Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center (LIHREC)

Saturday, July 13th, 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM, rain of shine.

The display gardens will be open all day and there will be guided garden tours on the hour.  Special seminars will be offered during the day including one on “Flower Arranging” at noon.  A plant sale focusing on herbs, dahlias, unusual plants, and hanging baskets will also be held for those who are interested in finding something new for their home.  Special on-going activities during the Open House include Victory Garden demonstrations where guests can learn about growing vegetables, and wagon ride tours of the 68-acre research farm (10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.; this is not recommended for children).

Everyone is welcome and admission is FREE.

Contact Mark Bridgen, mpb27 [at] cornell.edu (mpb27[at]cornell[dot]edu) or 631-921-4941 

Tuesday, July 16th, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Educational day for summer interns in horticulture and agriculture. Registration required. 

This summer, for the second year, Cornell University’s Long Island Horticultural Research & Extension Center (LIHREC) will hold an Intern Field Day for summer interns in horticulture and agriculture. The Field Day will be held at LIHREC in Riverhead on Tuesday, July 16.

The objectives of the Intern Field Day are to give summer workers and new employees an opportunity to learn about careers in horticulture and agriculture, to view the research programs at the LIHREC, and to provide an opportunity to network with professionals and fellow interns.

The Intern Field Day will begin at 10:30 am with tours of the various programs.  Horticulture professionals will discuss four commodity areas: (1) vegetables, (2) nursery and ornamentals, (3) greenhouse and floriculture, and (4) grapes. The speakers will include Dr. Margery Daughtrey, Dan Gilrein, Dr. Nora Catlin, Sandra Menasha, Dr. Mark Bridgen, Mina Vescera, Alice Wise, Emily Lindback, and Dr. Daniel Heck.

Registration form

Contact Mark Bridgen, mpb27 [at] cornell.edu (mpb27[at]cornell[dot]edu) or 631-921-4941 (mobile)

Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center (LIHREC) Plant Science Day

Thursday, July 18, 2024, Sign in starts at 3:30 PM, program starts at 4:00 PM

The Cornell Long Island Horticultural Research & Extension Center (LIHREC) will hold its annual Plant Science Day for agriculture and horticulture professionals on Thursday, July 18th.  Professionals will be able to take tours in one of four commodity areas: (1) vegetables, (2) nursery and ornamentals, (3) greenhouse and floriculture, and (4) grapes. Speakers will include Mark Bridgen, Nora Catlin, Margery Daughtrey, Jared Dyer, Dan Gilrein, Daniel Heck, Emily Lindback, Sandra Menasha, Mina Vescera, and Alice Wise.  DEC recertification credits will be available.

Following the tours, at 6:00 p.m., a barbecue will be held on-site at the LIHREC. Thanks to Farm Credit East for a sponsorship towards the dinner and to Burpee Seeds for a sponsorship towards drinks, the cost for the barbecue is only $25 per person.  Participants are encouraged to attend both the tours and the barbeque dinner during Plant Science Day, but if you prefer, you can attend just one or the other.  However, pre-registration is required to attend the BBQ.

There is no fee to attend the tours; those who wish to stay for dinner the fee is $25/person and must be received by Wednesday, July 10.  Checks should be made payable to Cornell University; sorry, no credit cards are accepted.  Send reservations and payments to: Cornell University LIHREC, 3059 Sound Avenue, Riverhead, NY  11901.  

More info and registration form

Contact Karen Levasseur at LIHREC: kml67 [at] cornell.edu (kml67[at]cornell[dot]edu), 631-727-3595

Three research and extension professionals received SOAR Awards while working at LIHREC.

The SOAR Award honors those, who provide outstanding support and contributions to the mission of the national IR-4 Project, a program that helps specialty crop growers to address pest management concerns. 

The awardees, pictured above from left to right:

Dr. Margaret McGrath, Emeritus Associate Professor, School of Integrative Plant Science at the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. Meg received her award in 2014. Meg retired from Cornell University in May 2023, but still maintains a keen interest in all things concerned with plant pathology.

Daniel Gilrein, Senior Entomologist, Cornell Cooperative Extension (CCE) of Suffolk Co. Dan received the award in 2023.

Dr. Andrew Senesac, Senior Weed Scientist, Cornell CCE of Suffolk Co. Andy received his award in 2016. Although Andy retired from full time employment in 2022, he continues to work part-time to help fill the weed science needs of Long Island until a replacement is hired.

Awardees are selected based on: the service provided towards the mission by participating on IR-4 committees, advisory panels, or similar activities; the excellent outreach performed to help educate others about IR-4’s importance to growers; their altruism by donating time and effort toward IR-4’s mission; and the outstanding research contributed that aides in expanding product labels and increasing understanding of product use.