Regardless of your orientation — conventional farmer or organic — hardly any principle of good farming practices fails to include core IPM practices. So take a look at New York’s three largest conferences planned for January, see what they offer, and make it if you can. The 2015 New York State Agricultural Society | January…Continue Reading Calling All Farmers — Winter Conferences (and the IPM Connection)
Child Safe Playing Fields Act – Frequently Asked Questions
A New York law essentially banning pesticide use on the grounds of schools and day care centers has been full effect since 2011. The letter of the law states: No school or day care shall apply pesticide to any playgrounds, turf, athletic or playing fields, except that an emergency application of a pesticide may be…Continue Reading Child Safe Playing Fields Act – Frequently Asked Questions
Dealing With Wildlife and the Laws That Protect Them
When we think about pests, bugs and mice are the first things that typically come to mind. But what if larger critters such as squirrels, bats, woodchucks, deer, or pigeons become troublesome? IPM works for them too. You must, however, be aware of laws that apply to nuisance wildlife and how they might affect your…Continue Reading Dealing With Wildlife and the Laws That Protect Them
Grape and Hops Winter Workshops: Now!
It’s that time of year — growers (some of them, anyway) get a break from fieldwork and start taking advantage of workshops around New York. Here are two, coming right up. Grape Pruning Workshop Friday, December 5, 2014 (repeats on or Friday, March 6, 2015) Interested in learning how to prune grapevines? Don’t miss the…Continue Reading Grape and Hops Winter Workshops: Now!
“No Surprises” Trip Prep? IPM, Prevention Are Key
So you’re thinking of a trip south, camper or boat in tow, or maybe a little winter getaway to your cabin in the North Country. For “no surprises” trip prep, take advantage of every spell of mild weather to make sure you’ve kept rodents from settling into cozy quarters (or disinvite those that have) removed…Continue Reading “No Surprises” Trip Prep? IPM, Prevention Are Key
DIY “Strip-Trials” for IPM On-Farm Research
Field corn is the king of crops in New York. This highest net-value and most widely grown crop occupies more than a million acres statewide. Some years it’s hammered by leaf blights that can cost considerably if not treated in time. Other years your crops get off almost unscathed. So — how to know which…Continue Reading DIY “Strip-Trials” for IPM On-Farm Research
For New Invasive Lanternfly, Best IPM Tool is Your Eyes
Spotted lanternfly, aka Lycorma delicatula — put it on your radar now. True, as far as we know it’s not in New York. Yet. And with winter blowing in, any likelihood of seeing it this year is grows smaller by the day. But considering the havoc this new invasive could wreak if it breaks through…Continue Reading For New Invasive Lanternfly, Best IPM Tool is Your Eyes
Roses are red but rose rosette virus will make you blue
Did your roses look odd this past year — stems and leaves that stayed red all summer, or lots of stems or buds all bunched together? (Those bunches are called “witches’ brooms.”) If so, they could have rose rosette disease — a virus carried by a miniscule mite. It may be just a small branch…Continue Reading Roses are red but rose rosette virus will make you blue
IPM Watchwords for Adaptable Pest | Lessons Learned
Launching Our “Lessons Learned” Series: With winter coming on and much of the fieldwork done, what better time to go into “lessons learned” mode? Each growing season is different, with nature dishing up some new entrée — something new on your plate. Sometimes it’s good. Sometimes it’s not. If it’s not, even if it happened to…Continue Reading IPM Watchwords for Adaptable Pest | Lessons Learned
This Wasp Pollinates Your Posies — and Makes Nests of Grass
With IPM, half the battle is knowing what not to kill. After all, sometimes a beneficial could look like a pest. That’s why an accurate ID is so important. Case in point? The grass-carrying wasp. At about ¾ inch, these shiny black wasps with the smoky wings and almost impossibly narrow waists look just a…Continue Reading This Wasp Pollinates Your Posies — and Makes Nests of Grass