News, Events, Jobs, and More

NYS IPM Program Director Jennifer Grant Wins Inaugural Northeastern IPM Center Award: Jennifer Grant, director of the New York State Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program, has been named recipient of the Northeastern IPM Center’s Outstanding Achievements in IPM Award for 2019.

The Northeastern IPM Center Announces Request for Applications for Pest Management Strategy Plans and Production/Management Profiles: The Northeastern Integrated Pest Management Center has announced the availability of funding through its PMSP and Production/Management Profiles Grant Program, supported by the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture.

2019 IPM Online Conference: A recording of the 2019 IPM Online Conference is now available. The conference was held on October 30, 2019, and featured updates from projects funded by the Northeastern IPM Center’s Partnership Grants Program, Northeast SARE, and USDA-NIFA.

USDA-NIFA Invests in Agricultural Biosecurity: From brown marmorated stink bug to avian flu, pests and pathogens can wreak havoc on livestock and crops and cause significant economic losses. USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture supports agricultural biosecurity by providing funding and national program leadership to projects that secure and protect the integrity, reliability, sustainability, and profitability of the American food and agricultural system against catastrophic hazards, whether natural, emerging, accidental, or deliberate.

Tick IPM Academy: Register for the Tick IPM Academy, to be held November 6–7 at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin. Participants will learn valuable skills from world-class experts to improve performance and outcomes from tick-management efforts. Discounted registration is available through September 20.

At-Home Integrated Pest Management Survey: Individuals 18 years old and older with recent experience of insect pests in the home are invited to participate in an online survey relating to integrated pest management.

Tree Fruit IPM Working Group Updates Priorities: The Tree Fruit IPM Working Group has released updated priorities for 2019 and report documents from the 2018 New England, New York and Canadian Fruit Pest Management Workshop. Explore the new content, as well as archived reports from previous years on the Tree Fruit IPM Working Group web page.

Biological Control of Brown Marmorated Stink Bug: Brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) is a challenging insect to manage. Both nymphs and adults damage crops, and adults have a tough exoskeleton that is covered with a waxy, water-repellent cuticle. The samurai wasp has been identified as the most promising agent for classical biological control of BMSB.

BMSB Team Bids Farewell to Longtime Colleague: Emily Ogburn, a key member of the North Carolina State University team leading the charge against the brown marmorated stink bug, recently bid her colleagues a bittersweet farewell as she moved on to the next phase of her career.

Call for Submissions and Photos: Do you have IPM-related news or an IPM story to tell? Do you have high-quality photos of pests, pest damage, pest-management methods, or people demonstrating IPM practices?

Participate in a BMSB Impact Survey: A nationwide survey currently underway aims to gather information from farmers and growers on the economic impact of the brown marmorated stink bug (BMSB) on agriculture. The ultimate goal is to better provide you with the help you need in managing this pest.

Newly Described Pathogen May Help Control Brown Marmorated Stink Bug: Nosema maddoxi is a newly described microsporidian pathogen recently found in BMSB populations in the U.S.

View Our Recent Webinars: The Northeastern IPM Center regularly hosts webinars on a variety of pest- and pest-management-related topics through both the IPM Toolbox webinar series and the StopPests in Housing program.

iPiPE Supports Positive Outcomes for Agricultural Producers: The Integrated Pest Information Platform for Extension and Education (iPiPE) is an agricultural data-sharing program founded on the premise that our food systems are the most secure and productive when agricultural professionals have timely access to information about agriculturally important organisms.

Northeastern IPM Center Supporting, Participating in Annual Invasive Species Conference: The North American Invasive Species Management Association will hold its annual conference from September 30 to October 3 at the Hilton Saratoga in Saratoga Springs, NY, with the Northeastern IPM Center supporting the conference at the Prevention level and slated to both present and exhibit at the conference.

New York State Releases Invasive Species Management Plan: Earlier this year, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and Department of Agriculture and Markets released the state’s finalized Invasive Species Comprehensive Management Plan (ISCMP). The final plan charts a clear path for New York’s continued success in addressing invasive species impacts.

Job Opportunities

November 12, 2019
Job Opportunity: IPM Institute: Community IPM Coordinator at the IPM Institute: A full-time coordinator position is available with a growing independent non-profit organization working to improve sustainability in agriculture and communities through Integrated Pest Management (IPM). The community IPM program partners with communities, including schools and other facilities to manage pests while reducing risk to occupants. Responsibilities include program outreach and communications; completing evaluation reports to confirm client compliance with program criteria; and coordinating logistics and preparing materials for meetings and in-person trainings. Application information at: https://ipminstitute.org/job/community-ipm-coordinator/

September 17, 2019
Opportunity: PhD Graduate Research Assistantship at Utah State University: Utah State University is inviting applications for a PhD graduate research assistantship in the Department of Plants, Soils and Climate. The successful applicant will be part of a team that includes the labs of Drs. Steve Young and Robert Schaeffer, who are conducting research on the interaction of a naturalized rust fungus (Puccinia punctiformis) with Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense L.), a highly invasive plant throughout the Intermountain West. The position will provide opportunities to develop new and innovative approaches to studying host-plant systems that will contribute to improved management.

July 29, 2019
Master's of Science Position Opening: Department of Biology, Utah State University: Utah State University is seeking a MS student to expand upon research in the Alston and Spears Labs on biological control of brown marmorated stink bug, Halyomorpha halys (Stål), with emphasis on egg parasitoids. Start date is flexible; January to May 2020 preferable.