2012

First Mobile App for Landscape and Nursery Professionals Developed May 23, 2012: Green Industry professionals often find themselves in the field needing immediate access to pest and plant disease information and plant care recommendations. Thanks to a collaborative effort of horticulturists, entomologists and plant pathologists at seven land-grant universities, now there's an app for that.
Summer bounty berry, berry early May 22, 2012: Snow had fallen by Halloween; in effect, spring arrived by Christmas, and the blossoms were popping by Easter. And despite the atmosphere’s recent flirtations with quasi-normality, the seasonal fast-forwarding trend has continued briskly in the Philadelphia region’s farms and fields, where veteran observers report that the annual bounty of summer fruits and vegetables is a full week to two weeks ahead of schedule.
Weed Identification for Berks Co. 4-H Sheep Club May 22, 2012: Berks County 4-H members specializing in working with sheep visited the farm of George and Beth Vamvakias in Boyertown, Pa., on May 8 for a hands-on weed identification exercise.
Identifying Grassy Weeds in Lawns May 22, 2012: Home gardeners often find grassy weeds growing in their lawns. These grasses do not match the rest of the lawn grass and make the lawn look patchy. So, what should you do if you find a grassy weed invading your lawn?
County finds West Nile mosquitoes in Middletown May 17, 2012: Some mosquitoes trapped near Middletown’s waste water treatment plant were infected with the West Nile Virus, Dauphin County officials said.
Ticks Making a Comeback May 16, 2012: A resurgence in the tick population in Pennsylvania is resulting in a large number of tick bites and an increase in Lyme disease cases.
Crop Diversity Decreases Pest Damage and Pesticide Use May 16, 2012: A new Penn State research project will allow growers to improve their pest control and increase grain crop production while reducing pesticide use.
Controlling Bugs Leads to Unintended Consequences May 15, 2012: To the naked eye, you would think nothing was out of the ordinary in Elam Beiler’s orchard. But look closer and you’ll see a tree that has been stripped of any life, withering, with no leaves and seemingly no hope.
Chaotic spring crushes fruit crops, especially in Erie area May 10, 2012: A series of April frosts and freezes means consumers will find fewer Pennsylvania apples and peaches this summer, and grapes and cherries from the Lake Erie region could be scarce.
Penn State researcher receives Grand Challenges Explorations grant May 10, 2012: A Penn State researcher has been chosen to receive a grant through the Grand Challenges Explorations program, an initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. David Hughes, assistant professor of entomology and biology, will pursue an innovative global health and development research project, titled "Taking Out the Bodyguards: A Novel Solution to Ag Disease."
Frost takes toll on Erie region fruit crops May 9, 2012: Grower Chester Sceiford estimates that this spring he's lost 80 to 90 percent of his cherry crop plus the grapes in low-lying areas of his vineyard. He considers himself fortunate. "There are vineyards that were totally frozen," said Sceiford, of Sceiford Quality Fruit of North East Township.
How to Conserve Wild Pollinators Explained in New Publication May 8, 2012: Orchard crops such as fruits and nuts are being heavily impacted by honey bee shortages for pollination, so growers are relying more and more on wild bees and other native pollinators to ensure an abundant harvest.
Barcoding Insects To Control Them May 4, 2012: Mention barcodes and it often brings to mind the sales tags and scanners found in supermarkets and other stores. But Agricultural Research Service scientists are using “DNA barcodes” in their search for ways to control and monitor insects that pose the greatest threats to crops as diverse as wheat, barley, and potatoes.
The Zombie-Ant Fungus Is Under Attack, Research Reveals May 3, 2012: A parasite that fights the zombie-ant fungus has yielded some of its secrets to an international research team led by David Hughes of Penn State University.
A dose of treatment: Workshop shows ways to combat swift-moving ash borer May 3, 2012: Rick Turcotte, an entomologist with the U.S. Forest Service, said the chemical used to protect Pennsylvania’s trees from the invasive and highly damaging emerald ash borer has a fitting name.
New GM Crops Could Make Superweeds Even Stronger May 2, 2012: Herbicide-resistant superweeds threaten to overgrow U.S. fields, so agriculture companies have genetically engineered a new generation of plants to withstand heavy doses of multiple, extra-toxic weed-killing chemicals.
Waste not, want not: Dive into composting this spring May 2, 2012: Mark Smallwood first learned about compost as a child while preparing a garden for growing onions. "My earliest memories are in the garden with my grandmother, making compost," said Smallwood, executive director for the Rodale Institute in Maxatawny Township.
Ticks not necessarily worse this year May 1, 2012: Anyone who spends time in the outdoors is probably aware of the dangers ticks pose to pets and people. Despite some anecdotal evidence that there could be a boom in the tick population in 2012, experts say it’s really too soon to tell.
Dow Corn, Resistant to a Weed Killer, Runs Into Opposition April 26, 2012: To Jody Herr, it was a telltale sign that one of his tomato fields had been poisoned by 2,4-D, the powerful herbicide that was an ingredient in Agent Orange, the Vietnam War defoliant.
Daylong Cram Course in Agriculture April 26, 2012: Alumni Hall at Penn State University’s campus was crowded with booths and students on April 12 for the University’s Ag Day.
FRANKLIN COUNTY GARDENING: Two things that bug us April 26, 2012: It's time to begin a lookout for two insect pests that make an appearance each year in the area: gypsy moths and mosquitoes.
In search of the 'lost ladybug' April 25, 2012: Leah Tyrrell wants to make something clear: She does not wear ladybug sweatshirts. She does not carry her belongings in ladybug bags, shelter from the rain beneath a ladybug-shaped umbrella, or take notes with pens decorated with little ladybugs.
Starbucks to phase out coloring from crushed beetles April 25, 2012: Starbucks Corp said on its blog on Thursday that it will stop using a natural, government-approved coloring made from crushed beetles in its strawberry flavoring by late June, bowing to pressure from some vegetarian customers.
Push for local agriculture, products is growing April 24, 2012: Buy local means many things to many people. It is the heirloom tomato grown on a Perry County farm, sliced and paired with locally made buffalo mozzarella cheese on a caprese salad. It is the coffee, roasted by hand and brewed from bean to cup at the corner coffee shop. Or the neighbors chipping in to purchase organic grass-fed beef from a nearby farm.
Every Curb is a Shoreline: Responsible Yard and Garden Care to Protect Water Quality April 23, 2012: The growing season began early this year in Pennsylvania, so that means that many of us have already been hard at work preparing yards and gardens for the impending warmer weather.
Weed Resistance Creates New Normal for Farmers April 23, 2012: Dealing with herbicide resistant crops is a way of life for Richard Wilkins of Greenwood, Del. The first herbicide resistant weed discovery was made in 2000 on a farm a few miles from his. Wilkins, along with Penn State Extension weed specialist Bill Curran, discussed the challenges and realities of weed herbicide resistance Monday with members of the North American Agricultural Journalists.
Keeping Flies, Bugs Uncomfortable April 19, 2012: Flies, odors and neighbors — oh my. During the Technology Tuesday webinar sponsored by the Penn State Dairy Team, the topic turned from cow comfort to tackle another farm issue, flies and odors. Robert Graves, professor of agricultural engineering at Penn State, said the goal is to keep flies and odor-making microbes “uncomfortable.” Unhappy flies and other pests mean smaller populations.
Extension Educators Adjust to New Reality April 17, 2012: Having been a county Extension director in Lebanon County for the past 12 years, Winifred McGee has had to split her time wisely between her administrative duties and providing programs to the public. But with recent changes to Penn State’s Extension system, McGee is returning to her first love — focusing solely on education.
Backyard Pesticide Use May Fuel Bee Die-Offs April 17, 2012: The controversy over possible links between massive bee die-offs and agricultural pesticides has overshadowed another threat: the use of those same pesticides in backyards and gardens. Neonicotinoid pesticides are ubiquitous in everday consumer plant treatments, and may expose bees to far higher doses than those found on farms, where neonicotinoids used in seed coatings are already considered a major problem by many scientists.
PA IPM News Spring 2012 Now Available April 16, 2012: The PA IPM News Spring 2012 edition is now available as a downloadable PDF file and includes articles on bed bugs, ants, Christmas tree scouting reports, green cleaning products, West Nile virus and more.
Warm Weather is Increasing Insects in Lackawanna County April 16, 2012: Sunshine dappled the surface of Lake Scranton and the sky was pastel blue, but Erin McBride found herself running through a black cloud on her daily jog. "This is the worst I've seen it so far this year," the 25-year-old Old Forge native said after her run Tuesday. "It was definitely a cloud (of insects). I had to keep my head down to keep from getting them in my eyes and mouth."
Expert sees increase in ticks April 13, 2012: A scientist believes people living in the Northeast might be at greater risk of contracting Lyme disease this year than ever before. That's the unsettling assessment by Richard S. Ostfeld, a disease ecologist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, N.Y.
Weeds Off to a Happy Start April 13, 2012: A weed couldn't ask for better weather than we've had so far this year. The same extraordinarily warm start that had our dogwoods blooming three weeks early has been a boon to weeds as well -- especially ones that sprout from seed in late winter to early spring.
Researchers seek fix for destructive bug April 11, 2012: Pennsylvania’s state tree — the eastern hemlock — is threatened by a bug in about three-quarters of counties. Local farmers hope to draw attention to the problem, and Penn State researchers are working to find a natural enemy to combat the bug — the hemlock woolly adelgid.
West Nile Virus Strikes Early April 5, 2012: A mild winter and balmy spring temperatures means increasing mosquito populations and the diseases they carry, including West Nile Virus.
Whole Room Heat Treatment Controls Bedbugs April 5, 2012: Penn State University, teamed with Parks Pest Control and Orkin, is using whole room heat to control the bedbug infestations in dorm rooms.
Early Warm Temps Mean Early Pest Pressure April 2, 2012: Researchers in Pennsylvania and Michigan have started a full-court press in providing growers with information on the latest pest monitoring and control tips.
Growers Get Tools to Deal With Plant Diseases March 30, 2012: The warmer than usual winter and balmy start to spring has Beth Gugino, plant pathologist at Penn State, concerned about pathogens that may have lived on plant tissue that didn’t die over winter.
More ticks mean more bites March 30, 2012: When Donna Fisher's 12-year-old son, Matthew, woke up one morning complaining of back pain, she thought he had just slept awkwardly. "I started to rub his back and he said, 'You have to stop — that hurts,' " said Fisher, a New Kensington resident. When Fisher called to check on him later that day, Matthew said his older brother, Sean, told him he had a blackhead on his back.
Ticks, stink bugs flourish after mild winter March 28, 2012: Because of the very mild winter, some of the area's most annoying pests never went dormant, making this spring "horrendous" for ticks and fleas, one local doctor says. The size and strength of the stink bug population is left up to anyone's guess.
Maker Pulls Pesticide Amid Fear of Toxicity March 28, 2012: A manufacturer has pulled a controversial pesticide from the American market, surprising both growers and environmentalists who have warned that it poses serious hazards.
Growers assess damage from Monday night freeze March 28, 2012: Monday night was sleepless for Adam Voll, who spent the wee hours fanning apple trees and irrigating peach trees at his family's farm in Butler County, where the temperature fell to 19 degrees, damaging at least some of the crops.
Expert Expects Large Tick Population After Warm Winter March 26, 2012: Although the growing season hasn’t even started, there’s already a bumper crop — of a critter that really ticks people off.
Enjoying the warmth? So are breeding ticks March 20, 2012: Warm weather beckons us outdoors. It also brings out the bugs. Both of them together can be a dangerous combination. Especially if it's blood-sucking deer ticks that latch themselves onto your skin and can cause a painful and debilitating disease.
Christmas Tree Scouting Reports Now Available March 20, 2012: Christmas tree scouting reports for the 2012 growing season are now available online at the Pennsylvania IPM Program's website and on the 1-800 PENN IPM hotline.
A boon or a bane? High temps are here March 20, 2012: A mild winter that’s ending with an early warm-up can be a great thing for sun lovers and folks with an aversion to the cold. But it can also cause some problems: • a potential for ruined fruit crops. • an early start for some allergies. • and the early appearance of some stinging insects.
Destructive stink bug found in Somerset County March 19, 2012: The brown marmorated stink bug — an invasive species officials have been worried about for more than a year — has been confirmed in Markleton. The voracious plant-eater, identified by scientists at Pennsylvania State University, was found by Tony Marich in his home.
Dreaded, costly emerald ash borer has arrived in the Philly region March 19, 2012: A small, glitter-green insect that has killed more than 50 million ash trees in the Midwest and beyond has arrived in the Philadelphia region. Officials had both dreaded and expected it - just not this soon.
March 18-24 is Poison Prevention Week March 19, 2012: U.S. poison centers answer more than four million calls each year. That’s one call every eight seconds! This March marks the 50th anniversary of National Poison Prevention Week. In honor of this important occasion, the U.S. EPA is hosting a conference call on poison prevention with Administrator Lisa P. Jackson on Monday, March 19 at 10:30am EDT.
IPM researcher sees challenges ahead March 16, 2012: When Dr. Larry Hull entered the world of land-grant university tree fruit entomologists in 1972, integrated pest management was just the new kid on the block. The idea of IPM was to draw back from the heavy reliance on chemical pesticides and to integrate a diverse group of pest control tactics, most of which were just ideas that needed to be developed.
Parasite Manipulation of Host Behavior March 16, 2012: A dead Camponotus leonardi ant infected by Ophiocordyceps unilateralis s.l, a brain-manipulating fungus. The fungus has grown stalks from the ant's head and the bulbous, reddish tissue on the stalks are ascomata (spore producing bodies), from which spores are shot out nightly to infect new hosts.
Pennsylvania growers get another all-clear on Plum Pox virus March 15, 2012: Pennsylvania’s fruit orchards remain free of the Plum Pox virus. That’s the good news relayed by State Agriculture Secretary George Greig, reporting on the results of a survey conducted last summer in Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York counties.
Stink Bugs Still Big Threat Despite Decline March 9, 2012: It appears growers are at least doing their part to control the brown marmorated stink bug, or Asian stink bug as it is now referred to, as evidenced by their apparent decline in numbers in orchards last season.
Bugged: How Philly exterminator extraordinaire outsmarts pests March 7, 2012: Martin Overline doesn't like to brag, so he leaves it to others to say what he will not: He ranks among the best mouse men on the East Coast. He doesn't breed mice or collect them for study. He kills them. Sends them on their furry, four-footed journey to that giant mousetrap in the sky. And metes out similar fates to other creeping, crawling pests.
Farmers Face Tough Choice On Ways To Fight New Strains Of Weeds March 7, 2012: David Mortensen, a weed ecologist at Penn State University, predicts that weeds will evolve resistance to new herbicides too. He says it's a kind of treadmill, where farmers constantly need new weedkillers. "When one herbicide fails, you add a second herbicide, and then a third herbicide to the package. And I am convinced that this is not a sustainable path forward," he says.
Sharing Knowledge and Best Practices Conference March 5, 2012: Steve Jacobs. Jacobs, a senior extension associate with the Pennsylvania State University Department of Entomology, talked about the brown marmorated stink bug at a recent Chicago pest management conference.
Review State K-12 School Environmental Health Program Guidelines March 5, 2012: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released for public comment the K-12 School Environmental Health Program Guidelines for States, Tribes and Territories. The guidelines are primarily intended to be used as a resource for the establishment of a state, tribal, or territorial K-12 school environmental health program. EPA encourages the public to review the draft guidelines and provide comments by April 13, 2012.
The PA IPM News Winter 2012 edition is now available February 27, 2012
Bed Bugs Can’t Beat the Heat at Penn State February 27, 2012: As bed bugs continue to be a growing problem in apartment buildings, dorm rooms, hotels, hospitals and homes across the country, a new treatment method is proving to be very effective and less disruptive for students at Penn State.
When “Green” is not so Green February 24, 2012: Take a walk down the aisle of your local supermarket or hardware store and you’ll see plenty of products with labels using phrases like “eco-safe” and “environmentally friendly”. Such “green” claims can help us choose better products, but how can we be sure they are what they claim?
PASA Leaders Share Hope for the Future, but Also Fear February 14, 2012: When Kim Seeley joined the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) more than a dozen years ago, the once conventional dairy farmer saw it as a life-changing experience.
Integrated weed management best response to herbicide resistance February 10, 2012: Over-reliance on glyphosate-type herbicides for weed control on U.S. farms has created a dramatic increase in the number of genetically-resistant weeds, according to a team of agricultural researchers, who say the solution lies in an integrated weed management program.
Penn State offers programs to help agriculture, people February 6, 2012: Penn State Cooperative Extension has played a key role in the success of many agriculture-related businesses. "We would not be in business without Penn State Extension and their expertise," said Pat Frazier, owner of Lock Mountain Strawberries on Lock Mountain Road, west of Martinsburg.
Effort to establish blight-free American chestnut tree switches gears January 31, 2012: The three-decades-old initiative to restore American chestnut trees back into forests in the eastern United States has entered a new phase, according to an expert in Penn State's College of Agricultural Sciences.
Farmers Learning Limits of Popular Herbicide January 31, 2012: Pigweed spreads fast and grows as tall as two meters. This weed can overpower cotton and other crops. It comes from the amaranth family and is also known as Palmer amaranth or Palmer's pigweed.
Use Caution when Handling Bleach January 24, 2012: UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Household bleach has many uses. It deodorizes, disinfects, kills germs, mold and mildew, but can be toxic if not handled correctly, says a Penn State educator.
Philly Child Care Directors Featured January 24, 2012: PHILADELPHIA, Pa. -- Building on relationships with Philadelphia child cares, a new Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management project with the city’s child care directors will promote safer and healthier indoor environments in these facilities.
Registration is now open for the 7th International IPM Symposium January 23, 2012: The 7th International IPM Symposium, "IPM on the World Stage-Solutions for Global Pest Challenges," will be held in Memphis, Tennessee USA on March 27-29, 2012 at the Memphis Cook Convention Center. Symposium sessions will address Integrated Pest Management (IPM) across disciplines, internationally, in the market place, agricultural, structural community settings, horticultural, and natural environments.
Are schools making kids sick? January 16, 2012: As a third-grader in Winsted, Connecticut, last year, Matthew Asselin was sick -- a lot. He was lethargic and plagued with a persistent wet cough, respiratory infections and painful headaches.
Pennsylvania Fruit Tree Improvement Program Ensures Clean Trees January 16, 2012: UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. -- Fruit tree viruses are very costly to nursery owners, fruit producers, and consumers. The Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture’s virus testing certification ensures that fruit trees produced at participating nurseries are being grown using practices that greatly reduce the presence of common viruses.
Parasitic flies turn bees into zombies before wiping them out completely January 4, 2012: Something is very wrong with the bees. Since 2006, the mysterious phenomenon known as colony collapse disorder has wiped out countless honeybee colonies throughout Europe and North America, and nobody knows why. But a weird parasite may hold the answer.
Bugs may be resistant to genetically modified corn January 3, 2012: One of the nation's most widely planted crops — a genetically engineered corn plant that makes its own insecticide — may be losing its effectiveness because a major pest appears to be developing resistance more quickly than scientists expected.

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