshop receive an introduction to the Spotted Lanternfly, links to FREE educator resources & hands-on activities, and 1 hour of CTLE credits. Best for grades K-6. This workshop is FREE and has been made possible by the Finger Lakes PRISM.
Cost-Saving Bed Bug Protocols: From “Traditional” Approaches to Recent Developments and Opportunities, May 3, 2pm ET
A bed bug masterclass covering biology, behavior, and control methods. Daniel Dye will share his wealth of experience as the chief training officer for Florida Pest and will discuss how bed bug protocols developed and improved as the bed bug resurgence hit the U.S. Daniel will explain how our understanding of bed bug biology and the products and techniques that we use are key to achieving successful protocols. Nina Jenkins will discuss how Aprehend has enabled companies to further reduce technician time and follow-ups using Assessment-based Pest Management (APM). Attendees will learn how to ensure that their bed bug services are profitable and efficient and gain valuable insight into how offering quarterly pro-active bed bug services can lead to expanded business opportunities.
Managing and Co-Existing with Birds, May 9 11am PT; other classes available
This virtual course teaches agricultural professionals and farmers how to support beneficial birds and manage pest birds on farms. By learning how to assess the farm’s avian needs and opportunities, farms can be designed to provide for a diversity of beneficial birds. If pest birds are a problem, they can be discouraged with specific practices during the shorter periods when they cause damage. The sessions cover the latest research, tools and resources, and are given by experts in avian pest control, entomology, ornithology and conservation. This class started in March. Previous sessions are available.
Internal Parasites in Sheep and Goats, May 9, 12, 23, virtual and in person
UVM Extension is pleased to offer a free parasite management and FAMACHA training course for sheep and goat producers (including dairy, meat and fiber) co-hosted by the Cornell Sheep & Goat Program and Cornell Cooperative Extension. Internal parasites are one of the biggest health problems affecting goats and sheep in the Northeast, and dewormer resistance is commonplace. As a result, producers need to know how best to manage parasites. In this workshop, producers will learn the basics of parasite control as well as how to develop Integrated Parasite Management (IPM) programs for their farms. We’ll discuss the current status of new innovations in parasite management.
Employment Opportunities:
Associate Director/Field Research Coordinator, IR-4 Project, University of California at Davis
The position will contribute to the leadership of the IR-4 Project's Western Region while also coordinating the region's field program. This role serves as a liaison with numerous groups, organizations, and government agencies associated with specialty crop pest management. The position will identify pest control needs not covered by existing registrations and will coordinate necessary actions to support such registrations. Responsibilities will include overseeing efficacy and crop safety trials for food and ornamental specialty crops, as well as providing technical guidance for residue trials under U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidance and Good Laboratory Practices. Applications accepted through May 2.
Funding Opportunities:
Soul Fire Farms Braiding Seeds Fellowship Applications being accepted
Braiding Seeds fellows receive a $50,000 stipend; a menu of professional development opportunities including 1:1 mentorship, workshops, farm finance and business plan support; cohort gatherings; and individualized coaching. Farming will be the main work of fellows, who will dedicate a minimum average of 20+ hours per week on their farms during the growing season. Fellows will attend online and (COVID conditions allowing) in-person cohort gatherings for networking and professional development. Fellows will also complete at least 50 hours of professional development over 18 months from the menu provided, including: 1:1 mentorship, workshops, farm finance and business plan support. Fellows are also asked to provide feedback and suggestions to inform future years of the program. Applications due May 1.