Register now for sustainable ag. meeting
The 2nd stakeholder info. meeting on the development of a nat'l. standard for sustainable ag. for food, fiber, floral and energy crops is scheduled for Jan. 7, 10-11 a.m. PST. The agenda includes presentations on the Am. Nat'l. Standards Institute process, the draft standard for trial use and the formation of standard committees and subcommittees. A 3rd meeting is scheduled for Feb. 4. The standard will be finalized by or before 2010 and accredited by ANSI.

Start out 2008 pest free
If you're looking to start out 2008 with pest-free greenhouses, Mich. St. Univ. entomologist David Smitley advises growers not to carryover insects from one crop to another. Keep thrips numbers down to less than 10 per card per week in fall and winter on poinsettias and dracaena. Avoid keeping houseplants or allowing weeds to grow in the greenhouse. When each batch of growing medium arrives for a new crop, check it for fungus gnats by filling a 1-gallon baggie half-full with moist medium. If fungus gnat adults emerge within 2 weeks, consider applying a fungus gnat treatment at planting time. Potato wedges can be stuck in soil and checked 24 hours later for fungus gnat larvae. Inspect incoming plant material carefully. If insects are found, treat them.

Unvented heaters can cause danger
An unvented heater is designed without a flue connection so that the heat and products of combustion are exhausted into the greenhouse. Univ. of Conn. professor emeritus John Bartok Jr. said allowing these flue gases into a greenhouse may improve the overall efficiency rating as compared to a conventional heater but the potential pollutants and added moisture from combustion may jeopardize plants. Unvented heaters can be fired with natural gas, propane or kerosene, which are advertised as clean-burning. This is generally true if the burner is clean and has been adjusted to top efficiency. Inefficient combustion can emit harmful pollutants (sulfur dioxide and ethylene) that can affect plants and people. If unvented heaters are installed, be sure to have an adequate makeup air supply and provide frequent maintenance. Use indicator plants (tomatoes and white petunias) near heaters or commercially available indicator tubes to warn of excess pollutants.

3 tests can measure pH, salts
In preparation for spring, many growers will be performing their own on-site soil tests for pH and soluble salts. Others will choose to send samples to commercial labs. Univ. of Mass. ext. floriculture specialist Tina Smith said there are 3 common methods of testing soilless media based on the use of water as an extracting solution: saturated media extract (SME), 1:2 dilution method, and leachate PourThru. The number representing the soluble salts level from a 1:2 dilution test means something different from results from SME or PourThru.

Discovering the world of sustainability
Here's an interesting way to reach those green consumers. Sign up with RecycleBank as a rewards partner. Project: Green Industry blog.

Worth a visit
The greatest recycling challenge is horticultural containers. So what's a sustainable-minded grower to do? Project: Green examines the challenge. Only on GreenBeam.com.

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The green industry's must-attend event. Just a few efficient days in this prductive environment will give you everything you need to make your garden center a s tand out.