2023-2024 Director Remarks

During his 2024 State of New York Agriculture Address, Commissioner of the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Richard Ball, noted that, “New York needs good tools for farmers that consider the growing complexities of a changing culture, changing climate, new old pests, and sound, science-based practices.” New York State Integrated Pest Management is proud to meet these needs for New York’s ag community, and all New Yorkers. But if we’ve learned one thing during our 39 years of developing safe and sustainable solutions to pests, it’s that we can’t do it alone. 

While we accomplished tremendous things in 2023-2024—we expanded our statewide footprint, developed innovative alternatives to neonicotinoid pesticides, served as a recognized leader in the control of invasive species and conducted essential outreach to keep schools and communities safe from pests—none of our successes would have been realized without the help of our partners and collaborators across the state. While it would be impossible to mention every individual and agency that has had an impact on our work, I’m pleased to highlight a few of the key projects that have benefitted from the rich community of collaboration that makes what we do possible. 

Expanding our Statewide Footprint 

From the Hudson Valley Research Laboratory to the Lake Erie Regional Grape Program, NYSIPM is leveraging Cornell University’s vast resource network to ensure that Extension, research and resources are available to each of New York’s 20 million residents. This year, we expanded our Program’s reach by welcoming Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Pesticide Safety Education Program under the NYSIPM umbrella, hiring a Western New York Community IPM specialist and strengthening relationships with CCE Regional Ag teams, Cornell research faculty and state partners to ensure that we are aware and able to respond to the needs of residents in every corner of the state. 

Alternatives to Neonicotinoid Pesticides 

For the second year, we’ve bolstered our efforts to ensure that farmers, growers and producers have access to the information and resources they need to adjust to emerging legislation that aims to protect pollinators from the effects of neonicotinoid pesticide treatments.  We’ve partnered with experts from Cornell’s Department of Entomology and Horticulture to conduct cutting-edge research, evaluate findings and practicable and feasible alternatives to current treatment methods. We also recruited our first Program economist to ensure that the solutions we propose aren’t just scientifically sound but economically viable for New York’s agriculture industry. 

Stopping the Spread of Invasive Species 

With the help of our Program partners, New York State Agriculture and Markets and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, we’ve established ourselves as a leader in the battle against invasive spotted lanternfly and box tree moth. Our April 2023 Spotted Lanternfly Conference brought educators, researchers and state regulatory officials to the Cornell AgriTech campus to discuss new developments in research, opportunities for increased collaboration and ways to enhance communication and advocacy efforts. Our team also acted immediately to help spread the word about the discovery of box tree moth in New York State. We quickly created web pages designed to help residents recognize and report BTM, planted demonstration trial highlighting alternatives to boxwood plants and launched a social media campaign that reached countless users. 

Keeping Schools and State Employees Safe from Pests 

More than any year in recent history, our Community and Urban Integrated Pest Management team took to the road to share information and resources to help keep New York schools and state agency employees safe from pests. We partnered with regional BOCES programs to show school facilities teams how to safeguard buildings and playing fields from common pests and visited New York State Department of Environmental Conservation regional offices to provide training designed to keep outdoor employees safe from ticks and tick-borne diseases. 

In all, the work the NYSIPM team completed this year impacted, and will impact for generations to come, the lives of tens of thousands of New Yorkers, and we are eternally grateful to everyone who worked beside us in the fields, labs, classrooms, communities, and offices across the state to make it happen. Together, we are making a difference. 

With gratitude,
Alejandro Calixto