Emerald ash borer detected in West Virginia
USDA-APHIS confirmed the detection of 1 emerald ash borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis) larva from a detection tree in Fayette County, W.Va., the first confirmed EAB detection in the state. The affected tree was removed and its bark was stripped, revealing 7 additional EAB larvae. This detection was about 180 miles south of the nearest EAB detection in the area of Pittsburgh. The movement of EAB-infested firewood is believed to be how the insect found its way to Fayette County. EAB was initially detected in the U.S. in southeastern Michigan. Since then, the insect has been responsible for the death and decline of more than 25 million ash trees.
USDA searches for best urban trees
The Power Trees Project from USDA's Agricultural Research Service is testing trees for urban landscapes. Lead researcher John Hammond's wish list includes trees that can survive years of service shading city sidewalks or traffic median strips. Hammond's team has identified some good street tree candidates for 2 zones — within 30 feet of power lines and some 30 feet away from power lines. Acer rubrum 'Brandywine,' A. rubrum 'Somerset,' A. rubrum 'Sun Valley,' Lagerstroemia 'Natchez,' Malus 'Adirondack' and Prunus 'Dream Catcher' are good choices near power lines. Ulmus 'Frontier' works best at least 30 feet away from power lines. Hammond also is testing how production techniques affect a tree's street survival. To date, container trees have outperformed field-grown trees.
Georgia green interests organize to fight water bans
Strict water bans resulting from a worsening drought prompted Georgia's green industry to mount a counterattack. In just 3 days, the Ga. Urban Ag. Council organized to launch a lobbying and public relations campaign, taking aim at outdoor watering bans. The group's leaders say other industries and residential users should be forced to conserve rather than completely eliminate landscape watering. The council is a coalition of trade organizations including nursery wholesalers, garden centers, florists, golf courses and even big companies like John Deere. Although each organization has lobbied individually, by combining forces the council represents 7,000 firms, 80,000 employees and an $8 billion industry.
USDA awards $950,000 to research invasive pests
Universities in California, Colorado, Indiana and Mississippi will receive $950,000 for research against harmful pests and diseases, Acting Ag. Secretary Chuck Conner announced. Among the subjects the projects will examine are: mechanisms to prevent the entry of invasive species in ag. imports by encouraging foreign exporters to reveal information about their presence in cargo; alternative strategies for managing the spread of mobile pests, including incentives for participation in regional pest management organizations; and approaches to identify and select economically efficient strategies for managing invasive plant pests.
Management Clinic session to discuss Lean basics
You've probably heard about Lean business operations, but do you know exactly what's involved? Roger Fisher of R.S. Fisher Inc. in Hudson, Ohio, will illustrate Lean basics during the 2008 ANLA Management Clinic, Feb. 8-11 in Louisville, Ky. Lean business operations are founded on the principle of constantly driving out waste and thereby reducing cost. Concepts such as value-added, necessary non-value-added and waste will be discussed. Key indices such as output per worker, time in system and space utilization will be compared as part of a before and after analysis.
Project: Green Industry blog debuts in December
For many years horticulturists have been known as the "green industry" -- the business of enhancing the natural world. We've brought the outdoors inside, and moved indoor-living lifestyles to the outdoors. We've been a part of bringing organic gardening practices to environment-conscious consumers. Now we find ourselves in the middle of something called "sustainability," a term that's loosely applied to business practices designed to conserve and maximize our natural resources. That's where NMPRO's new blog, Project: Green Industry, comes in. Beginning next month, readers can discover the world of sustainability and how it affects their own businesses and customers.
Worth a visit
The nursery business deserves its own action/adventure serial, "The Great Nursery Adventure: A Year in the Life of Greene Family Nursery." This month, the family weathers an overwintering disaster. Only on GreenBeam.com.
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Syngenta remains committed to investing in every aspect of our ornamental business to bring value to growers for producing beautifully strong plants.
Register now! Visit www.midam.org for details. Mid-Am, the Midwest's premier trade show, features hundreds of exhibits, 130+ hours of education, plus much more!
The ANLA 2008 Management Clinic is coming! February 8-11, 2008 in Louisville, Ken.
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