IPM News and Events Roundup 6/11/21
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.
EPA Agrees to Ban Endocrine-Disrupting Pesticide Propazine
EPA today said it will end the use of the weedkiller propazine, reversing the Trump administration's embrace of the farm chemical shown to harm dozens of endangered species. Farmers use propazine in Texas and other states on sorghum fields, and it's sometimes used on container-grown plants. The agency didn't comment on the background behind the cancellation but said EPA had received no public comments in response to an announcement in March that it intended to take that action. Article here.
Supporting Homeowner IPM Programs, a survey
You are invited to participate in this survey about perceptions regarding pest control and integrated pest management (IPM) for home use. The study hopes to learn more about the public’s beliefs about integrated pest management and pest management practices and how they influence consumer behavior regarding pest control in the home. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes. Please share with your networks.
Are There Alternatives to Glyphosate for Weed Control in Landscapes?
People often ask about alternatives to glyphosate because of perceived concerns about health and environmental effects. Joe Neal and Andy Senesac, Extension Weed Specialists with NC State and Cornell, respectively, put together an excellent piece on alternatives to glyphosate for weed control in landscapes. This article from UMass Extension compares precautionary statements for some of these alternatives. It is the third item down.
Montana State Extension fields many questions about alternatives to synthetic herbicides for weed control. One common question is whether vinegar, or acetic acid, works as an herbicide. The answer is, it depends!
Maine establishes the Maine Healthy Soils Program
Maine’s House of Representatives recently followed the lead of the Senate, voting unanimously to support LD 437 – An Act To Establish the Maine Healthy Soils Program. Broad bipartisan support for healthy soils indicates an increasing awareness of the critical role that agriculture must play in sequestering carbon and mitigating the effects of climate change. Maine joins 14 other states that have adopted healthy soils programs. Seventeen more states have healthy soils legislation pending.
PestTalks blog this week on Box Tree Moth, Elm Zigzag Sawfly, and a new fungicide for greenhouse use.
USDA-NIFE update, with a report from NIFA director on a new NIFA-Cooperative Extension venture, NIFA listening session on future priorities and more.
Sustainable Grazing and Pasture Management, 6th in SARE’s sustainability video series
This video series shows how farmers can improve soil health and plant vigor by focusing on the health of their pastures and rangelands. This simple animation is a great introduction to the basic principles of sustainable livestock management and is intended to complement more detailed training materials.
Over the past 20 years U.S. overwintering populations of monarch butterflies, Danaus plexippus, have been steadily declining. Since 1996, eastern populations overwintering in Mexico have declined 80-84%. But western populations that overwinter along the California coast have dropped more than 99%. Western populations have plunged from about four million in the 1980s to less than 2,000 in 2020. The western migratory monarch is on the brink of extinction.
Invasive Species
Asian longhorned beetle eradication efforts planned
In 2021, the ALB program will focus on inspecting trees in quarantined areas in Massachusetts, New York, Ohio, and South Carolina, and removing infested trees at no cost to property owners. The program will not apply insecticide treatments this year. Program officials will monitor for the beetle’s presence inside and around each area, respond to calls for assistance, conduct training sessions for compliance agreement holders, and perform outreach.
Insect pest eats into Lebanon’s White Gold pine nut trade
The culprit is the western conifer seed bug, native to the western United States where it is sometimes called the "stink bug", and which has spread to Eurasia, most likely by hitchhiking on timber shipments.
The peak season for harmful algal blooms, or HABs, is at least two months away, but the Finger Lakes have plenty of other pests and invasive species to worry about before toxic algae takes center stage.
Rough bluegrass (poa trivialis) is native to Eurasia. This makes it a non-native, invasive species here in North America. It was likely brought to the US by early settlers for use in pastures and marshy areas. From Maryland Extension.
Research:
Climate Change Patters of Wild Blueberry Fields in Downeast, Maine over the past 40 years
The maximum, minimum, and average temperatures of the studied 26 wild blueberry fields in Downeast, Maine showed higher rates of increase than those of the entire region during the last 40 years. Fields closer to the coast showed higher rates of warming compared with the fields more distant from the coast. hese climate change patterns and associated physiological relationships, as well as threshold values, could provide important information for the planning and development of optimal management techniques for wild blueberry fields experiencing climate change
This literature review synthesizing research on the relationship between vegetation and tick abundance for four tick species in the northeastern United States. The blacklegged tick (I. scapularis) is associated with closed canopy forests and dense vegetation thickets. The American dog tick (D. variabilis) has little habitat overlap with I. scapularis, with abundance highest in grasses and open-canopy fields. The lone star tick (A. americanum) is a habitat generalist. The habitat associations of the recently introduced Asian longhorned tick (H. longicornis) in the United States are still unknown.
They address the need for effective collection methods for host-seeking H. longicornis as an important step for accurately assessing tick abundance and potential disease risk.
Efficacy of Wolbachia-Infected Mosquito Deployments for the Control of Dengue
Distributing mosquito eggs infected with Wolbachia bacteria led to a dramatic fall in dengue cases and hospitalizations in areas that got the intervention compared with those that didn’t, researchers report. Article here.
Webinars, Conferences, Meetings and more:
North American Invasive Species Management Association’s (NAISMA) Online Invasive Species Management Certification Program, June 7- Aug 10, fee
Efforts to control invasive species are often piecemeal and under-funded. Compounding the problem is a lack of trained field specialists to lead/assist with control and management efforts. People seeking invasive species management positions usually have training in biology, forestry, agronomy, or related fields – but generally no training or field experience in controlling invasive species. In response to this need, NAISMA is offering a unique college-level online professional development program to train Invasive Species Field Specialists. The program provides a comprehensive introduction to all aspects of ISM (Invasive Species Management) – including strategies and methods for Prevention, Early Detection and Rapid Response, and Control.
Mosquito Topics, June 15 10am-12:10pm, fee
Arborviruses and Protecting Yourself and Dealing with Asian Tiger Mosquito: Incorporating an Invasive Species into and existing mosquito control program
Outreach and Stress Assistance for Northeast Latinx Farmers and Farmworkers, June 15, July 15, Aug 10 10amET
This workshop series will prepare agriculture service providers to better understand, connect, and provide outreach to and connect stress assistance and mental health support services to the diverse urban to rural Latinx farmer and farm worker communities who are the backbone of the regional food system. Each session will feature a robust panel of speakers, group discussion, and practical resources for service providers to make effective referrals and generate opportunities to build authentic relationships with the Latinx community.
Community Forestry Lunchtime Webinar Series, June 16-Oct 12, 12noon ET
The Penn State Extension Urban Forestry Team will be offering free monthly webinars on various community forestry topics starting in June. These hour-long webinars will be offered at 12 noon eastern time each month. Topics include Insect that harm trees, The role of climate change on forest trees, and more.
Farming with Soil Life – On Line Short Course, June 16 9am-1pm ET
Healthy, living soil and its functions are created and maintained by fungi, bacteria, plants and by invertebrate animals as diverse as annelids, springtails, and firefly larvae, among others. Soil invertebrates are fundamental to soil health and create soil structure, cycle organic matter, consume weed seeds and prey on crop pests. Special guest speaker Aaron Ristow, the New York Ag. Stewardship Program Manager with the American Farmland Trust, will discuss economic, ecological and environmental measures of soil health, using three New York farms as case studies.
NIFA Virtual Stakeholder Listening Session, June 17, 1am CT
The purpose of the virtual listening session is to seek stakeholder input on future priorities for NIFA research, education, and extension programs. Participants may speak for up to 3 minutes. You can also send comments (1-page limit) to: NIFAlistens@nifa.usda.gov by June 24, 2021. Learn more in the NIFA update.
Pesticide Labels Demystified: Guidance on How to Read Pesticide Labels, June 22, 2pm ET
A key component of integrated pest management (IPM) is the appropriate and safe use of pesticides. Understanding how to read, interpret, and follow instructions on a pesticide label is critical to the safe use of the product. EPA hosts this free webinar to gain a better understanding of the intent of the guidance provided on these labels. This webinar will be offered in English and Spanish.
Biological Control Across the Landscapes: What Agents Are Established and What New Tools Are on The Horizon, June 24, 11am MT
This presentation will cover the landscape-level implementation of biological control to curtail the spread and impact of several invasive species across NPS-managed lands and adjacent inholdings. Topics addressed will include the theoretical approach of biological control as a management strategy, making releases and monitoring their effectiveness, the pros and cons of biological control, a brief overview of the NEPA process, ideal biological control results, and specific cases of landscape level control with 15+ years of monitoring data using the Standardized Impact Monitoring Protocol (SIMP). Lastly, some of the newer systems that are or will be implemented in the near future will be discussed.
Urban Forestry Today’s 2021 Summer Tree Summit, June 30, 12-2pm ET, fee
Join Dr. Dave Nowak, USDA Forest Service, for this expanded 2-hr presentation-discussion about the state of our urban forests, as he contextualizes current urban forestry research by re-visiting our roots, and highlighting our next discoveries.
In-person and virtual options available. Virtual sessions will include interactive Q&A and panel discussions; connect with attendees and speakers directly on the Conference Mobile App social networking area before, during, and after the conference. Daily Keynote speakers.