Hudson Valley Horticulture
Cornell Cooperative Extension of the Hudson Valley
~~~Commercial Horticulture Electronic Newsletter~~~

Volume 8, Issue 8
September 2008
Participating Counties: Orange * Dutchess * Putnam * Rockland * Sullivan * Ulster * Westchester *
Editor: Rosemarie S. Baglia
http://www.cce.cornell.edu

 

In this Issue:

  • Insect and Disease Control in the Greenhouse
  • Chrysanthemum White Rust
  • Oak Wilt Found in Schenectady County
  • 2009 - 2010 New England Greenhouse Floriculture Guide
  • Growers get In-Depth IPM Experience
  • Fall 2008 Pesticide Certification Training and Exam Schedule
  • Other Professional Horticulture Programs of Interest
  • About Pesticide Certification

 
Insect and Disease Control in the Greenhouse
This program is a follow up to last years Greenhouse Biological Control Tour to Canada.  On October 8, 2008, Brian Eshenaur will be doing an overview of the weed suppressive groundcover study and showing the demonstration plot followed by owner Deborah Sweeton discussing her success with biocontrol of thrips at her farm, Techni-Growers Greenhouses, 177 Sanfordville Rd. Warwick, NY. Only $10 per person.  This program is a combined effort between New York State Integrated Pest Management Program, New York State Flower Industries, and Cornell Cooperative Extension of Suffolk, Orange, Schenectady, and Clinton Counties and are partially funded by a grant received from the New York Farm Viability Institute.
 
DEC pesticide recertification credits will be given for the following categories:
 

Category    
     Credits
Ornamental and Turf -3a                                                     
Interior Plant Maintenance -3c                                           
Demonstration -10                                                              
Greenhouse and Florist -24                                               
Nursery, Ornamentals & Turf -25                                       

2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00
2.00


                                                                       

 
Can’t make this workshop?  There will be other 6 additional locations around the state
Long Island, Buffalo, Albany, Syracuse, Upstate NY.  For more information please call Rose Baglia at 845-344-1234.  To register please call 845-344-1234 or email cah94@cornell.edu.
 

Submitted by Rosemarie Baglia, Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County
 
Chrysanthemum White Rust

 
As fall approaches and chrysanthemum crops mature, growers should be aware of a disease that can devastate a crop:  chrysanthemum white rust caused by the fungus Puccinia horiana.  This disease is not known to overwinter in the US, however it has appeared here occasionally over the past few years, apparently as the result of importation.
 
It is important to scout your crop and also check mums near the greenhouse in the landscape including Montauk daisy.  Look for any small yellow spots especially those less than in diameter. The best place to look for the spots is on the upper surfaces of the young leaves and flower bracts.  A characteristic feature that helps separate these spots from other spots is the tiny brown speck in the center. Raised tan to pink colored pustules develop on the opposite side of the leaf, under the yellow spots. These pustules, from which spores are released, fade to white with age hence the name white rust.
 
To help prevent this disease from occurring at your operation, carefully inspect incoming mums.  Imported cut flowers should never be handled in or near a mum growing facilitya particular challenge for greenhouse/florist operations. Cool humid conditions favor this disease (temperature range from 63 75 F). 
 
Since chrysanthemum white rust is a federal quarantine pest, growers are obligated to report it. If you are not sure if you have white rust, contact your extension office or NY Ag and Markets to get a confirmation and required control information. 
 
Written by: Brian Eshenaur, NYS IPM  bce1@cornell.edu
 

Oak Wilt Found in Schenectady County

Thanks to keen observations by several homeowners in Schenectady County, New York and prompt action by Cornell Cooperative Extension educator Chris Logue, plant pathologists at Cornell recently confirmed for the first time that oak wilt - a lethal disease of red oaks in the upper Midwest and mid-Atlantic states and Texas is now present in New York State.  So far, oak wilt is only known to occur in the state in an area equal to about three city blocks in Scotia. However, as word of the discovery spreads and more people learn to identify symptoms of the disease, Cornell Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory staff expect to process more samples from various localities elsewhere and, from them, to get a better picture of just how widespread the disease is. 

For more complete information on disease identification and an integrated disease management approach to controlling this disease go to www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/howtos/ht_oakwilt/toc.htm.  For the video showing in-field screening for oak wilt disease visit www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVUZsvyZfVE.  Source: George W. Hudler, Chair, Plant Pathology Department, Cornell University
 
Submitted by Stephanie D. Mallozzi, Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County
 
 
2009 - 2010 New England Greenhouse Floriculture Guide - A Management Guide for Insects, Diseases, Weeds and Growth Regulators
 
Greenhouse growers throughout New England rely on the New England Greenhouse Floriculture Guide as an unbiased source of detailed crop-specific production recommendations.  This compendium of up-to-date information about products that manage insects, mites, diseases, weeds and algae, and regulate plant growth, is a must-have manual for professional growers.  Since the last edition, several new products have become available and have been incorporated into the 2009-2010 publication.
 
All of the Guide’s chemical recommendations are presented within the framework of sustainability.  The insect/mite section, for example, presents a practical approach to establishing a comprehensive integrated pest management program, beginning with detailed information about pest identification and step-by-step guidelines for implementing an effective scouting program.  Practical guidelines for instituting a biological control program, including use of banker plants and alternative pest control materials, are provided. The plant growth regulator (PGR) section not only provides details of which PGRs to use and how to apply those products to specific crops, but also explains how to manage crop growth environmentally.
 
The Guide is updated every two years by floriculture faculty and staff from the six New England State Universities, and is published by New England Floriculture, Inc.
 
The 2009-2010 edition of the Guide will be available to attendees of the New England Greenhouse Conference at a special conference price of $15 per copy. After the conference, it will be available for $25 per copy via the New England Greenhouse Conference web site ( www.negreenhouse.org).
 
To be added to the mailing list to receive the 2008 New England Greenhouse Conference Program or for more information about the attending the conference or purchasing the Guide, contact Cindy Delaney, Show Coordinator, 1 Mill Street, Suite 301, Burlington, VT 05401, at 802-865-5202 or via email at info@negreenhouse.org or visit www.negreenhouse.org.
 
Submitted by: Rose Baglia, Cornell Cooperative Extension, Orange County
 
 
Growers get In-Depth IPM Experience
 
Twenty-six growers attended the first IPM In-depth Hands-On workshop July 21, 2008.  The half-day program covered thrips management, water and nutrient testing, and the management of botrytis and other diseases. Growers got their hands dirty learning how to read pH and electrical conductivity meters and what the results mean.  They got an up-close example of biocontrol by feeding unsuspecting thrips to minute pirate bugs (Orius spp.), a thrips predator.  And they ground up plant material to test for impatiens necrotic spot virus with a virus indicator test.  Several brought plant materials of their own to test the soil or identify disease and insect problems.
 
In order to make the IPM In-depth workshop as relevant as possible, the attending growers answered a survey to find out more about them and what they did and didnt like in the program.  The majority attending have a retail greenhouse as their primary business, but others have nurseries, wholesale greenhouses, garden centers and even apple orchards.  For most, thrips are a moderate problem but they do plan to change their thrips management plan based on what they learned.  Many thought improving their monitoring system would help; others thought they might try other chemical means or biocontrol.
 
Diseases are also considered a moderate problem, with botrytis, root diseases and mildews most commonly mentioned as being most troublesome.  For botrytis and root diseases, in particular, a wide variety of crops were listed as being common hosts including geraniums, petunias, vinca, callibrachoa and nemesia.  Many growers plan on changing their disease management system.  Better identification, more scouting, and improved sanitation are the top choices for improvement.
 
Almost everyone wanted to try the media monitoring methods they learned once they returned to their greenhouses.  And most thought that using the monitoring would help them adjust their fertilization practices.
 
Planning for the 2009 IPM In-depth program is going on now! Topics were the reason most people attended, so help identify those areas most important to you identification and management of specific insects and diseases, techniques you would like to learn about, etc.  Contact Elizabeth Lamb at eml38@cornell.edu or your local Extension Educator if you have suggestions.  And stay tuned for the announcement of next years IPM In-depth program!
Photos from the day are available with the article here: www.nysipm.cornell.edu/nursery_ghouse/newsletters/
 
Written by: Betsy Lamb, NYS IPM, eml38@cornell.edu

 

 

Pesticide Certification Exam Schedule
Fall 2008 – Region 3

COUNTY

       TRAINING
9:30 AM – 1:00 PM    

EXAMS
CORE: 9:30 AM
CATEGORY: 11:00 AM

Ulster (845-340-3990) 

Orange (845-344-1234)                                        
 
Sullivan (845-292-6180)                                      
 
Rockland (845-429-7085)   
 
Dutchess (845-677-8223)       
 
Westchester/Putnam (845-278-6738)                

October 16, 2008    

October 23, 2008 

November 6, 2008

November 12, 2008       

November 18, 2008

December 2, 2008

November 13, 2008

November 20, 2008

December 4, 2008

December 9, 2008

December 15, 2008

December 17, 2008


Seating may be limited. Reservations are required by all counties.  Contact the Cornell Cooperative Extension office where you wish to attend to sign up.
 
The DEC charges $50 for the exam fee (If you are attending the pre-exam training session, please bring a check or money order for the $50 exam with you that day).  Upon passing the exam, the certification fee is $225 for your first category (except $100 for cat. 3A or 3B only).  This certification will be valid for a 3 year period (only 1 year for cat. 3A or 3B only).  If adding a category, a letter of experience or 12 recertification credits are needed to be allowed into the test: also certification fee to be determined at the time of the exam dependent on expiration date of current license.
 
For more information contact the New York State Department of Environment Conservation, Division of Solid and Hazardous Materials, Region 3, 21 South Putt Corners Road, New Paltz, New York 121561-1696; by phone 845-256-3097, fax 845-255-3414, or visit their website at www.dec.ny.gov.
 

Other Professional Horticulture Programs of Interest
2008 Arboriculture Field Day

Certified Arborists and Tree Care Professionals will have the opportunity to receive an update on the status of important insect & disease pests impacting the health of our urban forests and community trees.  The keynote speaker will be Dr. George Hudler, Chair of Cornell University's Department of Plant Pathology.  This program will take place on Tues. Oct. 7 at Lasdon Park & Arboretum, Route 35, Katonah, NY.  Please note that attendance is limited and early registration is strongly encouraged.

For more information, please contact JoAnn Trautmann at jdt34@cornell.edu or Martha Mocbeichel at mpm47@cornell.edu or 914-285-4640.  Download the program flyer at: http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/westchester/PDF/2008ArboricultureFieldDay.pdf .  ISA & NYS DEC Recertification Credits have been applied for.

Native Plant Training Workshop
October  22, 2008, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm.  To be held at Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, NY.

Participants will learn techniques and methods for reintroducing native plants to areas that have been managed for the control of invasive plants and will also learn how to preserve existing native plant habitats.

Who should attend:
Land managers including local, state and national parks, land stewards, land trusts and preserves, large land owners such as corporations, religious institutions, historic mansions, colleges and residential schools, DEC foresters, landscape architects, horticulturists, growers, nurseries, soil and water conservation district employees, highway workers, NYS Turf and Landscape , EMC, CAC, and Master Gardeners.

Presented in cooperation with NYSDEC Estuary Training Program of the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, Cary Institute for Ecosystem Studies, PRISM

2008 Certified Tree Steward Program

The Certified Tree Steward Program will now be opened to municipal employees with responsibilities in tree care that also work outside of Westchester County. This 5-day program will include information on tree selection/identification, tree biology, proper planting/pruning and performing an urban tree inventory.  Sessions will be held on Wed. Nov. 5, Thurs. Nov. 6, & Fri. Nov. 7 at CCE of Westchester Co., and Tues. Nov. 18 & Wed. Nov. 19 at the Bartlett Arboretum in Stamford CT. 

Please note that attendance is limited and early registration is strongly encouraged.  For more information contact Martha Mocbeichel at mpm47@cornell.edu or 914-285-4640 or visit http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/westchester/PDF/tree%20steward2008-NoWestchester.pdf .  ISA Credits have been applied for.


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. You have received this email because you indicated an interest in hearing about the information included in Hudson Valley Horticulture.  If you wish to be removed from future mailings, please respond by using the "Reply" function in your email software and changing the subject line to "Remove."  This will automatically remove you from future mailings.  If this email has been forwarded to you, contact your local Cornell Cooperative Extension Educator and ask to be put on the list.  Cornell Cooperative Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities.  Please notify us if you have special needs.