Cornell Cooperative Extension of the
~~~Commercial Horticulture Electronic Newsletter~~~
Volume 7, Issue 12
December 20, 2007
Participating Counties: Orange * Dutchess * Putnam *
Editor: Rosemarie S. Baglia
http://www.cce.cornell.edu
In
this Issue:
Nursery and
The Hudson Valley Nursery and Greenhouse Growers’ School presented by Cornell
Cooperative Extension Regional Horticulture Program will be coming to Ulster
BOCES in New Paltz located on Route 32 on Tuesday,
January 15.
This year’s program includes a presentation by NYS IPM, Brian Eshenaur, Horticulture Specialist, on weed suppressive
ground covers as an innovative option to reduce the use of herbicides. Some of
these plants inhibit weeds by creating a quick canopy that does not allow weeds
to germinate and develop; others release chemicals that are natural
herbicides.
This presentation will cover 14 different plants that recent research has found
to be weed suppressive. The research, conducted at Cornell in
The cost for the full day program which includes lunch is $40, if registered by
January 10; $50 thereafter and at the door. DEC recertification credits will be
awarded to participants holding a valid NYS DEC pesticide applicators license.
The full agenda and registration form can be downloaded at http://counties.cce.cornell.edu/ulster
under the Agriculture section. For more information or to register call
Teresa Rusinek at 340-3990.
Written by Teresa Rusinek, Cornell Cooperative
Extension Ulster County
40th Annual Professional Turf and Landscape Conference
Wednesday, January 9, 2008 at the Westchester County Center in White Plains, NY
One of the largest programs for the green industry in New York. 100-booth trade
show and numerous professional development classes from which to choose - many
of which offer continuing education credits for professional certifications /
licenses!
Sponsored by the NYS Turf & Landscape Association
(NYSTLA) with Cornell Cooperative Extension of
For more information, contact: NYSTLA at (914) 993-9455 or visit www.nystla.com.
Written by Rick Harper,
Urban and Community Forestry
Conference
Thursday, January 24, 2008, at the
This program is designed to give municipal specialists, community groups and
tree care professionals an update on various tree establishment and maintenance
practices in the urban landscape. A number of professional continuing
education credits will be available. This year's featured speaker will be
well-known researcher and teacher Dr. Dennis Ryan from
Sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension of the
For further information, contact Stephanie Mallozzi
at sdm10@cornell.edu or (845) 677-8223 x 104; Rick Harper at rwh26@cornell.edu
or (914) 285-2622.
Written by Rick Harper,
NYS DEC Pesticide Annual Reports
Due
2007 NYS DEC Annual reports are due no later than February 1,
2008. Every certified applicator, technician and commercial permit
holder must report, even if you made no applications or sales in 2007.
Report electronically at www.nysprl.com or
download report forms from DEC's website at http://www.nysprl.com/default-1.htm#top
and mail completed forms to:
NYSDEC
Pesticide Reporting & Certification Section
For answers on a number of FAQ's, visit: http://www.nysprl.com/NYSPRL-FAQ.html.
For more information about the Pesticide Reporting Law, contact the Pesticide
Reporting Section of NYS DEC by phone at 518-402-8748 or the NYS DEC Region III
office at 845-256-3097.
Written by Rick Harper, Cornell Cooperative Extension Westchester County
Lead Contamination in Urban Gardens
Lead is a naturally occurring element, like copper, iron, and gold, however it
is highly toxic. Lead poisoning is a common pediatric problem. The heavy metal
acts as a neurotoxin, and even minute amounts in a child’s system can lower
intelligence and slow neurological development. Children suffer more severe
effects than adults from exposure to lead, and retain lead in their bodies much
longer.
Most lead poisoning results from ingesting paint chips from walls or toys or
from ingesting dust and dirt that contains high concentrations of lead. Very
rarely are contaminated fruits and vegetables the culprit, but all precautions
should be taken to limit lead exposure.
The full article can be found in the National Gardening Associations’ Moss
in the City September
newsletter. http://www.garden.org/urbangardening/index.php
Submitted by: Rose Baglia, Cornell Cooperative
Extension Orange County
Bandedwing Whitefly - Don’t Count on this One
At first glance Bandedwinged whitefly, Trialeurodes abutiloneus,
looks just like greenhouse or silverleaf whitefly.
They are all snowy white, flit around on greenhouse plants and can be found on
sticky cards. But a closer look reveals gray stripes or wing bands on the
bandedwing whitefly. It is not unusual to find
the bandedwing whiteflies in greenhouses and on
sticky traps. Outdoors they can be found on soybeans and other
plants. They may migrate into greenhouses and show up on poinsettia
and other plants such as petunia, geranium and hibiscus. Since they are
not known to reproduce on greenhouse poinsettias, their presence can be ignored
and they should not be included in counts used to determine thresholds
for treatment.
However, the biological world being what it is we know that insects sometimes
change. So you may want to keep an eye out for nymphs of bandedwing whitefly on the leaves of your greenhouse
crops. The nymphs look very much like those of the greenhouse whitefly
but have varying dark brown spots or a blotch visible on their backs. If
you see something suspicious contact your local Extension personnel and they
can help you get the sample to a lab where it can be identified.
Written by: Brian Eshenaur, New York State
Integrated Pest Management Program
Sources: Elise A. Schillo-Lobdell, The Plant
Keeper, and John Sanderson, Entomology Dept.
Cornell University
Hunter Flies: Open season on Fungus Gnats
There may not be any such thing as a free lunch, but some New York State
greenhouse growers have discovered that they have free biological control of
fungus gnats and shore flies. The Hunter Fly, Coenosia
attenuata, was brought to the attention of
Cornell entomologists in 1999, by Elise Schillo-Lobdell,
who kept finding it on sticky cards in greenhouses she was scouting in
The Hunter fly is originally from Europe and was probably brought to the
For fungus gnat control, the Hunter fly is a double barreled biocontrol. The larvae develop in the soil, where
they feed on fungus gnat and other larvae. The adults feed on flying
insects, waiting until prey flies by and then catching them on the wing.
They will feed on a wide variety of flying insects, which is the basis of one
potential disadvantage they may also feed on flying beneficial insects.
Because fungus gnats and shore flies are often found flying - the same reason
that sticky cards are good at catching them - the Hunter fly is particularly
effective at controlling them.
So keep an eye out for Hunter flies in the air and on your sticky cards and you
may find that you, too, have free biological control in your greenhouse.
Written by Betsy Lamb, New York State Integrated Pest Management
Program (with information from John Sanderson, and the ARS article Greenhouse
Pests Beware: Old World Hunter Fly Now in North America by Luis Pons,
October 2005) http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/oct05/pests1005.htm
2007-2008 Horticulture Programs for
Professionals
Cornell Cooperative Extension of the
*Nursery/Greenhouse Grower's School
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Ulster BOCES Conference Center, New Paltz, NY
Contact: Teresa Rusinek
(845) 340-3990 or Rosemarie Baglia (845) 344-1234
Nursery/Greenhouse Grower’s School has been expanded to include a wider variety
of ornamental crops including perennials, shrubs and bedding plants. Get
the latest information on pest control, cultural control, plant nutrition, weed
suppressive groundcovers, and other hot topics from industry experts.
Spend the day networking with professionals and other growers.
*Urban and Community Forestry Conference
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Westchester County Ctr., White Plains, NY
Contact: Stephanie Mallozzi
(845) 677-8223 x 104 or Rick Harper (914) 285-2622
This program is designed to give tree care professionals, municipalities and
community groups an update on the latest research and practices pertaining to
the care of trees in the urban and community landscapes. This years
featured speaker will be renowned educator, researcher and lecturer, Dr. H.
Dennis P. Ryan III, Professor and Coordinator of the Arboriculture/Urban
Forestry Program, University of Massachusetts. This program will offer a number
of continuing education credits, including ISA CEU's,
NYS DEC Applicator Recertification credits, and SAF Credits for certified
foresters.
*Arborist Certification Training
February 13, 20, 26, 2008, 12:30 - 5 pm
March 04, 2008, 12:30 - 5 pm
Certification Exam: March 28, 2008 at 8:30 am
Cornell Cooperative Extension Dutchess County,
2715 Route 44, Millbrook, NY 12545
Contact: Rick Harper (914) 285-2622 or
Stephanie Mallozzi (845) 677-8223 x104
A training program designed to assist green industry professionals in obtaining
the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist
designation. Topics will include tree biology, pruning, pest management, and
safe work practices. Sessions will also offer ISA Continuing Education Units (CEU's) and NYS DEC Pesticide Recertification credits for
certified arborists and licensed pesticide applicators.
*Landscaping in a Changing Climate
March/April 2008, date and location TBA
Contact: Rosemarie Baglia (845) 344-1234, Marianna Quartararo (845) 292-6180, or Jennifer Stengle
(845) 278-6738
Our changing climate poses some challenges for
landscapers. This program will address the predicted climatic changes and
issues surrounding landscaping for extremes in temperature and moisture such as
stormwater management, drought tolerant and moisture
tolerant plants, building healthy soils, and energy efficient landscaping
techniques.
*Christmas Tree Twilight Meeting
July 2008, date and location TBA
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.
*Sports Turf Program
Spring/Summer 2008, date and location TBA
Contact: Rosemarie Baglia (845) 344-1234
Spanish for Landscapers and Horticulture Professionals
Winter 2008, date and location TBA
Contact: Stephanie Mallozzi (845) 677-8223 x104
Other Professional Horticulture Programs of Interest
*40th Annual Professional Turf and Landscape Conference
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Westchester County Center.,
Contact: NYSTLA at (914) 993-9455 or visit www.nystla.com
Sponsored by the New York State Turf & Landscape Association. One of the largest programs for the green industry in
*Cornell Golf Pest Management Short Course
January, 2008
Cornell Campus,
*NYSTA SE Regional Turf Conference
Wednesday, February 27, 2008,
Contact: NYSTA at (800) 873-8873, visit www.nysta.org, or email jill@nysta.org
Sponsored by the New York State Turfgrass
Association. There will be a trade show and a number of program tracks
running concurrently, including Building Your Skills, Golf Turf,
Lawn/Landscape.
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.
NYS Releaf Conference
July 24-26, 2008
Contact: Mary Kramarchyk at (518) 402-9412
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
Some of the links provided are not maintained by Cornell Cooperative Extension
and
You have received this email because you indicated an interest in hearing about
the information included in
Cornell Cooperative
Extension provides equal program and employment opportunities. Please
notify us if you have special needs.