Category: Agriculture

Grape IPM Specialist Position Opening

Concord Grapes

As a global authority on community and agricultural pest management, we’re building a culture that embraces inclusivity, champions collaboration, and leverages world-class research and innovation to bring ecologically-friendly, sustainable pest management practices to New Yorkers. We’re changing lives and economies through extension and invite you to be a part of the transformation….Continue Reading Grape IPM Specialist Position Opening

IPM at the Empire State Producers (Virtual) Expo- Week One

The “Expo” is Virtual this year and begins the week of  February 21, 2022 The New York State Integrated Pest Management Program is proud to be part of this annual event. During Week One, Matt Frye talks Rodent Management (Tuesday), Amara Dunn addresses Biocontrol options (Thursday), and Betsy Lamb hosts the Cut Flowers session (Monday)….Continue Reading IPM at the Empire State Producers (Virtual) Expo- Week One

“Weeds in Organic Squash Production” Part Three: Disease Concerns, and a Look Back Over the Season

We can’t leave out diseases. Let’s go back to the cover crop. One potential downside to growing organic rye is ergot infection. Claviceps purpurea is a parasitic fungus that can infect rye and other cereal crops. The sclerotia of the ergot fungus contains alkaloids which can be fatal to livestock and humans if ingested. Scout…Continue Reading “Weeds in Organic Squash Production” Part Three: Disease Concerns, and a Look Back Over the Season

What Do Spotted Lanternfly Look Like?

SPOTTED LANTERNFLIES are named after flies, look like moths, but are actually planthoppers. They have piercing-sucking mouthparts which allow them to drill into the phloem of a plant to feed directly on the sugary sap—which comes out their other end as sticky, sweet honeydew. This planthopper is thought to have arrived as egg masses on…Continue Reading What Do Spotted Lanternfly Look Like?

Cover Crop’s Double Success for Soybeans

Mature fields of grain crops moving in the wind is a lovely sight. Having admired the beauty of ‘cereal rye’ in a field, I asked NYSIPM Integrated Weed Management Specialist Dr. Bryan Brown if rye has been part of successful weed suppression efforts. The answer is yes, but even better, there’s anti-fungal benefits too….Continue Reading Cover Crop’s Double Success for Soybeans

It’s New York Invasive Species Awareness Week

The mission of the New York Invasive Species Awareness Week (ISAW) is to promote knowledge and understanding of invasive species and the harm they can cause by engaging citizens in a wide range of activities across the state, and empowering them to take action to help stop the spread. While we won’t be able to…Continue Reading It’s New York Invasive Species Awareness Week

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

Shopping For Christmas Trees?

by Ryan Parker and Brian Eshenaur When choosing the perfect tree, people usually consider variety, size, and shape. But with the phenomenon of a new invasive planthopper, Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) (SLF), the tree’s origin may be something to think about. We always suggest fresh-cut trees from New York’s many great tree farms!   First…Continue Reading Shopping For Christmas Trees?