Year: 2021

2019-2020 Annual Report: Intensive Apple IPM

Innovative orchard systems, new apple varieties, and decades of amassed apple IPM knowledge warranted a new delivery method to an already outstanding apple industry. The new Apple IPM School, created in 2019, did just that, thanks to a Cornell Cooperative Extension grant that offset costs for an eight-hour workshop at the 2020 Empire State Producer’s…Continue Reading 2019-2020 Annual Report: Intensive Apple IPM

Get “Into the Weeds” with New Podcast!

Bryan Brown, PhD, Integrated Weed Management Specialist, New York State IPM, Cornell University announces a new podcast. (links below!) With long hours in the tractor, some farmers are starting to listen to podcasts to stay entertained. Extension educators are picking up on this trend, creating educational material meant to be played in the tractor. Farmers…Continue Reading Get “Into the Weeds” with New Podcast!

2019-2020 Annual Report: Good News for Christmas Tree Growers… and Bees

Over the last 25 years, Douglas-fir trees have been the backbone of NY’s Christmas tree industry. Well-loved by buyers for sturdy branches, soft needles, and needle-retention, this popular tree is appreciated by growers for its quick growth, adaptability to various soil conditions, and tolerance of increasingly hot summers. Lately, however, some Christmas tree farmers are…Continue Reading 2019-2020 Annual Report: Good News for Christmas Tree Growers… and Bees

From the Experts at Penn State: Spotted Lanternfly Experts Debunk Myths about the Prodigious, Pestilent Pest

We’re sharing this article from Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences  where Heather Leach addresses MYTHS about spotted lanternfly. Skim through our highlights and then visit the full article – here: MYTH: Pressure washing destroys spotted lanternfly eggs. MYTH: Milkweed is toxic to spotted lanternfly. MYTH: The spotted lanternfly needs tree of heaven to reproduce….Continue Reading From the Experts at Penn State: Spotted Lanternfly Experts Debunk Myths about the Prodigious, Pestilent Pest

2019-2020 Annual Report: Biopesticides Have a Place in IPM

Biopesticides are pesticides with natural active ingredients like microorganisms, plant extracts, and other substances found in nature. Compared to conventional chemical pesticides, they may pose lower risks to humans and the environment. It’s no secret that IPM is all about reducing those risks while effectively managing pests, so with increasing biopesticide availability, the question is:…Continue Reading 2019-2020 Annual Report: Biopesticides Have a Place in IPM

NYSDEC Issues Guidance to Avoid Coyote Conflicts

Cornell’s Dr. Paul Curtis shared this new message from the NYSDEC: “Coyotes may become more territorial during the breeding and pup-rearing seasons, which in New York run from January through March, increasing the risk for potential conflicts with people and pets,” said DEC Commissioner Basil Seggos. “While coyotes are an important part of New York’s ecosystem, New…Continue Reading NYSDEC Issues Guidance to Avoid Coyote Conflicts

2019-2020 Annual Report: Pepper Problems Don’t Have to Prevail! 

In an effort to improve growers’ understanding of cultural practices, host plant resistance, and use of biological or chemical controls, Vegetable IPM Extension Area Educator Marion Zuefle ran one-on-one IPM field demonstrations with three NY farmers in 2019. Her initial interviews pointed to typical pepper pest issues like aphids, thrips, mites, European corn borer, and…Continue Reading 2019-2020 Annual Report: Pepper Problems Don’t Have to Prevail! 

(Urgent) WEBINAR: Learn about COVID Vaccination for Food & Agriculture Workers

REGISTER TODAY! Date: Thursday, January 21, 2021 Time: 3:00–4:00 p.m. ET Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is hosting a webinar on COVID-19 Vaccination for food and agriculture workers this Thursday, January 21, from 3-4 EST. Representatives from the CDC, USDA, and FDA will discuss vaccine implementation for food and agriculture workers, vaccine safety…Continue Reading (Urgent) WEBINAR: Learn about COVID Vaccination for Food & Agriculture Workers

Permethrin treated clothing – watch your timing

“One can never have enough socks.” ― Albus Dumbledore For Christmas, I gifted my step-family… socks. To be honest, I was a bit surprised by the delight with which the 8 and 10-year-old boys received them. (I didn’t get excited by socks until I was college-aged.) And, in my defense, they were good hiking socks….Continue Reading Permethrin treated clothing – watch your timing