N.Y. State IPM Program receives continued funding

N.Y. State IPM Program director Donald Rutz has announced that the 2011-2012 state budget has restored some funding to the program. Had funding for the program not been restored it would have been forced to close on March 31.
Rutz said the budget has appropriated $500,000 for Agricultural IPM, which includes ornamental horticulture, and $200,000 was appropriated for Community IPM. The agricultural funding is approximately half of the state funding received during the time the program was fully staffed, but is the same as the 2010-2011 appropriation. Community IPM was previously funded at $400,000 in the 2008-2009 state budget, but has received no funds from the state for the past two years.
Rutz said this year’s funding is unlikely to allow for hiring to replace personnel lost over the last 2 years. He expects some restructuring to occur. Responsibilities within the program will undergo some shifts and there will need to be some redistribution of programming. The program will be working throughout the state agricultural commodities, including ornamentals, vegetables, fruit, field crops and livestock. The program will also work in as many Community IPM venues as possible including schools, homes, parks and golf courses.

Pictured: $700,000 in funding has been restored to the N.Y. State IPM Program, which includes ornamental horticulture.