FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Well-known Weed Scientist Andy Senesac wins Excellence in Integrated Pest Management award

Media Contact: Elizabeth Lamb, (607) 254-8800, eml38@cornell.edu

Riverhead, NY, January 6, 2021

Andrew Senesac, Weed Science Specialist for Cornell Cooperative Extension, Suffolk County, received an Excellence in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Award from the New York State Integrated Pest Management Program (NYSIPM) for his decades-long career helping New York State growers manage the weeds that can reduce the yield and quality of their crops.

NYSIPM helps people use methods that minimize environmental, health and economic risks when managing insect, disease, weed, mammal and other pests. The award honors individuals who encourage IPM adoption on their farms, businesses, schools, and communities, and who develop new tools and tactics for sharing these practices.

Senesac received his award January 6, 2021 at the Long Island Agriculture Forum.

Senesac has been the Weed Science Specialist at Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk County for over 30 years. He works closely with the commercial horticulture and agriculture industries on Long Island, supporting weed management education and research for agricultural and horticultural production and landscape maintenance. He has a solid reputation for giving accurate, practical, and thoughtful recommendations to all Long Island stakeholders.

The IPM components of his work include testing potential new products for efficacy and crop safety, studying the release of weevils for the biocontrol of mile-a-minute vine, finding effective options for weed management in newer crops such as green roofs, evaluating novel weed management strategies, and developing Best Management Practices for the use of herbicides of environmental concern.

He regularly gives presentations to local and regional conferences and meetings for various audiences including commercial producers of agricultural and horticultural crops, home gardeners, landscapers, and departmental staff of local and state municipalities. To assist with outreach, he has developed and maintains a weed identification garden as well as a portable method for teaching weed identification.

Elizabeth Lamb, NYSIPM, appreciates the contributions that Senesac has made. “While his work has been aimed at the growers of Long Island, it has wide reaching applicability to horticulture and agriculture producers throughout the state and the nation. Andy is always generous with his time and talents when we have weed questions for ornamentals, no matter where in the state they might be.”

Sam McCullough of McCullough Vineyard adds, “The various ways he reaches out to growers set him firmly in the top tier of extension Professionals … Andy provides us with all the tools needed to put together truly integrated weed management plans for the wide array of crops produced here in Suffolk County.”

Learn more about Integrated Pest Management at nysipm.cornell.edu.