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Hudson Valley Horticulture~
Cornell Cooperative Extension of the Hudson Valley
~~~~~~~Commercial Horticulture Electronic Newsletter~~~~~~~
Volume 7, Issue 1
January 12, 2007

Participating Counties: Dutchess * Orange * Putnam * Rockland * Sullivan * Ulster * Westchester *
Editor: Teresa Rusinek
http://www.cce.cornell.edu

2006

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December

2007

January

In this issue
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* Community Landscaping Conference February 7
* Farmers' Market Information Day
* Science Puts A Lot in Your Holiday
* Groundcovers Facts in One Place
* Pesticide Applicator Recertification Information
* Ornamental Crops IPM E-Newsletter|
*Programs for Professionals

Community Landscaping Conference February 7
The 2007 Community Landscaping Conference is an ideal opportunity for landscape professionals, planners and elected officials to learn more about how conservation landscaping can help develop better communities and offer more for people and their public spaces. Communities that use environmentally sound practices to develop or enhance public space can benefit and so can landscapers -- from designing and building with new technologies. Spend the day learning about: Conservation Landscaping: Sustainability on a Budget; Rain Gardens and Stormwater Management; Managing Turf in High Traffic Areas; Better Site Design: A New Tool for Communities. Speakers are Peter Trowbridge, Chair of Landscape Architecture at Cornell; Deborah Grantham, Cornell professor and stormwater specialist; David Chinery, Regional Extension Turfgrass Specialist; and Barbara Kendall, DEC Estuary Projects Coordinator.

The conference will be held on Wednesday, February 7, 2007, at Putnam National Golf Course in Mahopac, from 8:30 to 4:00 p.m. This conference is sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension of the Hudson Valley, the seven-county group representing commercial horticulture in the lower Hudson Valley, which also sponsors Greenhouse & Growers School (January), Perennials Conference (December), regional pesticide training, Arborist Certification Training and more.

Registration fee is $70, which includes breakfast, lunch and coffee. Register through Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County, 1 Geneva Road, Brewster, NY 10509. Download the registration form at www.cce.cornell.edu/Putnam or call 845-278-6738 for the forms.
Contact: Dianne Olsen: 845-278-6738 or Anna Snider: 914-285-4617

Submitted by Dianne Olsen, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County

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Farmers' Market Information Day
A "Farmers' Market Information Day" meeting will be held from 8 am to 4:30 pm on Wednesday, February 7, 2007 at Hillside Manor in Kingston. This is a one-day information and networking meeting where market sponsors, managers, farmers and producers can get updates on programs for farmers’ markets, share ideas, and make new connections. The meetings are held by New York Sate Ag & Markets in cooperation with the Farmers' Market Federation of New York and Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Attendees will learn about new farmers markets in our area plus the latest information about the WIC and Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition (FMNP) Program, wireless EBT tokens, proposed WIC Fruit and Vegetable voucher program, and statewide promotion efforts. In addition, Brian Henehan and Jude Barry from Cornell University will offer practical strategies for creating or strengthening a farmers’ market board or committee for improved market governance, structure and success.

The registration fee is $15 per person and includes a hot buffet lunch. For a registration form call 845-340-3990 or visit Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County’s website: http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/ulster .

Submitted by Teresa Rusinek, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County

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Science Puts A Lot in Your Holiday
Especially at holiday time, U.S. consumers benefit from the work of Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in Beltsville, Md. For example, the current form of the turkey in the oven and the poinsettia in the hall are owed to scientists at the ARS Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center ( BARC).

Poinsettias are America's No. 1 holiday plant, with more than 80 million sold during the six-week season. In its native Mexico, the poinsettia grows up to eight feet tall. BARC scientists found that a phytoplasma a bacteria-like organism acts as a dwarfing agent, allowing the common holiday plant to stay at a comparatively dainty 18 inches. This phytoplasma triggers a hormonal imbalance that instructs the plant to grow outward, rather than up like a tree. This "free-branching" phenomenon also produces more of the brilliant-red, leaf-like bracts favored by many consumers.

Not only is poinsettia the most popular Christmas plant, it is also the number-one flowering potted plant in the United States. That was not the case back in 1976, when ARS first began its program to improve the flower's dependability. This meant discovering the exact conditions of light and temperature the plant requires. They also performed breeding experiments that defined how color develops, and they devised precision growing methods that enabled massive cultivation.

Last year, the wholesale value of the poinsettia crop reached nearly $170 million-a jump of more than 400 percent from 1976.

The poinsettia, a contemporary symbol of Christmas, was introduced to the United States and named after Joel Robert Poinsett in 1825. Poinsett was serving as the first U.S. ambassador to Mexico when he saw the plant growing on the hillsides of southern Mexico, where the plant is native. The Aztec Indians prized poinsettias and considered them a symbol of purity because of their brilliant red color. They made a reddish-purple dye from the colored "flowers", which are actually modified leaves called bracts. They also made a medicine against fevers from the latex sap of the plant.

Written by Sharon Durham, USDA-ARS

To read more visit http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2006/061229.htm and
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/graphics/photos/k7244-2.htm

Submitted by Rick Harper, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchetser County

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Groundcover facts in one place
If you are looking for alternatives to lawn for your clients, you'll find a great deal of information on groundcovers tested by Cornell for their ability to tolerate stressful growing conditions (e.g., slope, road salt, drought, sun, part-sun and shade, their ability to compete with other plants, and their cultural requirements.
http://www.entomology.cornell.edu/Extension/Woodys/CUGroundCoverSite/GroundcoverMain.html

Submitted by Dianne Olsen, Putnam County

Pesticide applicator recertification info
Are you confused when it comes time to renew or recertify your pesticide applicators license? Don’t know who to call? Chances are that if you call me or another extension educator, we'll end up telling you to call Region 3 Department of Environmental Conservation pesticide personnel. The recertification and renewal system has changed so often in the past several years that, in many cases, we (extension) cannot definitively tell you how many credits you need or the date you need to certify by. The bottom line is that you will probably need to call the DEC to find out.

Meanwhile here is what I have learned from DEC pesticide inspectors over the course of my career in Extension.

The following only applies to Private Applicators. Categories 21-25, 31&41
21=Field and Forage, 22= Fruit, 23=Vegetable, 24=Greenhouse and Florist, 25=Nursery Ornamentals and Turf, 31=Ag Animal, 41=Aquatic
Most of you should now be on the 5 year cycle (there may be a few on the tail-end of the old 6 year cycle)

* You no longer need to renew
* You now recertify (send in money and credits) every 5 years
* Recertification fee is $25 every 5 years. Receive 5-year ID card at next recertification date.
* Categories 21-25 need to earn a total of 10 credits within 5 years,
* Categories 31& 41, 8 credits every five years.
* All required credits must be earned in more than one calendar year
* All private applicators are required to obtain at least 25% of their credits in their specific category (you can obtain all credits in your specific category). The remaining 75% can be obtained in 21, 22, 23, 24 or 25 or in core. But the 25% category specific must be in the specific category (commodity) for which that applicator is certified.
* Those applicators certified in category 31 or 41 must obtain their credits in core and their category specific credits in either category 31 or 41 (whichever they are certified in). They cannot use 21, 22, 23, 24 or 25 credits for the category specific requirements for category 31 and 41.

The following only applies to Commercial Pesticide Applicators. Categories not specified above.
* The idea is to get you folks into the 3 year recertification cycle; however some are still in a 5 year cycle and some in a 6 year cycle.
* People certified in only categories 3A & 3B renew annually and recertify every 3 years.
* Those certified in all other categories just recertify every 3 years.
* The number of credits required is ½ of what is listed in the DEC Regulations, Part 325.

My advice is that certified pesticide applicators take a look at their ID cards regularly to remind themselves of their recertification date. Make sure that you are earning enough credits to satisfy recertification requirements. You can call Extension to find out where and when credited programs are being offered. There is also a very helpful website that can be found at http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/calendar/ . You can find information on recertification courses there. Questions on recertification dates, renewals or number of credits needed should be directed to the DEC pesticides inspectors at Region 3 office 845-256-3123.

Written by Teresa Rusinek, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County

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Ornamental Crops IPM E-Newsletter
December 2006

Indicator plants, Trap crops, and Banker plants: Tools for Greenhouse IPM
Indicator Plants: The diversity of plant species in an area can be used to indicate something about the environment: ground ivy in shady lawns, rhododendrons in acid soil, etc. In the same way, species or varieties that are more susceptible to an insect or disease than the desired crop can be used to indicate when that pest has appeared in the greenhouse. Some common greenhouse examples are potato chunks used to check for fungus gnat larvae (not quite an indicator plant, but the same principle) or specific cultivars of petunias grown as indicator plants for impatiens necrotic virus or tomato spotted wilt virus on a variety of ornamentals. Tomato or eggplant can be used as an indicator of whitefly infestation in poinsettia crops. It is important that the disease or insect be identified rapidly on the indicator plant, before it moves onto the crop, so scouting is still essential when using indicator plants

Trap crops are also species or cultivars that are more attractive to a pest than the crop, but in trap cropping, the pest is controlled on the trap crop. This system has most often been used in field crops for insect control, where the trap crop is planted around the perimeter of the crop plant to attract insects moving in from outside the field. Some examples are: collards as a trap crop for diamond back moth in cabbage, Hubbard squash for cucumber beetles in other Cucurbitaceous plants, and cherry peppers for pepper weevil in bell peppers. Once the insect is found on the trap crop, only those plants are treated, reducing the amount of chemical pesticide needed. Perimeter trap crops can be used in the greenhouse, but it is more useful to intersperse the trap crop in the desired crop, as it is less likely that insects will be coming into the crop from outside. A set of plants could be positioned near wall vents to monitor insects coming in from outside the greenhouse, however. In addition to tomato or eggplant in poinsettia, gerbera or verbena or a more susceptible cultivar of chrysanthemum have been used to protect chrysanthemum from western flower thrips. The trap crop can be treated before or after it goes into the greenhouse, depending on the chemicals available for use.

Banker plants take the same concept one step further for biological control in greenhouse crops. In this case, the banker plant is used to rear insects that act as an alternative food source for the biocontrol agent, to reduce dramatic changes in its population. The most commonly used banker plant system is a grass, such as wheat or barley, infested with a grass-preferring aphid species, such as bird cherry or corn leaf aphid, to control melon or green peach aphid in ornamental or vegetable crops. The predators or parasitoids are very mobile and can use either the pest population on the crop or on the banker plant as host. There is interest in using the pest population itself as part of a banker plant system, by using the more susceptible cultivar or species, like the indicator or trap crop, as a banker plant. Because the banker plant is infested earlier, predators and parasitoids could colonize it and the population of biocontrol agents would increase before the crop was infested.

For more information, contact Betsy Lamb at 607-254-8800, eml38@cornell.edu
A Powerpoint presentation of this information will be available on the New York State IPM website www.nysipm.cornell.edu

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Hosta Virus X
Hosta virus X was prevalent on hostas from wholesalers and retail establishments throughout NY and much of the nation over the past two years. Unfortunately, retail customers who purchase infected plants will likely be disappointed in their performance and the virus may spread to healthy hostas in their landscape. This could lead to the loss of a market for this popular perennial. To help avoid problems, look closely at stock before accepting new plants from suppliers. Below is information on this virus in fact sheet format.

Host Plants: Hostas are the only known plant to be infected by this virus.

Pathogen: The disease causing organism is a virus particle in the potex group. (That's where the X comes from.) The virus particles are so small they only can be seen with an electron microscope. This virus can only reproduce inside living hosta cells and once inside the plant it remains there for the life of the plant, but it can make plants unsalable.

Symptoms: Stunted growth, leaf distortion and various patterns of leaf discoloration are common symptoms of this disease. The symptoms vary among different cultivars. Rarely will Hosta Virus X kill a plant, but it can make plants unsalable.

Spread: Unlike many plant viruses, insects are not known to spread this disease. Any type of a mechanical injury that moves plant fluids, however, can transmit this virus. Thus, virus spread can occur from pruning tools when cutting off old leaves or removing flower scapes. Other possible means of spread in the landscape include string trimmers, shovels and even manual transmission, if hands become contaminated with sap from infected plants.

Control: There is no cure for infected plants. The best means for avoiding this disease is to carefully inspect all plants before they enter the nursery or landscape. Unfortunately in recent years a large percentage of certain varieties of hostas available from wholesalers were infected with this virus. Check with your source of plants and see if they have a testing program - or consider having suspect plants tested yourself. A test for hosta viruses will cost at least $25, so testing will be most appropriate when deciding weather to discard a large number of plants.

Some of the hosta cultivars that are most often found to be infected in nurseries and garden centers include Gold Edger, Gold Standard, Golden Tiara and Sum and Substance. Watch these cultivars especially carefully for virus symptoms, and discard suspicious plants.

For more information, contact Brian Eshenaur at 585-461-1000, bce1@cornell.edu
This factsheet with information on testing plants ( http://nysipm.cornell.edu/nursery_ghouse/newsletters/newsletters06/hosta_x.asp )
as well a list of varieties and their relative susceptibility ( http://nysipm.cornell.edu/nursery_ghouse/newsletters/newsletters06/cult_susc.asp )
are available on the New York State IPM website http://nysipm.cornell.edu/nursery_ghouse/newsletters/

For photos of hostas infected with HVX, and other viruses visit :
http://www.greenhouse.cornell.edu/pestsdis/gallery/index.html (Photos by Margery Daughtrey, Plant Pathologist, Cornell University, Long Island Research and Extension Center.)

The Ornamental Crops IPM Newsletter is brought to you by:
The Cornell IPM Team for Production Ornamentals
Betsy Lamb State Coordinator for Ornamental Crops IPM . Ithaca, NY, <eml38@cornell.edu>, Gary Couch Eastern New York Specialist. Middletown, <gjc15@cornell.edu>
Brian Eshenaur Western New York Specialist. Rochester NY <bce1@cornell.edu>

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Cornell Cooperative Extension
2006-2007 Horticulture Programs for Professionals
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Cornell Cooperative Extension of the Hudson Valley provides educational programs that can help you improve your skills in horticulture, pest management and business management. Updated brochures with specific information about each program will be mailed to you beforehand only if you are on your county's Cooperative Extension mailing list. If you wish to be added to that list, have questions or need further information about these programs, contact your local Cooperative Extension office listed below. Pesticide Recertification Credits will be awarded at programs marked * pending NYS DEC approval. All dates subject to change.

*Urban and Community Forestry Conference
Monday, January 29, 2007
Westchester County Ctr., White Plains, NY
Contact: Stephanie Mallozzi (845) 677-8223 x 104 or Rick Harper (914) 285-2622
This program is designed to give tree care professionals, municipalities and community groups an update on tree planting, care and maintenance in the community and urban landscape. Topics to be covered include CU Soil, invasive pests, tough trees for tough sites, community forestry success stories and new technologies in urban forestry. A special book signing by renowned researcher and author Dr. Nina Bassuk, Director of Cornell Univerisity's Urban Horticulture Institute will take place.

Community Landscapes
Wednesday, February 7, 2007
Location: TBA
Contact: Dianne Olsen (845) 278-6738 or Anna Snider (914) 285-4617
An opportunity for landscapers, developers, parks managers and elected officials to learn about conservation streetscaping, public-area turf issues, landscaping for stormwater management and more.

*Arborist Certification Training
February 14, 21, 28, 2007 12:30 - 5 PM
March 07, 2007 from 12:30 - 5 PM
Certification Exam: March 30, 2007 at 8:30 AM
Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County
2715 Route 44, Millbrook, NY 12545
Contact: Rick Harper (914) 285-2622 or Stephanie Mallozzi (845) 677-8223 x104
A training program designed to assist green industry professionals in obtaining the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist designation. Topics will include tree biology, pruning, pest management, and safe work practices. Sessions will also offer ISA Continuing Education Units (CEU's) and NYS DEC Pesticide Recertification credits for certified arborists and licensed pesticide applicators. In addition, the USDA Forest Service is offering scholarships to qualified individuals. Contact Stephanie or Rick to obtain an application.

* Pesticide CORE/Apprentice Training
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Villa Borghese, Wappingers Falls, NY
Contact: Marianna Quartararo (845) 292-6180 x112
This course will introduce the basic CORE concepts and principles necessary for individuals who wish to become NYSDEC Commercial Pesticide Apprentices. Commercial Pesticide Technicians and Applicators may also attend this course for review and NYS DEC Pesticide Applicator Recertification Credits.

Garden Center Employee Training
Date TBA
Contact: Dianne Olsen (845) 278-6738 or Marianna Quartararo (845) 292-6180 x112

*Christmas Tree Twilight Meeting
July, 2007 – TBA
Contact: Stephanie Mallozzi (845) 677-8223 x104 or Teresa Rusinek (845) 340-3990
This is a hands on, in-the-field program focusing on professional Christmas tree production issues

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Other Professional Horticulture Programs of Interest

*Cornell Golf Pest Management Short Course
January 24-26, 2007. Cornell Campus, Ithaca, NY
Joann Gruttadaurio (607) 255-1792 or jg17@cornell.edu

*NYSTA SE Regional Turf Conference
Wednesday, January 31, 2007. Suffern, NY
NYSTA (800) 873-8873 www.nysta.org--- jillcyr@nysta.org
Sponsored by the NYS Turfgrass Association. There will be a trade show and four program tracks running concurrently, including Building Your Skills, Golf Turf, Lawn/Landscape.

NYS ReLeaf Conference
July 19-21, 2007, Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
For more information contact: Mary Kramarchyk at 518-402-9412 or email: mckramar@gw.dec.state.ny.us
Join fellow urban and community foresters, municipal officials, community organizations, arborists, and affiliated industry professionals for a conference that offers workshops and tours on urban and community forestry issues.

Certified Landscape Technician Training
Contact: New York State Turf and Landscape Association, (914) 961-2535, www.nystla.com
An optional national testing program to recognize proficiency of qualified landscape professionals.

Certified Nursery Professional Training Program
Dutchess, Putnam & Westchester: Scott Olivieri (914) 682-4224
Orange, Rockland & Ulster: Mark Masseo (845) 658-9148
By passing this exam you can earn the title Certified Nursery Professional (CNP). Contact your New York State Nursery and Landscape Association representative, listed above, for more details.

Pesticide Certification
If you apply pesticides, including weed-killers, weed and feed products, insecticides, fungicides, or tick control products to customer's properties for hire, you or someone in your company must be a New York State Certified Pesticide Applicator through the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and have your business registered. There are now three levels of commercial certification: applicator, technician, and apprentice.

For Commercial Applicators
To be eligible to take the exams to become certified, you must meet one of the following requirements:

* 3 out of the past 5 years of verifiable experience as an apprentice working in the category applicant is seeking certification in; or
* 3 out of the past 5 years as a certified private applicator in a corresponding private category; or
* Certification in another State with which New York has reciprocity; or
* if seeking certification in the Sales Category - At least 3 years experience in the sale of pesticides, or can demonstrate, through applicable training certifications or education degrees, that one possesses appropriate technical background.

Certified Pesticide Technician* be at least 17 years of age.
* 2 years of verifiable experience as an apprentice; or
* completion of a 30-hr. training course, approved by the Department or a baccalaureate or associate degree from an accredited college or university in the area seeking certification. These are offered at the following:

Westchester Community College: (914) 785-6830
Dutchess Community College: (845) 431-8904
Colorado Correspondence Course: (800) 525-4950

Technicians, once certified, desiring full applicator status the following documentation is required: a letter indicating 2 yrs. of experience or 1 yr. of experience plus 12 recertification credits. Experience and recertification credits must be category or sub-category specific.

Pesticide Apprentice* Must be at least 16 years of age.
* Must receive 40 hours of pesticide use experience under supervision of a certified applicator and a minimum of 8 hours of instruction on topics outlined in Section 325.18 of Part 325 Rules & Regulations relating to the application of pesticides, before being able to apply general use pesticides under the off-site direct supervision of a certified applicator.
* Documentation of the above must be maintained by the certified applicator, and include: name & address of apprentice; date(s) of instruction or observation; content of training and certification category; instructor's name and certification

* Must be at least 17 years old.identification number; and an evaluation of the competency of the apprentice.

For Private Applicators:
* Have at least one year of full-time experience within the last three years in the use of pesticides in the category in which certification is requested – OR
* Has completed a 30-hr. training course, or has received an associate's or higher level college degree in the area of which certification is requested.

For further information on eligibility rules and regulations, and fees, contact the NYSDEC Region 3 Pesticide Staff at (845) 256-3097.

Eligible candidates for certification must attend a training session, and pass two examinations, administered by the NYSDEC and held in conjunction with Cornell Cooperative Extension. Once you determine you are eligible for certification, contact your county's Cornell Cooperative Extension office for information on registering for the training class and exams. Contact your local CCE educator to find out training and exam dates for your county in the Hudson Valley.

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Mention of trade names and commercial products is for educational purposes; no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Cornell Cooperative Extension or Cornell University is implied.

Pesticide recommendations are for informational purposes only and manufacturers' recommendations change. Read the manufacturers' instructions carefully before use. Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell University assume no responsibility for the use of any pesticide or chemicals.

Some of the links provided are not maintained by Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell University. Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell University are not responsible for information on these websites. They are included for information purposes only and no endorsement by Cornell Cooperative Extension or Cornell University is implied.

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Last updated on March 5, 2007