IPM News and Events Roundup 9/10/2021
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.
COVID-19 Conditions help knock down Rat population in New Orleans
The City of New Orleans Mosquito, Termite and Rodent Control Board (NOMTRCB) took advantage of COVID-19-related conditions this past year to reduce its rodent population through persistent baiting, public education, pest proofing and pest exclusion, said Claudia Riegel, the board’s director. Riegel shared this information in an April webinar titled “IPM After the Storm — Vector Considerations,” held as part of EPA’s Integrated Pest Management Webinar series. Link to recorded webinar
Post Hurricane Disease Vector and Pest Awareness
Biting mosquitoes are usually the primary threat, but other insects and arachnids dislocated by the event can also become medical threats. If you live where fire ants occur, you need to know that they form floating masses when flooded out and will float to any dry land or object and infest it. Displaced snakes, rodents, and other vertebrates can also be encountered, as well as their flea and tick parasites. Personal protection is the first line of defense, but widespread vector control to provide temporary suppression of disease vector populations may be the only way to effectively protect the public health.
SARE’s animation video describes how practices such as crop rotation and reduced tillage can improve an operation’s bottom line sustainably.
This summer, student-interns developed two Asian Longhorned Tick fact sheets/infographics targeting farm workers and livestock producers for awareness and prevention of tick bites. These easy-to-read awareness and prevention document is also published in Spanish.
Effective September 14, 2021, USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is amending the entry requirements for the importation of Fragaria spp., Rosa spp., and Rubus spp. plants produced in Canada to prevent the introduction of the strawberry blossom weevil (Anthonomus rubi) into the United States.
“Over the weekend, the Brazilian Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply confirmed two atypical cases of BSE. Atypical cases are very rare and are believed to occur spontaneously. These cases occurred outside the United States and do not pose a risk to American consumers—U.S. beef is safe…”
Bug Invasions! PestTalks Blog: A Roundup of recent insects of interest, including Box Tree Moth, Fall Armyworm and more from JC Chong at Clemson University
West Nile Virus is popping up in the Northeast
Delaware Dept of Public Heath announces first human case of West Nile since 2018
Connecticut: Locally Trapped Mosquitos positive for West Nile
Invasive Species:
Spotted Lanternfly News
Should I worry about SLF? Blog post from Debra Marvin at The NYS IPM Program
The NYS IPM SLF map has been updated to include Cuyahoga county in OH and Carroll Co in MD as infested; quarantine line in NJ expanded to include Morris, Monmouth, Middlesex, Essex and Union counties, and a red dot in Rutland Co VT (1 deceased adult found).
Dover Air Force Base and USDA turn lights out on Spotted Lanternfly
The 436th CES and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Plant Protection and Quarantine, have partnered up to conduct testing on Spotted Lanternfly mitigation and present data to the Armed Forces Pest Management Board. “We're the base that does the most aircraft disinfection and we usually benchmark anything that has to do with aircraft disinfection,” said Ken Barnes, 436th CES infrastructure superintendent. “So any questions that get asked about aircraft or what to do, they come to us. ”Three chemicals were tested, including 10% d-Phenothrin, Callington Aircraft Insecticide and Callington 1-Shot. Only the 10% d-Phenothrin is authorized to be used on military aircraft requiring insecticide application for Japanese beetles.
Scientists aim to control emerald ash borer with parasitic wasps
Dr. Kristine Grayson works with the USDA to develop easier ways of raising emerald ash borers and other invasive insects in research laboratories. This work is critical for discovering and testing ways to better manage forest recovery and prevent future outbreaks. But while the emerald ash borer has spread uncontrollably in nature, producing a consistent laboratory supply of these insects is surprisingly challenging – and developing an effective biological control program requires a lot of target insects. Comprehensive article with links embedded.
Research:
Identifying marine invasion hotspots using stacked species distribution models
Early detection and management of aquatic invasive species requires identification of those areas most at risk of invasion (i.e., hotspots). Here we identify present-day and future hotspots of invasion risk for marine invertebrates and algae in nearshore habitats of the northwest Atlantic and northeast Pacific using more than 12 years of monitoring data in conjunction with other occurrence data and stacked species distribution models.
Webinars, Conferences, Meetings and more:
Online Short Course: Farming with Soil Life - Vegetable Farming, Sept 15 9-1
This online short course is intended for NRCS staff, Soil and Water Conservation staff, Extension Educators, farmers and other agricultural professionals in the northeastern region of the US, but anyone is welcome to register and attend. Participants will learn about common soil invertebrates, their ecology and roles in soil health, scouting methods, and management strategies to increase beneficial soil animal populations. This course is lead by Stephanie Frischie and Jennifer Hopwood of the Xerces Society, who will discuss common soil invertebrates, their ecology and roles in soil health, scouting methods, and management strategies to increase beneficial soil animal populations.
Forestry Application of User-Friendly GIS/GPS – Part 1, Sept 15, 12noon ET
Part I on September 15th has three objectives. First, to illustrate the combination of your smart phone with a Bluetooth enabled receiver and readily available apps in the woods to take data points and tracks, that are reasonably accurate even in some cases with a dense forest canopy. Second, to guide the novice, non-GIS savvy individuals with visualizing how to use that data. Third, how to utilize various and surprisingly powerful tools found within Google Earth for landowner or professional goals.
College Connections webinar series from Penn State Agricultural Sciences Dean Rick Roush
College Connections is a monthly webinar series moderated by Dean Rick Roush and designed to give you a unique, inside perspective of the programs, people, priorities, and partnerships of the Penn State College of Ag Sciences. Join us the third Wednesday of every month from 1-2 p.m. to meet and interact with college personnel and guest speakers--and learn how the college is impacting Pennsylvania agriculture and communities across the Commonwealth.
Sept 15: Modern Genetic Approaches to Advance Agriculture and Human Health
Oct 20: Taking Ag Sciences Global
Urban & Community IPM Webinars, Univ of California IPM program
Sept 16: Learn to Identify Insect pest
Oct 21 Lean about controlling ants around the home
Nov 18 Lean about understanding pesticides
Honey Bee Disease Diagnostics and Research Conducted at the USDA Bee Lab, Sept 21 7:30pm
Screening and monitoring the prevalence of American and European foulbrood diseases, Nosema infection, Varroa and honeybee tracheal mites, as well as other common pests and pathogens in U.S colonies. The lab is also in a key position to recognize and identify novel or emerging pest and diseases that we may encounter through apiary inspectors or beekeepers. They support various scientific research projects conducted at the USDA Bee Lab aimed at identifying new controls to reduce the impact of pests and pathogens on honey bee health.
Farm Succession Training for Legal and Financial Professionals, Sept 21 & 23
This training is specifically designed for attorneys, attorneys-in-training, financial management consultants, business planners, and tax accountants who work with—or want to work with—farmers in New England on farm succession. Over 10,000 New England farmers are likely to exit farming in the next decade. Most lack adequate succession plans. They need advisors with relevant, up-to-date expertise to support and guide them through the complex planning process.
NE SARE Farmer Grant webinar, Oct 5 12 noon
As NE SARE gears up for this round of Farmer Grant proposals, they will be offering a webinar on the Farmer Grant program on Tuesday, October 5, 2021 from noon to 1 p.m. ET. This is a great opportunity for anyone considering a Farmer Grant proposal to get their questions answered.
Employment Opportunities:
Green Shield Certified® Evaluator, IPM Institute of North America, New York, NY
The Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Institute of North America seeks an evaluator to audit Green Shield Certified® pest control companies. If you are familiar with regulations and policies impacting pest management and are able to identify common structural pest problems, we’d love to hear from you. Your role will allow you to visit Green Shield Certified® pest control companies in the New York metro area. Your on-boarding experience includes one-on-one training with Dr. Thomas Green, a world-renown entomologist, IPM expert and co-founder and president of the IPM Institute. Further, your audits and reporting will be supported by the dedicated staff of our community IPM team at our headquarters in Madison, WI. This is a contracted opportunity that will require approximately 8-16 hours per month.
Operations Director, Northeast Organic Farming Association, NY, Syracuse, NY
Ensuring the finances are in order, preparing the annual budget, overseeing the general office environment, recordkeeping, and systems management. Managing the human resources needs of employees and the organization. Tracking federal and state grants. For full job description, click here.