Professor Loeb speaking to grape growers
Professor Loeb’s goal is to translate and transfer results of applied research to our grower clientele so that they will be better informed and better able to make sound pest management decisions. Moreover, he also strives to communicate to the wider public about insect biology, agriculture, and environmental stewardship. His activities include authoring the insect and mite pest management sections for the small fruit and grape pest management guidelines, preparing newsletter articles including a major review each spring for both grapes and small fruit crops, giving talks at annual grower meetings as well as summer field meetings, directly answering phone calls and emails from growers and extension educators and farm visits. He works closely with extension educators and NYS IPM Fruit Coordinator in developing extension programming. In the past several years he has also developed webinars on important pest management themes that are presented and archived on the internet. As part of his outreach effort, he helps set up and man exhibits at local and regional events such as Fun on the Farm at various sites in Ontario County, Empire Farm Days, and Insectapalooza, the annual entomology open house in Ithaca, NY.