Protecting bees and other pollinators has become an important social issue. But beekeeping, and the 20,000 species of bees worldwide, have been providing livelihoods, much of our food supply, and important biodiversity for thousands of years. Today, we help celebrate the first official World Bee Day as proclaimed by the U.N. through their food and…Continue Reading World BEE Day 2020
Our 2018-2019 Annual Report #7 Organic Farming…and Don’t Get Ticked NY
Stubborn Pests: Organic Solutions All crops have pests. Managing them on certified organic farms is firmly rooted in IPM practices such as crop rotation, sanitation, and the use of pest-resistant varieties. In fact, it’s written into the regulations. But despite the best IPM prevention practices, pesticides are still needed for certain stubborn pests. With organic…Continue Reading Our 2018-2019 Annual Report #7 Organic Farming…and Don’t Get Ticked NY
Our 2018-2019 Annual Report #6- Certified Crop Advisor Training; Saving the Douglas-fir
Certifiably IPM Growers and crop consultants need training like everyone else, so they go to school. The Northeast Region Certified Crop Advisers (NRCCA) offer regional and international certifications. NRCCA has online courses and a three-day intensive training conference covering four competency areas. And did we mention exams? Becoming a certified crop advisor takes dedication. The…Continue Reading Our 2018-2019 Annual Report #6- Certified Crop Advisor Training; Saving the Douglas-fir
Our 2018-2019 Annual Report: #5 Pollinator Habitat, and NEWA
If You Build It, Will They Come? Dwindling bee numbers is a problem. The question is not should we protect pollinators and create habitat, but how? What’s the best method? The most economical? The best bee habitats—made up of plants of varying sizes and bloom times—are easy on the eye. They’re also excellent real estate…Continue Reading Our 2018-2019 Annual Report: #5 Pollinator Habitat, and NEWA
Earth Day 2020 – IPMers Consider 50 Years of Concern and Action (part #1)
From Livestock & Field Crops IPM Extension Area Educator KEN WISE: What I remember the most of Earth Day is when I taught high school forestry and fishery. On Earth Day, we would plant several acres of Douglas fir seedlings or release salmon in rivers with my students in the Cascade Mountains. We would grow…Continue Reading Earth Day 2020 – IPMers Consider 50 Years of Concern and Action (part #1)
It’s Bat Appreciation Day
The sun was set; the night came on apace, And falling dews bewet around the place; The bat takes airy rounds on leathern wings, And the hoarse owl his woeful dirges sings. – John Gay Bats are one of those creatures that instill fear in people. (Thanks, Hollywood.)…Continue Reading It’s Bat Appreciation Day
NYS IPM’s Best of 2019
“None of us is as smart as all of us.” –Ken Blanchard Each year, NYS IPM staff are busy blogging about relevant topics. Here’s a recap of some of our more popular 2019 offerings: ThinkIPM is our catchall blog and a great way to keep a pulse on what’s happening in New York State IPM….Continue Reading NYS IPM’s Best of 2019
A Look Back at our Beneficial Habitat Events
On Wednesday September 25th, Dr. Amara Dunn, Dr. Betsy Lamb, and Senior Extension Educator Brian Eshenaur hosted a Beneficial Habitat Open House. Guests could compare establishment methods, see some of the insects caught in our plots, or just enjoy the flowers. Thursday September 26th was the Planting for Beneficial Habitat Twilight meeting. Attendees learned how…Continue Reading A Look Back at our Beneficial Habitat Events
Senior Worm Wrangler Safeguards North Country Crops, wins Excellence in IPM Award
Press Release by Mariah Courtney Mottley. Media contact: Jaime Cummings Elson Shields, a Cornell entomology professor, received an Excellence in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Award from the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program (NYSIPM) at Cornell University’s Aurora Farm Field Day on the Musgrave Research Farm. NYSIPM develops sustainable ways to manage pests and…Continue Reading Senior Worm Wrangler Safeguards North Country Crops, wins Excellence in IPM Award
Blogs as Varied as our Program…
The THINK IPM Blog tries to cover the breadth of our program but if you know anything about us, it’s that pest management covers much more than cockroaches and dandelions. Here’s the rest of our blogs: BIOCONTROL BYTES The goal of this blog is to inform New Yorkers who are trying to control pests –…Continue Reading Blogs as Varied as our Program…