Students aid Spanish-speaking agriculture communities in NY

Sandra Lizarraga, who worked with entomology assistant professor Monique Rivera, produced four bilingual presentations about apple pest management for events hosted by Wayne County Cornell Cooperative Extension and New York State Integrated Pest Management. She also developed Spanish and English fact sheets on apple pest management, which are currently under review.

Natalia Piñeros-Guerrero, working under the guidance of Sarah Pethybridge, professor of plant pathology and plant microbe-biology, reviewed and translated fact sheets related to vegetable diseases, such as Cercospora leaf spot and Rhizoctonia crown and root rot of table beet. The fact sheets have been posted on the Cornell Vegetables website to make them accessible to commercial growers and the general public.

"Language barriers can impede communication and education, affecting productivity and safety,” said Piñeros-Guerrero. “Providing materials in Spanish promotes inclusivity and accessibility to critical information, such as pest management strategies, safety protocols and crop management.”

Leonardo (Leo) Salgado worked with Brian Nault, professor of entomology, and Alejandro Calixto, director of New York State Integrated Pest Management, on translating essential fact sheets on pesticide safety and specialty crop pests. With Cornell Orange County Specialists Ethan Grundberg and Raul Lemus Garza, Salgado also participated in Spanish-language presentations during field days with Spanish-speaking farmworkers and growers in Orange County. Additionally, he participated in two “What’s Bugging You?” Integrated Pest Management events, where he discussed myths about mosquito-repellent plants and the management of the squash vine borer.

Through collaboration with New York State Integrated Pest Management and the Cornell Farmworker Program, several students had the opportunity to talk with participants of events hosted at Geneseo, Ithaca, and Syracuse by Cornell Farmworker Program about pest management strategies for vegetable pests, the invasive Spotted Lantern Fly, and tick management strategies.

Extension and Outreach Assistantships allow students to use their skills and academic expertise to produce accessible and impactful resources that address critical needs in agriculture, bridging the gap between scientific research and practical application. Additionally, in collaboration with Cornell’s extension and outreach programs and local agricultural stakeholders, these projects contribute to the success of New York’s farms and empower an underserved demographic. These efforts demonstrate the vital role that science-based outreach can play in creating a more inclusive and thriving agricultural ecosystem in New York state.

Cornell AgriTech’s Hispanic community’s commitment to increasing outreach and educational resources for Spanish-speaking agricultural communities underscores the institution’s dedication to supporting all contributors to New York’s specialty crop industry success.