2024-2025 NYSIPM Annual Report

The New York State Integrated Pest Management program is proud to present its 2024-2025 Annual Report, highlighting our continued dedication to sustainable pest management and our commitment to creating a healthier and more resilient New York State.

person inspecting farm equipment

2024-2025 Highlights

For nearly 40 years, the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program has served as a trusted leader, providing science-based strategies for managing pests in communities across New York. As we look to our next 40 years, we’re raising the bar by conducting groundbreaking research, providing science-based education and strategies, helping to inform and interpret pest management policy and strengthening our internal structures to reach people in New York and beyond.

Letter from the Director
NYSIPM By the Numbers

Research and Results

Course offers clarity, compliance for neonicotinoid applicators
Study looks at financial impact of spotted lanternfly
Project targets weed reduction on New York farms
Unintended impacts of pesticide use on macro-organisms

Education

Gardeners develop a taste for fruit IPM at Annual Conference
Keeping public housing pest-free: an integrated approach
National workshop looks at training manuals for pesticide applicators
Training aims to protect right-of-way pesticide applicators

Outreach and Extension

Network serves as essential tool for NY sweet corn growers
Calming fears, dispelling myths about the Joro spider
Keeping New Yorkers safe from ticks
NEWA Provides Freeze Risk Forecasts for Vineyards
Building beneficial knowledge: profiles provide tools for using biocontrol agents

Informing and Interpreting Policy

Winning the Rat Race
Pesticide labels and endangered species

Featured Stories

Research and Results

Project targets weed reduction on New York farms

To help growers develop comprehensive weed control strategies, our Integrated Weed Management Specialist, Bryan Brown, launched a project to help farmers deplete the weeds in their soils. 

Education

Gardeners develop a taste for fruit IPM at Annual Conference

NYSPM’s annual conference, “Fruit IPM for the Home Garden and Landscapes,” provided novice and seasoned growers and gardeners with strategies for reducing pests in home fruit crops.

Outreach and Extension

Calming fears, dispelling myths about the Joro spider

With adjectives like “giant” and “venomous” at the forefront of media coverage surrounding the Joro spider, New York State Integrated Pest Management Director helped alleviate public concern over the invasive pest’s anticipated Empire State arrival during summer 2024.

Informing and Interpreting Policy

Winning the Rat Race

The Inaugural National Urban Rat Summit was a two day event for academic researchers, municipal managers, and regulatory agency staff to share research and collaborate on municipal rat management, including best practices and brainstorming possible innovations and technologies for the future. 

person posing in front of a greenhouse full of trays of soils of different shades
A person squatting in a patch of wildflowers in front of a fence
Alejandro holding a vial with a preserved relative of the joro spider up to the camera.
person presenting in front of a screen with a photo of a rat displaying it's teeth

Expanding Statewide Expertise

New York State Integrated Pest Management’s award-winning team expands knowledge and access to sustainable pest management practices in every corner of the Empire State. From inspiring and empowering diverse audiences and stakeholder communities to conducting innovative research and engaging extension, our people make IPM possible. 

portrait of Kyle Bekelja

Supporting New York’s grape industry

A headshot image of Kayvon Ghashghai wearing a pink brimless cap and black denim jacket

Enhancing and expanding digital platforms

A headshot photo of Susannah Krysko

Protecting people and properties from pests

Raúl Lemus Garza

Bridging barriers to IPM 

a large group of people posing for the camera
Our Award Winning Team

As a global authority on community and agricultural pest management, we’re building a culture that embraces inclusivity, champions collaboration, and leverages world-class research and innovation to bring ecologically-friendly, sustainable pest management practices to New Yorkers.

Our Partners

NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets

Commissioner Richard Ball

“I always say things seem to work better when we work together, and that couldn’t be more true of our partnership with the New York State Integrated Pest Management program team. Their work has been instrumental in the state’s efforts to combat harmful invasive species like the Box Tree Moth, the Asian Longhorned Beetle, the Spotted Lanternfly, and more. Together, we are working to protect our farms, environment, and economy through public education and innovative control methods to reduce the impact of invasive species on our agricultural industry, and I look forward to many more years of partnership and collaboration.”

NYS Department of Environmental Conservation

Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton

“Keeping New Yorkers safe is a top priority and the recommendations contained in the Cornell University-based New York State Integrated Pest Management Program annual report highlights the ongoing work of DEC, the Department of Agriculture and Markets, and our partners to implement sustainable pest management practices. DEC looks forward to implementing these recommendations and developing new training opportunities with our partners to help ensure the proper use of pesticides to safely protect New Yorkers, wildlife, and the environment.”

portrait of Commissioner Richard Ball
A headshot photo of Amanda Lefton, she has curly black hair and is wearing a teal shirt with a sport jacket.

Program Funding

In fiscal year 2024-2025, New York State provided the New York State IPM Program $2,000,000 for Agricultural IPM, $2,250,000 for IPM Implementation (from NYSDAM under EPF and NYS Bioeconomy), $1,000,000 for Community IPM (from NYSDEC under EPF), $250,000 for PSEP (From NYSDEC) and $293,309 for PSUR-PSEP (From NYSDEC). We were further supported by $238,164 in USDA-NIFA-CPPM Extension Implementation Program (EIP) Area (grant no. 2024-70006-43573), and approximately $1,447,558 in program-wide leverage funding secured by IPM staff. 

A pitcher labeled IPM pouring liquid onto a squash plant inside a tent.
Photo by Jody Benedict

About 2024-2025 Annual Report

Published by New York State Integrated Pest Management [month] 2025.
Design/Layout: Jody Benedict and Henry Zelenak
Content/Editing: Carrie Carmenatty