Hudson Valley Horticulture
Cornell Cooperative Extension of the Hudson Valley
~~~Commercial Horticulture Electronic Newsletter~~~
Volume 9, Issue 7
July 8, 2009
Participating Counties: Orange * Dutchess * Putnam * Rockland * Sullivan * Ulster * Westchester *
Editor: Rosemarie S. Baglia
http://www.cce.cornell.edu

In this Issue:
 
· Westchester County Seasonal Update - July 2009
· ALERT: Late Blight on Tomatoes
· Christmas Tree Twilight Meeting - Tomorrow Evening
· TREE PEST UPDATE: PRE-REGISTRATION  EXTENDED TO JULY 10!
· Helping the Good Guys Finish First: Biological Control of Insects in Nurseries
· Disease Vectors:  When Insect Feeding is Just the Beginning
· New Ornamental Peppers Heading to Market
· Longer Marketing Time Increases the Risk of Naturalization by Horticultural Plants
· IPM in Depth, and Cornell University’s Annual Floriculture Field Day- see calendar of events in this newsletter!
· Cooperative Extension 2008-2009 Horticulture Programs for Professionals
· Other Professional Horticulture Programs of Interest
· About Pesticide Certification
· County Commercial Horticulture Educators and Contact Information
 

Westchester County Seasonal Update – July 2009
 
Since March 15, our current seasonal precipitation levels total 11.56” and it is important to note that we have received somewhere in the vicinity of about 1/2 of this rainfall in the month of June...in other words, June was indeed wet!  As of July 07, Growing Degree-Day (GDD) totals from our two sites register at 939 (Harrison) and 1024 (County Airport).

Although we started seeing Crabgrass germination a few weeks ago, the warmer temperatures of the last few days have given it a big boost and it is easily noted growing in areas where turf cover may have been somewhat thin or bare soil was once evident.

As noted last month, it is important to continue to follow the emergence stages of the types of pertinent scale insects that may be present on (and possibly pests of) certain landscape plants.  Based on scouting that we performed in central Westchester County very early last week, we noted crawler  emergence of Cottony Taxus Scale, Azalea Bark Scale, Fletcher Scale, and Cottony Maple Scale.  We also noted crawlers of Lecanium Scale just emerging on a sample that was submitted to our office earlier this week.  Although one treatment option for most Scale insects includes administering an application of Horticultural oil targeted at the new crawlers, it is important to remember that Horticultural oil should not be applied in a period of high temperature (above 80 degrees) or humidity, or if plants are experiencing drought stress.  

Also, be on the look out for a number of treatment windows that typically open in early - mid July for a number of other insect pests including Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (the mid-summer crawler emergence occurs in July) and Cooley Spruce Gall Adelgid (the galls commence opening throughout the month of July).  Treatment windows should also be taking place in July for other common insects of ornamentals including Lacebugs (Corythuca sp., 1266-1544 GDD) and Privet rust mite (1266-1515 GDD).   Adult Whiteflies also abound, so keep an eye out for this insect as well.

Finally, one cannot help but notice around this time of year the plethora of adult scarab beetles that have emerged - Oriental beetle, Chafers, Japanese Beetles - to mate and lay eggs.  Keep in mind that this month's eggs are next month's White Grubs!
 
Written by: Rick Harper, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County


ALERT: Late Blight on Tomatoes
By Thomas A. Zitter, Department of Plant Pathology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
 
Late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, is a serious disease affecting mainly tomato and potato throughout the world.  It is a common disease in New State and the surrounding states in the Northeast since our summer, with cool temperatures and frequent rains, is very conducive for disease development.  Late blight is such a serious problem because the inoculum (spores) is easily carried in wind currents to infect susceptible plants in even the most remote area in our region.  Currently all tomato and potato plants grown in home gardens and in commercial fields are susceptible to late blight!  Commercially growers have to respond to reports of the disease by spraying fungicides to prevent spread of the disease, which otherwise would mean certain death of their crops.  Unfortunately, homeowners may not be as aware of this important disease, and if no corrective actions are taken in a timely manner, home gardens can provide a source of inoculum for neighbors and for commercial interests.

The occurrence of late blight in 2009 is different compared to most seasons in two ways.  First, this is the earliest the disease has been reported over such a broad region of the country.  Several years ago we had a similar occurrence with the disease originating from one county source in upstate New York.  By the end of the summer disease had spread to at least 14 counties, destroying tomatoes in the entire region.  The second reason, and more tragic for the Northeast, is that infected plants were distributed to large local retail stores throughout the region (Ohio to Maine).  Never before has such an extensive distribution of infected plants occurred.  The inoculum is exceptionally contagious, spreading on garden center shelves to tomato plants not involved in the original and initial source of the inoculum.  We have spread the word of this impending disaster, and within a day the original supplier, working with Department of Agriculture in the affected states, has removed most of the initial source plants.  In checking to make sure that these plants had been removed, I found local stores in Ithaca (Tompkins Co.) had removed almost all of supplier’s plants on Saturday, June 27.  However, the disease had already spread to other tomato plants not from the original source.  I stopped several people from purchasing infected tomato plants while I made my visits, and I was very pleased that the garden center managers immediately removing the remaining tomato plants from their shelves.  But I know that this same event is being repeated in multiple garden centers around the region.

What to do now? Many families have taking up vegetable gardening, given the tough economic times, and tomato is the most important crop in gardens.  The good news is that in checking with local small garden centers in Tompkins County, I found no evidence of late blight.  The organism is not seedborne (however, it is tuberborne in potato), so that tomato plants started from seed locally would be free of the disease, at least for now.  Given the scenario that I described, we must assume that many infected tomato plants have been planted across the entire region, if they originated from so called “big box” stores.

Identification: The symptoms that develop on tomato leaves, stems and fruit are quite dramatic, and are very obvious to the naked eye.  The leaf lesions are water-soaked, varying in size from a nickel up to a quarter.  They are water-soaked when the foliage has been exposed to watering or heavy overnight dews.  When these lesions drying out quickly, they may appear lime-green in colored or even become beige.  Please refer to this web site for illustrations ( http://vegetablemdonline.ppath.cornell.edu/DiagnosticKeys/TomLeaf/Late_Tom.htm ).  The edge of the water-soaked lesion, on either the top or bottom leaf surface, will be covered with white fungal growth that contains the spore inoculum (visible with a hand lens).  Spores are easily blown to surrounding areas and infect plants and even weed species, in the family Solanaceae (the black nightshade family).  If the lesion has a yellow border and is occurring on the bottom of the plant, it is likely due to infection of either early blight or Septoria leaf spot, two common diseases found in home gardens.  Again check the Veg MD web site to aid in diagnosis.  Brown to almost black lesions appear on infected stems, and the same lesions will develop on fruit, either directly on the infected plants, or a few days after they are sitting on your kitchen counters.  Although it is not dangers to humans, most of the fruit could be used if the affected area is removed.

Plant examination and removal:  Please inspect your tomato plants on a daily basis!  If symptoms are already appearing on plants in your garden, these plants should be removed and put in a plastic bag for disposal.  Don’t just put the removed plants in a compost pile as spores will still spread from this debris.  Your neighbors, not to mention commercial growers, will appreciate your taking this action immediately.

Plant treatments:  Commercial growers have a number of fungicides that if applied early and often, can reduce the spread of Late Blight.  They would choose not to spray if they could, but this destructive disease does not give them any other option.  Homeowners do have a few products that are registered for use and the common name of chlorothalonil should appear on the product label.  Even here, these products are only effective if used before the disease appears and should be reapplied every 5-7 days if wet weather persists.  Chlorothalonil is a protectant fungicide, with no systemic movement in the plant, so thorough coverage is necessary.  For organic growers and homeowners, the options are very limited, since only copper fungicides can be used, and they are not very effective.
 
Submitted by: Rose Baglia, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County
 

Christmas Tree Twilight Meeting - Tomorrow Evening
 
Our Annual Christmas Tree Twilight Meeting will be held from 6-8:30 pm on July 9 at Farm Side Acres, Christmas Tree Farm in Cornwall, NY.  This year’s program will feature Paul Shelar from Penn State University and will focus on pruning and shearing trees for form and pest control.  Cost is $40 per person if registered by July 2nd; $45 thereafter and at the door. NYS DEC Pesticide Recertification credits have been applied for.  For more information open the attached program flier (in pdf format) or contact Stephanie Mallozzi at 845-677-8223, x104 or email sdm10@cornell.edu.  To register contact Nancy Halas at 845-677-8223.
 
Submitted by: Rose Baglia, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County

 
Helping the Good Guys Finish First: Biological Control of Insects in Nurseries

You can read articles on using biological control in greenhouses in every trade journal. But what about nurseries? How can they get in on the act? Actually, nurseries have the advantage as there is naturally occurring biocontrol happening all the time for free!
 
You may have seen ladybugs and lacewings around your plants, but you may not notice the minute pirate bugs, rove beetles, parasitic wasps, hover flies and spiders happily chowing down on pest insects. There are several guides to beneficial insects that can help you identify the good guys you already have (see list below). Just remember, if there is nothing for them to eat, they won’t hang around - so not seeing huge populations of beneficial insects doesn't mean that they haven't been there.
 
You can help the good guys out by using basic IPM practices in the nursery. Natural enemies have a hard time getting ahead of huge pest populations there is always a lag in getting the biocontrol numbers up. So keep pest populations low using cultural controls like optimum nutrition and water, and good air flow around the plants. If a pest hot spot develops, use spot treatments of pesticides rather than treating the whole nursery.
 
While there are a few instances where adding natural enemies to the nursery can work (augmentation), a more common method is to keep the naturally occurring beneficials there by making them happy conservation and enhancement to biocontrol aficionados.
One way of doing that is by choosing chemical pesticides that have the least effect on beneficial insects. What you are looking for is a pesticide with a low immediate impact and short duration of impact on beneficials. You can check pesticide compatibility with some natural enemies on biocontrol companies side effects lists (see below). Different life stages may be affected differently and different application methods may have different effects, so keep all those variables in mind.
 
Another way to encourage the good guys to hang around your nursery is to create a place for them to live, reproduce and feed. Some beneficial insects need, or can survive on, pollen or nectar. Pest insects may also live in this refuge and feed the natural enemies. A refuge can also provide a place for beneficials to escape from pesticide applications. A good refuge has a diversity of plants so there is something flowering all the time, in an area that is close enough for the good guys to move into the production area but not close enough to create a weed problem. And you may not need to create a new area. If your nursery has an unsprayed demonstration garden with plants blooming throughout the season, you may already have a refuge for your beneficial insects.
 
It always helps to have a few resources to back yourself up. There are many out there, but here are a few to get you started:
 
Identifying beneficial insects

Biological Control:  A Guide to Natural Enemies in North America

A Pocket Guide to Common Natural Enemies of Crop and Garden Pests in the Pacific
Northwest

Identifying Natural Enemies in Crops and Landscapes
Michigan State University, $10

Natural Enemies Handbook: The Illustrated Guide to Biological Pest Control
University of California at Davis, $35

Biological Control and Natural Enemies: Pest Notes for Home and Landscape

Biological Control of Insects and Mites: An Introduction to Beneficial Natural Enemies and Their Use in Pest Management
 
Creating refuges for natural enemies

Farmscaping to Enhance Biological Control

Enhancing Beneficial Insects with Native Plants
 
Pesticide compatibility
*** These tables are created for other states so the pesticides listed may not be labeled in NYS

Floriculture and Ornamental Nurseries: Biological Control (last update 2004)

IPM (Integrated Pest Management) of Midwest Landscapes scroll down to chapter VII on pesticides for pdf table

  • Koppert and Biobest websites have tables of pesticide side effects which are created for greenhouse biocontrol but might be of some use and are updated frequently with new information

http://www.koppert.nl/Side_effects.html
http://www.biobest.be/ (Click Side Effects button on bottom left)
 
Some Beneficial Nematode Suppliers:
The Green Spot: 603-942-8925 or www.shopgreenmethods.com
Griffin Greenhouse Supplies: 978-851-4346 or www.griffins.com
Integrated Biological Control Systems: 888-793- 4227 or www.goodbug-shop.com
Koppert Biologicals: 800-928-8827 or www.koppert.com
Submitted by: Elizabeth Lamb, NYS IPM Program
 
Disease Vectors:  When Insect Feeding is Just the Beginning
Certain insects can act as vectors and are capable of spreading diseases. In fact with some diseases, movement by insects is the only means of spread.   In some parts of the world mosquitoes can pick up the malaria pathogen and spread it from person to person.  In New York, ticks can move Lyme disease and other pathogens from wildlife to people in a similar manner. 
 
Insects in the greenhouse also vector some plant diseases of ornamentals.  Impatiens Necrotic Spot Virus (INSV) is a particularly troublesome virus on many ornamental crops. Western flower thrips are the exclusive vector of this disease.  These thrips can acquire INSV only when they are immature by feeding on an infected plant. Once inside the thrips, the virus multiplies within the salivary glands and the thrips can transmit it to other plants through adulthood.   It is the adult thrips that are more mobile and more likely to spread the virus to healthy plants. Monitoring for thrips in the greenhouse using yellow sticky cards is an important tool for thrips management.  Inspecting new plugs arriving in the greenhouse for both thrips and symptoms of INSV is also key. Reducing thrips numbers and their movement among plants is necessary to controlling this disease. Some growers have found using the quick on-site ELISA test kits to be an important tool for confirming the virus presence.
 
Many of us think of fungus gnats and shore flies as just a nuisance in the greenhouse but these insects have also been known to carry certain pathogens.  They may pick up fungi on the surface of their body or consume spores while eating that are later passed through their digestive systems and onto other plants.  Shore flies have also been shown to move bacteria from plant to plant. Spores of Verticillium, Fusarium and Thielaviopsis can be transported by fungus gnats. The fungus-like organisms Pythium and Phytophthora may also interact with fungus gnats and shore fliesinsects role in the spread and severity of these diseases is an area of active research. In any case, removing infected plants as well as monitoring and controlling fungus gnats and shore flies could help control many root and stem pathogens. 
 
Having an awareness of disease carrying insects will help growers minimize disease spread within a greenhouse.  Insect vector management is an important consideration when developing an integrated pest management plan for greenhouse crops. 

Submitted by: Brian Eshenaur, NYS IPM Program at Cornell University
 

New Ornamental Peppers Heading to Market
By Stephanie Yao, USDA-ARS Staff Writer

Ornamental plant enthusiasts now have more pepper varieties to add to their gardens. The Agricultural Research Service (ARS) has entered into a license agreement with McCorkle Nurseries, in Dearing, Ga., for propagation and distribution of these eye-catching peppers.

The new plants, Midnight Creeper and Solar Eclipse, are the latest in a line of ornamental pepper varieties released by ARS. They were created by geneticist John Stommel of the ARS Genetic Improvement of Fruits and Vegetables Laboratory and Rob Griesbach, a former researcher with the ARS Floral and Nursery Plants Research Unit, both in Beltsville, Md.

Best used as bedding plants, Midnight Creeper and Solar Eclipse are particularly striking due to their dark purple to black coloring. Once a novelty, these colors are now standard elements to consider in garden design. Black foliage provides long-lasting color in short-season climates and year-round color in warmer climates.

Midnight Creeper has purple flowers and produces fruit that’s black when immature, but red when mature. Attractive in mass plantings as a dense ground cover, the plant is unique in that it grows outward instead of upward like other pepper plants. In contrast, Solar Eclipse is tall, bushy and prized for its striking black foliage, providing a novel foundation for garden designs. The plant produces very few flowers and fruit when grown under summer field conditions, contributing to its season-long usefulness.

Taste evaluations for Midnight Creeper and Solar Eclipse indicated that the fruit are extremely hot and very hot, respectively. However, because the plants are intended for ornamental use, Scoville ratings measures used to verify a peppers pungency were not determined.

Stommel and Griesbachs research on ornamental peppers has dual benefits. The research provides new, interesting cultivars for consumers while also laying a foundation for anthocyanin research to help create plant colors that the ornamental industry and consumers enjoy. Anthocyanins are water-soluble pigments that give fruit, leaves, flowers, stems and roots their color. They also protect the plant from damaging ultraviolet sunlight and act as antioxidants when eaten.

ARS is the principal intramural scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

To read more, visit: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2009/090316.htm

Submitted by: Rick Harper, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County
 

Longer Marketing Time Increases the Risk of Naturalization by Horticultural Plants
By Stephanie Yao, USDA-ARS Staff Writer

Plants that are mainstays of horticulture also carry lots of risk, a new Agricultural Research Service (ARS) study has found. Naturalization rates of non-native horticultural plants increase the longer a plant is grown and sold.

Non-native horticultural plants, including most edible and landscape plants, bring enormous benefit to the United States, but they are also a source of invasive plants that harm our natural environments. Naturalized horticultural plants are non-native plants that escape gardens and farms and are able to survive independent of cultivation. Invasive plants are naturalized species that invade natural areas, displace native plants and alter ecosystem functions.

Entomologist Bob Pemberton, with the ARS Invasive Plant Research Laboratory in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., and his colleague Hong Liu, formerly with the University of Florida, analyzed a unique set of data from the detailed sales catalogs of an early Florida plant nursery to detect naturalization patterns of horticultural plants in the state. The data, which starts from the year 1887, accounts for more than 40 years of plant sales and examines more than 1,900 horticultural plants.

Unlike previous studies on the invasiveness of horticultural plants, the research team found that the marketing period--the number of years a plant was sold--has profound influence on naturalization and invasion. Seventy percent of plants sold in Florida for 30 years or longer naturalized, according to Pemberton, indicating that length of time sold is the most important factor contributing to naturalization.

Non-native plants will continue to naturalize and invade as long as they are sold. Therefore, according to Pemberton, risk assessments need to be developed for screening non-native horticultural plants to identify non-invasive forms and less-invasive alternatives.

Details of this study were recently published in the scientific journal Ecology.

To read more, visit: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2009/090224.htm.  ARS is the principal intramural scientific research agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. 

Submitted by Rick Harper, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County

 

Cornell Cooperative Extension
2008-2009 Horticulture Programs for Professionals
 

Cornell Cooperative Extension 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 get on your county mailing 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.  In addition, ISA, SAF, and NYS licensed landscape architect continuing education credits (CEU's) may be available for certain programs.  Please contact the facilitating educator for more information on specific programs.  All dates subject to change.
 
*Christmas Tree Twilight Meeting
July 9, 2009 at Farm Side Acres, Cornwall, NY.  Contact: Stephanie Mallozzi 845-677-8223 x104, Teresa Rusinek 845-340-3990, or Rosemarie Baglia 845-344-1234.  This is a hands-on, in the field program focusing on professional Christmas tree production issues.
 

Other Professional Horticulture Programs of Interest

 
Tree Pest Update: PRE-REGISTRATION DEADLINE IS EXTENDED TO JULY 10!
 
Still Time to Register for: Tree Pest Update Dinner Meeting with George Hudler!
July 14, 2009 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM at Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County, 18 Seward Ave, 3rd Floor, Middletown, NY. 
 
Renowned expert in tree pests and diseases,  Dr. George Hudler, will review the top pest issues of 2008 and share his predictions for 2009.  One NYSDEC pesticide recertification credit has been applied for.  The cost is $25 per person, which includes dinner.  Please contact Rose Baglia at 845-344-1234 for more information and to register. 
 
2009 Cornell Turfgrass Program Field Tours
July 15: Cornell Turfgrass Research Tour
August 12: Bethpage State Park, Tour of Reduced Chemical Management Project.
For more information contact Dr. Frank Rossi at 607-255-1629, fsr3@cornell.edu, or visit www.hort.cornell.edu/turf/events/index.htm.
 
NYS Releaf Conference
July 16-18, 2009, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY. 
For more information contact: Mary Kramarchyk at 518-402-9412, or visit http://www.nysurbanforestrycouncil.com/conference_2009.pdf.
 
Cornell Annual Floriculture Field Day and Kathy Pufahl Container Competition. 
Tuesday July 21, 2009 at the Cornell campus in Ithaca, NY.
 
The morning program will feature Chris Beytes, editor & publisher of GrowerTalks and Green Profit magazines.  The morning program will also offer a choice of sessions including attractive plant choices for the landscape, pest and disease management on herb and tomato crops, and a Cornell research update. Lunch and the afternoon program will take place outdoors at the Blue Grass Lane trial facility.  Participants can attend guided tours of the trials or view the flower beds at their own leisure.  New for this year are a vegetable trial and a shaded perennial bed. The Kathy Pufahl Container Design competition will also be held in-conjunction with Field Day. DEC pesticide credits will be available for the Field Day and IPM programs.

  • Registration form - Combination form allows you to register for IPM In-Depth and/or Floriculture Field Day and Container Competition.    Pre-registration required.
  • For more information, contact Dolores at 607-2555-1789 or visit www.greenhouse.cornell.edu ,

IPM In-Depth Workshop
 
NYS IPM will hold their second IPM In-depth workshop from 12:30-5:00 on July 20, 2009.   Cornell University, Ithaca, NY.  This year's hands-on topics are:

  • Aphid identification
  • Beneficial and damaging nematodes in the greenhouse and nursery
  • All about alkalinity - testing your water
  • The Doctor is IN:
  • Bring in plants that have issues you can't identify and our team of experts, and your fellow growers, will diagnose what the problem might be. Well all learn something!
  • Registration form - Combination form allows you to register for IPM In-Depth and/or Floriculture Field Day and Container Competition.   
  • Pre-registration required.
  • Questions? Contact Betsy Lamb at eml38@cornell.edu or (607) 254-8800  

*Sports Turf Program sponsored by the Sports Turf Managers’ Association of New York STMONY
August 13,  2009, Middletown City School District
Contact: Joann Gruttadaurio 607-592-8482 or Rosemarie Baglia 845-344-1234
 
Certified Landscape Technician Training
Contact: NYSTLA at 914-993-9455 or visit www.nystla.com.
An optional national testing program to recognize proficiency of qualified landscape professionals.
 
Certified Nursery Professional Training Program
Contact: In Dutchess, Putnam & Westchester: Scott Olivieri, 914-682-4224;
In 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, listed above, for more details.
 

About 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
ATC: (845) 657-7027
 
For 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 identification number; and an evaluation of the competency of the apprentice.

For Private Applicators:

·         Must be at least 17 years old.
·         Have at least one year of full-time experience within the last five 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.

Cornell Cooperative Extension County Commercial Horticulture Educators
Dutchess: Stephanie Mallozzi, sdm10@cornell.edu, 845-677-8223 x 104
Orange: Rosemarie Baglia, rsb22@cornell.edu, 845-344-1234
Putnam: Diane Olsen, dko3@cornell.edu, or Jennifer Stengle, jjs95@cornell.edu, 845-278-6738
Rockland: Donna Cooke, dmc72@cornell.edu, or Paul Trader, pwt2@cornell.edu, 845-429-7085
Ulster: Teresa Rusinek, tr28@cornell.edu, 845-340-3990
Westchester: Rick Harper, rwh26@cornell.edu, 914-946-3005
Sullivan: Marianna Quartararo, mdq2@cornell.edu, 845-292-6180 x 112
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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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