Shields, Elson J.
Professor
The focus of my extension and research efforts is to reduce the environmental impact of insect management in field crops utilizing the guidelines of IPM (Integrated Pest Management). Major focus is placed on biological control of insect pests, host plant resistance, least dose pesticide usage when required and insect long-ranged migration. These foci are supported with active research projects with the biological control of alfalfa snout beetle, breeding for snout beetle resistant alfalfa (with Don Viands), least dose evaluations with corn rootworm and potato leafhopper and long-ranged movement of potato leafhopper and soybean aphid. Additional foci on aerobiology include joint projects with the movement of corn pollen (D. Aylor, CT Ag Exp. Stat.), movement of wheat head scab (G. Bergstrom) and dispersal of herbicide resistant weed seed ( D. Mortensen, Penn State). Research information is disseminated to the agribusiness audience using extension articles, extension presentations, and interviews with the popular press. With field crops grown in every county in NYS and the field crop commodity planted in over 90% on NYS agricultural land, the audience is large and diverse
research
primary investigator of
research areas
- adult and extension education | collaborative research area (CALS)
- biological control | collaborative research area (CALS)
- crop management or crop science | collaborative research area (CALS)
- entomology | collaborative research area (CALS)
- integrated crop management | collaborative research area (CALS)
- integrated pest management | collaborative research area (CALS)
- international agriculture | collaborative research area (CALS)
- pesticide management | collaborative research area (CALS)
- pest management | collaborative research area (CALS)
submitted impact statement
- Understanding long-range movement of Biota improves management | 2007 Impact statement
- Biological control of the alfalfa snout beetle | 2006 Impact statement
- Long-ranged movement of Corn Pollen | 2005 Impact statement
- Biological control of alfalfa snout beetle in northern New York | 2004 Impact statement
affiliations
faculty appointment in
- Entomology (ENTOM) | Cornell department
member of graduate field
- Entomology | graduate field
- Plant Protection | graduate field
teaching
teaches
- ENTOM 4970 - Individual Study in Entomology (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- ENTOM 4980 - Undergraduate Teaching (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- ENTOM 4990 - Undergraduate Research in Entomology (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- ENTOM 7070 - Individual Study for Graduate Students (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- ENTOM 7090 - Teaching Entomology (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- ENTOM 8900 - Master's-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- ENTOM 9900 - Doctoral-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | fall 2009 class
- ENTOM 4970 - Individual Study in Entomology (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- ENTOM 4980 - Undergraduate Teaching (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- ENTOM 7070 - Individual Study for Graduate Students (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- ENTOM 7090 - Teaching Entomology (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- ENTOM 8900 - Master's-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
- ENTOM 9900 - Doctoral-Level Thesis Research (TBA -) | spring 2009 class
service
outreach focus
Management of field crop insects
current professional activities
- Alliance for Aerobiology Research (AFAR) Governing Board member, 1992-1996
- Movement and Dispersal Working Group, ESCOP - PMSS. Chair 1995-96
- NCR-148 Migration and Dispersal of Insects and Other Biotic Agents
- NE-155 & NE-173 Integrated Pest Management for Forages (Sec.-1990, Chair 1991)
- NC -193 Spatial Dynamics of Leafhopper Pests and Their Management on Alfalfa
- Department Extension Leader, 1987-91
- Department Executive Council, 1989-91
background
educational background
- Ph.D. , University of Wisconsin-Madison, Entomology, 1984
- M.S. , University of Arizona, Entomology, 1979
- B.S., University of Arizona, Animal Science, 1974
professional background
- Associate Professor, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 1992-present
- Assistant Professor, Department of Entomology, Cornell University, 1986-1992
- Statewide IPM Coordinator-Vegetable Pest Management Specialist, University of Wisconsin-Extension, 1980-1986
- Peppermint Pest Management Specialist, Department of Entomology, Oregon State University-Extension, 1978-1980
featured in
- Alfalfa snout beetle, an expensive pest on N.Y. farms, is now under attack itself | Cornell Chronicle feature
publications
linked articles
speaker at Cornell event
Keywords: aerobiology, entomology, field crop entomology, field crops, IPM, soil insects