Presented by Jeff Weld, Bayer Territory Manager

Speakers Bio – Jeff holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Ornamental Horticulture from the Ohio State University.  His experience over the past thirty five years in the green industries and agriculture includes several sales and management positions.  Jeff sold seed treatments, owned and operated small landscape business for over eight years and spent nineteen years in sales and management with the turf and ornamental business unit of Bayer CropScience.  Jeff has given literally hundreds of educational presentations on subjects as diverse as the T&O business.  Jeff is currently a certified arborist.  He served on numerous industry associations throughout the northeast and New Jersey.  Jeff received the "Member of the Year” award from the Massachusetts Association of Lawncare Professionals in addition to numerous Bayer Awards. 

Course Description – The presentation will focus on Bees and factors impacting Bee health. 

1.      What are Neonicotinoids?

a.       A group of insecticide chemistries

2.      Why are they in the news?

a.       Impact on Honey Bees

3.      Do Neonicotinoids kill bees?

4.      Do Neonicotinoids cause Colony Collapse Disorder?

5.      Will we lose the use of Neonicotinoids?

6.      Why Use Neonicotinoids?

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS IMPORTANT TALK AT THE SUMMER PLANT SYMPOSIUM

Presented by Rich Buckley, Soil Testing and Plant Diagnostic Services

Speakers Bio – Richard Buckley is the Director of Rutgers Plant Diagnostic Laboratory. He received his BS in Entomology and Plant Pathology from the University of Delaware and an MS in Turfgrass Pathology from Rutgers University. Mr. Buckley is an instructor in the Rutgers Professional Golf Turf Management School and Rutgers Department of Pathology and Plant Science. He teaches courses in diseases and insect pests of turfgrass and ornamental plants. He is also a frequent lecturer and invited speaker on disease and insect pest problems in turf and ornamentals, plant problem solving, and pest management techniques.

Course Description - Boxwood…Now You See Them, Soon You Won’t!

1.      Boxwood: the good        

a.       Used for formal gardens        

b.       Edging, hedges, parterres        

c.       Can be utilized in almost any garden situation        

d.       If used properly box is a superb plant 

2.      Boxwood: the bad        

a.       Deer resistant, so it gets over used        

b.       Shallow rooted         

c.       Too much shade or sun problematic        

d.       Too much water or drought problematic        

e.       Too hot or too cold problematic        

f.        Too much mulch problematic        

g.       Too heavy soil problematic              

h.       Nutrient and pH issues         

i.        Moderation and proper use are key 

3.       Boxwood: the ugly         

a.      Volutella Stem Blight, Macrophoma Leaf Blight,  Boxwood Blight and Boxwood Leafminer               i.       Fungus or Insect                  

ii.       Symptoms                  

iii.       Signs                  

iv.       History and significance of the problem                   

v.       Chemical control                 

vi.       Resistance?                

vii.       Management and Control               

viii.       Diagnosis 

4.      Other species of Buxaceae get Boxwood Blight!        

a.       Boxwood blight on sweetbox, Sarcococca sp., Boxwood blight on Pachysandra, Alfalfa Mosaic Virus on Pachysandra, Pachysandra Stem Blight                    

i.       History and significance of the problem                   

ii.       Fungus                 

iii.       Symptoms                 

iv.       Diagnosis                   

v.       Signs                 

vi.       Management and Control                

vii.       Chemical control                

viii.       Resistance?

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE SUMMER PLANT SYMPOSIUM TO HEAR THIS AND OTHER GREAT PRESENTATIONS!

Presented by: Doug Obermann, PBI-Gordon Corporation

Doug was raised on a farm in Missouri and knows how things grow.  He taught Introduction to Agronomy and Introduction to Plant Science classes as a teaching assistant at Iowa State University, where he earned his Master’s in Agronomy.  Doug earned a double major at the University of Missouri with BS degrees in Agronomy and Agricultural Economics.  He has been with PBI/Gordon for 26 years, starting with answering 800-line technical service calls coast-to-coast for five years.  He has worked in Research and Development; as a field sales representative; product manager; and currently sales management for GORDON’S Professional Turf and Ornamental Products.  Doug is a Certified Professional Agronomist (CPAg). Course Description – Green Kyllinga and Other Sedge-Type Weeds.

•         New Jersey’s "Public Enemy #1”.

•         Warm season weeds, encroaching into Cool season Turf.

•         Identification of Kyllinga.

•         Identification of other Sedge-type Weeds.

•         Pre-emergent disciplines for Kyllinga and Sedges.

•         Post-emergent Options for Kyllinga and Sedges.

•         Cultural and Environmental Options, if any.

•         Research and New Products on the Horizon.

•         Questions and Answers.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE SUMMER PLANTS SYMPOSIUM

Even the best executed biological control programs may require the use of compatible pesticides from time to time to restore the balance to the predators. This session explains how to determine which pesticides can be used over the top of predator mites and insects without wiping out the BCA populations that you worked so hard to establish. If you are transitioning from a traditional pest control program to a biological program this information will be important as well.

Education and action are needed for growers to take the lead in being excellent stewards of bees and other pollinators. GGSPro has launched efforts to raise the bee safety-consciousness of grower. This session will also help growers understand colony collapse disorder, utilize information derived from pesticide labels, understand the difference between relative toxicity and exposure, and how environmental conditions impact pesticides and pollinators.

Presented by Joanne Lutz, Griffin Greenhouse Supply

Her early career experience includes positions at the Beltsville Agriculture Research Center, US National Arboretum, University of Maryland Plant Diagnostic Clinic, IPM Coordinator for Hillwood Museum and Gardens and Horticulture Manager of Gaylord National Resort. She owned an IPM scouting and consulting business for 8 years, worked as a greenhouse grower, customer care technical support and sales throughout the greenhouse, nursery and landscape industry. She has worked and cooperated with the University of Maryland on trials using BCA’s and pesticides effectiveness, contributed articles and pictures for the TPM/IPM weekly e-pest reports and has written pest control articles for grower talks. She is committed to providing quality technical support to our customers as Griffin’s Technical Support Specialist.

2014 Greenhouse Growers Conference, June 18, 2014

On June 18, 2014 the New Jersey Nursery & Landscape Association will host its second annual Greenhouse Grower Conference at the Rutgers Eco-Complex in Bordentown.  This annual event brings together University researchers & educators along with private industry professionals to present to a variety of topics relevant to nursery, floriculture, and garden center professionals who manage greenhouse operations.  Pesticide credits have been approved in New Jersey, New York, and PA.  For more information about the event click here.

Rapid improvements in light emitting diode (LED) technology have resulted in new opportunities for plant growth applications. While High-Pressure Sodium (HPS) is still the most common lamp type used for supplemental lighting (i.e., to boost plant growth), the ever increasing efficiencies of LEDs have resulted in a lot of interest, research and some trials into novel horticultural applications. LEDs allow for adjustments in spectral quality of the light provided, and these adjustments can be made as needed during the entire growth cycle and could potentially improve overall energy efficiency. LEDs produce a lot less radiant heat (instead they generate convective heat), allowing them to be placed closer to the plant leaves without causing heat stress. The phase-out of incandescent lamps has also resulted in more LED applications for photoperiod lighting (i.e., to induce flowering responses). This presentation will cover LED developments and some of the current research into horticultural applications. 

A.J. Both received his Ph.D. in agricultural engineering from Cornell University before accepting a faculty appointment at Rutgers University. His research and Extension outreach have focused on controlled environment plant production systems, including greenhouses, growth chambers, and high tunnels. More recently, he got involved in projects investigating energy conservation and alternative energy sources for greenhouse production. He regularly contributes engineering-related articles to the greenhouse industry trade press.