No-Till Systems Can Reduce Insect and Slug Damage

By Blake Jackson

Researchers, farmers, and agricultural professionals will have an opportunity to learn how conservation practices can improve natural pest management during an upcoming online presentation hosted through Cornell Integrated Pest Management.

The program will feature John Tooker, professor and extension specialist in the Department of Entomology at Pennsylvania State University, who will discuss how no-till farming, cover crops, and integrated pest management (IPM) can work together to support beneficial insects and other natural enemies that help control crop pests.

Tooker’s research focuses on the relationships among plants, insects, slugs, and their natural predators. His work examines how conservation-based farming systems can encourage populations of beneficial organisms that reduce pest pressure in corn and soybean fields.

The long-term goal is to develop more sustainable pest-management strategies that lessen reliance on preventative pesticide applications.

During the presentation, Tooker will share findings from Pennsylvania research demonstrating how no-till and cover-crop systems can strengthen natural pest control while protecting crop productivity.

The webinar is scheduled for October 21, 2026, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and will be held via Zoom. Registered participants will receive the meeting link before the event.

For additional information, contact Bryan Brown, Ph.D., Integrated Weed Management Specialist with Cornell Integrated Pest Management, at bryan.brown@cornell.edu.

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