In New York and around the world, invasive plants rank among the top reasons that the stability of native ecosystems are under threat. Consider the prickly barberries that swallow woodland understories whole. The Norway maples that outcompete sugar maples and out-shade wildflowers. The — well, let’s just stop. Because it doesn’t get better. Sure, those…Continue Reading Beauty and the Battle Against Invasive Plants: IPM Can Help
Are you in charge of maintaining athletic fields? If you’re looking for a two or three week head start on getting your fields ready for spring — consider a proven IPM practice: dormant overseeding. (Farmers, this can work for cool-season grains and forage crops. And homeowners — here’s a trick from the pros that you…Continue Reading Snow, Frost a Big Help for Head Start on Quality Turf — or Crops
Enjoying our ThinkIPM blog? Truck on over to our School ABCs blog — you’ll find plenty of good stuff there, too. Sure, it’s aimed mainly at school staff — but who doesn’t care about our schools? Seek no further: The ABCs of School and Childcare Pest Management Brought to you by the New York State…Continue Reading Check It Out: Our School ABC IPM Blog
Is it mole? A vole? These small mammals are often confused with each other, probably because they’re both associated with tunnels. But they’re really quite different and, depending on the circumstance, could be a pest — or not. Since the first step in IPM is to identify your problem, let’s shed light on these two…Continue Reading The Difference Between Voles and Moles
January — that’s when the long process of combing through this year’s crop of NYS IPM research reports begins. We’re looking for great stories to feature in our annual report. As usual, we’ve got lots of contenders. And would that we had room for them all. Our theme this year? Well, it is our 30th…Continue Reading IPM: Pests, Best Practices, and the Passage of Time
Each year we seek nominations for recipients of our “Excellence in IPM” award, which recognizes exceptional IPM practitioners who do exceptional work. And when the nominations come in, we’re reminded again of the dedication and support of so many whose work truly makes a difference for the people of New York and often well beyond….Continue Reading We Reward Excellence: IPM at Its Best
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)
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
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
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