Growers in New York need to stay on top what’s happening in the world of pest management. New techniques, new products, and even new pests are hard to keep up with, but fortunately this session features important updates on all of these from some trusted and well-known people to New York growers (NY pesticide recertification credits will be available to both in-person and virtual attendees).

If you are planning to attend this session virtually, and wish to receive NY pesticide recertification credits, you must upload a copy of your applicator license prior to the session. (Those attending in-person should show license in-person on the day of the event.)

Kaitlin Gold, Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist of Grape Pathology, Cornell University

Kaitlin Gold is an Assistant Professor and Extension Specialist of Grape Pathology at Cornell University, where she leads the Grape Sensing, Pathology, and Extension Laboratory at Cornell AgriTech (GrapeSPEC). Gold is a former faculty fellow at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and internationally recognized expert in in situ and imaging spectroscopy (also known as “hyperspectral imaging”) of plant disease. Gold’s lab studies the fundamental and applied science of plant disease sensing to improve early grape disease detection and management. Gold’s extension publications (“Grape Disease Control” guide, Appellation Cornell features, and industry publications) are distributed nationally and internationally to hundreds of grape growers.

Greg Loeb, Professor,  Cornell University

I earned by PhD in Entomology at the University of California at Davis in 1989 where I studied insect ecology and pest management, including research on biological control of spider mites on grapes. I came to the Department of Entomology at Cornell as an Assistant Professor in 1995, establishing a research and extension program at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY, with responsibilities for arthropod pests of grapes and small fruit crops.  Over the intervening years my lab has worked on the biology, ecology and management of a number of impactful arthropod pests of grapes including spider mites, leafhoppers, grape berry moth, grape mealybug and vinegar flies among others.  The overall goal of our research program is to develop sustainable tools for managing arthropod pests that are cost-effective and environmentally sound.

Brian Eshenaur, Sr. Extension Associate for Ornamental Crops, Cornell Univeristy

Brian is a Sr. Extension Associate for Cornell University’s Integrated Pest Management program. His work focuses on crop problem diagnosis and pest management. He is currently leading a statewide effort on Spotted Lanternfly education and outreach.