Summers resigns as SNA head
Danny Summers has resigned as the Southern Nursery Assoc. exec. v.p. to take another position in the nursery industry. He has served as SNA's top executive since 1988. He will work with the association's board through November to ensure smooth transition of responsibilities, according to SNA.

El Niño will continue into 2007
Nat'l. Oceanic and Atmospheric Admin. predicted El Niño conditions in the Pacific will likely continue into early 2007. El Niño conditions (warmer sea temperatures in the eastern Pacific) recently developed and NOAA expects them to persist through winter. Higher-than-average temperatures are expected in the Southwest, Plains, Midwest, most of the Northeast and northern Mid-Atlantic. The Southwest, Florida and the South Atlantic Coast may have wetter-than-average conditions. The Tennessee Valley, Northern Rockies and Pacific Northwest may experience drier-than-average conditions. The rainfall pattern in the West is expected to improve drought conditions across Arizona and Texas, but result in drought across parts of Idaho, Washington and Oregon.

3 species confirmed as P. ramorum hosts
The United Kingdom Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs added Eucalyptus haemastoma, Cornus kousa x capitata and Castanopsis orthacantha to its list of natural hosts of Phytophthora ramorum, the sudden oak death pathogen. Infected E. haemastoma had chlorotic leaves. C. kousa x capitata exhibited shoot-tip dieback and C. orthacantha had midrib necrosis and leaf symptoms. USDA will likely add these plants to its associated host plant list, said Katie Palmieri, California Oak Mortality Task Force spokesperson.

Group promotes organic lawn care
SafeLawns.org, an international coalition of for-profit and nonprofit organizations, plans to promote organic lawn care and resource conservation throughout 2007. The effort is led by HGTV host and People Places & Plants editor Paul Tukey. The group hopes to spur interest in organic lawn care through television, radio and print. Tukey is working with lawn-care experts to create how-to videos on natural lawn care. Videos will be available on the coalition's Web site and on DVD by early 2007. The campaign will be touted by more than 100 garden writers and industry professionals, who will also make appearances at consumer home and garden shows. SafeLawns will hold receptions at Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show, Jan. 10-12, and New England Grows, Feb. 6-8.

EAB is host specific, prefers green and white ash
After concerns were raised that emerald ash borers (EAB) may infest other types of trees, Michigan St. Univ. tried a new diet on their EAB test subjects. The bugs didn't bite. It seems they're picky eaters and want only ash. "The studies show that EAB are host-specific -- they prefer only ash trees," said Andrea Anulewicz, MSU entomology graduate student. "They may lay eggs on the other tree species because they have no other choice, but the eggs either don't hatch or the hatched larvae can't survive on other tree species." The pests are even picky within the Fraxinus genus. In a study with only white and blue ash, EAB preferred the white variety. In another study, green ash was the tree of choice over white ash. (517) 432-3494.

Worth a visit
Learn how tissue culture advances have made clumping bamboo, Fargesia robusta, available to the masses. Only on GreenBeam.com.

PlantFind - the leading provider of technology solutions for the green industry - offers automated solutions to buy and sell everything needed to operate a growing business.

Something’s keeping you awake at night. You’ve got questions. We’ve got answers. 3 intense days. 75 business changing sessions. 1000 green industry professionals.