January | 2015 | Christmas Tree IPM Update

January 28, 2015

Sun! So we are all happier even with the cold. I hope you have sun where you are, too.

Want a winter hike to see more trees? The Plantations is hosting “Meet the Conifers” in Ithaca this Saturday.

The Xerces webinar on Conservation Biological Control yesterday was quite good! I learned some things – including that it is archived if you want to watch it yourself. Scroll a short way down to: Conservation Biological Control: Habitat management to control pests. Lots of practical examples – even if they are specific to Christmas trees.

One thing I learned? Construct beetle banks – raised beds planted with grasses – to encourage ground beetles that will then move into your crop to feed on bad beasts.

And speaking of bad beasts – and how to identify them. Virginia Tech has a page for identifying insects and mites (and do you remember how many legs an adult mite has – from class?) Fact sheets and scouting information. Remember that the calendars are for Virginia – a tad warmer than here.

I was told several times at the CTFANY meeting that I like bugs too much. With cute little beetle feet like these, how can you not? And someone is studying them to figure out how they can stick to surfaces and not fall off.

Beetle feet

May all your beetles be good beetles!

Have a good week!

January 22, 2015

A little sun, a little snow (well we could use a LITTLE more snow) – it’s been a pretty month so far – but lots of traveling – and talking!

Get your samples defrosted and ready for The Doctor is IN diagnostic session at the CTFANY annual winter meeting in Syracuse this Friday and Saturday! See if you can stump us – I’m easy to stump but Brian is GOOD! Lots more useful information, too.

Barking up the right tree! Basal bark sprays have some advantages for armored scale control but I need more background on them. Rich Cowles from New Hampshire created a YouTube video on how to do it! However, Safari for basal bark sprays is only labeled for hemlock woolly adelgid and elongate hemlock scale on Eastern and Carolina hemlocks in NYS – a 2(ee) label – not helpful for most Christmas tree growers. I will keep asking about how we might change this.

And more sprayer technology that helps reduce the amount of pesticide applied! Good IPM! Oregon State has a smart sprayer designed for nurseries.

Looking for labels – and MSDS sheets? It might be time to update your folder! PIMS – Pesticide Product, Ingredient and Manufacturer System (just be careful when googling – there is a PA mortuary site with the same acronym) is the best place to get labels because they have the NY labels and the 2(ee)s. In the process of finding this, I learned that MSDS’s will become SDS’s. Probably not a drastic change for any of you – but now you know!

CDMS has both labels and MSDS information

Another grower question – even if they did ask about cut flowers this time! Michigan State University has a series of resources on cover crop technology for Christmas tree growers

Come see us at the show – or send a question if you can’t be there – or just enjoy the week!

January 12, 2015

How did it get to be January 12th? I barely remember seeing the ball drop. Oh, maybe that’s because I was asleep!

Getting ready for the CTFANY meeting next week. We apparently want to be talking ALL the time – well, maybe that’s just me. Come and see what we are saying. Entomology, sad plants, beneficial insects. And meet another IPMer – Tim Weigle talks about hops.

Want apps? Most are ag – not all are applicable but its quite a list!

It’s cold out. More ways to stay inside and learn – Online IPM Academy webinars from Michigan State University. You can’t get NYS recertification credits from them but you can learn some IPM or plant pathology or entomology or . . .

Did you know that 2015 is the International Year of Soils? Get down with your dirt. Learn what the Cornell Soil Health program can do for you.

On we go – at the usual rapid rate!

Have a good week.