~Hudson
Valley Horticulture~ Cornell Cooperative Extension of the Hudson Valley ~~~~~~~Commercial Horticulture Electronic Newsletter~~~~~~~ Volume 6, Issue 10 October 2, 2006 |
Participating Counties: Dutchess * Orange * Putnam * Rockland * Sullivan
* Ulster * Westchester * |
| NYS
Announces efforts to help comtrol spread of Sirex Wood Wasp
Comprehensive Program Will Help Limit the Spread of Serious Forest Pest New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Denise M. Sheehan and New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets (DAM) Commissioner Patrick H. Brennan today announced a comprehensive program to help limit the spread of a serious forest health pest which can harm pine forests, the Sirex Wood Wasp. The Sirex Wood Wasp, Sirex noctilio, was first discovered in New York State in a bark beetle trap in September 2004 in the City of Fulton, Oswego County as part of the Cooperative Agricultural Pest Survey (CAPS) Program. This exotic invasive species, native to Europe and a significant pine tree pest in Australia, Africa and South America, is suspected of arriving in wood packing material and has now spread into areas of New York State. Following the detection of the wasp, DEC, DAM, the United States Department of Agriculture's Animal Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Forest Service (USFS) formed a Sirex Management Team in 2005. The team conducted extensive surveys for the presence of the wasp. Surveys conducted to date have found the wasp in portions of the following 22 counties: Oswego, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, Wayne, Allegany, Erie, Genesee, Jefferson, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Oneida, Ontario, Orleans, Schuyler, Wyoming, Yates, Chautauqua, Madison, Broome and Cattaraugus counties. The Sirex Wood Wasp has also been discovered in a number of southern Ontario, Canada locations, and in Pennsylvania. Sirex is considered to be a major pest to native red pines, white pines, as well as non-native Scots and Austrian pines. The female wasp carries a fungus which it deposits in a host tree as it lays its eggs. The fungus weakens the host tree and can lead to mortality in as little as a few weeks. The Sirex Management Team has developed an action plan to limit the spread of this wasp including an extensive survey component, bio-control research including the use of nematodes, a plan to quarantine if necessary to limit the distribution of infested wood products from affected areas, an outreach and education effort, and applied research to better understand the impacts the wood wasp might have on New York's pine resources. In addition, the Sirex Management Team has coordinated a comprehensive trapping effort which has placed 1,400 traps throughout the State that are regularly monitored by staff between June and October, during which the insects emerge as adult wasps. To date, 37 Sirex Wood Wasps have been collected during the trapping efforts in 2006. The traps are hung several feet off the ground in pine stands with preference given to stressed 2- and 3-needle pines at a density of one trap per 25 square miles within 150 miles of known Sirex locations in the U.S. and Canada. The targeted area encompasses most of New York State and portions of Vermont, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Michigan. The density is reduced to one trap per 36 square miles in counties adjacent to the known positive counties and the area of the State that falls outside of the 150-mile radius. DEC and DAM have distributed information to the forest products industry outlining protocols and actions industry should take to reduce the probability of infected wood materials being transported to non-infested areas. Additional information on the Sirex wood wasp and recommended protocols can be found at: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dlf/privland/forprot/health/sww.html on DEC's website. The Sirex Management Team currently is studying additional issues related to limiting the movement of certain pine wood products from infested areas. Team members have been meeting with the Empire State Forest Products Association (ESFPA) and forestry industry representatives to examine the processes used by the forestry industry and to determine additional measures that could be taken to mitigate and prevent the spread of this invasive pest. The State also is working closely with the State University of New York's College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) and Cornell University on applied research related to the insect pest. DEC's Division of Lands and Forests is also offering a portion of available federal Forest Land Enhancement Funds (FLEP) to private, non-industrial forest land owners to facilitate forest health improvement work in pine stands to help reduce the susceptibility of such stands to Sirex infestation. Interested land owners can find out more information about this program at: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dlf/privland/forprot/health/flep.html , or by contacting DEC Regional Forestry offices. The State is also targeting areas for surveying within the State Forest system which will help determine the extent of this invasive pest's presence on State-owned forest lands, and the impact it is having on the State's pine resources. This is important to ascertain since much of the State's red pine and scots pine resources are located on maturing plantations on State Forests. Of New York's 800-900 million-board-foot annual timber harvest, approximately 11 percent is comprised of eastern white pine, while another four percent of harvest is comprised of red pine. One-half of the pine harvest is exported to Quebec and Ontario in log form. In New York, pines are used to produce all grades and types of softwood lumber, and important products such as log homes, log home components, telephone poles, various furniture products, molding and millwork and flooring. The State is committed to working with its partners in the forest products industry, with forest land owners and with federal agencies to limit the damage that this serious forest health pest poses to New York and areas beyond its borders. Last year, the State released a comprehensive Invasive Species Task Force Report that recommended actions to deal with invasive species like the Sirex Wood Wasp. This year, Governor George E. Pataki and the State Legislature allocated $3.25 million for invasive species control, research, management and education from the Environmental Protection Fund. The public is encouraged to contact DEC's Forest Health staff at (518) 402-9425 with information about possible Sirex infestations. Submitted by Rick Harper, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester Return
to Index Submitted by Anna Snider, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County Beware- Chrysanthemum White Rust found in the Region By Margery Daughtrey Chrysanthemum white rust is a disease that is rarely seen, but its detection can easily lead to serious economic loss because it is subject to a federal quarantine. Ordinarily when we have seen this disease in the past it has not appeared until late October, but the early fall weather was very conducive to this disease in 2006, making an outbreak more likely. Early detection is important for eradication efforts. Watch carefully for the tiny round yellow spots about 5 mm in diameter that develop on upper leaves. If you think you see yellow spots, turn the leaf over: if the spots are due to white rust, youll see cushion-shaped swellings opposite the spots. These bumps are white, beige or pinkish in color and they are where the teliospores of the rust fungus are produced. (Another rust disease of mums, caused by Puccinia chrysanthemi, has chocolate-brown sporulation in pustules on the undersurfaces of the leaves). The next step is to notify your state horticultural inspector and your supplier. Because this disease is under federal quarantine, the plants will need to be destroyed and the remainder treated with fungicide. The disease is not established in the US or Canada, but it has been found repeatedly on the West Coast of North America. The biology of the white rust fungus keeps it from being a season-long disease in our climate. Only at the end of the production season do temperature and humidity combine to allow development of white rust. The most favorable temperature for white rust is 50-77F and high humidity is essential for epidemics. Even an hour of less than 90% relative humidity will kill the spore type that allows disease spread. White rust has no alternate hosts. Treatment to eradicate white rust in mums that have been exposed to inoculum usually involves the use of myclobutanil (Eagle). Some protection against the disease can be obtained with other rust fungicides, but protocols specify the use of Eagle if a crop has been placed under quarantine. Contact fungicides such as mancozeb or copper materials help by killing spores on contact, but require good coverage for optimum effect. Many of the other rust fungicides have systemic effects that protect the plant from within. These systemic or partially systemic materials include strobilurins (Heritage, Compass and Cygnus), Strike, BannerMAXX and Terraguard. The inoculum of white rust should not be able to persist over winter on chrysanthemum leaf debris, but a careful cleanup of plant debris at the end of the growing season is still a good idea. Detecting infected plants before sale is important to avoid distribution of the inoculum into the landscape, where the pathogen might survive on perennial mums. There is no evidence that white rust has established on the East Coast, but it will be import to eradicate all introductions of the disease so that this doesnt have any opportunity to happen! Submitted by Rose Baglia, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County Cornell Researchers: No Magic in a Bottle for Tough Perennial Weeds From CCE News September 18, 2006 Gardeners who
want to avoid conventional herbicides have traditionally had two options
for weed control: hand weeding and mulching. Until recently, no least-toxic
herbicides have been available that meet their needs. Now new alternative
products, some used by organic growers, are lining garden center shelves.
Yet few independent evaluations help gardeners choose among them. The IPM researchers decided to take a different tack. Were comparing AllDown and BurnOut II to hand weeding in an established garden where you might prefer not to use a conventional herbicide, says Betsy Lamb, ornamentals team leader with the NYS IPM Program. Whether you weed by hand or spray with an alternative herbicide, the idea is to keep at it until youve removed or exhausted all the roots and killed the plant, Lamb says. Were asking if alternative herbicides help save time. And which method is more effective? Though the season isnt over and they havent crunched the numbers, Lambs IPM team sees a pattern emerging. Both the hand-weeded plots and BurnOut II plots look equally as good or bad, for those who prefer seeing no weeds at all. Lamb guesses they wont see much difference in how long it takes for gardeners to achieve the same level of control. But Lamb speculates that alternative herbicides may be the best choice in cases where weed roots have penetrated a landscape fabric situation where thorough hand weeding is next to impossible. The take-home
lesson? "There's no magic in a bottle for gardeners who need alternatives
that work on perennial weeds--and would rather not weed by hand,"
Lamb says. "But that can be true of any product." Faster-Growing
Grass Equals Higher Profitability for NY Sod Growers; From CCE News, September 18, 2006 With funding
from the New York Farm Viability Institute (NYFVI), Cornell University
researchers and New York turf producers are evaluating ways to speed
up the production and sales of sod. Cornell University Turfgrass Science
Professor A. Martin Petrovic and Senior Extension Associate Joann Gruttadaurio
are working with growers in Orange County and Western New York to evaluate
the speed, efficiency and costs of various production systems. Growers
estimate that speeding up the sod harvest by six months can produce
a 40 percent gain in crop value. Results will be shared with sod growers
throughout the state. More information will be available at www.nyfarmviability.com. Submitted by Anna Snider, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County Acid
Rain Harms Sugar Maples Submitted
by Anna Snider, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County Submitted by Anna Snider, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County IPM Elements for Greenhouse Ornamentals Production available from NYS Integrated Pest Management Program The New York State Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Program developed the concept of Elements of IPM to help producers define those practices that encourage effective and economical pest management decisions. IPM Elements exist for a variety of vegetable, fruit and field crops. The newest set of Elements is the Elements of Greenhouse IPM for New York State, which are designed to assist growers and crop consultants in implementing an IPM approach for greenhouse crops. They are intended as a self-evaluation tool for growers already implementing IPM or as an educational tool for growers new to the concepts of IPM. The Elements are available on the web at http://nysipm.cornell.edu/elements/default.asp or by contacting Elizabeth Lamb at eml38@cornell.edu. Submitted by Gary Couch, NYSIPM
Compost tea is a brew favored by many organic growers. It's made by adding small amounts of mature compost to unheated water and leaving it to sit, or steep. The finished tea is then applied as a foliar spray or soil drench to promote plant growth and suppress microbes. Now new recommendations for making compost tea are being offered, thanks, in part, to research conducted by Agricultural Research Service (ARS) microbiologists. Their studies had shown that additives sold for making compost tea such as soluble kelp, fish hydrolysiss, humid acid, rock dust and proprietary nutrient solutions can spur the growth of bacteria. Generally, composting generates enough heat to reduce potentially harmful bacteria. But microbiologists David Ingram and Patricia Milner, with the ARS Environmental Microbial Safety Laboratory in Beltsville, Md., found that ingredients commonly added to compost tea may promote growth of a variety of microbes, including pathogens that can cause illness in humans. Experiments showed that when compost with very low numbers of Salmonella and Escherichia coli was used to make compost tea (fewer than two cells per milliliter of tea), the pathogens multiplied when additives were included in the initial water mixture. However, they remained undetectable in all the compost teas made without commercial additives. According to Ingram, this work counters the view among some compost tea-producers that the aerobic bacteria in compost will inhibit growth of human pathogenic bacteria when aerobic conditions and nutrient additives are present. Compost tea supplements can give even a few pathogenic bacteria a boost, so testing of the final tea before application may be necessary to ensure the absence of human pathogens. Recommendations and guidelines for safe production and use of compost tea have been developed by the Compost Tea Task Force, formed by the National Organic Standards Board. To read more,
visit:
http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/sep06/tea0906.htm The USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service, New York Field Office, will conduct the 2006 Fruit Tree and Vineyard Survey this winter. The survey is conducted every five years to provide detailed data on acreage, variety, and production. Survey results provide important data for decisions affecting growers and others in the fruit industry. The Fruit Tree and Vineyard Survey will be mailed in early December to all New York State commercial vineyards and orchards. Producers who do not return the survey will be contacted by telephone or in person. Any producer with questions or concerns may feel free to contact Amanda Dawson or Bill Blackson at 1-800-821-1276 for further information. Submitted by Tolly Beck, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland County Floriculture
and Nursery Crops Outlook A major impact noted in the report is a decline in sales of both U.S. and Canadian Christmas trees, which the department attributes to increasing popularity of artificial trees. For the complete
report, go to
http://www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/Flo/2006/09Sep/FLO05.pdf Westchester
County On our commercial field site-visits throughout the summer months, we have noted continuing irrigation-related issues. Based on our experience, it seems pretty safe to say that the vast majority of properties that we have visited simply water their landscape plants too much. Our standard recommendation is that plants require on average about 1 of water per week, including rainfall. Based on some of the weather data from the previous paragraph, if there was a season where we could have limited our irrigation to those troubled areas that require a little extra water, or limited our irrigation use to only the hottest, driest points of the summer which for the vast majority of us was in July this was that season. Although a lot
of insect and disease pests are not generally as active at this point
in the year, some lingering spruce spider mite damage may be notable,
as well as the crawlers of come important scale insects including Magnolia
scale. Additionally, last week we noted 1st and 2nd larval instars of
Japanese beetle grubs, so if you happen to be digging or moving some
sod around, you might note that grub populations are easily noticeable
at this point in our growing season. Remember, before examining your
treatment options, remove a square foot of sod and count the grubs to
make sure that they meet or exceed treatment thresholds. On that note,
we have been receiving a lot of call-in questions about general lawn
renovation. A good place to start for more information about lawn renovation
is The Homeowners Lawn Care Water Quality Almanac which is a month-by-month
guide to lawn care. It can viewed at: Written by Rick Harper, Cornell Cooperative Extension
of Westchester County Blister beetle
immatures feed on grasshopper eggs, so they can be beneficial. In controlling
them, be sure to avoid skin contact, as the toxin secreted by the males
causes a dermatitis which can range from annoying to medically serious. The Rockland County Department of Health has seen an increased effort to look into the co-infection problems that can exist with ticks and tick-borne diseases. Although Lyme Disease continues to be the most prevalent, there has been a confirmed case of erlichiosis and a case of babiosis in Rockland. Although attention is now being given to the emerging potential problem of West Nile Virus, there continues to be an effort to remind those who work outdoors to check themselves daily for the presence of ticks. The lab is continuing to see powdery mildew problems. Many samples have been brought in recently of powdery mildew on Norway maples and also on a tulip tree. Fortunately, the powdery mildew has occurred late in the season and will not impact the long-term health of these trees. Submitted by Tolly Beck, Cornell Cooperative Extension
of Rockland County CERTIFICATION TRAINING AND EXAM SCHEDULE FALL 2006- DEC REGION 3
. Exams are graded on location. 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 recert 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. Workshop:
Working Together for the Landscape of Tomorrow NENA's
Green Summit convenes in October Turf
and Landscape Management Distance Learning Fall Series Mark your calendars
today for this continuing education opportunity for turf and landscape
professionals! The Turf and Landscape Management Distance Learning Fall
Series will be brought to you live from campus by Cornell's Turf and
Landscape Teams. You can attend this series in Westchester County at
the Westchester County Cooperative Extension office in Valhalla. The
dates have been set for October 25, November 1 and 8 from 6:15- 8:45pm.
DEC credits will be available. General information, class location,
topics, directions, and a registration form are posted on the following
web site: http://www.hort.cornell.edu/instruction/short/specialturfseries.htm Submitted by James Lee, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County The
2006 New England Greenhouse Conference On Wednesday morning, November 1st, Jim and Peter will conduct the workshop, Introduction to Using Growth Regulators. Proper use of plant growth regulators is a critical part of producing high quality crops that do not become overgrown in your production or retail greenhouse, but do grow out for customers and are not stunted. Jim and Peter will share the basics for using commercially available growth regulators to effectively manage plant size. Learn how they work, and when to use sprays, sprenches (heavy soil surface spray), drenches, and liner dips. Come learn how to best use growth regulators on plugs, bedding plants, vegetative annuals, pot crops and more. On Wednesday afternoon, Jim and Peter will conduct the workshop Advanced Workshop on Using Plant Growth Regulators. Whats new in PGRs? How do growing media components affect PGR activity? Get your questions answered and come hear about new ways to use plant growth regulators. Stretch your knowledge base with cutting-edge research-based information presented by Jim and Peter. To be added
to our mailing list to receive the 2006 New England Greenhouse Conference
Program or for more information, contact: Cindy Delaney, Show Coordinator,
1 Main Street, No. 36, Winooski, VT 05404, Phone: 802-655-7769, Fax:
802-655-7769 Email: delaney@sover.net
or visit our web site: www.negreenhouse.org Mark
your Calendars Today for this Continuing Education Opportunity for Golf
Turf Professionals: A printable version of the Hudson Valley 2006 Regional Horticulture Program Calendar is available online at the following link: http://www.cce.cornell.edu/ulster/Ag/AGEVENTS.htm ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you're not
already a member, please consider joining the Tri-County Nurseryman/Landscape
Association, Region 7 of the New York State Nursery/Landscape Association.
It's a great way to network, learn and meet other people within our
industry. Certified
Landscape Technician Training |
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