Spotted Lanternfly Extension and Outreach in the Finger Lakes

Spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect that can severely damage vineyards by feeding on grapevines in large numbers. This pest presents a major threat to New York’s grape and wine industry, which attracts more than 2.84 million tourists annually. A recent arrival to the Finger Lakes region, spotted lanternfly primarily spreads by “hitch hiking” on vehicles and farm equipment. 

The grape and wine industry contributes approximately $541.9 million in annual tourism expenditures which provides crucial economic support to Finger Lakes communities. However, frequent vehicle traffic into and out of the region increases the risk of transporting spotted lanternflies to vineyards. The purpose of this project is to support the local grower community by slowing the regional spread of spotted lanternfly and assisting CALS and extension personnel in research aimed at developing practical management strategies and recommendations.

The intern will develop and deliver an extension program to inform winery visitors and motivate them to take simple actions that reduce spread of this pest as they travel through the region. The intern will also be involved in applied research projects aimed at developing management strategies. Interns will gain experience scouting vineyards and monitoring lanternfly populations at vineyards throughout the region. Outcomes of this project will include hands-on experience engaging and educating the public and grape growers about spotted lanternfly, the creation and distribution of outreach materials (e.g., signage, brochures), and the development and delivery of an extension program.

Roles and responsibilities 

The intern will receive training in insect and host identification, as well as vineyard scouting by shadowing CALS Entomologists, Invasive Species Specialists, CCE agents, and Finger Lakes PRISM personnel. Working with CCE and CALS mentors, the intern will organize and develop outreach materials to be distributed to guests at vineyards throughout the region. Activities will focus on high-risk zones, identified in part by the intern, including locations near known infestations, high-traffic corridors such as major roads and wine trails, and areas close to state border crossings. The incumbent will record metrics on program impact, such as keeping track of materials distributed and counts of public engagements. They will also attend extension meetings and accompany CALS and CCE personnel during farm visits to assist with SLF scouting and to gain experience in grower-CCE interactions, and will assist in applied research projects as needed. This position requires regional travel during work hours as well as participation in bi-weekly grower Tailgate meetings (4:30-6:00 PM). It also will require working outdoors in sometimes unfavorable conditions. 
 

Qualifications and previous coursework

This opportunity is available to non-graduating students in Cornell University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

• Applicants will be required to possess a valid driver’s license and be willing to regularly travel regionally, occasionally up to 100 miles in a day.
• They must also be willing to attend bi-weekly extension meetings after hours (4:30 – 6:00 PM). The aim of this opportunity is to train the next generation of extension personnel by providing practical extension experience.
• Qualified applicants will be interested in improving their skills in the following areas:
  • developing their oral and written communication skills
  • becoming comfortable communicating with growers and the public
  • improving organizational skills, and developing their enthusiasm for public and grower outreach
• Education in related fields, including but not limited to entomology, plant pathology, viticulture, environmental science, horticulture, and or marketing / communications would be beneficial
   

Learning outcomes 

The aim of this internship is to provide meaningful extension and outreach experiences that both support the grape grower community and help interns make informed decisions about their future career paths. The intern will learn about the grape and wine industry and gain insight into how universities, extension programs, government agencies, industry groups, and non-profit organizations collaborate to support agriculture. The intern will develop practical plant and insect identification skills and learn how insect pests impact grapevines. They will also gain experience organizing educational initiatives, creating outreach materials, and collecting metrics to evaluate program impact.