Climate, Weather, Data: Protecting Our Crops and Landscapes will be held August 15, 2016 at the Albany County Cornell Cooperative Extension Office, 24 Martin Rd., Voorheesville, NY 12186.  Because space is limited, pre-register on the Registration page. Pre-registration closes on August 10. The Climate, Weather, Data portal has maps, an agenda and registration details. If you have questions, call Amanda Grace at arw245@cornell.edu or 315-787-2208. The program will run from 9:00-4:15 and costs $45 – which includes lunch, breaks and materials. Yes, get NYS DEC credits, too!

With all the talk about climate change you might be wondering how it will affect food production, pests, and even landscapes—and what you can do about it. This is definitely a year when weather changes have affected our crops in the Northeast – from the Valentine’s Day massacre winter freeze to plant life gasping for water.  Come and learn how gathering information on weather and climate can help growers, gardeners and landscapers plan for changes. Find details on The Climate and Weather Conference webpage.

We are honored that Richard Ball, the Commissioner of the New York State (NYS) Department of Agriculture and Markets, will kick off the conference with opening remarks. A wide variety of speakers from NYS and the Northeast will provide background information on the current state of knowledge on climate change and changes in our weather patterns, and how collecting climate and weather data can help us predict and manage pests. Open discussion sessions are included so you can ask your own questions. Join us to learn and discuss!

Agenda — access it on the Climate and Weather Conference webpage!

The morning session features information on Collecting weather data and predicting pests culminating with a discussion session with the speakers. The afternoon session covers Climate change and its impact on pests, also punctuated with an open floor when you can discuss your questions with the afternoon’s speakers.

Changing climates will affect our farms, from the crops we grow and the yields we can expect to the pests, weeds, plant and human pathogens, and other biological stressors we face. Nor are our landscapes, forests and wildlife, our homes and gardens, or our cities and roads exempt. What we can do about it? We have choices. Speakers from New York and across the Northeast offer their expertise. You’ll learn

• how “mesonets,” “Ag-Radar”, and “NEWA” help predict pest or disease outbreaks — in turn preventing infestations while reducing or eliminating sprays, whether on the farm or in our communities
• how growers in environmentally sensitive areas use data to their advantage
• how growers can lessen greenhouse gas emissions while improving their resiliency to drought or storms — and their productivity too
• what changing climate patterns could mean for where crop pests will show up next and what new tools can address the needs
• farmer-friendly tools that help people make climate-savvy decisions
• diseases and us: how changing climates could change where we find vectors — the critters new and old that carry diseases to our communities
• how a real-world simulation of crop growth in 2050 teaches us about which crops are at risk and which others might fill that niche

And especially — what you can do.

Experts from New York and the Northeast include: Richard Ball, commissioner of NYS Ag and Markets; Jerry Brotzge: NYS Mesonet; Becky Wiseman and Laurie McBride: Suffolk County Extension; Julie Carroll, NEWA and NYSIPM; Katie Campbell-Nelson, UMass Extension; Glen Koehler, UMaine Extension; Mike Hoffman and Allison Chatrchyan, Cornell Institute for Climate Change and Agriculture; Steve Young, NE IPM Center; David Hollinger, USDA NE Regional Climate Hub; Bryon Backenson, NY Bureau of Communicable Disease Control; Elizabeth Lamb, NYSIPM.

Portions of this post contributed by Mary Woodsen, Science Writer, NYS IPM Program

We’ve got a new job opening in the NYS IPM Program for a NEWA Coordinator, Extension Associate!  The New York State Integrated Pest Management Program (NYSIPM) is a nationally recognized leader in the development and promotion of IPM practices. The NEWA Coordinator will facilitate and guide the Network for Environment and Weather Applications (NEWA) http://newa.cornell.edu/, its operation and development across agricultural commodity areas, and collaborate with NYSIPM staff, the Northeast Regional Climate Center (NRCC), and other Cornell University faculty and Cornell Cooperative Extension specialists to maintain, expand, and improve NEWA. S/he will facilitate and lead statewide and regional demonstration, implementation, and research activities of NEWA and promote is use in IPM decision making.

Responsibilities include:

• Coordinate the development of NEWA tools with faculty and researchers.
• Coordinate implementation of tools and applications that use weather data for IPM and crop management.
• Develop and coordinate state NEWA expansion networks and individual partners in non-member states.
• Interact with NRCC programmers to create NEWA tools.
• Provide leadership for planning, implementing and evaluating  NEWA educational programs that address producer and IPM practitioner-identified needs and opportunities.
• Lead and cooperate on NEWA grant and funding proposals with agencies, organizations, faculty and extension personnel, that will address IPM applied research needs and generate program support to enhance and extend program opportunities.
• Plan and execute NEWA demonstrations, workshops and webinars.
• Develop educational materials in support of NEWA, such as manuals, fact sheets, videos, websites, decision support tools, mobile applications, etc.
• Facilitate adoption of NEWA tools.
• Provide technical guidance and educational support on NEWA for extension off-campus staff, especially Area IPM Extension Educators whose audiences may benefit from NEWA tools.
• Work cooperatively with Agricultural IPM program staff in the development of applications.
• Work cooperatively with Community IPM program staff in the development of applications, particularly as needs may overlap in the landscape and turf management arenas.

Key Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required to Perform the Work of This Position

• Knowledge of the philosophy and practice of IPM.
• Knowledge of the philosophy, objectives and operation of an informal education system such as Cornell Cooperative Extension.
• Ability to initiate, plan, conduct and evaluate informal adult education programs.
• Ability to define, conduct and interpret applied research and demonstration projects.
• Ability to communicate effectively: verbally, written, and multi-media.
• Ability to communicate effectively with programmers.
• Ability to lead and participate in teams.

Education – MS (required) or PhD (preferred) degree in Entomology, Plant Pathology, Weed Science, Horticulture, Environmental Science or Atmospheric Science.

Experience – Minimum of 2 years professional experience in Extension education and/or research in IPM. Graduate student experience may be applicable.

Application, Submit by August 31, 2016: Curriculum vitae, letter of interest, names and contact information for three references, and a one page statement about your philosophy of IPM and effective ways of promoting and evaluating IPM implementation.  Apply at https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/Cornell/NYSIPM.

Start Date:  October 1, 2016, or when a suitable candidate is identified.

Location:  New York State Agricultural Experiment Station, Geneva, New York.

For further information see the NYSIPM website, http://nysipm.cornell.edu/, or contact Juliet Carroll, Fruit IPM Coordinator and NEWA Leader, NYS IPM Program, jec3@cornell.edu; 315-787-2430

More jobs in IPM!! — The NYS IPM Program is Hiring Three other Positions

The New York State Integrated Pest Management program (NYSIPM) at Cornell University is hiring four specialists to promote the adoption of IPM in New York State. All positions will be housed on either the Geneva or Ithaca campuses of Cornell University. The positions are:

• Biocontrol Specialist
• Alternative Weed Management Specialist
• Coordinator for Livestock and Field Crops IPM
• Coordinator for the Network for Environment & Weather Applications (described above)

NYSIPM is a nationally recognized leader in the development and promotion of IPM practices. http://nysipm.cornell.edu/.  The mission of NYSIPM is to develop sustainable ways to manage disease, insect, weed, and wildlife pests; and to help people use methods that minimize environmental, health, and economic risks. NYS IPM has both Agricultural and Community programs, with issues and settings that overlap. NYSIPM’s Agricultural IPM programming includes fruits, vegetables, ornamentals, and livestock and field crops. Community IPM is the management of insects, weeds, plant diseases and wildlife in all settings that are non-production such as schools, lawns, gardens, landscapes, golf courses, parks, and buildings; and also includes invasive species and public health pests.

The personnel of NYS IPM operate in a collegial and cooperative environment where teamwork is emphasized and appreciated. Collaboration with other NYS IPM faculty and staff, Cornell University faculty and staff, and Cornell Cooperative Extension Educators, as well as specialists from other states and universities, is expected.

Education and Experience – All applicants must have an MS (required) or PhD (preferred) degree in Entomology, Plant Pathology, Horticulture or other suitable field. A minimum of 2 years professional experience in extension education and research or demonstration in required for Extension Associates, 8 years for a Senior Extension Associate. Experience in these areas as a graduate student may apply.

Additional Information AND HOW TO APPLY – For additional information and application instructions go to https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/Cornell/NYSIPM. Applications will be accepted until 8/31/2016, or until a suitable candidate is found.

The U.S. Drought Monitor released July
 14, 2016 showed 23% of the Northeast 
in a drought. Drought Advisory’s and Drought Watch’s have been declared, and voluntary and mandatory water restrictions have been implemented in the region. The current drought is expected to be seasonal and is focused in three main areas. Drought conditions have occurred in Essex County, MA seven of the past 17 years, with a drought every year since 2012. Tompkins County, NY, is experiencing a severe drought for the first time since the U.S. Drought Monitor began in 2000. Bergen County, NJ has experienced drought conditions nine of the past 17 years, with extreme drought in 2002.

Large areas of New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania have had less than three quarters of their normal March through June precipitation amounts. The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) preliminary data showed waterways in parts of New England, New York, Pennsylvania, and northern New Jersey were running below or well below normal levels in late June and early July.

USDA reports from
 early July showed 
topsoil moisture rated short or very short for 51% of New York and 60% of New England, while subsoil moisture rated short or very short for 47% of New York and 56% of New England. Many farms need irrigation to prevent the dry conditions from hindering growth, stressing crops, and reducing yield. For example, pastures were stunted and corn was curling in parts of central New York. Several farms in northeastern Massachusetts reported crop losses due to non-irrigated fields being too dry to plant or seeds not emerging after planting.

The Climate Prediction Center’s Monthly Drought Outlook for July calls for drought conditions to persist or develop in parts of the Northeast. NEWA products and linked resources are available to assist in decision making during these conditions.

Apps and info to help you, from NEWA’s main menu, under Crop Management, include:

• Cornell Apple ET Model, an app for managing irrigation in apple orchards.
• Apple Evapotranspiration Table, an estimate of water use by an apple tree (liters/day) for airport locations in NY.
• Evapotranspiration Map from ForeCast and the Northeast Regional Climate Center (NRCC), an estimate of potential evapotranspiration (PET) in turfgrass.
• Other Crop Tools page or on the Home page, under Other Crop Management Tools in the left-hand side bar:
  
  • Drought Monitoring, from NOAA – the Palmer Drought Index, provides access to several drought monitoring products and historical records.
  • U.S. Drought Monitor Map, the map is based on measurements of climatic, hydrologic and soil conditions as well as reported impacts and observations from more than 350 contributors around the country.
  • U.S. Drought Outlook Map, depicts current large-scale trends of drought based on statistical and dynamical forecasts.

This post was contributed by Jessica Spaccio, Climatologist, Northeast Regional Climate Center and Dept of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Cornell University, jlr98@cornell.edu.