University of Massachusetts Amherst ecologists are concerned about a new climate change challenge. Lead by Bethany Bradley, they are offering a new analysis that narrows a large list down to five priority species with the greatest potential impacts of more than 100 new invasive plant species that could expand into the area. (News Office release 4/17/20)
News from the Media
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Most Worrisome Invasive Plants That May Arrive Soon in the Northeast
April 22, 2020 -
Is it Safe to Spin-dry Leafy Greens in a Washing Machine? UMass Food Scientists Research This Practice
April 22, 2020It probably comes as a surprise to consumers, but many New England small farms dry their tasty fresh vegetables in your average, ordinary washing machine. But is it safe? Food science researchers at the University of Massachusetts plan to find out. (MassLive 4/22/20; phys.org 4/21/20, News Release)
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Waltham City Council: Vote Approves Purchase and Sale of UMass Field Station and Farmland
April 15, 2020The Waltham city council has agreed to the purchase and sale of the formerly active UMass Field Station and Farm. UMass will use some of the sales proceeds to establish a permanent endowment for scholarships for Waltham students attending UMass Amherst. (Wicked Local Waltham, 4/14/20)
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Soundscape for Birdsong During COVID19, UMass Professor Comments
April 14, 2020One thing the coronavirus can’t stop is the arrival of spring — early signs like the calls of frogs, or spring peepers. Another is the chorus of songbirds. But this year, even longtime listeners are hearing something different. (NEPR 3/31/20)
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Barnstable County Entomologist Reminds Residents About Ticks in the Midst of COVID19
April 13, 2020During the coronavirus outbreak, people are looking at outdoor activities as a way to manage stress. That’s prompting Barnstable County Entomologist Larry Dapsis to remind the public to be mindful of ticks. “Ticks have not read the book on social distancing,” Dapsis said. (capecod.com 4/13/20)
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Nursing Home Toll From COVID19 Rises in Massachusetts, UMass Virologist Comments
April 8, 2020Matthew D. Moore, assistant professor, food science and virologist, says testing for the coronavirus has not caught up to the reality that the disease can be spread before people are aware of the symptoms. (Bennington Banner 4/7/20)
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Good News, Good Riddance to Gypsy Moth Caterpillars This Year
April 8, 2020We can expect to see little or no evidence of gypsy moth caterpillars this year. According to Tawny Simisky, an extension entomologist, the decline in the gypsy moth population is mostly due to the recent surge in Entomophaga maimaiga, an airborne fungus that kills gypsy moth caterpillars. (Hampshire Gazette 4/5/20)
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COVID-19: Staying Connected In This Time of Social Distancing
April 8, 2020Michael DiPasquale, landscape and archtiecture, discusses the importance of staying connected during this time of social distancing. (Mass Live, 4/06/20)
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UMass-Amherst Professor Researches Expanded Plant-based Food Choices
April 8, 2020David Julian McClements, food science, discusses his life as a vegan, going from meat, to veggie, retreating back to animal products and finally, settled on a vegetarian diet. He is working on research to expand the variety of tasty, nutritious plant-based products that provide protein and other ingredients necessary for a healthy diet. (Mass Live, 4/6/20)
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Trapping Fruit Pests
April 7, 2020Jaime Pinero, UMass Extension, is exploring the cost of low-cost trapping techniques for some impacts that can damage fruits. (Good Fruit Grower 3/24/20)
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Rebuilding Fly Fishing in Bahamas, Danylchuck Quoted
March 3, 2020Andy Danylchuk, environmental conservation, is quoted in an article about the return of fly-fishing to the Bahamas after the devastation of Hurricane Dorian. (Fly Fisherman, 2/27/20)
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Restoring the American Elm, Harper Reports
February 25, 2020Research to restore the American Elm tree to the landscape through monitoring of host plant resistance to Dutch elm disease is underway at UMass Amherst led by Rick Harper and Nicholas Brazee (Arborist News 02/20).
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Franklin County 4-H Launches Stand-up Comedy Club
February 24, 2020The Franklin County 4-H program is teaming up with the Bear Country radio station to start a Stand-Up Comedy 4-H Club, says Educator Tom Waskiewicz of UMass Amherst 4-H Extension (Recorder 2/21/20).
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Four Apps for Fruit Growers: Clements Reports
February 20, 2020Jon M. Clements, UMass Extension, writes about four cell phone apps that are useful to fruit growers. (Growing Produce, 2/19/20)
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Warmer Winters Could Impact Local Fruit Crops
February 11, 2020Jon Clements, UMass Extension, says apples need to have some chilling hours in order to thrive. (Western Mass News, 2/10/20)
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Industry-UMass Partnership to Optimize Plant-Based Foods
February 5, 2020Animal-free ingredients innovator (Boston-based Motif FoodWorks) and top UMass food scientists (Decker, McClements and Xiao), aim to help bring new proteins to the market. (Food & Drink International, Food Ingredients, 2/4/20; News Office release)
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Warming Weather May Cause Early Bloom, Harper Comments
February 4, 2020Richard W. Harper, UMass environmental conservation, is interviewed in two related television news stories: how warming weather may cause trees to bloom earlier than usual; and with a visit to a UMass Amherst class by 22 News meteorologist Kelly Reardon. (WWLP-TV 22 2/8/20; WWLP-TV 22, WWLP-TV 22, 2/3/20)
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Make It, Springfield: DiPasquale Reports
February 4, 2020Spearheaded by the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a collaborative workspace is breathing new life into a Massachusetts legacy city. (Planning Magazine 10/19)
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Full STEAM Ahead for Springfield's 4-H Program, Dubois Reports
January 9, 2020Springfields's 4-H program at Robinson Gardens is thriving under the leadership of Lauren Dubois, UMass extension 4-H youth development program (The Republican -go to page C3 1/9/20)
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Future Apple Markets, Clements Comments
January 9, 2020Jon M. Clements, UMass Extension, comments about what he expects to happen to the apple markets in the future. He says there will be continued struggles but local markets and U-pick will be strong if the fall weather cooperates. (Growing Produce, 1/8/20)
