Tree Fruit and Small Fruit IPM Support - Scouting and Monitoring to Support Hudson Valley Farms

Fruit production is one of the most important sectors of NY State agriculture, and the Hudson Valley region is home to some of the most diversified farms in the state. The goal of this project is to assist local orchards and berry farms with implementing Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. To do this, we will visit local farms to monitor and track activity of important pests. We will also develop resources, such as online fact sheets to support farmers' knowledge and decision making.  

Roles and responsibilities

The CCE student intern will learn about the major economically significant pests of tree fruit and berries (primarily apples, blueberries, strawberries, and brambles). They will also be trained on monitoring and scouting procedures for key pests. They will then travel to orchards throughout the region to check insect traps and scout for other pests. They will also get to learn about how applied research is conducted in agriculture. Other work will include developing resources such as fact sheets and scouting guides to support the tree fruit industry.

Qualifications and previous coursework

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

• Experience or course work related to agriculture, plant science, entomology, pathology, horticulture, insect or disease identification, or fruit production is desired but not required.
• The student will need to be prepared to do field work in various kinds of weather.
• They should be comfortable doing work independently and as part of a team.
• The intern must have excellent attention to detail and accountability. Computer skills are also desired (Microsoft office suite, graphic design, data management).
• The selected intern will be required to drive on behalf of the summer project and must have reliable transportation

Learning outcomes

The student will be immersed in the fruit industry and IPM for tree fruit and small fruit. They will leave with a general knowledge of this industry how Cornell and Cornell Extension support the fruit industry in our state. They will also get to participate in the scientific community of the Hudson Valley Research Lab (HVRL), a small, collaborative facility with a small orchard focused on research and extension to support fruit production in this region.