Posted on August 30, 2016 by southernipmcenter
Come see cover cropping in action! No-till vegetable production, which uses a cover crop mulch to suppress weed growth during the vegetable growing season, offers a more sustainable approach to weed management than the frequent use of herbicides and tillage. This is an especially valuable tool for organic farmers who do not use synthetic herbicides and therefore must rely on frequent cultivation and tillage for weed control. In this workshop the focus will be on summer or warm-season cover crops for use in no-till production of fall vegetables. Participants will learn about selecting and managing cover crops for no-till vegetable production. They will also have an opportunity to view different summer cover crops in research plots at Clemson’s Coastal Research & Education Center Farm, and see termination of cover crops using a roll-crimper attachment. Continue reading →
Filed under: news | Tagged: Clemson University, cover crops, sustainable agriculture | Leave a comment »
Posted on August 30, 2016 by southernipmcenter
by Mick Kulikowski
In the first large-scale and comprehensive study on the impacts of transporting honey bees to pollinate various crops, research from North Carolina State University shows that travel can adversely affect bee health and lifespan. Some of these negative impacts may be reduced by moving bee colonies into patches with readily available food or by providing supplemental nutrition when there are few flowers for honey bees to visit, the researchers say.
Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are among the country’s most important agricultural pollinators. They are frequently trucked around the United States – in short and long distances – to pollinate crops like apples, almonds and berries. But the impact of that travel remains unclear and ripe for study, says Hongmei Li-Byarlay, a National Research Council senior research associate in NC State’s Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology and co-first author of a paper describing the research, which aimed to be the first to directly measure stress in these types of colonies. Continue reading →
Filed under: news | Tagged: bee health, david tarpy, honey bees, migrating bees, pollinator protection | Leave a comment »
Posted on August 30, 2016 by southernipmcenter
USDA APHIS is seeking comments on a proposed rule to amend the import requirements on fresh lemon fruit from Chile into the continental United States. The proposed rule will be available for review and the comment period will be reopened for 30 days ending September 26, 2016. Continue reading →
Filed under: news | Tagged: APHIS, Chile, lemons, quarantines, USDA | Leave a comment »
Posted on August 30, 2016 by southernipmcenter
Dr. May R. Berenbaum shed light on the relationship between insects and plants during today’s 2016 Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Sterling B. Hendricks Memorial Lecture. Her talk was presented at the American Chemical Society (ACS) Fall Meeting in Philadelphia.
Internationally recognized for her research about interactions between insects and their host plants, Berenbaum through her work has fundamentally changed the understanding of the relationship between insects and the plants they eat. That research has created the basis for the theory of coevolution. She has described the “arms race” between plants and the insects that feed on them. Her work has provided a strong evolutionary outline for insects’ resistance to insecticides. Continue reading →
Filed under: news | Tagged: insect-host interactions, May Berenbaum, Sterling B. Hendricks Memorial Lecture | Leave a comment »
Posted on August 30, 2016 by southernipmcenter
The Department of Entomology & Plant Pathology at North Carolina State University invites applications for a 12-month tenure-track position at the Assistant Professor level. This faculty position is located on the main campus in Raleigh, North Carolina, and has a 60% research and 40% extension appointment. The position carries responsibilities for research and extension relating to arthropod management in row crops (including cotton, corn, peanuts, soybeans, small grains, sorghum and sweet potatoes) and requires a firm understanding of arthropod ecology, current pest management practices, and their interactions across multiple spatiotemporal scales in NC agroecosystems. Continue reading →
Filed under: employment | Tagged: assistant professor, pest management positions, plant pathology, precision pest ecology, row crops | Leave a comment »
Posted on August 30, 2016 by southernipmcenter
The University of Georgia is announcing an opening for a new Agriculture & Natural Resources County Extension Agent opening in Cordele, GA – Crisp County.
General information about UGA County Extension Agent positions may be found at: http://extension.uga.edu/about/join/careers.cfm. Continue reading →
Filed under: employment | Tagged: extension agent jobs, University of Georgia | Leave a comment »
Posted on August 30, 2016 by southernipmcenter
The Southern Region Small Fruit Consortium (SRSFC) requests proposals for calendar year 2017 to support pertinent applied research and outreach activities on small fruit crops in Arkansas, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
The Consortium especially encourages outreach proposals that result in the development of web-based in-service agent training modules in areas such as marketing strategies, pest management, post-harvest / handling, and enterprise budgets. Continue reading →
Filed under: funding | Tagged: funding, pest management funding, small fruit, southern region small fruit consortium | Leave a comment »
Posted on August 30, 2016 by southernipmcenter
If you live in the Northeast, August is the time to check for Asian longhorned beetles or their distinctive holes. After first frost, any adult beetles die, but eggs and larvae may be hiding inside some of your trees waiting for next summer. USDA has eradicated several sites where the beetle was based on homeowner calls.
Read this USDA blog story for more information and for pictures of what to look for.
Filed under: news | Tagged: Asian longhorned beetle, insect control, invasive species | Leave a comment »
Posted on August 30, 2016 by southernipmcenter
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) today announced $18.9 million in renewal awards to build or improve agricultural and food science research facilities and equipment at historically black Land-Grant Colleges and Universities. Today’s announcement builds on USDA’s ongoing efforts to foster strong partnerships with the 1890 community, ensure equal access to USDA programs and services, and support educational opportunities for the next generation of farmers and ranchers. Continue reading →
Filed under: featured | Tagged: 1890 universities, NIFA, USDA | Leave a comment »
Posted on August 30, 2016 by southernipmcenter
This webinar is sponsored by the Environmental Protection Agency on September 22 from 1 PM to 2:30 PM ET.
Webinar participants will learn how to—
- Gain buy-in from senior management and other stakeholders by successfully communicating how academic performance can be improved with a comprehensive IAQ management program, which includes providing optimal ventilation.
- Improve ventilation and save energy by taking critical steps and implementing proven Technical Solutions from the IAQ Tools for Schools Action Kit.
- Use the School IAQ Assessment Mobile App to increase participation in and accountability for regular assessments of the indoor school environment.
- Replicate proven strategies used by a successful school district to garner broad stakeholder support for implementing preventive maintenance plans for optimal ventilation.
Continue reading →
Filed under: news | Tagged: cockroaches, EPA, IAQ, indoor air quality | Leave a comment »
