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LONG ISLAND AREA MEETING HELD
An Eastern Region IPPS Area Meeting was held on Thursday, February 26, 2009 at the Cornell Cooperative Extension Building in Riverhead, NY. The program theme was Environmentally Responsible Ideas and Solutions for Plant Production. Thirty-nine people attended from Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, and Ohio.
The program was packed with great ideas for maximizing production while keeping the business conscience “green”. Dr. Mark Bridgen, Professor from Cornell University, began the day by welcoming attendees and serving as moderator for the day. The first speaker, Dr. Elizabeth Lamb, is the New York state IPM coordinator for ornamental plants. Her colorful, entertaining, and information packed presentation on biocontrol and IPM issues for nurseries kept the audience attention and attendees were provided with a helpful handout identifying beneficial insects and listing additional resources for details on their use.
Dr. Nora Catlin, Floriculture Extension Specialist for Cornell Cooperative Extension, spoke on energy conservation in the greenhouse. She provided tips that included everything from weatherstripping doors to balancing the need for light with the energy savings from an additional layer of plastic to the use of thermal blankets. Becky Wiseman of Cornell Cooperative Extension led a discussion on programs for recycling in the nursery industry, including problems often encountered. Her colleagues in the Stewardship Program added information on the opportunities for recyclying during Becky’s presentation. Lawrence Shepps, Director of Operations of Plantus Ltd. showed videos of rooftop landscape design projects that he had worked on in New York City and discussed the problems unique to skyscraper installations.
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| Bill Lees (l) and Vijay Rapaka (r) at the Long Island Area Meeting. Thanks to Smithers Oasis for generously sponsoring travel expenses for Dr. Rapaka to attend and speak at the meeting. |
Dr.Vijay Rapaka of Smithers Oasis gave an excellent presentation on his ground-breaking research concerning the time-of-day to take cuttings. The audience was alive with questions as he reviewed propagation systems. Finally, at the end of the day, Margery Daughtrey from Cornell University’s Department of Plant Pathology, told the group how best to avoid winter disease problems both in the nursery and in the greenhouse, and showed slides of different disease symptoms.
Thanks go out to the area meeting planning committee: Mark Bridgen, Cornell University; Gerarda Boger, The Plantage; and Michelle Shepard of East Coast Nurseries.
For more information, contact:
Margot Bridgen, Executive Secretary/Treasurer
IPPS Eastern Region, North America
1700 North Parish Drive
Southold, NY 11971
Phone: 631-765-9638
Fax: 631-765-9648
E-mail: Margot Bridgen
Last Update: January 26,2009
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