OSHA Assistance for the Tree Care Industry

Tree care companies provide services such as pruning, removal, plant health care, cabling and bracing, transplanting, consulting, fertilization, and lightning protection. This page was developed as a product of the Alliance between OSHA and the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). For more information go to:
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/treecare/index.html.

Submitted by Stephanie D. Mallozzi, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Dutchess County

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Landscape Workers May Have Been Exposed High Levels of Organophosphates

The United Farm Workers and other public interest groups sued the EPA in January 2004, alleging that the standards set by the EPA for the pesticides phosmet and azinphos methyl allowed workers to be exposed to unacceptably high levels of these pesticides. Phosmet is labeled for deciduous trees, shade trees, ornamental trees, and woody ornamentals. Azinphos methyl is labeled for ornamentals, veggies, and shade trees. The EPA must now determine if its previous Interim Reregistration Eligibility Decisions were justified. More about the lawsuit can be found here: http://www.epa.gov/oppsrrd1/op/azm/settlement_fs.htm

Multi-Year Warranty for Woody Plants

Horticulture Asset Management Inc. just announced a multi-year extended warranty program for woody plants available to qualified wholesale nurseries. The program is institutionally underwritten and offered to wholesale nurseries that have joined HMI's Premier Nursery Network. More information can be found at http://www.moneygrowsontrees.com/default.asp

USDA Removes 650 trees in New Jersey
The USDA will remove 650 trees from a 14-block residential area of Linden, New Jersey in order to limit the spread of Asian Longhorn Beetle. All of the trees to be removed are either infested with ALB or are potential hosts for the pest. The tree removal will take place between Jan 2 and March 1, 2006. Residents will be offered replacement trees selected from a list of non-host species. More information on the tree removal project can be found on the USDA website at http://www.aphis.usda.gov/newsroom/content/2006/01/albcuts.shtml

Submitted by Anna Snider, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County

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Society of Municipal Arboriculture Announces 2006 Tree of The Year: Kentucky Coffee Tree

Members of the Society of Municipal Arborists from several states and two nations agree: Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladus dioicus) is enormously popular and deserves the title of this year's Tree of The Year.

According to Dr. Nina Bassuk from Cornell University's Urban Horticulture Institute: "Kentucky Coffee Tree (KCT) transforms from an ugly ducking tree at a 2" caliper to a gorgeous, well-balanced, strongly branched tree at a 5" caliper and beyond. During this driest and hottest of summers in Ithaca, it never scorched or defoliated. It is easy to transplant and takes off fast. KCT has no problem with alkaline soils. It is easy to transplant B&B, and in Ithaca, we transplant it bare root under 2" caliper, with hydrogel root diping at the nursery. Did I mention the wonderful fall color?"

Among KCT's many noteworthy attributes:

   - It is a low maintenance tree (if planted in the correct place) with few pest problems.
   - It can survive tough urban and environmental stresses.
   - It easily transplants.
   - Whether in the summer or winter, it is an attractive tree.

Every year the Society of Municipal Arborists conducts the 'Urban Tree of the Year' competition to illustrate the importance of selecting proper street trees before they are established. One objective of this award is to highlight deserving trees so that municipal arborists are encouraged to plant those species in suitable sites. A high-quality urban tree, after all, is a better investment than a cheap, ill-suited, high-maintenance tree.

For more information (and some great pictures of KCT!), visit page 31 of the Journal of the Society of Municipal Arborists, City Trees -Available online at: http://data.memberclicks.com/site/sma/CT_s_Jan2006.pdf

For more information about the Society of Municipal Arborists, visit: www.urban-forestry.com

Source: City Trees: The Journal of the Society of Municipal Arborists. Jan/Feb 2006 Edition. Vol. 42, No. 1
Written by Rick Harper, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County

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EPA Updates Web Page on Child-Resistant Packaging for Pesticides

EPA has updated some of the information on its Web site relating to child-resistant packaging (CRP) for pesticides. The Agency has added a section entitled "Submitting Data Electronically" to inform stakeholders that as of February 28, 2006, EPA requests that CRP protocol test data be made available to the Agency on a CD-R (readable only) rather than a 3.5-inch floppy disk, as previously requested by PR Notice 97-9. The Agency is replacing the 3.5-inch floppy disk drives on its computers with CD/DVD readers.

The agency also has made corrections and additions to its Quick Reference Guide's CRP Testing Firms and CRP Manufacturers Lists and to the child-resistant packaging description files. The agency has added links to CRP PR Notices 96-2 and 97-9, and a link to a CRP Consultants List. The Quick Reference Guide connects the user to four indices and the various CRP descriptions with their photographs. The ASTM type index connects the user to the actual CRP package description and photograph documents. An Adobe Acrobat 5.0 reader or higher is required to view the CRP package description and photograph documents.

Any questions should be addressed to Rosalind L. Gross by telephone at (703) 308-7368, fax (703) 308-9382, or e-mail Gross.Rosalind@epa.gov.

Source: EPA's Office of Pesticide Programs Update, 01/20/06. http://www.epa.gov/pesticides

Submitted by Rick Harper, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County

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EPA Significantly Strengthens and Expands Safeguards on Human Studies Research

Under new rules announced today, all third-party intentional dosing research on pesticides involving children and pregnant women intended for submission to EPA is banned, and EPA will neither conduct nor support any intentional dosing studies that involve pregnant women or children for all substances EPA regulates. These final new rules also establish stringent enforceable ethical safeguards to protect individuals who volunteer to participate in third-party intentional dosing research.

"These final rules will protect pregnant women and children from unethical human research involving pesticides and other environmental substances," said Susan B. Hazen, acting assistant administrator in EPA's Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. "Pregnant women and children should never be involved in these types of studies. Now adult volunteers (non-pregnant) will have the highest level of ethical safeguards available if they choose to participate in research studies."

These final regulations adopt and implement many of the recommendations from the prestigious National Academy of Sciences, have benefited from public comments, and adhere to the legislation passed by Congress in August 2005. Under the new rules, the provisions of the Federal Policy for the Protection of Human Subjects of Research (the Common Rule) are extended to cover all third-party intentional dosing studies submitted to EPA under the pesticide laws. Third party studies are those studies not conducted or supported by a federal agency. EPA is also establishing a Human Studies Review Board to obtain independent scientific and ethical review on whether to accept certain existing human studies as well as review all new study protocols before the studies are started. This rule makes it clear that all pregnant women and all children are excluded from all such studies involving intentional exposure. For any new, intentional dosing studies with pesticides, this final rule requires researchers to do the following: (1) assure that pregnant women and children are not participants, (2) comply with the requirements of the Common Rule (current ethical standards for research conducted or supported by the federal government); (3) submit detailed study protocols to EPA prior to initiation so that EPA can review to ensure the study meets the new ethical protections and is scientifically sound; and (4) once the study is conducted, provide detailed information to EPA describing how the study met the necessary ethical protections.

The sweeping requirements of this final rule will lay the groundwork and provide an important foundation for the Agency to build upon in future actions that may be determined necessary to provide further protections to public health.

Source: EPA Press Advisory 1/26/06. For more information, visit: http://www.epa.gov/oppfead1/guidance/human-test.htm

Submitted by Rick Harper, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Westchester County

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Invasive Plants Linked to Amphibian Decline

Dr Bernd Blossey from Cornell University and his graduate students have been conducting some fascinating research on amphibians and invasive plants. For years we have heard about invasive plants taking over habitats once populated by native plants. Aside from aesthetic issues, these plants are affecting the ecosystem and food web in ways that we are only beginning to understand. Several research projects have been underway at Cornell University to study the growth and survival of larval stages of several amphibians in habitats populated with either invasive plant species or native plant species. The results may surprise you!

Why are we seeing these differences? Dr. Blossey and his researches have deduced that the introduced invasive plants are producing “cheaper” plant tissues that don’t support the growth and development of amphibians as well as the native plant species. Introduced plants have higher carbon/nitrogen ratios which lead to reduction in amphibian diversity and biomass, increased rate of decomposition (which favors early breeding species), and affect the concentration of oxygen in the water.

As we look at the implications of this research, it becomes obvious that we should be careful when introducing non-native plant species into new habitats. Monitoring the spread and researching the influence of these introduced invasive species on native plant and animal species is important. The food web and ecology of the habitat may be affected! We should be aware of how essential these amphibians are to the ecosystem and do what we can to insure their survival.

To learn more about this research and what is being done to control invasive plant species in our country, check the invasive plant website: www.invasiveplants.net.

Written By Rose Baglia, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orange County

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Commercial Fruit Growers School And Trade Show Announced

The annual Commercial Fruit Growers School and Trade Show, hosted by Cornell Cooperative Extension Hudson Valley Regional Fruit Program on February 21 st, 22 nd & 23 rd at the Holiday Inn, Kingston helps local fruit producers remain competitive in the worldwide market by providing them the latest production and marketing information. Classes are from 9 am to 4 pm each day with a mini trade show taking place in the Holidome on February 21st from 4 to 8 pm.

On the first day researchers from Cornell University will cover strategies for controlling diseases, insects and pests affecting fruit trees and their crops, and Dr. Terence Robinson from the New York State Agricultural Experiment Station in Geneva, NY will give growers the secrets to growing large Gala apples. The second day includes presentations on the latest methods for monitoring the nutrient status of apples to bring the highest quality fruit to the consumer; preventing common farm accidents and a discussion of the latest methods for monitoring the nutrient status of plantings by Dr. Lailang Cheng, Department of Horticulture, Cornell University. Dr. David Rosenberger will also reflect on his recent tour of China's fruit growing region.

New to the program is a third day focused on grape and berry production. Presentations by Cornell University researchers, extension staff and local grape and berry growers about disease, production, and business issues will run concurrently.

NYSDEC pesticide re-certification credits will be available. Registration is $25 per day in advance (includes lunch) and $30 at the door. For more information about classes contact Mike Fargione, Commercial Fruit Extension Educator, at 845-691-7117 or go to: www.cce.cornell.edu/hvfruit. For a registration form please call Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County at 845-340-3990.

Submitted by Teresa Rusinek, Cornell Cooperative Extension

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Mile-a-minute vine in the Hudson Valley

On January 31st a meeting was held to plan an early detection and rapid response effort to the mile-a-minute vine in the Hudson Valley. 25 enthusiastic participants attended. During the meeting working groups were formed to discuss and plan for various aspects of the effort. Much was accomplished during these sessions including: identification of coorinators, contacts, and possible partners and volunteers to aid in the effort, setting of concrete goals for 2006, assignment of tasks, and strategy and planning for various components of the effort.

During this a date was set for a meeting for further planning:
March 3, 2006
9am - 12pm
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland County Stony Point, NY

You are invited and encouraged to attend this meeting. Your involvement is one of the greatest assets to possibly eradicating the invasive mile-a-minute vine in the Hudson Valley. The following is a link to register for this meeting http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=677861753230

Submitted by Teresa Rusinek, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Ulster County

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Aquatic Vegetation Management Permits

If you control or eliminate aquatic vegetation, please be sure to contact the DEC for the right permit beforehand. For certain water bodies, you will need an "Article 15, Part 327" Aquatic Permit for the Use of Pesticides for the Control or Elimination of Aquatic Vegetation. These water bodies are:

   * Total water body size of 6.4 acres (2.5 ha) or larger.
   * Proposed treatment has potential to impact endangered, threatened, rare or special concern species.
   * Water body is of special NYSDEC Regional concern.
   * Treatment is subject to concurrent NYSDEC jurisdiction.

Get more information about the permits at: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/dshm/pesticid/aqsav.html

Submitted by Diane Olsen, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Putnam County

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Which Witch-Hazel to Choose

Witch-hazels (Hamamelis sp.) are valuable landscape shrubs frequently planted for their colorful, hardy, wintertime flowers. Most species of witch-hazel bloom sometime between January and February, often lasting into March. Flower colors range from a bright yellow to a copper red, with some flowers being slightly fragrant. Most witch-hazels are in the 10-15’ height range and in addition to producing wintertime flowers, also produce colorful fall foliage.

The fall foliage, however, is dependent on the health of the leaves, and it is here that problems will sometimes develop. Witch-hazels in the northeast (and in parts of the Midwest as well) are susceptible to a witch-hazel leaf blight identified as Phyllostica hamamelidis . The fungal spores become active in spring, producing leaf spots that are first noticed in June as brown blemishes on the foliage. The fungus spreads and eventually the spots become a reddish brown that may be outlined by a purple margin. As summer progresses, the entire leaf surface may become affected which may lead to premature leaf drop. While this leaf blight will not cause the death of witch-hazels, it certainly creates disfigurement that may limit its value in the landscape.

The good news is that there are witch-hazels that have demonstrated some resistance to the leaf blight. A study was conducted in 2000 by the integrated pest management team at Longwood Gardens (Dr. Casey Sclar, Kevin Harkins, Jessica Belt, and Mike Leventry) that identified witch-hazel species that are not as susceptible to the leaf blight. Their suggestions for resistant species included: Hamamelis ‘Early Bright’, H. x intermedia ‘Primavera’, H. ‘Princeton Gold’, and natives H. virginiana and H. vernalis. The widely planted Hamamelis x intermedia ‘Arnold Promise’ proved to be one of the witch-hazels most susceptible to the leaf blight. Selecting from among the resistant species may provide a witch-hazel that proves to be a much more valuable shrub in your landscape setting.

The complete article on the Longwood Gardens study can be found in the January 15, 2006 issue of American Nurseryman magazine.

Submitted by Tolly Beck, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Rockland County

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DEC Region 3 Spring 2006
Pesticide Applicator Certification Training Dates and Exams
SEATING MAY BE LIMITED. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED BY ALL COUNTIES. CONTACT THE CORNELL COOPERATIVE EXTENSION OFFICE
WHERE YOU WISH TO ATTEND TO SIGN UP

County	Training	Exam
	9:30 am-1pm	CORE: 9:30 a.m CATEGORY: 11:00 a.m.
Westchester/Putnum (845)278-6738	Feb.16	March 20
Orange (845)344-1234	March 14	April 11
Dutchess (845)677-8223	March 23	April 25
Rockland (845) 429-7085	March 31	April 28
Ulster (845)340-3990	April 5	May 3
Sullivan (845)292-6180_\	April 12	May10

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 (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 the certification fee will be determined at the time of the exam dependent on expiration date of the current license.

Contact the DEC for Information Regarding Eligibility for Certification or visit the pmep website at: http://pmep.cce.cornell.edu/certification/Com_pest_app.html

Division of Solid and Hazardous Materials, Region 3
21 South Putt Corners Road, New Paltz, New York 12561-1696
Phone: (845) 256-3097 $ FAX: (845) 255-3414
Website: www.dec.state.ny.us

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    * Streamlined revenue protection plan that can be used as stand-alone coverage or in addition to other individual crop insurance policies
    * Most farm-raised crops, animals, and animal products are eligible for protection (including dairy)
    * Coverage is based on the 5-yr average of selected revenue items reported on IRS or equivalent tax forms (revenue from post-production activities is excluded from coverage)
    * Available in 52 counties in NYS (exceptions: Westchester and Nassau, and counties in NYC)

In order to be eligible for coverage, you must meet the following requirements:
    1) Five consecutive years of tax records (Sch. F or other)
    2) Annual adjusted gross revenue of $2 million, or less
    3) Not more than 50% of allowable income from commodities purchased for resale
    4) Potato revenue not to exceed 83% of total revenue

The maximum liability coverage available under AGR-Lite is $1 million (in effect for the 2006 year). Thus the policy is generally applicable to producers whose average revenue from the sale of agricultural commodities (not including value added activities or products bought for resale) is $2.0 million or less.

Insured causes of loss include loss of revenue due to any unavoidable natural disasters. Market fluctuations that cause a loss in revenue during the current insurance year are also covered. No payment will be made for losses due to negligence, mismanagement, or wrongdoing.

The highest level of coverage available is 80 %. In order to qualify for the highest level of coverage, producers must produce a minimum of three commodities, each contributing a certain percentage of the total revenue. Loss payments are triggered when the adjusted gross revenue for the insured year is less than the approved AGR level X the coverage level. For example, for a producer whose approved AGR level is $347,000, a loss is triggered when the adjusted gross revenue in the insured year falls below $277,600. Producers who specialize in one commodity may obtain a maximum coverage level of 75 percent. In this case, with $347,000 adjusted gross revenue, a loss is triggered when the adjusted gross revenue falls below $260,250. Thus, more diversified producers are able to obtain higher coverage levels.

In certain cases where adjusted gross income for the five-year base period is increasing rapidly, producers are permitted to use a “trend adjustment factor” so that a AGR higher than the 5-yr. average can become the approved AGR.

Operations that may find AGR-Lite especially relevant to their risk management needs are the following:

    * Farms with under $2.0 million in revenue, excluding value added revenue that is generated by operations such as wineries or apple storage and packing houses.
    * Operations with diversified cropping plans, especially where traditional crop insurance products are not available or do not work well in the eyes of producers (e.g. fruits and vegetables)
    * Direct marketers (exception: when >50 % of sales are from crops or other commodities that are purchased for resale)
    * Commodity producers whose gross revenue varies widely due to a combination of low yields, variable quality, or low prices
    * Dairy farms? Yes, if they have other enterprises with sales such that they can qualify at higher coverage levels
    * Organic producers
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Hudson Valley Cornell Cooperative Extension
Commercial Horticulture Education Program
2005-2006 Horticulture Programs for 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

Arborist Certification Training
February/March 2006
Dutchess County CCE, Millbrook, NY
ISA Certification Exam: Wednesday, March 29, Dutchess County CCE, Millbrook, NY
Stephanie Mallozzi (845) 677-8223 x 104; Rick Harper (914) 285-2622
A training program designed to assist green industry professionals in obtaining the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) Certified Arborist designation. Attendees of this program will gain an increased knowledge of practices pertaining to the care of trees including identification, proper pruning, and safety. Certified arborists may also attend select sessions for review and qualify for Continuing Education Units. Certain sessions will also offer pesticide recertification credits.

NYSTA SE Regional Turf Conference
Mon., Feb. 27, 2006, Tarrytown Hilton, Tarrytown NY
NYSTA (800) 873-8873 www.nysta.org
Sponsored by the NYS Turfgrass Association. There will be a trade show and four program tracks running concurrently, including Building Your Skills, Golf Turf, Lawn/Landscape.

Pesticide CORE/Apprentice Training
Tues., March 21, 2006, Stony Kill Environmental Education Center, Wappingers Falls, NY
Marianna Quatararo (845) 292-6180 X112; Dianne Olsen (845)278-6738
This course will introduce the basic CORE concepts and principles that satisfy the NYSDEC requirements to become a Commercial Pesticide Apprentice. Commercial Pesticide Technicians and Applicators may also attend this course for review and NYS DEC Pesticide Applicator Recertification Credits.

Hudson Valley Turfgrass Field Day
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
DeBuck’s Sod Farm, Pine Island, NY
Rose Baglia (845) 344-1234, Joann Gruttadaurio (607) 255-1792 or jg17@cornell.edu
This full day of lectures and demonstrations will cover various aspects of turfgrass including sports turf, lawn care, golf, sod, pest management, and new discoveries.

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~Tri-County Nursery/Landscape Association ~
In Conjunction With ~Cornell Cooperative Extension
~ Present The 2006 Calendar of Events

February 21
Snow Removal Equipment Workshop
Kevin Shuback (845) 651-4074, Anthony Monaco (845) 343-9772

March 14 (Snow Date March 15)
Taxes and Business Contracts
Mark Masseo (845) 658-9148, Jan Jansen (845) 651-4106

April 11
*Ornamentals Pest Update
Rose Baglia (845) 344-1234, Jim Presutti (845) 567-1611

June 13
Dig Safe
Mark Masseo (845) 658-9148, Anthony Monaco (845) 343-9772

July 11
*Turf Field Day
Rose Baglia (845) 344-1234, Kevin Shuback (845) 651-4074

September 12
Golf Outing At Winding Hills
Jim Presutti (845) 567-1611, Anthony Monaco (845) 343-9772

October 10
*Deer and Nuisance Wildlife Controls
Rose Baglia (845) 344-1234, Jim Presutti (845) 567-1611

November 14
*DOT Program Update
Kevin Shuback (845) 651-4074, Mark Masseo (845) 658-9148

December 2
Holiday Party
Jan Jansen (845) 651-4106, Gene Vidal (845) 255-1249

All Dates Subject to Change

* = Pesticide Recertification Credits pending DEC approval

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.
For more information contact: Kevin Shuback (845) 651-4074.

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Other Programs of Interest:

NYS ReLeaf Conference
July 13-15, 2006
Long Island, NY
For more information contact:
Mary Kramarchyk at 518-402-9412 or email: mckramar@gw.dec.state.ny.us
Join fellow urban and community foresters, municipal officials, community organizations, arborists, and affiliated industry professionals for a conference that offers workshops and tours on urban and community forestry issues.

Certified Landscape Technician Training
Contact: New York State Turf and Landscape Association,
(914) 961-2535, Website: www.nystla.com
An optional national testing program to recognize proficiency of qualified landscape professionals.

Certified Nursery Professional Training Program
Dutchess, Putnam & Westchester: Scott Olivieri, (914) 682-4224
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.

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