Capping an impressive 30-year career with Cornell University’s New York State Integrated Pest Management Program (NYSIPM), Abby Seaman has received the 2025 Outstanding Achievements in Integrated Pest Management Award from the Northeastern IPM Center (NEIPM).
Through her work as NYSIPM’s vegetable IPM coordinator and associate director for agricultural IPM, Seaman helped secure more than $5 million in grant funding, produced 130 extension publications and published more than 20 peer-reviewed articles on IPM-related topics, but more importantly, she has served as a trusted expert for New York farmers and growers.
“Abby’s contributions to IPM over nearly three decades have been nothing short of extraordinary. Through her dedication, she has profoundly impacted vegetable farmers across New York and the Northeast,’ NYSIPM Director Alejandro Calixto said. “Her program not only championed the adoption of IPM practices but also pioneered innovative strategies to address evolving challenges, and her legacy of excellence, innovation and support for the ag community will continue to inspire future generations.”
In a letter announcing the award, which is given annually to individuals deserving special recognition for their contributions to integrated pest management, NEIPM Director Deborah G. Grantham highlighted the “admiration and respect” Seaman has from colleagues across the state and shared some of their glowing endorsements.
“Abby Seaman has been an impressive and tireless force for IPM advancement, advocacy and adoption for her entire career. I can think of no better way to recognize her life-long dedication and contributions to IPM than to select her for this honor,” one nominator said.
Seaman started her career with NYSIPM in January of 1993, serving as source of institutional knowledge, having worked with each of the program’s five directors to promote and support the use of IPM practices with conventional and organic farmers using a combination of applied research, demonstration projects and educational programming.
Ever humble, Seaman, who retired from her full-time post with NYSIPM in December, noted that she was grateful and honored to receive the award but said that none of her accomplishments are hers alone. “Everything I’ve done has been in collaboration with colleagues and supported by the growers who allowed us to work on their farms. I’ve been able to spend my entire career doing interesting and important work that I enjoy. There’s no better reward than that.”
