By Blake Jackson
Bryony Sands, Ph.D., will be the featured speaker at an upcoming Cornell Integrated Pest Management (IPM) academic seminar focused on the often-overlooked world of dung-dwelling insects and their role in pasture ecosystems.
During the presentation, Sands will highlight the diverse and charismatic invertebrates found within dung pats and explain why dung beetles are essential to pasture productivity and livestock health. Sands will also share updates from her latest research on grazed pasture systems.
The seminar is part of Cornell’s IPM academic seminar series, which aims to promote awareness of emerging research, innovative tools, and proven practices that support the advancement and adoption of Integrated Pest Management across a wide range of agricultural and pest control settings.
The virtual event will take place on March 18, 2026, from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and will be hosted via Zoom. Registered participants will receive the meeting link prior to the session.
Sands serve as an extension assistant professor and livestock IPM specialist with University of Vermont Extension. Her work centers on managing pests, parasites, and beneficial insects in grazing systems, including dung beetles, flies, ticks, and gastrointestinal parasites, helping farmers improve animal health while supporting ecological balance in pastures.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-minchen-liang-eyeem
Categories: New York, Education, Livestock