Cornell Cooperative Extension of the
~~~Commercial Horticulture Electronic Newsletter~~~
Volume 7, Issue 9
September 28, 2007
Participating Counties: Orange * Dutchess * Putnam *
Editor: Rosemarie S. Baglia
http://www.cce.cornell.edu
In this Issue:
Small Farm and Rural Living Expo
Bring the family on Saturday, October 13 and
Sunday, October 14 to the Ulster County Fairgrounds in New Paltz,
For the most current information go to www.smallfarmexpo.org
or call Les at 845-677-8223 x130 or lch7@cornell.edu.
Submitted by Rose Baglia, Cornell Cooperative
Extension Orange County
Sports Turf Program comes to the
The Sports Turf Managers Association of New York (STMONY), in conjunction
with Cornell Cooperative Extension, will be holding a program in
Submitted by Rose Baglia, Cornell Cooperative
Extension Orange County
The Many Shades of Green: Landscaping in the Age of
Environmentalism
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Submitted by Anna Snider, Cornell Cooperative Extension
Westchester County
Letting Plants "Talk" to You
Written by Don Comis, USDA-ARS Staff Writer
The greenhouse manager of the future walks around the greenhouse, pointing an
infrared "flashlight" at potted plants. A tiny screen
tells whether each plant has too much, too little, or just the right amount of
nutrients.
During the past three years, at a new facility in Toledo, Ohio, Agricultural
Research Service (ARS) plant pathologist Jim Locke and horticulturist Jonathan
Frantz have made a great deal of progress toward realizing this automated
future. Frantz is testing commercial nutrient sensors with a view toward
developing improved portable ones. Devices like these can give greenhouse
growers a few - often critical - extra days to correct nutrient problems before
their plants are seriously damaged.
In one approach, Frantz, Locke and colleagues are testing ways to bounce
infrared light off plants, in order to read the earliest possible signals of
nutrient deficiency. The signals could be key proteins or other molecules
associated with stress, or a change in a leaf's light reflectance as a result
of a deficiency. Spotting ways in which plants signal stress would be a
way to detect a problem before any visible evidence of damage to the plant
occurs.
Currently, the scientists use commercial portable sensors that detect nutrient
ions but are expensive and have to be calibrated properly. They would
like to develop an easy-to-use portable kit that growers could buy at a
reasonable cost.
The scientists also use inductively coupled plasma (ICP) spectrometry to
determine plants' total nutrient content, but that test is suitable only for
laboratory use.
The
The information above 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 Gary Couch, NYSIPM Eastern New York Ornamentals Specialist
Tip for Greenhouse Growers: Add Silicon
Modern greenhouse production methods have often eliminated conventional earth
as a growth medium and, with that, eliminated silicon, a mineral naturally
found in soil.
Greenhouse growers might do well to add silicon back in their nutrient
applications, irrigation or potting mixes, according to Agricultural Research
Service (ARS) scientists. That's because a growing body of research
suggests that silicon boosts yields and protects plants from toxicity and
fungal diseases. This means silicon may reduce the need for plant growth
regulators and disease-control pesticides.
Over the past three years, horticulturist Jonathan Frantz and plant pathologist
Jim Locke with the ARS Greenhouse Production Research Group in
The scientists also tested some of these plants to see if silicon imparts
resistance to two widespread pathogenic fungi, gray mold and powdery mildew.
They found that it helps reduce symptoms of powdery mildew in zinnia but has no
effect on species such as begonia and geranium, which do not accumulate
silicon. The scientists will continue to use similar tests to see if
silicon accumulates in the leaves of other ornamental crops and test those
crops for silicon-induced resistance to insect pests. Such knowledge
about plants' silicon use will help breeders choose promising lines for
creating new varieties of flowers and ornamental plants that will need fewer
pesticide applications.
The information above 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 Rick Harper, Cornell Cooperative Extension Westchester County
New Online Help for Managing Whiteflies
Tiny, sap-sucking whiteflies and the diseases they often spread cause some of the world's worst crop problems and are
responsible for enormous losses every year. Now an online resource has
been developed to help growers afflicted by the pests.
Agricultural Research Service (ARS) scientists in the agency's Subtropical
Insects Research Unit (SIRU), including entomologist Cindy McKenziein
collaboration with the University of Florida,
the University of California, the University of Georgia, Texas A & M University and Cornell University, and endorsed by industry
groups such as the Society of American
Florists, American Nursery & Landscape
Association and the IR-4 Project have developed a website with extensive
information about whitefly management. SIRU is part of ARS'
Whiteflies are found throughout the tropics and subtropics, but can be
troublesome in greenhouses and other growing environments as well. Both
immature and adult stages ingest plant sap and cause damage directly, by
feeding and transmitting plant viruses, or indirectly, by excreting a sticky
substance called honeydew onto leaves and fruit. Sooty mold fungi
colonize the contaminated surfaces, further interfering with photosynthesis and
ultimately resulting in reduced quality of fruit and fiber. In addition to
ornamentals, whiteflies attack cassava, cotton, sweet potato, legumes and many
other vegetables grown in mixed or annual cropping systems.
Called "Management Program for Whiteflies on Propagated Ornamentals With an Emphasis on the Q-biotype," the comprehensive
online resource can be accessed at: http://www.mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/LSO/bemisia/bemisia.htm.
Among the many topics covered at the website are the importance of crop
hygiene, pre- and post-planting practices and insecticide
recommendations. Also stressed is the need to control whiteflies early,
before they spread to neighboring fields.
Proper use of insecticides is important for whitefly management, particularly
with respect to avoiding development of insecticide resistance in whiteflies.
The online guide recommends that insecticides be rotated between chemical
classes and should be applied a minimum of two times, at a five- to seven-day
interval, to allow for egg hatch between applications and ensure that adults,
nymphs and newly hatched individuals are all killed.
Written by Alfredo Flores, USDA-ARS Staff Writer, August
2007. To read more, visit: http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2007/070822.htm.
Submitted by Rick Harper, Cornell Cooperative Extension Westchester County
Survey for bedding plant growers
The University of Maine is conducting a survey of bedding plant growers aimed
at determining: A) the size of the existing organic bedding plant industry, B)
the research needs of organic bedding plant growers, and C) factors preventing
conventional bedding plant growers from converting to organic production.
This survey is for both organic and conventional growers with an interest in
organic production. This brief survey should take less than 10 minutes of
your time. Your opinions will be used to build a big picture that will
both estimate the size of the existing organic bedding plant industry and form
the basis for future research projects to address problems facing current and
future organic bedding plant growers.
To take the survey, click on the link below: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=m_2ffbxGRxzd23H_2bHuBcYyKg_3d_3d
.
Submitted by Teresa Rusinek, Cornell Cooperative
Extension of Ulster County
Regional Updates
Westchester County
Looking back on August and the first half of
September, we have noted some of the cooler end-of-summer temperatures that
coincide with the shorter days that signify the end of the summer. As of
9/17, our Precipitation Levels and GDD readings register at 28.63 and 2727
Units, respectively.
While our August phone calls typically include questions about disease control
on turf and ornamentals, the lack of prolonged periods of wetness (that we
sometimes see due to high humidity and precipitation) seemed to have
discouraged a lot of these disease issues this year. We also have not
received the typical numbers of calls or reports about grub-related problems in
lawns that we typically encounter at this point in the growing season, but we
have received some questions about renovating/establishing lawns (which we
typically encourage at this time of the year).
Some of the samples that weve received in the lab
include Needlecast on spruce, weeds such as Veronica
(Veronica serphyllifolia) and Thymeleaf speedwell, and Bacterial leaf scorch on amelanchier.
Finally, although this was not the banner year that we had last year for the
large, ground-nesting Cicada Killer Wasps, we did receive a number of calls
about them throughout the month of August while they generally don't sting they
can certainly catch the attention of many a passer-by!
Written by Rick Harper,
Pesticide
Certification Exam Schedule
Fall 2007 – Region 3
COUNTY
TRAINING
EXAMS
9:30 AM – 1:00
PM CORE: 9:30 AM/CATEGORY: 11:00
AM
Ulster (845-340-3990)
Completed
October 16, 2007
Dutchess (845-677-8223)
October 4,
2007
November 1, 2007
Sullivan (845-292-6180)
October 25,
2007
November 20, 2007
Orange (845-344-1234)
October 30,
2007
November 27, 2007
Westchester/Putnam (845-278-6738)
November 7,
2007
December 4, 2007
Rockland (845-429-7085)
November 15,
2007
December 13, 2007
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,
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 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
Tri-County Nursery/Landscape Association In Conjunction With Cornell
Cooperative Extension Present 2007 Calendar of Events
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: Dianne Olsen, dko3@cornell.edu, or Jennifer Stengle,
jjs95@cornell.edu, 845-278-6738
Rockland: Donna Cooke, dmc72@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
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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purposes; no discrimination is intended and no endorsement by Cornell
Cooperative Extension or
Pesticide recommendations are for informational purposes only and
manufacturers' recommendations change. Read the manufacturers'
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