“We should have little trouble with vermin if builders would hear and understand the ‘language’ of vermin and do a better job in eliminating their entrances and hiding place.” – Hugo Hartnak, 1939 Pests enter school buildings in one of two ways: they are transported in by students, staff, or delivery truck or they make…Continue Reading Back to School – Keeping the Rodents Outside
Pollinator Friendly… Lawns?
“The dandelions and buttercups gild all the lawn: the drowsy bee stumbles among the clover tops, and summer sweetens all to me.” – James Russell Lowell It’s Pollinator Week, a week dedicated to halting and reversing the decline in pollinator populations and recognizing the valuable service they provide. There are plenty of resources out there…Continue Reading Pollinator Friendly… Lawns?
World BEE Day 2020
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
Rats in the time of Coronavirus Isolation
As an entomologist that specializes in pest management, the Coronavirus outbreak has resulted in some unique concerns. Recent attention has focused on how human isolation affects rodent populations, but other challenges await. Fear of food shortages led residents to stock up on items like flour, rice and pasta. With grocery store shelves restocked and a…Continue Reading Rats in the time of Coronavirus Isolation
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
Asian Giant Hornets – A Concern for New York?
By now many Americans reading or watching the news have heard about “murder hornets” from Asia invading the American landscape. It is true that in many parts of East Asia, Japan in particular, a large hornet lives and feasts upon honey bees and other insects. This is the Asian giant hornet (AGH), or Vespa mandarinia,…Continue Reading Asian Giant Hornets – A Concern for New York?
Our 2018-2019 Annual report: #3 Corn Earworm and Just What is a ‘Short Course’?
The Year of the Corn Earworm Nobody likes opening an ear of corn and finding uninvited worms; not customers, and definitely not the grower! Wormy corn can lose customers at the farm stand and in wholesale markets, and can be a problem in both frozen and canned supermarket products. To help growers manage these pests,…Continue Reading Our 2018-2019 Annual report: #3 Corn Earworm and Just What is a ‘Short Course’?
Earth Day 2020 – IPMers Consider 50 Years of Caring and Action (part #2)
From Integrated Weed Management Specialist BRYAN BROWN: Spring is my favorite. Rushing streams. Birds singing. Bright green leaves. Earth Day reminds me to appreciate these simple pleasures and think about ways to protect them. Responsible pest management through IPM offers a way for farmers to keep those leaves bright green, while keeping our streams running clean, and our…Continue Reading Earth Day 2020 – IPMers Consider 50 Years of Caring and Action (part #2)