News

New online Integrated Pest Management course available from Michigan State University

| Category: General, Resources

The Desire to Learn Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Academy is an interactive, online program designed to provide a comprehensive and convenient online learning experience. This self-paced course features university experts and a full-service help center with 24/7 technical support. Current topics include:
•An introduction to IPM
•IPM resources at MSU
•Plant science
•Soils 101
•Identifying and conserving natural enemies
•Conserving pollinators
•Using Enviro-weather
•Scouting in greenhouses, perennial crops and vegetable crops

The course is a combination of videos, resources and interactive content. To participate, a computer with an updated web browser, speakers and internet access are required. Refer to the registration instructions to create your community ID and sign-up for the course. It may take up to 24 hours for access to the course site to be granted. Contact the help desk 24/7 at 517-432-6200 or toll-free at 884-678-6200 for assistance.

The total cost of the course is $10, payable online at the time of registration. Upon course completion, certified pesticide applicators in Michigan can request six credits (1A, 1B, Commercial Core or Private Core). Participants can also print a certificate of completion.

Accommodations for persons with disabilities may be requested by contacting Erin Lizotte. All videos include closed captioning.

 

The September Issue of Southern Region IPM News, A publication of the Southern IPM Center, is now Available!

| Category: General, Resources

Southern Region IPM News posts a collection of headlines from news sources throughout the Southern Region. Some of the news provided here may also be national, such as notices about upcoming EPA or NIFA webinars or national events that affect this region.

In the 09/20/2017 edition:

• Updated Pesticide Label Review Manual Now Available
• EPA Requests Comment on the Proposed Registration of New Biopesticide to Help Control Spread of Zika and Other Viruses
• Periodic charts bring new meaning to Texas A&M wildlife researcher, others
• Cornell develops the first robotic insect
• Cooperative Extension professional hosts pesticide drop-off event
• SARE discusses cover crop survey results tomorrow in webinar
• Improper mosquito control on livestock can do more harm than good, expert warns

AMCA Mosquito Research Fund Proposals Reminder! = Deadline Sept. 29

| Category: General, Grants

If you had previously submitted your application and have not
received a confirmation, please resubmit by sending your
completed application here.

The American Mosquito Control Association (AMCA) Research Fund invites new proposals for research on mosquito control and related topics for 2018.

In alignment with the former Mosquito Research Foundation’s goals the AMCA Research Fund is devoted to funding research that will lead to new tools and strategies for mosquito surveillance and control and ultimately protecting the public from mosquito-borne disease and discomfort from mosquito bites.

In general, AMCA Research Fund seeks to support research that:
• Enhances public mosquito and vector control agency mosquito control programs
• Originates from young researchers building their careers

More specifically, AMCA Research Fund priority areas include but are not limited to projects investigating:
• Mosquito behavior and ecology
• Arbovirus transmission
• Chronic and/or acute impact of pesticides on target and non-target organisms
• Novel methods of domestic and/or urban mosquito surveillance and control
• Novel methods of arbovirus surveillance, control, and risk prediction
• Adulticides and/or larvicides: new products research
• Pesticide efficacy and/or resistance

Eligibility

The AMCA Research Fund will consider proposals from public and private universities, mosquito abatement districts, and other qualified research institutions.

Early career researchers including those at the Assistant Professor rank, Post Docs, PhD candidates, and researchers at county and state government institutions with fewer than 10 years on the job are especially encouraged to apply.

No more than 2 proposals per researcher per grant cycle will be accepted.

Criteria

Proposals will be evaluated on their scientific merit and relevance to the outlined priority areas.
Proposals are reviewed by a committee appointed by the AMCA Board of Directors that will consist of at least three leaders in the mosquito and vector control industry, three district personnel, three university personnel, and three government (state, local, federal) public health personnel.
All proposals must conform to local, State, and Federal regulations including those governing the use of humans and non-human animals in scientific research and all environmental regulations.
Proposals will be reviewed from September 29 to November 30, 2017 with awardee notification by December 15, 2017.

Funding

Funding will be provided to awardees by January 15, 2018, and awardees will be publicly announced at the 2018 AMCA Annual Meeting in Kansas City, MO, and published in the Annual Meeting Program.
Funding awarded may be up to $55,000 per one year of a project; however, preference will be given to smaller projects.

Funds should be spent within 12 months of the award date; unspent funds will be revoked and replaced into the AMCA Research Fund pool for the next funding cycle. Requests for extension beyond 12 months must be submitted to the AMCA Research Fund no later than 1 month before the expiration date.

AMCA Research Fund does not make multi-year funding commitments. However, AMCA Research Fund will make a single-year commitment for a multi-year project. For multi-year projects, the year for which support is being requested must be indicated (e.g., “Year 2 of a 3-year project”). AMCA Research Fund is committed to funding small projects and cannot fund university overhead costs.

Reporting

A brief update by awardees may be requested either publicly or privately to the AMCA Board of Directors during the 2018 AMCA annual meeting February 26-March 2, 2018 at the Sheraton Crown Center, Kansas City, MO.

AMCA Research Fund awardees are expected to attend, actively participate, and conduct an oral presentation at the 2019 AMCA Annual Meeting to promote the impact of their research and AMCA Research Fund’s role in that research. Depending on the number of AMCA Research Fund-funded projects, an AMCA Research Fund Research Symposium may be scheduled. At minimum, oral presentations of AMCA Research Fund-funded research will be slotted in the relevant sessions and specifically marked as AMCA Research Fund research in the 2019 AMCA Annual Meeting program.
Specific details on funding for attending the 2019 AMCA Annual Meeting must be included in the budget. See AMCARF Budget Worksheet (Excel Format) (PDF Format)

An Annual Report will be required:
• For projects funded for one year the deadline for the annual report is December 15, 2018.
• For projects requesting multi-year funding a progress report, in addition to the annual report, is due September 15, 2018 to be considered for additional funding with newly submitted proposals.
• The Annual Report and multi-year Progress Report formats will be published on the AMCA Research Fund webpage by summer 2018.

Required Application Materials

Proposals will include the following sections:
1. Proposal Cover Page
o See AMCARF Cover Sheet. (WORD format) (PDF format)

2. Body of Proposal; no more than 6 pages to cover the following headings:
o Introduction and Background
o Objectives
o Hypotheses
o Contribution to AMCARF Priority Area
o Materials and Methods, including figures and tables if needed
o Milestones and Timeline
o Anticipated Challenges and Solutions

3. Literature Cited

4. Budget
o See AMCARF Budget Worksheet (Excel format) (PDF format)

5. Optional Supporting Documents
o Letters of support and collaboration if needed
o Background/supporting data if needed

6. Resume(s) of principle investigator(s), following the NIH biosketch format:
o Name and contact information
o Position/title
o Education/training (Begin with baccalaureate or other professional education)
o Positions and employment
o Other relevant experience; previously and currently awarded grants
o Selected peer-reviewed publications

The New York State Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program seeks Nominations for 2017 “Excellence in IPM Awards”

| Category: Awards, General

Criteria
Candidates for Excellence in IPM Awards should be individuals or organizations whose work in in New York State in IPM deserves special recognition. They can be awarded for:
– developing new IPM tools;
– implementing or evaluating IPM methods in their operations, businesses, or organizations;
– encouraging demonstrations and adoption of IPM;
– promoting IPM and bolstering the adoption of IPM practices; or
– educating others about IPM.

Previous IPM award winners have worked with the NYS IPM Program, commodity groups, private organizations, Cornell Cooperative Extension, and in other settings to help develop and promote the use of IPM. We seek nominations for people in agricultural IPM (fruit, vegetables, ornamentals, and livestock and field crops) and community IPM (schools, homes, landscapes, turf, and municipalities). New Yorkers involved in communicating about IPM through the media are also eligible.

For additional information about the NYS IPM Program:
http://www.nysipm.cornell.edu/
For more details about previous award winners:
http://nysipm.cornell.edu/awards/

What to Submit
To nominate an individual or an organization, you must meet one of these criteria or co-nominate with someone who does:
a) be an employee of Cornell University or Cornell Cooperative Extension; or
b) serve on a NYS IPM Program committee.

No self-nominations will be accepted. Re-nominations of people suggested in other years are welcome if the materials are updated.

Nominators: Please submit a signed letter on letterhead with the following information (no longer than two pages):
**Note, a Word version of your letter is also appreciated (but not required) for easier quotating in press releases and articles.
– Your name, title, organization, address, telephone number, e-mail address, and affiliation with the nominee.
– Nominee’s name, title, organization, address, telephone number, and e-mail address.
– Reasons for the nomination, including a description of the nominee’s operation (e.g., farm, consulting firm, business) if applicable, IPM philosophy, IPM innovations, and other activities relevant to IPM. If you are nominating an organization, describe the goals, business products or services and its IPM philosophy and practices.
– Suggestions for suitable venues for presenting the award, for example the statewide Fruit and Vegetable Expo or NYS Turf & Grounds Expo.
– Photos of the nominee practicing IPM are appreciated (but not required) at the time of submission, or later if you are notified that your nominee has won an award.

Please also submit:
– At least two supporting letters of recommendation from people who have been positively affected by the nominee, also signed. (Again, Word versions appreciated).
– Additional information (newspaper articles, letters, photographs, etc.) as appropriate.

**NEW as of 2016**
We plan to make the nominating letter, and letters of support, available to award winners. We may also want to quote your letter in press releases or other venues. If you do NOT want the nominee to see your letter, or to have a quote attributed to you, clearly state this in your letter.

Where to Submit
Address letters to Dr. Jennifer Grant, Director, NYS IPM Program
Submit nominations and supporting materials to:
Janet Garlick, Administrator
NYS IPM Program
630 W. North Street
Geneva, NY 14456

**NEW as of 2016**
We will accept nominations and supporting letters as soft copies, if the letters are signed, on letterhead and sent as PDFs. As stated above, Word versions are also appreciated. Email messages are not acceptable.

Deadline
Nominations must be received at the IPM Program office on or before Monday October 23th, 2017. Email submissions will not be accepted.

Determination of Award Winners
The NYS IPM Program staff work with Cornell Cooperative Extension, the NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets, the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, and the IPM Operating Committee to select Excellence in IPM Award winners from the nomination pool.

Presentation of Awards
IPM awards are traditionally presented at a professional meeting or conference, appropriate to the individual’s area of expertise. Such events allow award winners to be recognized by their colleagues and friends. Your suggestions on an appropriate venue for presentation are welcomed and greatly appreciated.

USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture Needs Stakeholder Input on Food, Agriculture Priorities

| Category: Events, General

The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) is soliciting stakeholder input on the emerging needs and opportunities in food and agricultural sciences. Through this initiative, “NIFA Listens: Investing in Science to Transform Lives,” stakeholders are invited to provide input to help ensure the strategic positioning and relevancy of NIFA’s investments in advancing agricultural research, extension, and education.

“NIFA Listens: Investing in Science to Transform Lives” focuses on garnering answers to two questions from stakeholders: “What is your top priority in food and agricultural research, extension, or education that NIFA should address?” and “What are the most promising science opportunities for advancement of food and agricultural sciences?”

“Our aim is to get broad input from stakeholders across the food system, from producers to consumers, and scientists, institutions, and organizations,” said NIFA Director Sonny Ramaswamy. “Individual and group input is welcome through any and all of our outlined submission mechanisms to ensure that our mission-critical investments in the agricultural sciences are indeed user inspired.”

Four regional in-person listening sessions will be held:

· Thursday, Oct. 19, Kansas City, Missouri
· Thursday, Oct. 26, Atlanta, Georgia
· Thursday, Nov. 2, Sacramento, California
· Wednesday, Nov. 8, Hyattsville, Maryland

Each session is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. and end no later than 5 p.m. The sessions will be webcast live, transcribed, and made available for playback. Session attendees must register via https://nifa.usda.gov/nifalistens by Thursday, Oct. 12. In addition, written comments may be provided electronically through https://nifa.usda.gov/nifalistens or NIFAlistens@nifa.usda.gov until Friday, Dec. 1. All submissions, regardless of the mode, are processed in the same manner.

“The goal is to ensure broad stakeholder engagement to further fuel the conversation on how to advance transformative science,” said Ramaswamy. “We look forward to hearing the inspiring thoughts and ideas this open dialogue will foster.”

Feedback gathered throughout the initiative will be evaluated, along with input from NIFA employees, in the context of NIFA’s current science emphasis areas, to identify gaps in current portfolios and potential investment opportunities.

To stay informed on “NIFA Listens: Investing in Science to Transform Lives,” visit https://nifa.usda.gov/nifalistens and sign up for the NIFA Update, a weekly compendium of news and information that may be of interest to land-grant and non-land-grant universities, NIFA stakeholders, and other subscribers.

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