Jul 16, 2015

Cornell’s Catlin Honored with New York IPM AwardSource: Cornell University

Floriculture specialist Nora Catlin was honored with an “Excellence in IPM” award from the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program (NYS IPM) on July 15, at the Long Island Horticultural Research and Extension Center’s Plant Science Day. Catlin, who works for Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County, was recognized for her work with commercial greenhouse growers. “In the greenhouse industry, pests don’t hold 9 to 5 jobs,” says Elizabeth Lamb, a greenhouse specialist with NYS IPM. “They don’t take holidays or weekends off. That’s why dealing with pests requires tactics that stay on the job 24/7.” Catlin taught the C.J. Van Bourgondien Greenhouses’ staff how to use biological controls. Van Bourgondien’s has since opened its greenhouses to neighboring operations for Catlin’s workshops and demos on biocontrols. Catlin brings IPM expertise to some of the largest operations in the Northeast, Lamb says. “Whether it’s bugs, pathogens, or production techniques that inadvertently create inviting places for pests to call home, Catlin is there with solutions.”