March 9, 2015

March 9, 2015

My oh my time is flying by!

Thanks to Dave Thorp who said something like –he did miss me but would try harder next time 🙂

Some education sessions in the works this month:

March 16 – Steuben Area Christmas Tree Growers Meeting. Jim Rockis will talk about developing varieties resistant to Phytophthora and developing healthy transplants.  11:30-3:30 in Bath.  Call 607 664-2300 for more information and to register.

March 17 – IPM In-depth for Christmas trees 9:15-12:15 in Mexico NY at the Oswego County CCE office.  Diagnosis and needlecasts and root diseases.  For more information and to register, call 315 963-7286.

If you also have nursery stock (beyond conifers), you might need to know about the new invasive species labeling regulation that goes into effect tomorrow, March 10.  NYS Nursery and Landscape Association created labels that you can use.  And Brian has worked with several others to create Alternatives to Ornamental Invasive Plants:  A sustainable solution for NYS – available on the NYS IPM website:

Clean Sweep NY – a pesticide collection program – will hold their events this spring in the lower Hudson Valley – Kingston, Fishkill and Middletown – the week of April 6.  You must pre-register.

Has anyone hired a commercial pesticide applicator to spray their plantation?  How did you find someone?  I get this question periodically and besides the DEC listing (scroll down to put in specifics), I don’t have an answer.

Winter injury is a possibility again this year.  I’ve heard of one grower seeing it already.  How about you?

Gorgeous weather (it’s all relative) and it’s hard not to have a good week when the sun is out!