IPM News

Candidates for an Excellence in IPM Award are individuals or organizations whose IPM work in New York State deserves special recognition. Excellence in IPM Awards recognize effort in: 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.
 

Elba onion growers, Matt Mortellaro, Guy Smith, Chuck Barie, Emmaline Long, and Mark and Max Torrey received an Excellence in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Award from the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program (NYSIPM). The six are muck onion farmers in Elba, NY who meet weekly during the growing season for what is known as Muck Donut Hour, to discuss crop protection tactics.

Because this invasive pest affects horticultural and agricultural crops, ornamentals, landscape, forests, and shade trees, Growers, Landscapers, Greenhouse and Nursery Operations, Christmas Tree Growers, Foresters, Master Gardeners and Master Foresters will benefit.

Elson Shields pioneered the use of nematodes that persist in the soil, and has been able to control snout beetles as long as six years after a single application of native entomopathogenic nematodes.

Mike Hunter's personal experience on his family’s farm and in the private sector of agricultural business has inspired his passion for practical crop production and pest management solutions.

A common onion pest was wreaking havoc on New York state onion crops, but Brian Nault of Cornell AgriTech developed a science-based strategy that has decreased pesticide use and improved onion quality.