My responsibilities as tree fruit extension entomologist involve a 70% commitment to extension activities. My main goal is to interpret the results of current research on fruit pests and formulate it into useful information that can then be made available to our various clientele groups. Through membership in the Fruit Program Work Team, I am a primary contributor to the development and implementation of the fruit program area plan of work that addresses the needs of our diverse audience groups, including: the horticultural industry sector (growers, consultants, agricultural industry representatives of crop protection, production, processing, packing/storage, and distribution companies); governmental and regulatory agencies; campus- and field-based Cornell Cooperative Extension agents, specialists, and support staff; academic peers in neighboring states and provinces; and the public sector, including homeowners, community groups, local schools, and other public organizations. It is my responsibility to provide information on effective, economical, and sustainable methods of managing fruit arthropod pests to all our clientele.
My research program is designed to be an integrated part of this responsibility through the discovery and interpretation of new information on pest management that has immediate value to my extension audience. Because of the enduring importance of chemical tools in the fruit pest management process, methods and effectiveness of pesticide use constitute one major part of this activity. However, a significant portion of my research effort focuses on evaluating and demonstrating the potential usefulness and application of nonchemical alternatives, such as pheromone mating disruption, conservation biological control, and less toxic spray materials like protectants derived from non-traditional sources such as microbials, botanicals, oils, and particle films. As a long-term goal, my intention is to achieve higher level integrations of multiple tactics into management philosophies that can be used in different crop/pest situations, adding appropriate newly developed techniques that are compatible with the sustainability, both biological and economic, of the agricultural system.

Scaffolds Fruit Journal - Weekly Update on Pest Management and Crop Development

Recent Research Reports

Societies
Entomological Society of America    President, Eastern Branch, 2006 New York State Horticultural Society New York State Agri-Business Association

Professional Honoraries
Sigma Xi, Geneva Chapter
Epsilon Sigma Phi, Lambda Chapter

Committee Assignments
College:
NYSAES Edgemere Outreach & Teaching Committee
Department:
Chair, Search Committee, Hudson Valley Extension Associate

Sabbaticals and Study Leaves
1994-95 Use of highly refined petroleum oil for the management of fruit arthropod pests; Departamento Sanidad Vegetal, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Universidad de Chile, Santiago.
2003 Excellence in IPM Award, NYS Integrated Pest Management Program.
2002 Entomological Society of America - Eastern Branch Nominee, Distinguished Achievement Award in Extension
1996 George A. Goodling Memorial Lecture. 137th Annual Meeting of the Pennsylvania State Horticultural Assoc.
1996 International Honor Award, Foreign Agricultural Service Recognition Program, USDA.

Graduate Field Memberships
Entomology
Plant Protection (M.PS.)

Graduate Majors
Cynthia L. Hsu, May 2002
Catherine J. Westbrook, May 2003

Graduate Minors
D. Scott Lawson, May 1996
Jason L. Osborne, M.S. Horticultural Science, Spring 2007
Gregory M. Peck, Ph.D., Horticultural Science, Spring 2008

Selected Publications

Books and Book Chapters

• Agnello, A., G. Chouinard, A. Firlej, W. Turechek, F. Vanoosthuyse, and C. Vincent.  2006.  Tree Fruit Field Guide to Insect, Mite, and Disease Pests and Natural Enemies of Eastern North America.  NRAES-169, 238 pp.  Natural Resource, Agriculture, and Engineering Service, Ithaca, NY.  Order Publication
  
  
• Agnello, A. 2002. Petroleum-derived spray oils: chemistry, history, refining and formulation. In Beattie, G.A.C., Watson, D.M., Stevens, M., Spooner-Hart, R. and Rae, D.J. (eds). Spray Oils Beyond 2000 - Sustainable Pest & Disease Management. University of Western Sydney. View pdf

Refereed Publications

• Kain, D. P., R. W. Straub, and A. M. Agnello. 2004.  Incidence and control of dogwood borer (Lepidoptera: Sesiidae) and American plum borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) infesting burrknots on clonal apple rootstocks in New York.  J. Econ. Entomol. 97: 545–552.
  
  
• Agnello, A. M., W. H. Reissig, J. Kovach, and J. P. Nyrop. 2003. Integrated apple pest management in New York State using predatory mites and selective pesticides. Agric. Ecosyst. Environ. 94: 183–195.
  
  
• Agnello, A. M., S. M. Spangler, E. S. Minson, T. Harris, and D. P. Kain. 2002. Effect of high-carbon dioxide atmospheres on infestations of apple maggot (Diptera: Tephritidae) in apples. J. Econ. Entomol. 95: 520-526.
  
  
• Kain, D. P., and A. M. Agnello. 1999. Pest status of American plum borer (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and fruit tree borer control with synthetic insecticides and entomopathogenic nematodes in New York State. J. Econ. Entomol. 92: 193—200.
  
  
• Agnello, A. M., W. H. Reissig, S. M. Spangler, R. E. Charlton and D. P. Kain. 1996. Trap response and fruit damage by obliquebanded leafroller (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) in pheromone-treated apple orchards in New York. Environ. Entomol. 25: 268-282.
  
  
• Agnello, A. M., J. Kovach, J. P. Nyrop, W. H. Reissig, D. I. Breth, and W. Wilcox. 1994. Extension and evaluation of a simplified montoring program in New York apples. Am. Entomol. 40: 37-49.
  
  
• Agnello, A. M., W. H. Reissig and T. Harris. 1994. Management of summer populations of European red mite (Acari: Tetranychidae) on apple with horticultural oil. J. Econ. Entomol. 87: 148-161.
  
  
• Agnello, A. M., S. M. Spangler, W. H. Reissig, D. S. Lawson, and R. W. Weires. 1992. Seasonal development and management strategies for Comstock mealybug (Homoptera: Pseudococcidae) in New York pear orchards. J. Econ. Entomol. 85: 212-225.
  
  
• Agnello, A. M., S. M. Spangler, and W. H. Reissig. 1990. Development and evaluation of a more efficient monitoring system for apple maggot (Diptera: Tephritidae). J. Econ. Entomol. 83: 539-546.

Recent Invited Presentations, 2006

• Management of oriental fruit moth in apples using different pheromone dispenser technologies in combination with in-season fruit damage inspection.  Western Orchard Pest & Disease Management Conference, Portland, OR.  January.  Audience: 150
  
  
• Research trials & tribulations on the biology, behavior and management of OBLR in New York State.  Ontario Apple Grower Information Day meeting, Simcoe, Canada.  February.  Audience: 75
  
  
• Pest management efficacy and economics in the New York Risk Avoidance and Mitigation Program.  North Jersey Commercial Fruit Growers Meeting, Broadway, NJ.  March.  Audience: 75
  
  Current progress in developing a fixed-spray application sytem for high-density plantings.  Rutgers Agric. Res. & Extn. Center, Bridgeton.  March.  Audience: 20
  
  
• Management of oriental fruit moth in apples using different pheromone dispenser technologies in combination with in-season fruit damage inspection. Entomological Society of America Eastern Branch Meeting, Charlottesville, VA.  March.  Audience: 12
  
  
• Field assessment of behaviorally-based management tactics for Conotrachelus nenuphar (Herbst) and Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh) in the northeastern US.  IOBC Workshop on Arthropod Pest Problems in Pome Fruit Production, Lleida, Spain.  September.  Audience: 50
  
  
• Management programs for internal Lepidoptera in apples using pheromone mating disruption and in-season fruit inspection; and Current progress in development of a fixed-spray pesticide application system for high-density apple plantings.  Journée Pomicole Provinciale, Les Journées Horticoles, St-Rémi, Québec, Canada.  December.  Audience: 60
  
  
• Multi-species mating disruption of internal feeding Lepidoptera in apples.  Entomological Society of America Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, IN.  December.  Audience: 50