Hudson
Valley Horticulture
Cornell Cooperative Extension of the Hudson Valley
~~~Commercial Horticulture Electronic Newsletter~~~
Volume 7, Issue 3
July 23, 2007
Participating Counties: Orange * Dutchess * Putnam * Rockland
* Sullivan * Ulster * Westchester *
Editor: Rosemarie S. Baglia
http://www.cce.cornell.edu
In this Issue:
*Cornell
Floriculture Field Day and Fifth Annual Kathy Pufahl Container
Design Competition
*Cornell
to Host Fruit Field Day
*Virtual
Greenhouse
*Gardener’s
Guide to Global Warming
*Harvesting
Heavy Metals
*Pro-Mix
with Subtilex Biofungicide
*Pest
Management Around the Home and other Cornell Guidelines Available
Electronically
*Programs
at Agroforestry Resource Center in Greene Co.
*Mid-Summer
Scouting for White Grubs
*Regional
Updates
Westchester
Rockland
Nominations requested for Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange
County Board of Directors
Tri-County Nursery Landscape Association Events
Cornell Floriculture Field Day and Fifth Annual Kathy Pufahl
Container Design Competition
Tuesday, July 24, 2007 - Cornell Campus, Ithaca, N.Y.
Featured Speaker:
Jack Williams, Paul Ecke Ranch, "Annuals with Pizazz -
How to Grow Them"
Company representatives talking about new plants on the market
Margery Daughtrey, Cornell University, "Solving Annual
Problems"
New this year: A panel discussion - "Growing and Retailing:
Views of the Next Generation" - moderated by Deborah Sweeton
(Technigrowers Greenhouse) and Mark Adams (Mark Adams Greenhouse),
and featuring:
Charlie Cole, D.S. Cole Growers
Ben Huntington, Pleasant View Gardens
Q Pennings, Pennings Greenhouses Inc
Mazanne Pennings, Pennings Greenhouses Inc
Noah Schwartz, Matterhorn Nursery
More information and program registration form [.pdf]
Container Competition information and registration [.pdf]
Map for Field Day Program [.pdf]
Submitted by Rose Baglia, Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange
County
Cornell to Host Fruit Field Day
Written by Joe Ogrodnick
Cornell University will host the 2007 Fruit Field Day and Equipment
Show at the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in
Geneva, NY, on Wednesday, July 25, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
This is one of several events that commemorate the 125th anniversary
of the Experiment Station, which opened its doors on March 1,
1882.
Fruit growers, consultants, and industry personnel are invited
to tour field plots and laboratories and learn about the latest
research and extension efforts being carried out by researchers
on the Geneva, Highland and Ithaca campuses. The focus will
be on all commodities that are key to New York's $300 million
fruit industry: apples, grapes, raspberries, strawberries, peaches,
pears and cherries.
During lunch, equipment dealers will showcase the latest techniques
to improve sprayer deposition and reducing drift. Representatives
from various companies will advise growers on the latest technologies.
The event will be held on the Experiment Station's Fruit and
Vegetable Research Farm South, 1097 County Road No. 4, one mile
west of Pre-emption Rd. in Geneva, NY. Signs will be posted.
Attendees will be able to select from tours of apples, stone
fruits, small fruits, and grapes, as well as a tour of the Experiment
Station's labs and greenhouses. Admission is free and lunch
is provided courtesy of industry sponsors. Pre-registration
is encouraged.
For sponsorship and exhibitor information, contact Debbie Breth
at 585-798-4265 or dib1@cornell.edu. More information will be
posted to http://www.nysaes.cornell.edu/hort/fieldday/ in the
very near future. For additional information, contact Nancy
Long at 315-787-2288 or NPL1@cornell.edu.
Submitted by Rick Harper, Cornell Cooperative Extension Westchester
County
Virtual Greenhouse
Growers can now build and heat a "virtual" greenhouse
- or upgrade existing greenhouses - on a computer, to find out
how much it would cost to heat with different fuels, heating
schedules, heaters, building designs and materials.
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) plant pathologist Jim Locke,
horticulturist Jonathan Frantz and research leader Charles Krause
have published this "Virtual Grower" software on the
internet at: www.ars.usda.gov/services/software/download.htm?softwareid=108.
They are part of the ARS Greenhouse Production Research Group
at Toledo, Ohio.
Soon Frantz, Locke and Krause will add a plant component to
the computer program so growers can see the effects of their
heating choices and schedules not only on costs, but also on
their plants. They'll gradually expand the software to include
all other aspects of greenhouse management, including applications
of nutrients, water, growth regulators and pesticides. Ultimately,
it will also help growers manage labor, optimize plant productivity
and set sale prices. There are many individual programs like
this, but none that considers all of these factors interacting
together, as this one eventually will.
To estimate energy requirements and costs using Virtual Grower,
users input the dimensions of their greenhouse and its construction
materials, such as poured-concrete floor, glass sides and roof,
or concrete-block walls. They also choose design features, such
as roof shape and orientation to the sun. A historical database
gives a year's worth of typical weather for the city nearest
to the greenhouse location - including factors such as temperature,
sunlight and cloud cover - for each hour of the day.
Growers choose a heating schedule and set the temperatures they
want to maintain during day and night, or for each hour. The
program then calculates per-square-foot heating costs by the
month or year.
Since Virtual Grower is a work in progress, growers are invited
to e-mail questions or suggestions to help Frantz, Locke and
Krause fine-tune this tool for managing greenhouses for greater
productivity at lower costs.
This information was published in the May/June 2007 issue of
Agricultural Research magazine, available online at www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/may07/plants0507.htm.
The ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific
research agency. The ARS distributes news reports to subscribers
on weekdays. For more information or to subscribe please visit
www.ars.usda.gov or email NewsService@ars.usda.gov .
Submitted By Elizabeth Lamb, NYSIPM State Coordinator for Ornamental
Crops
Gardener’s Guide to Global Warming
The National Wildlife Federation has a great website where you
can look at predicted impacts of global warming on your home
state. Check this one out! It is easy to use.
www.nwf.org/gardenersguide.
Submitted by Rose Baglia, Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange
County
Harvesting Heavy Metals
Check out the research on particular plants’ abilities
to clean up contaminated soil in this online article in College
of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University Magazine
at www.cals.cornell.edu/cals/public/comm/pubs/cals-news/index.cfm.
Submitted by Rose Baglia, Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange
County
Pro-Mix with Subtilex Biofungicide (Bacillus subtilis, MBI
600) is a Registered Fungicide – So Make Sure to Treat
it Like One!!
By Nora Catlin, Floriculture Specialist, Cornell Cooperative
Extension Suffolk County
This spring, a NY grower was found to be in violation of Worker
Protection Standard (WPS) regulations regarding Pro-Mix with
Biofungicide. During this inspection, it was also discovered
that there was a glitch in the registration of some product
formulations of Pro-Mix with Biofungicide in New York. Premier
Horticulture has been working with the NY DEC to remedy this
issue and the labels for some products have been recently solved,
and the registration of the remaining products should be resolved
soon. Contact your regional DEC office or local extension agent
for updates. Only the Pro-Mix products with Biofungicide are
affected, the other Pro-Mix lines – any of the regular
formulations and any of the Pro-Mix formulations with Mycorise
Pro – are not affected by these registration/label issues.
Since the various products of Pro-Mix with Biofungicide –
Pro-Mix ‘BX’, ‘BRK’, etc. – are registered
as fungicides, they need to follow all rules and regulations.
Make sure the product being used is properly labeled and registered
for use. All label instructions, including Worker Protection
Standard (WPS) regulations, must be followed.
In your central posting area the following must be recorded
and posted:
the product name (e.g., Pro-Mix BX with Biofungicide),
EPA registration number (74267-1),
active ingredient (Bacillus subtilis, MBI 600),
location and description of treated area,
time and date of application, and
Restricted Entry Interval (REI) (0 hours)
This information needs to remain posted in your central posting
area for 30 days past the expiration of the REI, like with all
registered pesticides. In the case of Pro-Mix with biofungicide,
which has a 0 hour REI, the information needs to be posted for
30 days after the last application or use. (Application is considered
the filling of pots or potting machines.)
According to the current label applicators and other handlers
(persons opening bags, or filling pots or potting machines)
must wear the following Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
during application:
long-sleeved shirt and long pants,
waterproof gloves, (some labels may not list waterproof gloves
as necessary)
shoes plus socks, and
a dust/mist filtering respirator meeting NIOSH standard of at
least N-95, R-95, or P-95.
Product labels might be updated from time to time. If any information
on the label conflicts with the information presented here,
follow the information on the label.
Pro-Mix with Biofungicide is not a restricted use pesticide,
so private pesticide applicators do not need to record its use
in their applicator records, but any commercial pesticide applicator
must record this product in their applicator records if they
are involved in the opening of bags, filling of pots or potting
machines.
If you read the registered label closely (as you always should!),
you will notice a statement indicating that the various products
of Pro-Mix with Biofungicide are for: “use in protected
environments only (e.g. glasshouse or greenhouse); not for use
in non-protected environments (e.g. non-contained nurseries
or slat houses)”. According to Premier Horticulture and
the DEC, this statement indicates only that application (in
this case, the filling of the pots or potting machine) needs
to happen in protected environments (indoors). Once the pots
have been filled, they can be moved to any indoor or outdoor
location.
If you have any questions on WPS regulations, product registration,
or pesticide use, please contact your local DEC office or local
extension agent. NYS DEC Region 3, New Paltz, NY – 845-256-3097;
CCE Orange County – 845-344-1234; CCE Ulster County –
845-340-3990
Submitted by Rose Baglia, Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange
County
Pest Management Around the Home and other Cornell Guidelines
Available Electronically
Cornell Guidelines for managing pests can now be accessed electronically,
Go to http://ipmguidelines.org/, choose (click on) “Pests
Around the Home” or the type of crop you wish to view.
For Pests Around the Home, you will see both Part I Cultural
Guidelines, and Part II Pesticide Guidelines, (2005-06 version,
the latest available as we await the new Northeast Guidelines).
2007 Herbaceous Perennials Guidelines Now Available
The next title in this year's Cornell Guidelines series, the
2007 Herbaceous Perennials, is available and ready for distribution
from the Pesticide Management Education Program Educational
Resources Distribution Center. This guide includes the most
up-to-date information currently available for managing disease,
insect, and weed pests in perennials. Highlighted revisions
include updated private pesticide applicator recordkeeping information
and revised pesticide registration information. This Guideline
has been designed as a practical reference for producers, pesticide
dealers, and others involved in herbaceous perennial production.
Ordering information: Contact your local Cornell Cooperative
Extension county office or order directly from Liz Powers at
(607) 255-7282 or via e-mail at patorder@cornell.edu. Customers
may also submit orders via our on-line store at http://store.cce.cornell.edu/pmep.
2007 Herbaceous Perennials, Item Code: HP-07, List Price: $25.00
(shipping included)
Submitted by Rose Baglia, Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange
County
Programs at the Agroforestry Resource Center in Greene County
There is something for everyone… Summer 2007 Programs (PDF).
All programs are held at the Agroforestry Resource Center (located
at 6055 Route 23 in Acra, New York) unless otherwise noted.
Pre-registration is required for all programs by calling Cornell
Cooperative Extension 518-622-9820 or emailing greene@cornell.edu.
Program fees are non-refundable.
Submitted by Rose Baglia, Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange
County
Mid-Summer Scouting for White Grubs
White grubs are the immature stage (or larvae) of a group of
insects known as the scarab beetles. During the grub stage,
these insects dwell in the soil, feeding on the roots of plants,
such as the grasses that comprise our lawns. When grub populations
are high enough, the damage they inflict can be widespread.
It generally appears as a large brown area of dead or dying
turf that can easily be peeled or raked back, as the grubs essentially
sever the root system while they feed.
Here in New York, we generally encounter eight different types
of grubs four native species (Green June beetle, Black turfgrass
aetaenius, Northern masked chafer, May or June beetles) and
four introduced species (European chafer, Japanese beetle, Asiatic
garden beetle, Oriental beetle).
With the exception of the Black turfgrass aetaenius and May
or June beetles White grubs have a one-year life cycle in New
York State. Depending on the species, adult emergence and egg
laying generally occurs in June, July, and August. In Westchester
County and other parts of Southeastern New York, sampling to
monitor grub populations should begin in early August after
egg hatch, when the larvae are young and are not yet capable
of causing notable damage.
Sampling consists of removing a square foot of turfgrass and
soil and then examining the sample for populations of White
grubs to determine if they meet or exceed damage threshold numbers.
This may be done with a golf course cup cutter or spade.
Table 1. White grub action thresholds
(Number of grubs required before treatment should be considered)
Species Grubs/Sq. Ft. Core
Asiatic garden beetle 18-20 2
Black turfgrass ataenius 30-50 3-5
European chafer 5-10 Any
Green June beetle 5 Any
Japanese beetle 8-10 Any
Oriental beetle 8 Any
Northern masked chafer 8-12 Any
May / June beetle 3-4 Any
Once the area is sampled and threshold numbers are understood,
properly identifying the type of White grubs may be done by
examining the arrangement of hairs on the back end of the grub
(i.e. raster pattern) with a hand lens. Here in Westchester
County, the three grub species most commonly encountered damaging
turf include Oriental beetle (Exomala orientalis), European
chafer (Rhizotrogus majalis), and Japanese beetle (Popillia
japonica).
Grubs tend to lay eggs in areas that are moist enough to ensure
egg survival. Therefore, modification of watering practices
may help to reduce populations in the future. Additionally,
maintenance practices that include the avoidance of early spring
fertilization and proper grass species selection can be important
steps in promoting a healthy vigorous lawn that can withstand
grub populations that exceed standard threshold levels. University
researchers also report that ant populations can consume up
to 40% of grub eggs found in the soil of a given area, so taking
steps to protect ant populations may also prove to be important
for the natural control of grubs.
Three options exist for the biological management of grub species:
A commercially available bacteria that causes Milky spore disease
(Paenibacillus popilliae and P. lentimorbus) an entomopathogenic
nematode (Heterorhabditis bacteriophora), and a soil-borne fungus
known as Beauveria bassiana. Research has shown that Milky spore
disease powder will not likely affect grub populations in New
York State to the point where turf damage would be effectively
prevented. In laboratory studies, entomopathogenic nematodes
have been shown to be effective parasites of White grubs. However,
field results have not been consistent and great care must be
taken to apply the nematodes in an appropriate manner. The commercially-available
formulation of Beauveria bassiana (sold as Botanigard) may be
targeted at the younger White grub larvae as they are more susceptible
than the larger instars. After application, the area should
be kept moist to promote fungal spore germination and infection
of the insect. A number of conditions can affect the efficacy
of this product including insect susceptibility, environmental
conditions, and the amount of the product that comes in contact
with the grub. If all else fails, a number of insecticides are
available for the management of White grub populations be sure
to consult your local Cooperative Extension association for
proper product selections and application timing.
For more information visit: http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/suffolk/HortFactSheets/factsheets/Lawn%20Insects.pdf
Written by Rick Harper, Cornell Cooperative Extension Westchester
County
Regional Updates
Westchester County
Growing Degree Day Count and Precipitation totals as of July
22, 2007: 1510 (slightly above normal); 23.50 (over 5"
above norm.)
Although to look at the above numbers, one would think that
we’ve experienced some hot, wet weather, the precipitation
totals are somewhat deceiving. While skewing the numbers, a
few large localized rain events can’t adequately compensate
for the serious rainfall deficits that we experienced in May
and earlier in June. Additionally, we have seen the commencement
of some hot summer-time temperatures (above 85 degrees). While
these hot, humid conditions typically strongly encourage the
development of seasonal disease, we suspect that the overall
lack of precipitation has kept the numbers of reports relatively
low thus far. Only isolated reports of common diseases like
dollar spot and other leaf spots on turfgrass have been reported.
Although it germinated quite a few weeks ago, the warmer temperatures
have also given a big boost to the growth rate of crabgrass.
Crawlers of our most common scales infesting ornamental plantings
(Juniper scale, Azalea bark scale, Cottony Taxus scale, Fletcher
scale, Pine Needle Scale, White prunicola scale) have also made
their debut in June. Reports have also been made about Cutworms
in vegetable garden settings in the region. The fearsome Bronze
Birch Borer can also be observed in the adult stage. Also, one
cannot help but notice the plethora of adult scarab beetles
that have emerged - Oriental beetle, Chafers, Japanese Beetles
- to mate and lay eggs. Remember, this month's eggs are next
month's grubs.
Be on the look out for a number of treatment windows that typically
open in July for a number of insect pests including Hemlock
woolly adelgid (the mid-summer crawler emergence should be taking
place in July) and Cooley spruce gall adelgid (the galls begin
opening throughout the month of July). Treatment windows should
also be opening up in July for other common insects of ornamentals
including Lacebugs (Corythuca sp., 1266-1544 GDD) and Privet
rust mite (Auculus ligustri, 1266-1515 GDD). Adult Whiteflies
also abound, so keep an eye out for this insect as well.
Remember, Horticultural oils should not be applied in a period
of high temperature (above 80 degrees) or humidity, or if plants
are experiencing drought stress!!! As always, be sure to consult
the appropriate 2007 Pest Management Guide when considering
your treatment options.
Written by Rick Harper, Cornell Cooperative Extension Westchester
County
Rockland County
Azalea Gall
Azalea gall has been seen in Rockland County on a reoccurring
basis. Fleshy galls develop on leaves, branch tips, flower parts,
and seedpods. Galls are pale green, pink, white, or brown in
color and are caused by the fungus Exobasidium vaccinii. The
fungus overwinters within the infected plant, and by late spring,
early summer, a whitish coating appears on the swollen plant
tissue. This coating is composed of many microscopic fungal
structures which produce spores capable of infecting more plants
during moist weather. This disease is not usually a serious
problem unless wet conditions prevail for long periods of time.
The disease develops on the leaves of azalea. The severity of
symptoms varies depending on the weather conditions. Spores
are produced on the leaves during the spring and summer. The
spores are dispersed on air currents and splashed by rain drops
on to healthy leaves where they can cause new infections. This
normally occurs during cool, wet weather. The symptomatic galls
are not visible until the following spring. To control Azalea
Gall, the galls should be hand picked and destroyed before they
turn white. Most native and horticultural azalea and rhododendron
plants are susceptible. Some species and cultivars are more
susceptible than others. Rhododendron maxium L., R. catawbiense
Michx, and their hybrids, are listed as being particularly susceptible,
as are the Indica azalea group. Susceptible plants growing in
poorly aerated soils are more subject to infection by the fungus
than those growing in well-aerated soils.
Submitted by Donna Cooke, Cornell Cooperative Extension Rockland
County
Tri-County Nursery/Landscape Association In Conjunction With
Cornell Cooperative Extension Present 2007 Calendar of Events
September 11
Golf Outing At Winding Hills
Jim Presutti (845) 567-1611
October 13 & 14
Small Farm and Rural Living EXPO- Ulster Fairgrounds
Rose Baglia (845) 344-1234
November 13 -15
Green Industry Show- Rochester
Jan Jansen (845) 651-4106
December 1
Holiday Party
Kevin Shuback (845) 651-4074, Jan Jansen (845) 651-4106
All Dates Subject to Change. For more information or to become
a member contact: Kevin Shuback at (845) 651-4074.
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: Jennifer Stengle, jjs95@cornell.edu, 845-278-6738
Rockland: Caryn Singer (for Paul Trader), cs356@cornell.edu,
845-429-7085 x 117
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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