VNLA Newsletter Jul/Aug/Sep 2017

THANKS SPONSORS!

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July / August / September 2017

VNLA Newsletter

2017 VNLA Officers & Directors OFFICERS President VIRGINIA ROCKWELL ‘12 Gentle Gardener Green Design PO Box 191 Montpelier, VA 22957-0191 (cell) 434-531-0467 gentlegardener@gmail.com Vice President AARON WILLIAMS ‘14 Education Committee Williams Landscape & Design PO Box 7001 Williamsburg VA 23188-7001 757-564-7011 aaron@wldgreen.com Secretary/ Treasurer BRENT HUNSINGER, Legislation’15 Brent's Native Plantings 10715 Hamilton's Crossing Dr Fredericksburg, VA 22408 443-655-3410 brenthunsinger@gmail.com Past President BILL GOULDIN ‘12 Strange’s Florist/Garden Ctrs 12111 W. Broad St. Richmond, VA 23233 804-360-2800 wjg@stranges.com

Executive Director

2 YR DIRECTORS

1 YR DIRECTORS

MATT DEIVERT ‘17 South Riding Nurseries 8010 Industrial Park Ct Bristow, VA 20136-3125 Ofc: 703-479-2701 Cell: 571-220-1483 mdeivert@southridingnurseries.com

JEFFREY HOWE, Certification ‘16 Windridge Landscaping Co 7158 Rockfish Valley Rd Afton, VA 22920-3182 434-361-1588 Cell: (434) 531-1919 jhowe@windridgelandscaping.com

SEANA ANKERS ‘17 Legislation Lee Highway Nursery 5055 Rock Springs Rd Warrenton VA 20187-8950 540-216-7062, Cell: 540-878-0554 Seanankers.lhn@gmail.com MITZI MARKER ‘17 Sandy’s Plants 8011 Bell Creek Rd Mechanicsville VA 23111-3705 804-746-7092 Cell: _____________ mitzi@sandysplants.com PAUL MUNN ‘17 Waynesboro Nurseries PO Box 987 Waynesboro VA 22980-0987 540-946-3800, Cell: ______________ pmunn@waynesboronurseries.com

CECILIA PALMER ‘17 West Winds Nursery/Shade JEFFREY B. MILLER Tree Farm Horticulture Management 5710 Featherbed Ln Associates LLC Sudley Springs VA 20109383 Coal Hollow Road 2004 Christiansburg, VA 24073-6721 703-631-0983, 1-800-476-0055 Cell: 703-906-2769 Fax: 540-382-2716 westwindsn@aol.com info@vnla.org

VNLA Newsletter VNLA Newsletter

SCOTT PRICE, Education ‘16 David Scott Price Design 2772 Earleysville Rd Earlysville, VA 22936-9665 434-466-5656 Cell: scott@dscottprice.com THOMAS BUCKLEY Public Relations ‘16 Riverbend Nursery 1295 Mt Elbert Rd Riner VA 24149-3611 800-638-3362 x102 Cell: 540-850-0420 thomas@riverbendnursery.com DOUG RODES, Membership ‘15 James River Nurseries 13244 Ashland Rd Ashland VA 23005-7504 (804) 798-2020 Cell: (804) 380-5259 drodes@jamesrivernurseries.com CHRISTOPHER BROWN JR

Research Committee ‘13 Lancaster Farms 5800 Knotts Neck Rd Suffolk VA 23435-1353 757-484-4421

Christopher@lancasterfarms.com

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Educational Advisors

VT/HRAREC Ex-Officio non-voting

DR. JIM OWEN HARAREC 1444 Diamond Springs Rd Virginia Beach, VA 23455 (757) 363-3804 jim.owen@vt.edu DR. LAURIE FOX HRAREC, 1444 Diamond Springs Rd; VA Beach, VA 23455-3363 757-363-3807 Cell: 757-284-6139 ljfox@vt.edu DR. ROGER HARRIS VA Tech Horticulture Dept. Head Saunders Hall (0327) Blacksburg, VA 24061-0001 540-231-5451 rharris@vt.edu

MANTS’ Directors JOHN LANCASTER‘02 Bennett’s Creek Nursery 17497 Benns Church Blvd Smithfield, VA 23430 757-483-1425 john@bcnursery.com ROBIN RINACA - 15 Eastern Shore Nursery of VA PO Box 400 Melfa, VA 23410-0400 757-787-4732 rrinaca@esnursery.com DANNY SHRECKHISE Shreckhise Nurseries ‘12 PO Box 428 Grottoes, VA 24441-0428 540-249-5761 Danny@shreckhise.com

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Table of Contents Ad - AgriSupply ASC................................................ 33 Ad - Bennett’s Creek Nursery ..................................... 47 Ad - Bremo Trees ........................................................ 48 Ad - conserVAlandscapes.com.................................... 7 Ad - Eastern Shore Nursery of Virginia ...................... 35 Ad - Farm Credit ......................................................... 48 Ad - Gossett’s Landscape Nursery .............................. 37 Ad - Guthrie Nursery ................................................... 31 Ad - Hanover Farms .................................................... 20 Ad - Hawksridge Farms............................................... 23 Ad - Lancaster Farms .................................................. 28 Ad - MANTS ............................................................... 45 Ad - MAS Labor Solutions.......................................... 2 Ad - NCNLA Green & Growin’ .................................. 44 Ad - Pender Nursery .................................................... 30 Ad - Shreckhise Nurseries ........................................... 15 Ad - SiteLight Id .......................................................... 27 Ad - Tankard Nurseries ............................................... 42 Ad - TD Watkins Horticultural Services ..................... 37 Ad - Turtle Creek Nursery ........................................... 41 Ad - Virginia Conservation Assistance Program......... 46 Ad - Waynesboro Nurseries ........................................ 14 Ad - Willow Springs Tree Farm .................................. 21 Events - AmericanHort Production Technology Conference ................................... 40 Events - Calendar ........................................................ 46 Events - Green & Grown’18 ........................................ 41 Events - Landscapes 2017 ........................................... 40 Events - Pollinator Protection Conference ................ 40 Letters - Agribusiness Council Connections .............. 7 Letters - Agribusiness Council, Golf Tournament ...... 7 Letters - Agribusiness Council, National Policy Development ........................ 8 Letters - Agriculture in the Classroom ........................ 8 Letters - Hahn Horticulture Garden ............................. 8 Letters - Scholarship Thank you .................................. 8 News - Note of Caution on Milkweeds and Systemic Insecticides ............................. 34 News - Amendments to ‘Farm Use’ Laws ................. 29 News - DHS Allows 'One Time' H-2B Relief ............. 32 News - Economic Impact of Virginia’s Ag ................ 29 News - Genetically Engineered Petunia Update .......... 34 News - How Green are Urban Trees? .......................... 30 News - HRI Infographic Highlights Trade Flow Survey Results............................ 39 News - Plantworks Nursery Transitions ...................... 14 News - Positive News Appropriations Process .......... 33 News - Scholarship Awards for 2017 .......................... 16 News - SNA to Collocate with MANTS ..................... 15 News - Virginia Native Plant Marketing E-News ....... 35 VNLA Newsletter 4

News - Virginia’s Voluntary Plan to Mitigate the Risk of Pesticides to Managed Pollinators .............. 19 Tips - Identifying and Elevating the Levels of Emotional Maturity ................... 38 Tips - Plant profile - Cerasus serrula ......................... 18 VNLA - Certification Quiz Article ............................. 19 VNLA - Certification Quiz # 81 .................................. 25 VNLA - Field Day Photo Review ............................... 10 VNLA - FlowVision Workshop Overview .................. 9 VNLA - New Members ............................................... 38 VNLA - New Virginia Certified Horticulturist ........... 43 VNLA - Photo Contest Winner ................................... 17 VNLA - Photo Contest Rules ..................................... 17 VNLA - Summer Tour Photo Review ......................... 12

VNLA - MobileFriendly App Guide to Virginia Growers!

Look up plant sources, hotlinks to grower email, website and phone! www.vnla.org/Grower-Guide

VNLA will be discontinuing the “800” phone number in 2017, Contact phone number is still 540-382-0943

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Thanks to these Field Day Silver Sponsors!

Harrell’s Inc Hortica Monrovia Nursery Techo-Block Corp

James River Nurseries Stevenson Tractor

Thanks to these Field Day Exhibitors

AgriSupply Blue Ridge Prism Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional Hampton Roads AREC MAS Labor

Nursery Supplies NYP Corp Vermeer Mid-Atlantic Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries Virginia Native Plant Marketing Partnership

Size / Type

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VNLA Newsletter

July / August / September 2017

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Vol. 87, No.3; July/August/September 2017 Editor: Jeff Miller

Thanks also to the largest number of sponsors and exhibitors ever for a VNLA Field Day. The best of the best showed up and showed off their services, products, equipment, educational programs, and knowledge. Sponsors are listed throughout this issue: find out how they can assist your business and next project.

383 Coal Hollow Road; Christiansburg, VA 24073-6721 Internet E-mail Address: info@vnla.org www.vnla.org (Association Info) https://www.facebook.com/VNLA1932 Twitter: @vnla1932 Telephone: 540-382-0943 Fax: 540-382-2716 Disclaimer: Published for your information, this newsletter is not an endorsement for individual products or editorial comments.

President’s Message Dear VNLA family: #PlantsDoThat.

Put that in your smartphone and see what you get!

This is the story every single one of us is inspired to tell, about who we are and what we do: We work with plants and landscapes to raise quality of life for clients, customers and communities. Demand for the quality of life improvements we provide is growing. We do this work best with enough people, and with precision processes, aligned toward this purpose.

That was the main message Dr. Charlie Hall, FlowVision and Marcus vandeVliet had to share at Field Day 2017.

I’ve just journeyed home from the HOTTEST (literally and figuratively) event of the Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association year: our annual Field Day, a workshop on lean management for both growers and service providers by FlowVision, and a sold-out tour of private and other gardens co-produced by VSLD and VNLA. VNLA Newsletter 6

Thank you, Matt Sawyer and the Bennett’s Creek Nursery family, for welcoming us to your INSPIRING operation.

The VNLA exists to enhance, promote and advocate for Virginia’s Nursery and Landscape professionals. Work has already begun for next year’s Field Day, and we would welcome volunteers like you, brimming with ideas and enthusiasm. Have an idea for a speaker or a workshop that would enhance your knowledge and provide Continuing Education Units (CEU’s) that are most critical to you and your Virginia Certified Horticulturalists (VCH’s) now? Let us know at fieldday@vnla.org .

To advocate for your business, this Spring and Summer your VNLA Board Legislative/Policy Committee of Brent Hunsinger (chair), Seana Ankers, Paul Munn and Cecilia Palmer have kept the pressure on to convey the importance of the small but crucial H2B seasonal temporary worker visa program.

A few thousand more 2017 H2B visa applications were released by the Department of Homeland Security on 17 July - yes, after the main planting season is over. The panel at Field Day brought up to the minute 2017 and 2018 information and insight from the swirl north of the Potomac.

This panel was the best education in a short time any of us could ever gain on both H2A and H2B seasonal temporary worker visa programs. THANK YOU to our moderator Aaron Williams, VNLA VP 2017, and: AmericanHort policy expert Craig Regelbrugge Chapman Williams of Williams Tree and Landscape Jim Saunders of Saunders Brothers Duane Shumaker of RGS Landscaping Chris Brown of Lancaster Farms Kerry Scott of Mas Labor Mike Hildebrand of James River Nurseries Whether you are a landscape designer or a grower, or anyone in between, if there are not enough qualified folks to plant landscapes to meet our clients’ and customers’ seasonal demand, your business will suffer. Writing those letters and making those calls, requesting those meetings while your Member of Congress is nearby in your District, is crucial. We need your sustaining help to communicate regarding a sustainable labor force for 2018 and beyond.

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VNLA Newsletter

This Autumn VNLA plans for CHANGE and GROWTH: Our Board will update our strategic plan for the time horizon 20182020. TwentyTwenty! Where do we want to be by TwentyTwenty?

Finally, as you know, VNLA has begun to respond to Horticulture Management Associates’ notice that Jeff Miller plans to retire from providing services as our Executive Director in 2018. The Succession Plan Committee chaired by Bill Gouldin has retained a search consultant, and the process is underway. The Board is doing the scintillating tasks of updating Policy Manual to match Bylaws and how we actually work (more email and GoToMeeting or Teleconference than fax and mail these days) on your behalf. There will be more changes you will see in our budget, as VNLA transitions to an employee from an independent contractor, and the many associated costs of a direct hire, and away from a one-line-item contract with a management company.

Thank you for being part of this growing family. Call with any question and ideas. Cheers for a successful autumn!

Virginia R. Rockwell, VCH, VSLD, NMP, CBLPro-Design,Install,Maintain 2017 President, VNLA 434.531.0467 virginia@gentlegardener.com

Ad - conserVAlandscapes.com

Letters - Agribusiness Council, Annual Golf Tournament On behalf of the Virginia Agribusiness Council, we want to thank you again for supporting our Annual Golf Tournament. Thanks in large part to the outstanding support of members like you, the Council has continued to excel in representing our industry's interest with the legislature!

We were thrilled to have 21 teams join us at Hanover Country Club this year! Our tournament is a great way for industry participants to get together in a fun atmosphere while also supporting the efforts of the Agribusiness Council. This year, the tournament had a new focus, which was to promote and support the stewardship efforts of our industry. A portion of the funds generated from this event will provide resources necessary for the Council to maintain and grow these efforts.

Your sponsorship enables us to continue our efforts to promote and defend the business interests of our members.

VNLA is such a great supporter of all of our meetings and events and we greatly appreciate it! We hope you will be able to join us next year!

Katie K. Frazier , President, Shepherd Cronemeyer, Director, Member Services & Events

Letters - Agribusiness 2017 Council Connections support On behalf of the Virginia Agribusiness Council, we want to thank you again for your support of our 2017 Council Connections. Because of the generosity and commitment of members like you, the Council is able to continue to excel in representing our industry's interests in Richmond. Our Council Connections provide a forum for our members to express their concerns in the presence of important lawmakers, as well as an opportunity to network with fellow industry members.

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Each year, we continue to see an increase in attendance at these dinners and receptions. From March until May, we traveled to Leesburg, Tappahannock, Abingdon and Weyers Cave (in addition to our Richmond event), reconnecting with current members and meeting new industry leaders across the Commonwealth. In addition, either Secretary Gooden or Deputy Secretary Seibel was able to join us at all of the meetings, providing valuable insight into the goals of the Secretariat. We will continue to hold these events in the spring to allow our staff to provide members with a recap of the General Assembly session while it is fresh in our minds.

There were many successes for our industry this year, both legislatively and within the budget, and these dinners and July/August/September 2017 77 July / August / September 2017

receptions allowed us to celebrate with our members across the state.

Thank you again for sponsoring our Council Connections series. Your support enables our efforts to promote and defend the business interests of our members and it is greatly appreciated.

Katie K. Frazier , President, Shepherd Cronemeyer, Director of Member Services & Event

Letters - Agribusiness Council, National Policy Development Thank you for your support of the Virginia Agribusiness Council's National Policy Development meeting. This event is a valuable opportunity for our agriculture industry sectors and forestry partners to gather to discuss upcoming issues.

This year, we were honored to have a very important speaker, Josh Maxwell, Senior Staffer for the House Agriculture Committee, address our membership regarding the 2018 Farm Bill, USDA and EPA funding, as well as other ongoing legislation. Our National Policy Development meeting provides participants with opportunities for positive networking and engagement, as well as a forum for meaningful discussion. With your help, we were able to secure a beautiful venue, the Richmond CPA Center, and provide plenty of refreshments for our guests. We truly value your participation in Council events and look forward to continuing to work with you!

Katie K. Frazier President

Letters - Scholarship Thank you I am very grateful to have been chosen as the 2017-18 recipient of the A.S. Gresham Jr Memorial Scholarship and the Albert James (Bert) Shoosmith Scholarship. As I began my college career, I set a goal to be debt free when I graduated.

Thank you for making this goal a reality this year. Your support of the industry and its future generation has served as more than financial assistance. It has encouraged the industry’s continued growth through your educational resources and continued advocacy.

As I enter my junior year of Landscape Contracting at Virginia Tech, I begin to take a closer look at my future in the industry. As a member of the Honors College and future graduate of the Virginia Tech Horticulture Department, I am confident that I will find many opportunities in my future career. I plan to study Landscape Architecture through Virginia Tech’s Graduate School and I look forward to being able to serve Virginia with the knowledge and skills this will provide.

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Thank you for this contribution to my education and to the future of the Virginia Nursery and Landscape industry. I can only hope that one day I will be in the position to support the industry as you have now.

William Shelburne , Virginia Tech, Class of 2019, Radford, VA 24141

Letters - Agriculture in the Classroom On behalf of the Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC) thank you for your generous support in helping us connect children to agriculture. We sincerely appreciate your partnership as we promote the awareness and understanding of agriculture throughout Virginia.

Your donation of $1,500.00 will help us provide teachers with valuable training and resources, grants for school projects and many hands-on lessons for children across the Commonwealth.

It is gratifying to have financial support from individuals who recognize that agricultural literacy is a powerful way to ensure the future of our farms and the industry that is so important to our nation.

Your support makes a difference. We look forward to sharing AITC's success with you through our annual report; information about our progress may also be found on our website at agintheclass.org or our Facebook pages "Virginia Agriculture in the Classroom" and "The Virginia Foundation for Agriculture in the Classroom". Once again, thank you for your donation. If you are interested in hearing more about our programs or volunteer opportunities, please feel welcome to contact me at 804-290-1030 or email at kelly.pious@vafb.com.

Wayne F. Pryor, Virginia Farm Bureau President, Kelly Pious, Executive Director

Letters - Hahn Horticulture Garden I would like to personally thank you for your recent gift to the Hahn Horticulture Garden in the Department of Horticulture supporting the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Virginia Tech. Corporate partnerships are critical to the success of our college and your generous support for our students and programs helps ensure that we remain a premier land grant institution now and into the future.

Your gift helps establish the margin of excellence upon which we build our greatness. These funds will enable the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences to continue to sustain our communities, improve our citizen's health, and strengthen our agricultural industry through the power of discovery, education and relevant life-long learning.

On behalf of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and Virginia Tech, we appreciate your thoughtfulness and support.

Vernon B. Meacham, Director of Development

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Why would a landscape designer, a contractor who installs and does maintenance, and numerous grounds management and nursery producers attend a Lean Flow workshop led by Gary and Steve of FlowVisionÂŽ?

What does assembling, disassembling and re-assembling toy cannons three times using three subtly different processes and concepts for work flow have to do with our businesses?

Because those subtly different processes for how we plan and implement work flow with our people yield progressively--- sometimes vastly--- improved quality AND productivity.

News - Plantworks Nursery Transitions As many of you are aware, Plantworks Nursery has been planning a transition of ownership for the past five years. In 2009 Dana Massey joined the staff at Plantworks Nursery after graduating from NCSU at the top of her horticulture class. Dana's dream has been to be an integral part of the green industry as owner of her own wholesale nursery. In 2012, I began to mentor Dana to become the owner of the company. Now, five years later, the time has arrived for Dana to realize her dream and assume ownership. On July 1, 2017, she became the owner of Plantworks Nursery Inc. My role at Plantworks will be limited to supporting Dana in any way that I can to insure her success. By now most of you have met Dana at trade shows or other industry events. For those of you who have not, please reach out to her to help make this as smooth a transition as possible.

As the end of my ownership approaches, I want to convey to all our valued customers that I have complete confidence in Dana's ability to provide you with the quality plant material and the excellent customer service we have provided for the past 38 years.

I also want to assure our valued vendors that Dana will conduct business in the same professional way we have done over the same time. We hope Plantworks Nursery will continue to be an important part of your success in the future.

Thanks to all of you who have played an important role in making Plantworks the success it is today!

Doug Chapman

This is an exciting time for me and my family as we embark on this new journey. I am forever grateful to each and every one of you that have made this process as seamless as possible and for all of the support. There will be no change in staff and the quality of plants we provide will remain the same, sustaining the reputation that we have built over the last 38 years. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns that we can help answer. Thank you for being an active part of our business. The possibilities for the future are endless and we are excited to share those with you. We look forward to our continued partnership!

Dana Massey

Ad - Waynesboro Nurseries

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News - SNA to Collocate with MANTS SNA Conference Scheduled for January 8 - 9, 2018 in Baltimore, MD Atlanta, Ga., June 16, 2017 - The Southern Nursery Association (SNA) has announced plans to collocate The SNA Conference with the Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show (MANTS) in 2018. Under this new arrangement, both events will take place at the Baltimore Convention Center with The SNA Conference preceding MANTS on Monday and Tuesday, January 8-9, 2018. MANTS will take place on Wednesday, January 10 - Friday, January 12.

Transforming from a traditional trade show format, The SNA Conference will have a clear focus on connecting the industry to identify today’s business challenges and opportunities, and develop new insights and solutions. The conference will offer industry professionals a dynamic and interactive experience through The 16th Southern Plant Conference, The 62nd Annual SNA Research Conference, keynote sessions and participant-driven roundtable discussions.

In addition, SNA will be conducting annual business as well with 119th Annual SNA Business Meeting.

“There is crossover appeal for participants of both events and this collocation will bring value and potential new business opportunities for both audiences,” said Karen Summers, SNA Executive Vice President. “And, since SNA will no longer have a trade show, collocating with MANTS offers our participants the convenience of attending MANTS and also allows researchers and students participating in the SNA Research Conference to experience our industry’s largest trade show. The SNA has always supported the state associations within our region and their events, and what better way to support the state nursery and landscape associations of Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia than to bring our event to their trade show. I am excited about the possibilities, and confident this will create new synergies for everyone involved,” she added.

Dusty Knight, SNA President, said, “We are excited to start this new chapter in the SNA and look forward to exposing the conference to more people. We would like to thank MANTS for this opportunity and look forward to being in Baltimore in January.”

MANTS Executive Vice President, Vanessa Finney, added, “We welcome the addition of one of the industry’s bestknown plant and research conferences prior to MANTS as it will be a great benefit to attendees of both events.”

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1903 Forest AVE | PO BOX 428 | Grottoes, VA 24441 nursery@shreckhise.com 540-249-5761 | 800-628-5871 | fax 540-249-5762

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.com

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The Southern Plant Conference will unveil some of the hottest new plants coming to market, the best practices for growing, and offer a unique opportunity to learn from leading industry plant experts. The SNA Research Conference will offer cutting-edge content of the latest horticultural research. These top researchers, from across the country, will participate throughout the event.

Sponsorship packages will include all-access passes to The SNA Conference to allow face-to-face engagement throughout the two days of keynotes, roundtables and plant conference sessions to create meaningful business relationships without time constraints. The sponsor package will also include tabletop display space, as well as other promotion before, during and after the event. The SNA Conference will provide a platform to communicate, demonstrate, train or simply engage with customers on a personal, one-to-one level.

Founded in 1899, the Southern Nursery Association is a non-profit trade association representing the horticultural industry in the southeastern U.S. SNA provides member services to wholesale growers, brokers, retailers, landscape contractors, landscape architects, grounds maintenance contractors, interiorscapers and allied suppliers. The SNA strives to unite and advance the horticulture industry through educational, research and marketing efforts.

The Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show or MANTSŽ, widely known as The Masterpiece of Trade Shows™, was incorporated in Maryland early in 1970. The show is sponsored by the state Nursery and Landscape Associations of Maryland, Virginia, and West Virginia.

MANTS information is available at www.mants.com or by calling 410-296-6959.

More details of The SNA Conference will be released in the coming weeks. For more information, contact the Southern Nursery Association, Inc., Acworth, GA 30101, 678.809.9992, mail@sna.org , or visit the SNA website at www.sna.org

News - Scholarship Awards for 2017 Bert Shoosmith Scholarship Congratulations to Steven Barksdale, awarded $1500, Riki Farmer; awarded $1500; Jacob Wilson, awarded $1500; William Shelburne, awarded $1500 and Alexiss McKinney, awarded $750 Following are their Essays: Steven Barksdale is attending Ferrum College in Horticulture. He plans to graduate in 2020.

grown up around hard working, deserving, and resourceful people who play vital roles in our societies. From a young age, I was assisting my father on his dairy farm, working long and odd hours before and after school. Through this, I learned the value of time management and work ethic. In the following years, when I was ten years old, I began to create my own business. I was given a push mower and found myself two clients who's yards I would cut on a weekly basis.

Each year, I found my business expanding to a broader landscaping service with over forty clients between Lancaster and Northumberland Counties. Through the course of running my own business, I have not only learned time management, budgeting, and ethical skills, but I have also learned valuable people and communications skills. I have been able to create personal relationships with my clients, who not only provide me with work and opportunities, but also with connections and insights. Because I have gotten to know so many different people from all walks of life who find themselves in my rural locality, I have a greater understanding of success and what that means to different people. While my clients vary in careers, socioeconomic backgrounds, and ideas of success, they all have expressed the value and importance of a quality education.

I am currently a freshman at Ferrum College majoring in horticulture. I plan on expanding my business after school, not just with more clients, but with other services I would not be able to provide without a science background. One of the major issues I have found in the agriculture world today is the lack of sustainable practices. Throughout my career, I plan on pushing my scientific knowledge and innovation into creating sustainable services. Whether it be finding alternative solutions to fertilizers or reversing the high nitrogen amounts in soil, I hope to eventually become an environmentally sufficient business. My ultimate goal is to redefine acceptable practices in the field of landscape and agriculture and change outdates methods into forward-thinking, energy saving, sustainable services for a better, stronger, and healthier environment.

Coming from a modest, working class family, attending a private college can often be stressful on our family's wallet.

While I am appreciative of the opportunity to attend a place of higher education, it pushes me to do my best in school academically. The price tag of going to school is a constant reminder that I need to always have my priorities in line.

Receiving financial assistance would allow my family some relief, but would also push me to stay the course and not stray from my priorities and remain focused on my academics. Because I plan to ultimately change the norm of landscape and agricultural practices, I need to learn the science and chemistry behind the land and earth so I can eventually do honest and sustainable work, which could only be made possible with a college education.

Coming from Lancaster County, Virginia, a small and rural area where agriculture is such a vital key to life, I have VNLA Newsletter July/August/September 2017 16 July / August / September 2017

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VNLA Newsletter

Winner of the Photo Contest

VNLA - Photo Contest Rules The contest is open to any photographer (amateur and professional) except members of Board of Directors of VNLA and their families. Entries are limited to VNLA members and their staff.

Each photographer may enter up to three (3) digital images per Newsletter deadline (see #6). Email images to info@vnla.org .

Include your name, phone number, company, and email.

One winning entry per photographer per year. You may re-enter non-winning entries.

Please e-mail images separately. Feel free to elaborate on any story surrounding the photograph. Photos should be 300 dpi high resolution.

Butterfly & Zinnia Photo Winner: Michele Fletcher Michele Fletcher Landscape Designs Landscape Design & Horticultural Consulting Rockbridge Baths, VA 24473 540-460-6100 please text only plantlover.mf@gmail.comÂ

Win $50, submit your photos!

Good Luck and Happy Photographing!

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All photographs must be related to the Green Industry. The subject can be located in a nursery, back yard, or in a landscape--just so it is obviously related to the green industry profession.

Deadline for submission is 5:00 p.m. on the Newsletter Copy Deadline, which is the 15th of January, April, July, and October.

All submissions become the property of the VNLA. Model Release forms are required with each photograph which contains a clearly identifiable person.

Release forms are available from the VNLA office, on request, and are also available for download from the VNLA website at Model release in MS Word format or Adobe PDF format.

Judging is done by the VNLA Communication Committee.

All decisions are final

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the Eastern two thirds of the country, but it is worth growing in Virginia when good soil is available, and with some afternoon shade in summer in zones 7-8. It is stunning with a background of evergreens and in combination with other plants with winter interest, like Cornus sericea ‘Flaviramea’.

Tips - Plant profile Cerasus serrula

Latin name: Cerasus serrula (Franchet) T. T. Yü & C. L. Li (Syn. Prunus serrula) Common name: Birchbark cherry, paperbark cherry Origin: China Habit: Upright, often multi-stemmed, vase shaped.

Height & spread: Usually to about 18’x18’.

Leaves: Lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, alternate, 1.5-3” long and about 0.5” wide, with acutely serrate margins.

Fall color usually not showy.

Flowers & fruit: Flowers are smaller than in most other ornamental cherries. Born singly or in pairs and not numerous. White, appear in April-May and are about 1/2“. Small cherries may develop after flowering.

Soil and pH: Prefers a slightly acidic, humus-rich soil.

Among growers and collectors of woody plants, showy bark is now perhaps the biggest trend. Not only in winter we find excitement in the colors, textures and patterns of unusual bark, but also in the middle of summer where, in some areas, the flower display is a little calmer after the spring frenzy. It is then when one, while strolling through the landscape, turns to the newly peeling bark of some trees and shrubs.

Birchbark cherry, as its common name implies, has bark that peels off in thin papery strips, a trait common to many birches. To add to this textural effect, the bark is also of a glossy brown-red color, resembling polished mahogany: it is hard to refrain from touching it. Unlike other ornamental cherries, flowers aren’t particularly showy, but they’re not missed since its bark stands out all year long. The leaves and canopy resemble somewhat those of peach or almond, with very narrow, lanceolate leaves. It is a small-sized tree that adds interest to a patio or when it is planted so it can be seen from a window in winter.

Paperbark cherry dislikes extremes of temperature and moisture, which may explain why it is still not a frequent plant in VNLA Newsletter 18

Moisture: Even soil moisture. Dislikes waterlogging.

Light: Full sun to part shade.

Growth rate: Often slow to establish, but can have medium to fast growth later on.

Pruning: Train it to single or multi-stemmed, as desired.

Pests and diseases: Fire blight, although less susceptible than other ornamental cherries. Mites may be a problem under extended dry weather.

Seasons of interest: Most attractive in winter, but pleasant year-round.

USDA Hardiness Zone: 6 to 8 (9).

Propagation: Grafting, softwood cuttings.

Reference: Flora of China. Volume 9, page 418.

Accessed through www.efloras.org Photos and Article by Francisco Javier de la Mota Daniel, PhD candidate in Horticulture at Virginia Tech

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VNLA Newsletter

News - Virginia’s Voluntary Plan to Mitigate the Risk of Pesticides to Managed Pollinators [Certification Quiz Article] Pollinators by, Karan A. Rawlins, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org

Background In June of 2014, federal departments and agencies were tasked with taking new steps to reverse pollinator losses and help restore pollinator populations. To accomplish this effort, the Pollinator Health Task Force was created. Co-chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Task Force included representatives from a wide variety of departments and agencies that were directed to undertake agency-specific actions and to identify opportunities and initiatives to address the issue of pollinator health.

As part of this effort, the EPA was directed to engage state agencies for pesticide regulation in the development of state pollinator protection plans as a means of mitigating the risk of pesticides to honey bees and other managed pollinators. In Virginia, the state lead agency for pesticide regulation is the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (VDACS). VDACS has been engaged by EPA to develop a managed pollinator protection plan specific to Virginia.

“Virginia’s Voluntary Plan to Mitigate the Risk of Pesticides to Managed Pollinators” (Plan) is a set of voluntary recommendations and best management practices intended to increase protection of managed pollinators from pesticides while allowing effective control of pests that adversely affect crops, structures, public health, and domestic animals. Virginia’s Plan facilitates a collaborative approach to implementing risk mitigation practices for beekeepers and pesticide applicators and encourages effective communication between individuals making pesticide applications (or their designees) and those engaged in beekeeping. The Plan includes practices that mitigate potential pesticide exposure to honey bees and other managed pollinators, allowing for the effective management of pests and avoiding situations of unnecessary conflict between these parties. VDACS developed Virginia’s managed pollinator protection plan in cooperation with relevant stakeholders, including producers, commercial and private pesticide applicators, beekeepers, Virginia Cooperative Extension, Virginia Tech and industry groups.

Virginia’s Plan is one component of the Virginia Pollinator Protection Strategy (Strategy). The Strategy, which was passed by the 2016 General Assembly, directs VDACS to develop and maintain strategies which: i) promote the health of and mitigate the risks to all pollinator species and ii) ensure a robust agriculture economy and apiary industry for honey bees and other

VNLA Newsletter VNLA Newsletter

managed pollinators. It is recognized that the decline of managed pollinators is not due to one factor alone rather a number of variables including, but not limited to parasites (example: Varroa mite) and other pests, pathogens, poor nutrition, failing queens, pesticide contamination, and the narrowing genetic base of honey bees. The Strategy focuses not only on communication between beekeepers and pesticide applicators, but also supports increases in pollinator habitat as well as research, education and outreach on pollinators.

Virginia’s Voluntary Plan to Mitigate the Risk of Pesticides to Managed Pollinators Managed pollinators primarily include honey bees (Apis mellifera), but may also include other species of bees, such as alfalfa leafcutting bees (Megachile rotundata), alkali bees (Nomia melanderi), mason bees (Osmia lignaria) and some species of bumble bees (Bombus impatiens). For the purposes of Virginia’s Plan, the term “managed pollinators” refers to honey bees and includes commercial and noncommercial (sideliners and hobbyists) beekeeping operations. Commercial beekeeping refers to those operations with greater than 300 colonies; sideline beekeeping refers to operations with 50 - 300 colonies; and, hobbyist beekeeping refers to operations with 1 - 50 colonies. It is anticipated that mitigating the risk of pesticides to managed pollinators will also reduce the risk to native bees and other pollinators.

According to the Agency’s 2006 Report to the Governor and General Assembly, Study of the Plight of Virginia's Beekeepers (Senate Document No. 20), approximately 8% of beekeepers are sideline beekeepers and 90% of beekeepers in Virginia are considered hobbyist. Virginia’s Plan includes hives maintained by commercial, sideline and hobbyist beekeepers and applies to outdoor agricultural and commercial non-agricultural pesticide applications which have the potential to adversely impact managed pollinators in urban, suburban and rural areas including public health, turf and ornamental, right of way, forestry, agricultural and exterior structural pesticide applications. The Plan relies on the communication and cooperation between the pesticide applicator and the beekeeper to determine the best method of providing notification regarding planned pesticide applications which have the potential to adversely impact managed pollinators. This communication and cooperation should enable beekeepers to make informed decisions regarding the appropriate measures necessary to protect their hives.

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The Plan does not include pesticide applications where bees are the target pest, such as bees infesting a structure. In addition, the Plan does not include applications for which the potential for exposure of bees to pesticides is minimal or does not exist, (example: all indoor applications, soil injection, fumigation, as well as certain outdoor applications, such as the use of rodenticides). In addition, the Plan does not include contracted pollination services at the site of application. Contracted pollination services result in a relatively large number of bees intentionally placed in or near the crop production area that may be treated and are therefore more likely to be directly exposed to pesticides during an application. The EPA, through the federal pesticide registration process, is considering additional label restrictions on a broader range of pesticide products in an effort to protect managed bees under contracted pollination services from the potential acute hazards of insecticides. Therefore, contracted pollination services are not addressed in the Plan.

Stakeholder Participation

Virginia’s Plan is not intended to prohibit, eliminate, or further restrict the application of pesticides, but rather reduce the risk of pesticide exposure to managed pollinators when pesticides are used nearby or within their normal foraging range. In all cases, pesticide applications must be made in accordance with the pesticide label and all applicable federal and state pesticide laws and regulations. For a list of terms used in the Plan along with their definitions, please see Appendix A.

VDACS will encourage participation in Virginia’s Voluntary Plan to Mitigate the Risk of Pesticides to Managed Pollinators and utilize a variety of outreach methods to inform stakeholders and other interested parties of the Plan. Outreach methods include VDACS press releases, posting on the VDACS website, direct distribution to industry and beekeeper associations, and presentations at pesticide industry and beekeeper association meetings. In addition, VDACS will collaborate with Virginia

The input and cooperation of all stakeholders was integral to the development of Virginia’s Plan. VDACS hosted seven listening sessions at various locations throughout Virginia in an effort to obtain input from interested parties. The intent of the listening sessions was to seek input from stakeholders on the critical elements included in the Plan. In addition, a dedicated email account was established for receiving stakeholder comments regarding the elements of the Plan. Approximately 450 agricultural producers, beekeepers, private and commercial pesticide applicators, landowners, researchers, and Virginia Cooperative Extension agents participated in these listening sessions. In addition to the verbal comments received during the listening sessions, 169 written comments were also received.

Plan Implementation

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Cooperative Extension in an effort to include information regarding the Plan in certification and recertification courses for pesticide applicators and other meetings (example: field days).

Other outreach activities will include training in the use of the online communication tool and development of audience appropriate fact sheets, information pages, and brochures for homeowners and other interested parties.

A. Communicating the Location of Hives - Beekeepers should provide agricultural and commercial non-agricultural pesticide applicators and agricultural producers with information regarding the location of hives so that notification of upcoming pesticide applications can be made. When communicating with pesticide applicators regarding the location of hives, beekeepers are encouraged to:

Communication and Coordination Between Beekeepers and Pesticide Applicators

1. Provide complete contact information, including the preferred method of communication.

2. Provide the number and specific location of all hives.

3. Provide timely updates regarding new hive locations, including hives that have been moved or those locations that are no longer being used.

B. Communicating Upcoming Pesticide Application - There are many factors that may impact the ability of a pesticide applicator to provide advance notification of pesticide applications. When feasible, agricultural and commercial non-agricultural pesticide applicators should provide beekeepers with advance notice of applications which have the potential to adversely impact managed pollinators in urban, suburban and rural areas. When communicating with beekeepers regarding an upcoming pesticide application, pesticide applicators are encouraged to:

A key component of the Plan is timely and voluntary communication and coordination among key stakeholders, including beekeepers and agricultural and commercial non-agricultural pesticide applicators.

Ad - Tankard Nurseries Pesticide applicators need accurate and timely information on the location of nearby hives if they are to communicate with beekeepers regarding pesticide applications. Similarly, beekeepers need accurate information regarding the application of pesticides that have the potential to adversely impact a colony(s) in order to determine measures, they will take to protect their hives.

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1. Provide advance notification of pesticide applications to beekeepers as soon as possible in order for beekeepers to take actions to protect their hives.

2. Provide complete contact information including the preferred method of communication.

3. Provide information regarding the pesticide being applied including the product name, EPA Registration Number and planned time of application.

The EPA Registration Number serves as a unique identifier for the product applied. Information regarding those pesticides which are registered in Virginia can be found at http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pesticide-product-registration.shtml .

There is more than one method by which beekeepers and pesticide applicators can communicate.

For example, a visible marker such as a flag, could be used to identify the location of hives. Another option may include meeting the beekeepers or pesticide applicators in your area and exchanging information. The beekeeper and pesticide applicator together should determine the best method of communication.

To facilitate and encourage the voluntary exchange of information, an online technology based communication tool will be made available by VDACS to all stakeholders. The online communication tool will allow beekeepers to indicate the location of their beehives and provide the contact information which is needed by the agricultural and commercial non-agricultural pesticide applicator when informing the beekeeper of an anticipated pesticide application. It will also allow the opportunity for agricultural producers to record the location and type of crops in production and provide the contact information needed by the beekeeper when determining the potential location for an apiary. The online communication tool will be administered by VDACS staff, with access to the information limited to registered users. Registered users include those beekeepers, pesticide applicators and agricultural producers who elect to use the online communication tool. In addition, an annual renewal by users will be required to ensure the most accurate information is available for registered users.

Guidelines for Protecting Pollinators In addition to communication and coordination between beekeepers and pesticide applicators, Virginia’s Plan also provides general guidelines that can be implemented by beekeepers, pesticide applicators, agricultural producers, and landowners with the goal of reducing the potential for pesticide exposure to managed bees that are adjacent to or near a pesticide treatment site, as bees may be exposed to pesticides when foraging in the treatment site, flying through treatment sites to nearby foraging areas or via drift. The general guidelines for protecting pollinators for beekeepers, pesticide applicators, agricultural producers, and landowners are included in Appendix B.

VNLA Newsletter 22

Best Management Practices More specific Best Management Practices (BMP) for beekeepers and pesticide applicators were developed by the respective stakeholder groups and are available on the VDACS website at http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/plant-industry-services-pollinator-protection-plan.shtml.

Periodic Review Virginia’s Voluntary Plan to Mitigate the Risk of Pesticides to Managed Pollinators will undergo annual agency review.

VDACS will seek stakeholder input as needed to ensure the Plan remains relevant and meets the unique needs of Virginia’s agricultural producers, landowners, pesticide applicators, beekeepers, and others using managed pollinators.

Measuring Effectiveness of the Plan The effectiveness of the Plan will be measured utilizing various survey instruments and include the following metrics: 1. Awareness of the Plan by agricultural producers, landowners, pesticide applicators, and beekeepers; 2. Number of registered users of the online communication tool; 3. Number of beekeepers that were contacted by agricultural producers, landowners, and pesticide applicators prior to the application of pesticides; 4. Number of agricultural producers, pesticide applicators and landowners who have adopted or implemented one or more of the Plan’s Guidelines for Protecting Pollinators or Best Management Practices; 5. Number of beekeepers who have adopted or implemented the Plan’s Guidelines for Protecting Pollinators or Best Management Practices; 6. The number and types (agricultural or non-agricultural) of cases in which an enforcement action was taken for use of pesticide in a manner inconsistent with specific pollinator protection label language; and 7. Number of VDACS pollinator protection webpage and BMP page views.

Agency Contact Information Should you have any questions or need additional information, please contact: Keith Tignor, State Apiarist Office of Plant Industry Services keith.tignor@vdacs.virginia.gov 804-786-3515 Liza Fleeson Trossbach, Program Manager Office of Pesticide Services liza.fleeson@vdacs.virginia.gov 804-371-6559 Select Resources United State Environmental Protection Agency - Protecting Bees and Other Pollinators from Pesticides http://www2.epa.gov/pollinator-protection VDACS Office of Pesticide Services http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pesticides.shtml

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VDACS Office of Plant Industry Services http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/plant-and-pest.shtml

Commercial Pesticide Applicator - person certified to apply pesticides

Best Management Practices can be found on the VDACS website at: http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/plant-industry-services-pollinator-protection-plan.shtml

For Hire - person employed by a licensed pesticide business to make applications on others' property in exchange for compensation; includes both agricultural and nonagricultural applications

APPENDIX A Definitions Adverse Impact - impacts that significantly affect the health or survival of honey bee colonies or foraging bee populations Agricultural Producer - person who produces an agricultural commodity including any plant or part thereof, animal, or animal product primarily for sale, consumption, propagation, or other use by man or animals Best Management Practices - methods or techniques found to be the most effective and practical means in achieving an objective Pesticide Applicator - any person who applies pesticides including: Private Pesticide Applicator - person engaged in the production of an agricultural commodity that is certified to apply restricted use pesticides on their own land or that of their employer

Not for Hire - person who uses any pesticides as part of job duties, on property owned or leased by them or their employers including government employees Responsible Party - person (agricultural producer, landowner or pesticide applicator) responsible for providing advance notice of a planned pesticide application to beekeeper

APPENDIX B

Guidelines for Protecting Pollinators A. Beekeepers  Inform neighbors who may be applying pesticides within one mile of hive location(s). In urban/suburban settings, inform property owners abutting the site of the hive.  Ensure bee health by practicing proper hive management.

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   

Establish apiaries in areas where there is a reduced risk of potential pesticide exposure to managed pollinators.

Relocate bees when a pesticide application is scheduled. If unable to move bees, cover or restrict the flight of bees to prevent exposure to the pesticide.

Provide a visual indicator at the hive location.

Increase the availability of bee forage at your apiary site.

B. Pesticide Applicators  Read and follow all pesticide label directions including environmental hazards and precautionary statements. The EPA is now requiring a “Protection of Pollinators” advisory box on certain pesticide labels. Look for the bee hazard icon for instructions and restrictions that protect bees and other insect pollinators.  Ask agricultural producers/landowners/homeowners/occupants if they are aware of any hives in their neighborhood or in the surrounding area.  Provide notification of pesticide applications to known beekeepers as soon as possible after the decision has been made to apply a pesticide in order for beekeepers to take actions to protect hives.  Notifying beekeepers does not exempt applicators from complying with pesticide label restrictions.

Many insecticide labels prohibit their use if pollinators (bees) are present in the treatment area.  When possible, use selective pesticides that have minimal impact on non-target species as this protects pollinators and conserves natural enemies of target species. Select pesticides with the shortest residual effect if these pesticides will result in reduced exposure. Note: Pesticide with a short residual may require multiple applications and can therefore increase the potential for exposure. A list of pesticides and their toxicity to bees is available on the VDACS website at http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/plant-industryservices-pollinator-protection-plan.shtml.  When possible, avoid dusts and wettable powder insecticide formulations as they can leave a powdery residue that sticks to hairs on bees. In addition, ultralow volume formulations pose an increased risk for off target movement. Granular and liquid formulations reduce the risk to pollinators since granules are not typically picked up by bees and liquids dry onto plant surfaces.  When possible, apply pesticides when bees are less likely to be foraging, preferably in the late afternoon and into the evening.

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 

When possible, postpone pesticide applications when the wind is blowing toward bee hives or off-site pollinator habitats.

Be alert for visual indicators (example: flags) that indicate the presence of a hive in close proximity to application sites.

C. Agricultural Producers  Implement Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices. Utilize economic thresholds and IPM to determine if insecticides are required to manage pests.

When insecticides are required and the potential for impact on managed pollinators exists, select insecticides with low toxicity to bees, short residual toxicity, or repellent properties towards bees when possible.

Note: Pesticides with a short residual may result in multiple applications and can therefore increase potential for exposure. A list of pesticides is available on the VDACS website at http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/plant-industry-services-pollinatorprotection-plan.shtml.  If renting land for agricultural production, the renter should discuss with the landowner, the hive location(s) and specific time period which the hives will be on the property.  Provide information to commercial pesticide applicators regarding known beekeepers and the location of apiaries in the surrounding area.  When possible, utilize alternatives to talc/graphite if alternatives will result in a reduction in exposure to bees by insecticides used to treat seeds.  Discuss and designate who is responsible (agricultural producer, landowner, or pesticide applicator) for notifying the beekeeper regarding anticipated pesticide applications.  Communicate with beekeepers regarding potential locations for placing bees, including providing contact information, the acreage and type of crop produced.

Provide timely updates regarding the acreage and crop information as appropriate.

D. Landowners/Homeowners  If renting your property to others, landowners should discuss bee issues with renters such as specific location and time period which hives will be on the property.  Provide information to renters and commercial pesticide applicators regarding known beekeepers and the location of apiaries in the surrounding area.

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services

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VNLA - Certification Quiz # 81 If you are a Virginia Certified Horticulturist, answer the following questions from the previous article, mark your answers on the card insert and mail, scan or fax back to the VNLA office towards your recertification CEU’s for your Virginia Certified Horticulturist.

Virginia’s Voluntary Plan to Mitigate the Risk of Pesticides to Managed Pollinators 1. Virginia’s plan to mitigate the risk of pesticides to managed pollinators is voluntary. a. True b. False 2. The state lead agency for pesticide regulation is a. DEQ b. VDACS c. EPA 3. A person who uses any pesticides as part of job duties, on property owned or leased by them, or their employers, including government employees is considered “For Hire”. a. True b. False 4. Beekeepers should: a. Inform neighbors who may be applying pesticides within one mile of hive location(s) b. Ensure bee health by practicing proper hive management c. Provide a visual indicator at the hive location d. All of the above.

5. Granular and liquid pesticide formulations used on plants are better than dusts and wettable powder formulations. a. True b. False 6. Bees are most likely to be foraging in the late afternoon and into the evening. a. True b. False VNLA Newsletter VNLA Newsletter

7. Pesticides with a short residual may result in multiple applications and can, therefore, increase potential for exposure to bees. a. True b. False 8. Decline of managed pollinators is due to: a. Parasites (example: Varroa mite) and other pests b. Pathogens c. Poor nutrition d. Failing queens e. Pesticide contamination f. All of the above 9. For the purposes of Virginia’s Plan, the term managed pollinators” does not include honey bees. a. True b. False 10. Commercial beekeeping refers to those operations a. with greater than 300 colonies b. 50-300 colonies c. 1-50 colonies 11. The percentage of beekeepers in Virginia who are considered hobbyist is a. 33% b. 60% c. 76% d. 90% 12. Contracted pollination services are not addressed in the Virginia Plan. a. True b. False 13. Virginia’s Plan is not intended to prohibit, eliminate, or further restrict the application of pesticides, but rather reduce the risk of pesticide exposure to managed pollinators when pesticides are used nearby or within their normal foraging range. a. True b. False 14. A key component of the Plan is timely and voluntary communication and coordination among key stakeholders, including beekeepers and agricultural and commercial non-agricultural pesticide applicators. a. True b. False 15. The Plan does not apply to commercial applicators in residential areas. a. True b. False

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[Shoosmith Scholarship Recipients continued] Riki Farmer is attending Virginia Tech in Landscape and Turf Management, and plans to graduate in 2018 I am currently in the Agricultural Technology Program at Virginia Tech studying Landscape and Turf Management. The Agricultural Technology Program provides two years of education leading to an associate of agriculture degree. After I graduate in 2018, I hope to find a career in the landscaping field. Within ten years of finishing school, I would like to own a landscaping business. If I cannot achieve this goal, I would like to be a groundskeeper at a large estate, like the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina.

A year ago, I graduated from Carroll County High School as an honors student with an advanced diploma. I was in the National Honor Society, FFA, and many other clubs. During high school, I attended many horticulture and agriculture based classes. During this time, I was inspired to continue my education and pursue a future career in horticulture. I choose to follow landscaping because of my love for plants and working outdoors.

This VNLA scholarship is important to me because I would benefit from it greatly. I have a few sources of financial support for my college education. I have received two small scholarships since I have started here at Virginia Tech. A large amount of my financial help comes from federal loans.

Receiving a scholarship of any size would be greatly appreciated by my family and me.

In addition to paying for college, my family also supports my medical expenses. When I was a year old, I was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. Since then, my family and I have done a great amount of traveling for doctor visits. Any amount of help will be greatly appreciated.

Jacob Wilson attends Ferrum College in Agriculture and Animal Sciences and plans to graduate in 2021 I was born and raised in rural Halifax County, Virginia. Around sixth grade I was inspired by my first Agriculture teacher to start raising rabbits, and to plant a small vegetable garden at home. That was when I began to fall in love with agriculture.

In all aspects of agriculture, building relationships within the community is essential. Very early on I began to see how important agriculture is to daily life. I've been able to build relationships with my neighbors by sharing vegetables VNLA Newsletter 26

grown in my garden, and I've been able to help educate children in my community on how to raise and take care of rabbits.

In researching about Mr. Albert James (Bert) Shoosmith, I was surprised to see how we share some things in common.

Like myself, Mr. Shoosmith started working in his garden at an early age and sold vegetables to his neighbors. I can personally identify with his love for horticulture, which is the main reason the VNLA Scholarship is important to me. This scholarship represents a history and continual legacy of helping the next generation of leaders in horticulture and agricultural sciences.

I come from a long family history of farmers. My mother told me the story passed along to her about her great--grandparents who were sharecroppers in this area. Essentially, they did not have the financial means to own and operate their own farm. Therefore, they assisted another man and his family with running and maintaining their farm and crops.

In return, they could live in a house on the property, and they received a portion of the crops and/or money from selling the crops at market. It was not an ideal situation. However, it was during these difficult times where they learned how to work together as a family, and how to build strong meaningful relationships with others in their community.

My immediate family has had their own situations of financial adversity where we had to pull together and work through difficult times. When my mom was diagnosed with Lupus, at one point she was so ill she couldn't work as a nurse. She was often hospitalized, and we pulled together as a family making the best of a challenging situation. I learned how to be resourceful by increasing the size of our vegetable garden to grow more produce. This helped us save money on our grocery bill by growing our own vegetables and not having to purchase them at the supermarket.

My goal is to one day become a leader in the field of agriculture. Ideally, I would hope to stay in Virginia and become a local extension agent. This would allow me to build relationships with local farmers, and help leave a sustainable legacy for the next generation of agriculture leaders in our state. All but $7,050 has been covered for my first year at Ferrum College, therefore should I receive this scholarship it would be put towards this remaining balance.

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William Shelburne attends Virginia Tech in Landscape Contracting and plans to graduate in 2019 "Ah! How often when I have been abroad on the mountains has my heart risen in grateful praise to God that it was not my destiny to waste and pine among those noisome congregations of the city." - John James Audubon

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The Blue Ridge Mountains are majestic and perhaps they are what inspired me to pursue this career. The mountains paint a picture, that as growers and landscape designers we try to replicate, for our clients to see beauty in their rugged perfection.

This is the place I have called home for my entire life and it is my desire for it to remain my home. Being the son of a carpenter, I gained an appreciation for aesthetic beauty and man's manipulation of natural materials in the pursuit of this beauty. I never saw myself building houses though, so I pursued my passion of cultivating and designing the landscape. Both my father and my mother worked hard to ensure my brother and I would have a good life with a roof over our heads and an education, but as a family we were not immune to hardships. As we hit the recession of 2007 and the construction industry took a hit, so did our family's main source of income. Though the economy improved, recovery was slow, and my parents were not in a position to assist me with the cost of my tuition. Nevertheless, I applied to attend Virginia Tech for Landscape Contracting.

Upon my acceptance to Virginia Tech's Horticulture Program, I made it my resolution that I would graduate with little to no college debt. I have witnessed first-hand the debilitating effects of a debt laden society upon economic down turn and I would prefer to live with a financial freedom that will allow me to focus on my passion without the overarching hand of student debt. The road to this goal has been difficult. Still in a state of SiteLight .5 pg bw 3ads 10-04.qxd

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recovery, my father's business has not allowed him the financial capabilities to assist me in paying for my education. The Bert Shoosmith Scholarship would be the financial freedom I need, to devote more of my time and focus toward school and ultimately it would allow me to accomplish my goal. It has been through the support of the industry and scholarships such

Alexiss McKinney - Shoosmith Scholarship Recipient, is attending JS Reynolds Community College.

My family has endured many hardships and obstacles in the two generations it has established in the United States. From their first moments in this country to present day we have proven that with perseverance, hard work and passion, success will follow.

Although my family is small the importance of education, possessing a strong work ethic and the ability to lead are morals that have been instilled into us and will continue into future generations. My tiny outspoken, Scottish great grandmother immigrated to Nova Scotia with nothing but the clothes on her back. Agnes eventually brought her children to Detroit for better opportunities. She had always brought the Old Country with her as it was obvious in her attitude Page with 1gardening and cooking. She kept a very elegant garden

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in which she grew not just aromatic flowers but flavorful food too. To paint a picture of how deep and strong our roots remain, my grandma, Mavis, has a garden twice as big as her mother's, and my mother has a garden three times the size as her mother. I am not quite suited yet but I will have my own small scale sustainable garden in the future to provide fresh food to the community. Ultimately, I would love to open my farm to the public and provide educational experiences such as workshops on sustainable gardening practices and field trips for local schools. It would then give the community the knowledge to grow their own food; in tum, we could all help stock local food banks in need. I want to be able to bring nutritious and delicious food to folks that may not have the resources or the opportunities. The importance of Mother Nature was infused within my soul as a young child. I was taught that we need to be kind to her, meaning every creation from the tiniest of beetles to the colossal red sequoias to your everyday fellow human. We must all grow, learn, heal and create with and from each other.

I took a chance and followed in my great grandmother's memorial footsteps and moved away from my family on a quest for better opportunities. I moved to Richmond in the spring of 2015 from Detroit and since I have arrived, I have had the honor to work with some extraordinary people and acquire many new skills. I am extremely grateful for these learning

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experiences and one day it would be a privilege to be able to give to others the way others have given to me. As I mentioned before, I do not come from a family of wealth but we are rich in our desires and successes. I am proud to be from a family who despite the struggles, overcomes and flourishes.

The Virginia Nursery & Landscape Association Scholarship will help me accomplish passing these ideas and principles down to generations to come. I know that those on the committee understand the value, importance, and educational advantages an authentic landscape provides.

A.S. Gresham Jr. & David E. Laird Sr. Memorial Scholarships Again, Congratulations to William Shelburne, also awarded the $1,500 AS Gresham Jr Memorial Scholarship; and Justice Schlemmer, awarded the $1,500 David E Laird Sr Memorial Scholarship. These 2 scholarship recipients are selected by the Virginia Tech Horticulture Department.

Justice Schlemmer expects to graduate from Virginia Tech with a Landscape Contracting Major in May of 2018.This summer he has been an intern at Ruppert Landscape. Previous summers, he has worked at the Virginia Tech Urban Horticulture Center, Chiles Enterprises, Southwestern Lawn and Landscaping, and Harlowe Land Management. He is a member of Pi Alpha Xi, the Honor Society for Ornamental Horticulture In 2016, he competed in the National Collegiate Landscape Competition and won First Place in Hardscape Installation, and again in 2017 where ie was First Place in Construction Cost Estimating and Fourth Place Superstar.

Fall ColorBook out now. Pick up your copy at the Plant Center.

“My work experience has played an important role in my college education as it has allowed me to put what I have learned in the classroom into practice in the field. Being able to do this reinforces what I have learned. I’ve also learned some hands-on skills that aren’t taught in the classroom. I’ve been able to learn how to operate machinery on the jobsite safely and perform these tasks well. All in all, my work experience has been a fantastic supplement to my education at Virginia Tech.”

Edited by Sandy Miller

5800 Knotts Neck Rd, Suffolk, VA 23435 (757) 484-4421 | www.lancasterfarms.com

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News - Economic Impact of Virginia’s Ag STUDY HIGHLIGHTS Agriculture and Forestry The total economic impact of agriculture and forestry-related industries in Virginia was over $91 billion in total industry output in 2015, the base year used for this study. The total employment impact was 442,260 employees, representing 8.7 percent of total state employment. The total value-added impact was $45.5 billion, which made up 9.5 percent of state gross domestic product.

Every job created in agriculture and forestry-related industries results in another 1.7 jobs in the Virginia economy. Every dollar generated in value-added results in another $1.15 valueadded in the Virginia economy.

The impacts of agriculture and forestry-related industries are felt throughout Virginia’s economy. The largest effects are in the directly affected agriculture, forestry, and manufacturing industries. However, agriculture and forestry stimulate activity elsewhere in the economy through the effects of industry purchases and subsequent rounds of indirect and induced spending. Through these cumulative effects, agriculture and forestryrelated industries affect every sector.

and water environmental services provided by farmland and forestland likely amounts to at least several billion dollars each year.

Agriculture - The total impact of agriculture-related industries was approximately $70 billion in total industry output, 334,300 jobs, and $36.2 billion in value-added.

Forestry - The forestry sector had a total impact of over $21 billion in total industry output, approximately Terance J Rephann, Ph.D., May 2017, Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, University of Virginia

News - Amendments to ‘Farm Use’ Laws Took Effect July 1 Changes to existing laws regulating unlicensed farm vehicles on Virginia’s highways went into effect July 1.

Virginia lawmakers created what’s called the “farm use” designation for farmers who use unlicensed vehicles for specific purposes such as planting and harvesting crops and transporting farm products to market. Most farmers show the designation by using a special farm use placard on their vehicles.

Andrew Smith, senior assistant director of governmental relations for Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, emphasized how important it is for valid users of farm use tags to understand two changes in the laws this year so they can be in compliance.

Every Virginia locality is touched by agriculture and forestry industries. Total employment impacts exceeded 1,000 jobs for sixty-two localities. Agricultural economic impacts were geographically diffuse. The largest clusters of agricultural-related industry employment impact were located in the Shenandoah Valley, Northern Virginia, and Central Virginia. The largest forestry-related economic impacts tended to be somewhat more geographically concentrated in the Southside region and communities with pulp and paper mills such as Alleghany County and Covington City.

“One amendment allows farm use vehicles to go a little farther, a distance of up to 75 miles. Previously, the law allowed travel up to 50 miles,” Smith explained.

The total economic impact of agriculture and forestry-related industry exports is approximately 47,000 jobs, $4.6 billion in value-added, and nearly $9 billion in total output. One in nine Virginia farm jobs can be attributed to these international exports.

The other law that will take effect in July stiffens penalties in an attempt to reduce abuse of current farm use policies and guidelines.

Results drawn from other recent studies indicate that Virginia agritourism and forest recreation are important components of the state’s tourism spending and economic impact, accounting for millions of visitors and billions of dollars of tourism-related spending and economic impact each year.

Agriculture and forestry landscapes provide substantial environmental and other societal benefits. Forests improve air and water quality, mitigate flood vulnerability, provide wildlife habitat, and aid biodiversity. Rural landscapes provide scenic amenities that contribute to the quality of life. The value of air

VNLA Newsletter VNLA Newsletter

In addition, the updated law now requires operators to be prepared to supply the location of their farm or farms to law enforcement officials. Any officer may request the address of the lands used by a vehicle’s owner for agricultural purposes or, if the address is not known, the real property parcel identification number of the land.

“The General Assembly changed the penalty structure for second and subsequent offenses to a rigid $250 fine,” Smith said.

As before, the law allows for a fine of up to $250 for a first offense. The change requires that the second or subsequent violation be punishable by a $250 fine.

Farm Bureau offers its members resources to clarify what qualifies as a farm use vehicle, as well as a form to make it easy to keep a list of farm locations in a vehicle. These resources can be found at https://www.vafb.com/membership-at-work/farmers-in-action/legislative/resources JUNE 29, 2017 / VIRGINIA FARM BUREAU PLOWS AND POLITICS, Andrew Smith, Sr. Assistant Director

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News - How Green are Urban Trees?

WASHINGTON, DC and COLUMBUS, OH—June 7, 2017— How green are urban trees? A group of researchers from the University of Illinois, University of Florida, and University of Kentucky, posed that very question.

A great deal of research illustrates how trees benefit urban environments, such as filtering particulate matter, lowering urban heat island effects, and storm water mitigation. One more attribute to consider is a tree’s ability to sequester carbon over its lifespan.

Trees are natural contenders to sequester carbon in efforts to mitigate climate change. In this process, trees (and other plants) absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through photosynthesis and then store it as carbon in biomass, either in plant material or soils. This is a good thing!

turns out, is not so simple. Certain practices, especially pruning, during the tree’s lifespan have a great impact on how quickly a tree becomes carbon neutral. Dr. Ingram’s team conducted a series of surveys of urban forestry programs in the Chicago metro area to gauge the scope of urban tree maintenance. Based on the 48 respondents, the information gained was factored into a model to estimate at what point an average urban tree reaches carbon neutrality.

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However, carbon is released into the atmosphere during production and maintenance practices, such as planting, pruning, irrigation, and even removal upon tree death. Pruning styles and frequency, for example, have a great impact on carbon emissions. Common sense says that manual pruning reduces carbon emissions (over using a chainsaw), but even the accessories used affect the amount of carbon released. A bucket truck emits more carbon than an aerial lift or a tree climbing rope system.

Researchers led by Dr. Dewayne Ingram, University of Kentucky, set out to determine at what point urban trees sequester as much carbon as is emitted during maintenance practices over their lifespan. Another way to phrase this is: at what point do urban trees become carbon neutral?

“Our research shows the importance of selecting good quality trees that are suited for the planting site and doing what we can to enhance their longevity.

Failed plantings and premature tree death can end up causing environmental disservice,“ says Dr. Andrew Koeser, University of Florida.

After accounting for many possible maintenance factors, the answer, as it VNLA Newsletter 30

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Before the models were run, researchers standardized a few, key variables. First of all, red maple, Acer rubrum, was chosen as the model tree, and the target tree size was set at 2 2.9” caliper at the time of purchase. Information on the tree’s carbon balance when it leaves the nursery was generated from previous research, and this value, 8,213 kg, was the starting point for calculations.

Additional carbon emissions were based on four possible scenarios: highly mechanized, moderately mechanized, slightly mechanized, and the ideal scenario, which relies on manual labor whenever possible. Two urban site types were defined as likely to impact tree growth differently, residential and commercial-industrial. Residential trees live longer, on average, than trees in commercial-industrial settings. The model estimated the carbon balance for red maple trees over their lifespan maintained under each scenario in both the residential and commercial-industrial sites.

Average lifespan of red maple:  

Residential = 48 years Commercial-Industrial = 30 years

chippers, were not included in this study. However, emissions associated with tree stabilization, such as T-posts and wire, and tree bags for watering were included.

This study illustrates that using less mechanized planting, pruning, and removal processes, carbon emissions can be reduced significantly on a single tree.

Residential    

Commercial-Industrial   

Emissions associated with the manufacture of planting and maintenance equipment, such as chainsaws, trucks, and

Highly mechanized = 2919 kg Moderately mechanized = 1725 kg (reduces emissions by 1194) Slightly mechanized = 1693 kg (reduces emissions by 1226) Ideal = 1340 kg (reduces emissions by 1579)



Highly mechanized = 2127 kg Moderately mechanized = 1296 kg (reduces emissions by 831) Slightly mechanized = 1264 kg (reduces emissions by 863) Ideal = 1034 kg (reduces emissions by 1093)

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VNLA Newsletter VNLA Newsletter

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Urban red maple trees reach carbon neutrality in commercial-industrial sites faster than in residential sites, due to their shorter lifespan and therefore, less pruning requirements.

Residential    

Highly mechanized = 33 years old Moderately mechanized = 26 years Slightly mechanized = 26 years old Ideal = 26 years old

Commercial-Industrial    

News - DHS Allows Modest 'One Time' H-2B Relief, with Strings Attached On July 19, 2017, the Departments of Homeland Security and Labor published a final rule increasing the numerical limit (“cap”) on H-2B nonimmigrant visas by up to 15,000 additional visas through the end of fiscal year 2017. These visas will be available only to American businesses that attest they will likely suffer irreparable harm without the ability to employ all the H-2B workers requested in their petition.

Highly mechanized = 30 years old Moderately mechanized = 24 years Slightly mechanized = 24 years old Ideal = 24 years old

All surviving urban red maples are expected to achieve carbon neutrality over the functional life, regardless if they are located in a residential or commercial-industrial site. However, additional carbon sequestration benefits can be realized if modifications are made to planting and maintenance practices.

The Horticultural Research Institute, the foundation of AmericanHort, provided funding for this research.

For more information, please see the full journal article on the newly launched Journal of Environmental Horticulture website: 2016. Petri, A.C., A.K. Koeser, S.T. Lovell, and D. Ingram.

How green are trees? - Using life cycle assessment methods to assess new environmental benefits. Journal of Environmental Horticulture. 34(1):101-110.

Contact: Jennifer Gray, Research Programs Administrator, jenniferg@americanhort.org or 614.884.1155

News – Pollinator Habitat Video Hi, just wanted to let you all know that we released a new pollinator habitat video. We’d appreciate if you could please share this with list-serves, on a web site or Facebook page, and other contacts to help build public awareness. https://youtu.be/xvLxhOseOU4 Carol A. Heiser, Education Section Manager Habitat Education Coordinator Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Henrico, VA 23228 Ph 804-367-6989 Fax 804-367-0262

Carol.Heiser@dgif.virginia.gov www.dgif.virginia.gov/wildlife/habitat

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Though it is limited and late, AmericanHort welcomes the relief and expresses some concern that the “irreparable harm” language may cause confusion or worse. Further, the rule describes this as a “one time” action. The landscape industry is the single-biggest user of H-2B visas, and thousands of American jobs for managers, designers, salespeople, and others in the sector are put in jeopardy if employers are unable to meet high-season production labor needs.

Looking ahead, the troubling challenge is fiscal year 2018 which starts October 1. During House Appropriations Committee consideration of the funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, Representative Andy Harris moved to offer a version of the “returning worker” amendment. However, he ultimately withdrew it after it was said to receive a surprising $30 million “score” of the cost of the amendment by the Congressional Budget Office and procedural resistance. There is evidence that the Administration - most likely the Department of Homeland Security - opposed inclusion of the language. Harris has vowed to work to add some version of the returning worker provision as the process moves forward. Stay tuned.

Craig Regelbrugge, AmericanHort

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News - Some Positive News from the Appropriations Process Three items of very good news have emerged from the House Appropriations Committee over the past several days.

First, the Committee acted to increase funding for the Agricultural Research Service’s (ARS) Floriculture and Nursery Research Initiative (FNRI) by $500,000! You may recall that the Trump Administration proposed to eliminate the program. FNRI is a unique research partnership involving ARS, university scientists, and industry, represented

by AmericanHort and the Society of American Florists. It currently provides about $4.6 million in funds annually for research benefiting horticulture. Next year will be the FNRI’s 20th birthday.

Secondly, also during consideration of the agriculture spending bill, Representative Dan Newhouse (R-WA) offered an amendment that would allow agricultural employers to utilize Section 514 housing for both domestic and H-2A workers where the units are currently unoccupied. Section 514 provides loans to producers to buy, build, or improve housing for farm workers, however, those admitted through H-2A are currently ineligible.

Finally, during consideration of the Homeland Security funding bill, Representative Newhouse offered an amendment that would allow agricultural operations to hire workers through the H-2A program even if the work is not “temporary or seasonal” as the law currently requires. While H-2A is widely considered to be a flawed program, it is the legal labor safety net available to agriculture.

Year-round positions in dairies, mushroom farms, nurseries, and greenhouses have not been able to be filled by H-2A workers, which is something the amendment seeks to address. It was adopted by voice vote.

Whether and when these helpful amendments become law depends on how Congress ultimately acts to fund the government for the new fiscal year that starts October 1. If each spending bill is rolled into an omnibus package, these amendments could survive through the process. However, if the government is funded through a “continuing resolution” that keeps funding at current levels, these helpful improvements would be deferred at best.

Craig Regelbrugge, AmericanHort

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News - A Note of Caution on Milkweeds and Systemic Insecticides There’s a chain email making its way around the country. It’s being forwarded by garden enthusiasts up in arms over the allegation that Home Depot is selling Asclepias spp., milkweeds, bearing a label indicating that the plants have been treated with a neonicotinoid. Yikes! Leaf-feeding caterpillars and systemic insecticides probably aren’t going to get along very well.

Of course, many milkweed species attract an array of pollinators and other beneficials and some are obligate hosts for the iconic monarch butterfly caterpillar. The migratory monarch faces habitat loss where it overwinters in MexRob Routledge, Sault College, ico and is the focus of a masBugwood.org sive restoration effort across North America. In this instance, our industry can be part of the problem or part of the solution.

I asked our pollinator task force members and our own in-house scientist Dr. Jill Calabro for perspective. They suspect one of two things is going on.

On one hand, the plants perhaps were treated with a neonicotinoid as labeled. This could be a problem for leaf-eating caterpillars and perhaps other pollinators and beneficials depending on treatment details and possible insecticide residues. It’s also a public relations black eye for the industry.

Or maybe the plants were NOT treated at all, but an overly cautious grower inserted the standard Home Depot label anyway.

If this is the case, pollinators won’t be harmed, but our industry still gets the black eye, and activist groups pushing for outright pesticide bans have fresh ammunition.

Regardless, we know that many Asclepias varieties are susceptible to aphid infestations. Though effective, neonicotinoids should not be used here. Alternatives include horticultural oils, pyrethroids, pymetrozine (Endeavor), and several biological controls. As always, check labels before making applications.

Thrips, on the other hand, have fewer alternatives, including a predatory mite and planting Asclepias varieties that are resistant to thrips. Dr. Dan Potter, University of Kentucky, is evaluating thrips resistance in Asclepias varieties (research partially funded by our Horticultural Research Institute). One final thrips control strategy is to simply move the plants outside as soon as the frost-free date has arrived - thrips typically become a non-issue in the field.

It’s important for the industry to have tools in the toolkit to effectively manage invasive pests. Equally important that we use them wisely. Under Jill’s guidance, our Horticultural Research Institute recently published a set of best management

VNLA Newsletter 34

practices for protecting bee pollinators. The BMPs will be refined and expanded as research results come in.

Please be aware that the BMPs focus on flowering plants and bee pollinators. Leaf-feeding larvae merit special consideration, too - especially for plants we explicitly grow to attract and sustain butterflies. Let’s be part of the solution!

Craig Regelbrugge, AmericanHort

News - Genetically Engineered Petunia Update The regulatory and industry response continues in the wake of the recent discovery that petunia varieties meeting the technical definition of “genetically engineered” (GE) have been commercialized and sold in European and North American markets without required government authorization.

Immediately after the first breeders and distributors of the implicated varieties notified the USDA’s Biotechnology Regulatory Services (BRS), the companies, along with the American Seed Trade Association and AmericanHort, began to discuss response options. In the U.S., it is illegal to sell a plant that falls within the scope of USDA’s regulations without first petitioning BRS, which then reviews the petition and underlying scientific approach, before issuing a regulatory determination. To date, BRS has deregulated about 126 GE plants, mostly agronomic crops (but not petunias).

BRS has stated there is no reason to believe that the implicated petunia varieties pose any threat to the environment or human34 health. However, under BRS regulations, these unauthorized regulated articles may not be imported or sold.

BRS has so far relied on the industry to voluntarily cease sale and distribution of confirmed GE petunia varieties. The affected breeders and distributors, in collaboration with AmericanHort and ASTA, have moved swiftly to notify customers down the supply chain. BRS continues to revise “disposition guidance” specifying confirmed and suspected petunia varieties as well as acceptable disposal methods. The latest guidance can be found on the BRS website.

Confirmation testing continues. With horticulture industry support, BRS has developed laboratory testing guidance for breeders who wish to voluntarily test their own varieties. The laboratory guidance is available on request from BRS or from AmericanHort (Craig Regelbrugge, or Jill Calabro).

As for the future, the list of implicated varieties will likely expand. Petunias as a horticultural crop are estimated to be worth about $500 million at retail. AmericanHort, the breeders, and the distributors are all working to ensure that the supply chain, including plant offshore production of vegetative petunia cuttings, remains viable.

July/August/September 2017 July / August / September 2017

Craig Regelbrugge, AmericanHort

34 VNLA Newsletter

News - Virginia Native Plant Marketing E-News - Summer 2017 New Website for Virginia Native Plant Marketing Partnership

Revision and Reprint of Eastern Shore guide “Native Plants for Accomack and Northampton” has been revised and reprinted. The guide can be downloaded from https://www.plantvirginianatives.org/native-plants-for-virginias-eastern-shore/ .

The Virginia Native Plants Marketing Partnership has a new home on the World Wide Web at www.PlantVirginiaNESN-117 atives.org . The new site is a hub for information about Vir- 45 Years/4.5x7.25 8/30/04 10:15 ginia's native plants and the marketing and education resources the partners have to offer. The Ad - Eastern Shore Nursery site also hosts the Plant ES Natives campaign and the new Plant Central Rapp Natives campaign, and links to the Plant NOVA Natives and Plant NNK Natives campaign websites.

AM

Page 1

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Plant Central Rapp Natives Campaign Launched/Regional Guide Published On April 22, the Virginia CZM Program and the George Washington Regional Commission, along with 15 regional partners, launched the Plant Central Rapp Natives campaign to showcase the colorful and beautiful variety of plants native to Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania, and Stafford counties and the City of Fredericksburg. Partners also published a new regional native plant guide. Learn more about the campaign and download the guide from www.plantcentralrappnatives.org New Regional Native Plant Guide Available for Southeast Virginia The Virginia CZM Program and its partners in the Hampton Roads region have published Native Plants for Southeast Virginia, Including Hampton Roads (late October 2016). The region encompasses Virginia’s entire Southern Coastal Plain physiographic region, and a portion of the Northern Coastal Plain and Outer Coastal Plain physiographic regions. The guide highlights over 160 native flowers, ferns, vine, grasses, shrubs and trees, and includes an index of 246 native plants selected by the partners because they are attractive, relatively easy for the home gardener to acquire, easy to maintain, and offer various benefits to wildlife and the environment in the region. Over 15,000 free copies were distributed within a few months of the first printing! A second edition will be printed in May, and hardcopies will be sold for $5 to fund future reprints.

Download the guide from https://www.plantvirginianatives.org/plantsoutheast-virginia-natives .

VNLA Newsletter VNLA Newsletter

WH O C A R E S T H AT W E ’ V E KEPT OUR NAME GROWING FOR OVER 45 YEARS? Maybe you should care. Chances are, you can think of many businesses that have come and gone over the past four decades.

We’ve been here through it all—putting down strong roots and branching out to provide our customers with quality plants year after year.

And cultivating the expertise that can help Eastern your bottom line grow today and tomorrow.

Shore Call Eastern Shore Nursery of Virginia Nursery Of and order plants from a company with a Virginia long history of excellence.

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Revision and reprint of Northern Virginia Guide

Our Partners Being Recognized -

Native Plants for Northern Virginia has been revised and reprinted, and can be downloaded from http://www.plantnovanatives.org/ .

One Common Message in Many Languages Several of the Plant NOVA Natives campaign promotional materials have been translated into different languages including Spanish, German, Vietnamese, Korean, French, Arabic, and Farsi so that the diverse population of Northern Virginia has access to the information. Check it out at www.plantnovanatives.org Have You Caught the Flora of Virginia Exhibit?

The Flora of Virginia Project Panel Exhibition has been traveling around the state. The exhibit schedule can be viewed at http://floraofvirginia.org/education/flora-panel-exhibititinerary/ .

The Flora App Is Coming! http://floraofvirginia.org/flora-app/ The Flora Mobile App (for smart phones and tablets) is currently in testing. The App will contain everything you love from the book, with a lot more besides. It will combine information from several other ecological data sets with the Flora’s own data, including moisture regime, light regime, level of invasiveness, state and global rareness rankings, and listings as rare or endangered. Emphasis will be on habitats, ecological earmarks of natives. Also appealing, of course, are portability and updatability. And a unique, simple Graphic Key! And this combination of features is going to make it a hit with much younger users, especially 6-12 students who might otherwise have their Flora experience limited to a few handouts in the classroom.

New Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) Certification Program Launched!

Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) Program is a system of certification materials and training that will create a network of certified professionals who will be better stormwater partners and environmental stewards.

The 2016 pilot program certified 113 Level 1 professionals, and 21 Level 2 advanced design and installation professionals. A searchable directory of certified professionals is available on the CBLP website at https://cblpro.org/ .

The next cycle of training for Level 1 will be held in spring - summer 2017 in Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.

The certification will eventually be available across the Bay Watershed.

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Brent’s VNLA Environmentalist Award - Brent Hunsinger, owner of Brent’s Native Plantings, and member of the Virginia Native Plants Marketing Partnership and Plant Central Rapp Natives steering teams, was the recipient of the VNLA’s 2016 Environmental Steward Award.

Read more about Brent’s achievement at https://issuu.com/hortman48/docs/vnla_87.1_winter_2017-online.

Congratulations, Brent!

VNPS Partners Recognized through the Cox Conserves Heroes Awards Program Created in partnership with The Trust for Public Land, Cox Conserves Heroes is a national awards program that honors and celebrates environmental volunteers across the country.

Three finalists are selected in Virginia and profiled on the Cox Conserves Heroes website and in local media. Votes for the finalists are collected on-line. An announcement of the 2017 winner of the award will be announced soon. The winner will receive a $10,000 donation to the nonprofit of their choosing. Finalists each receive $5,000 for their nonprofit beneficiaries.

Alan Ford - 2016 Cox Conserves Hero!

Alan Ford, VNPS Potowmack Chapter President and chair of the Plant NOVA Natives steering team was the 2016 Cox Conserves Hero! Read more at http://www.coxconservesheroes.com/virginia/press-release.aspx Nancy Vehrs - Finalist for 2017 Cox Conserves Heroes Award!

Nancy Vehrs, VNPS President, and member of the Virginia Native Plants Marketing Partnership and Plant Central Rapp Natives and Plant NOVA Natives steering teams, is a 2017 finalist for the Cox Conserves Heroes Award. Congratulations, Nancy!

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36 VNLA Newsletter

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7 Adoption Look up of –this resolution the stage......................... for model native8 plant lanVNLA New Certified sets Horticulturist guage to VNLA be developed forsources, comprehensive plans.

VNLA - New Logo Introduced at Field Day .. 19 plant VNLA – Newsletter Ad Specs .....................................

60 to NVRC staff workedhotlinks with a subcommittee of the Plant VNLA - Photo Contest Winner and Rules .................. 17 NOVA Natives campaign toemail, develop the set of common defgrower VNLA - Profile - Dan Gregg, Grelen Nursery, initions for managed natural landscapes, noxious Tree Care, website & The Market at Grelen ... 20weeds, turf wGrelen grass, and native plants to be used in local weed VNLA – Research Gala/Auction Changes .................. 34ordinances, andthe phone! and then developed resolution to be presented to the Save the Date!

VNLA - Scholarship - Amy Puckett ............................

10 Commissioners and other local officials that recognizes the www.vnla.org/Grower-Guide VNLA - Scholarship - Robert Nance 11 Thursday, August 11,...........................

2016 essential value and importance of Virginia native plants in a VNLA Field Day managed natural landscape and also acknowledges that managed natural landscape means a planned, intentional and Grelen Nursery, Somerset, VA maintained planting of native grasses, wildflowers, forbs, ferns, shrubs or trees, including but not limited to rain gar016 4 dens, meadow vegetation, andVNLA ornamental plantings. To put December 2015 Newsletter tember 2014 VNLAinto Newsletter the weed ordinance and resolution a larger, landscape context, NVRC staff also developed a document - Tools for

I have passed the test why do I need to prove again of Best Management Practices. of1.Stewardship Best Management Practices.

- GOAL: VNLA will promote adoption that I know the material. of Best Management Practices.

VNLA promote Strategic Marketing GOAL: Strategic Marketing GOAL: VNLA will promote 2. Credits for CEUs-- often mean verywill little regarding itself as the leader and resource of the green industry. itself as the leader and resource of the green industry.

Strategic Marketing VNLA knowledge needed-toGOAL: perform tasks.will promote as the leader and resource of the agreen 3.itself Most clients have no ideaproblems? what VCHindustry. is or even are members What are members problems?

Preserving, What Maintaining, and Increasing Indigenous Cover care How are to them What aregoing members problems?

How are we we going to help help them become become in Northern Virginia.

more successful?

As we move forward with upgrades in thethem Virginia Certified How are we going to help become more successful?

Development ofprogram, enforceable policy, such an ordinance, Horticulturist please contact the as VNLA office at more successful? is a VCH@vnla.org deliverable of ,the Virginia CZM Program funding 1-540-382-0943 or myself, Jeff Howe, awarded to the Plant NOVA Natives campaign. jhowe@windridgelandscaping.com 434-361-1588 For more information contact, Corey Miles, NVRC cmiles@novaregion.org

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VNLA Newsletter VNLA VNLANewsletter Newsletter VNLA Newsletter

Man V succ 3,10 to al initi we c shorS

VNLA Newsletter VNLA Newsletter 14

April / May / June 201

October / November / Dec July /August / Septemb October/November/D July/August/Septem April/May/June April / May / June 2

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VNLA Newsletter VNLA Newsletter

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July/August/September 2017 July / August / September 2017

37 37

Welcome to these New VNLA Members!!!

VNLA – June Board Meeting Summary

FirstName

Last Name

Company Name

City

Linda

Jensen

Arrowwood Landscape Design, INC

Fredericksburg

Pauline

Perry

Associate - Perry

Alexandria

Jeffrey

Klindienst

Associate - Klindienst

Virginia Beach

Tim

Ohlwiler

Associate - Ohlwiler

Warrenton

Jay

Paulette

Associate - Paulette

Lynchburg

Lauren

Samay

Associate - Samay

Charlottesville

Terry

Autry

Autry Landscape Management LLC

Newport News

Todd

Peterson

C&T Landscaping

Norfolk

Johanna

Deak

Coastal Landscapes and Nursery

Princess Anne

Ashleigh

Randolph

County of York

Newport News

Laura

Steeley

James River Grounds Management

Glen Allen

Lucimar

Wortman

LW Landscape Design LLC

Powhatan

James

Hays

Resilient Plant Community

Newport News

Andy

Stanley

The Gardener Nursery

Richmond

JoAnn

Huffner

Willow Creek Cottage

Hanover

Ken

Moss

Windy Acres Nursery

Gretna

Jordan

Hoffman

Winsome Downs LLC

Fredericksburg

VNLA Newsletter 38

VT CALS SPES (School of Plant Environmental Science) and Horticulture Department – Richard Veilleux, new Head of the Department of Horticulture was introduced.

He gave a review of his background, teaching and research since his arrival at Virginia Tech in 1981. A new director has been hired for the Hahn Horticulture Gardens. The final merger of the Department of Horticulture, Plant Crop and Soil Environmental Sciences Pathology and Weed Science was planned to begin July 1, but setbacks in hiring a new administration for the School, has delayed the final process to at least the end of the year.

A motion was made to move the SunTrust Scholarship Investment Funds from the VNLA 501(c)6 to the VNLA Research Foundation 501(c)3, seconded and passed.

MANTS Director – Bill Gouldin made a motion for the VNLA Board to approve a vote on the May 24, Executive Committee Conference call that the Executive Committee had approved a motion to nomination Matt Deivert as the replacement of John Lancaster to the MANTS Board in 2018, seconded and passed.

Succession Plan Committee – (written report attached) from Sonya Westervelt. The committee had solicited proposals from four search firms. They were all interviewed and the committee selected Jim Roman to conduct the search for a new executive director. A motion was made to approve this selection, second and passed.

Webinars – a motion was made to continue the webinars, seconded and passed.

A motion was made to analyze member vs. non-member data on who is participating in the webinars, seconded and passed.

Certification the committee is working on enhancing the online training, a system to report CEUs online, using social media to promote VCH, improve the branding of the program, and how to monetize VCH services and materials.

The committee needs volunteers to source quiz articles and to prepare the quizzes.

As of June 10, 151 VCH exams have been graded and 91 certificates and badges ordered for individuals passing the exam and current recertification applicants. A VCH Magnet and Stickers were mailed to 420 VCH to help members promote their VCH staff.

The Chesapeake Bay Landscape Program (CBLP) recently had a “Train the Trainer” program. They want to work

July/August/September 2017 July / August / September 2017

38 VNLA Newsletter

more closely with the bay states to become a sustainable program, and a plan to accept VCH CEUs to qualify for CBLP CEUs. The Public Relations Committee is reviewing ideas to reducing expenses on publications by changing paper weight, reducing page count, reviewing Newsletter content, reviewing printer and other direct mail options, as well as increasing the number of advertisers.

Standards for Plants and Plantings – Virginia Rockwell proposed to convene a task force to review the current available standards through the VNLA, NALP, NCNLA’s holistic approach, Trees Virginia (Jay Banks and Adam Downing) and other interested parties such as plant specifiers, producers, designers and installers. Scott Price volunteered to chair this group, along with Matt Deivert and Mitzi Marker.

A motion was made to establish this taskforce with academic advisors, seconded and passed.

The Noxious Weeds Advisory Committee submitted amended regulations to the VDACS Board at their May meeting. The Board approved the amended regulations for a fast track process that includes a public comment period.

The committee will be finalizing the noxious weeds assessment protocol and discussing plans and a timeframe for the rollout of a submission process.

In May, Brent Hunsinger attended the Mission H2O Annual Meeting in Richmond along with Ed Tankard. The subcommittees for the Eastern Virginia Groundwater Management Committee have presented their findings to the Committee to be written into a formal report that will be delivered to the General Assembly in August 2017. DEQ has until November to form a response. Expect to see legislation from these reports in the 2018 General Assembly session. One of the main focuses will be on grandfathered water withdrawal rights.

News - HRI Infographic Highlights Trade Flow Survey Results Washington, DC and Columbus, OH (October 18, 2016) The Horticultural Research Institute, the green industry’s national foundation for research and scholarships, today released “Where Do Plants Go,” an infographic using recent statistics collected by researchers and published in The Journal of Environmental Horticulture.

The infographic showcases the interregional trade of plant products data collected in the National Green Industry Survey conducted by the Green Industry Research Consortium.

The survey was supported by a grant from the Horticultural Research Institute.

Highlights include:   

States with highest out-of-state plant sales Regions representing most plant purchases Changes in plant sales by region from 2008 to 2013

“Once again, HRI funding has made this national green industry survey possible, filling the gap between governmentsponsored research and expensive market research reports,” states Dr. Charlie Hall, research participant in the Green Industry Research Consortium. “These data will make a big difference in our state and national policy debates affecting the green industry!”

Horticultural Research Institute exists to understand the business of horticulture and, by doing so, fund, advocate for, and direct research specific to horticulture and horticultural businesses. Funded by hundreds of green industry philanthropists and businesses, HRI provides effective, efficient, and relevant solutions. Publishing research in The Journal is another way HRI helps build prosperous businesses, advance the green industry, and fulfill its core vision. www.hriresearch.org The Horticultural Research Institute (HRI), founded in 1962, has provided more than $7 million in funds to research projects covering a broad range of production, environmental, and business issues important to the green industry.

Nearly $11 million is committed to the endowment by individuals, corporations, and associations. For more information about HRI, its grant-funded research, or programming, visit www.hriresearch.org or contact Jennifer Gray at 614.884.1155.

VNLA Newsletter VNLA Newsletter

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Events - AmericanHort Production Technology Conference Columbus, Ohio - Debuting this fall, AmericanHort’s Production Technology Conference will be the place for nursery and greenhouse growers to get hands-on with the latest advancements in production technology and explore the ROI potential of equipment purchases and upgrades.

The three-day conference will be held October 9 - 11 in Dallas, Texas. Kicking off the event will be the first-ever Technology in Action Tour where attendees can visit and learn from premier businesses in our industry. Educational sessions will be led by industry experts, academic researchers, and growers who have invested in the world of automation and technology. Key vendors will be exhibiting and sharing their expertise on what solutions are right for your business. Educational sessions will focus on the latest innovations that have the greatest impact on the quality of products and your profit margin:

squeeze every last drop of potential from your irrigation systems.

• Environmental Controls and Software -- Not only do environmental controls and software give you more data to make better decisions, but they also allow you the peace of mind that you’re working smarter, not harder.

• Production Management -- Analyze every step of the plant production process to discover ways of increasing efficiency, reducing labor cost, and leveraging your inputs for maximum quality.

Built on a similar foundation to that of AmericanHort’s Plug & Cutting Conference, the Production Technology Conference is designed to deliver information to growers of all types and create opportunities for in-depth conversations amongst attendees and vendors in the trade show.

• Lighting -- Lighting is critical to plant growth and quality, but new technology has advanced beyond what most greenhouses are currently using. Discover new solutions to old challenges, and give your plants the best light they need to thrive.

“We’ve heard from members, exhibitors, and other industry stakeholders that they are curious about the return on investment of technology and the role automation can play in reducing and supplementing current labor,” says Ken Fisher, AmericanHort President and CEO. “This conference was designed to help growers feel confident about making decisions on upgrading and investing in their production operations.

• Irrigation/Water Management -- New solutions have evolved to create efficiency, purity, and ingenious methods to

To register for the Production Technology Conference, visit www.AmericanHort.org/Tech .

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VNLA Newsletter VNLA Newsletter

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Events - Pollinator Protection Conference

For more information and to register, please visit the conference website http://ecoipm.org/protecting-pollinators-conference/ .

Jill Calabro, PhD

Fresh off Pollinator Week 2017, you can keep the pollinator buzz alive by attending the 2nd National Conference for Protecting Pollinators in Urban Landscapes. This meeting is jointly planned by Michigan State University and North Carolina State University.

Events - Landscapes 2017

 Who should attend? Leaders of the green industry, university educators, and state government officials.  What will be discussed? Agenda items currently include the function of pollinators in urban landscapes, efforts to protect pollinators, and more.  When is the conference? October 9 - 11, 2017  Where is it? Park Place Hotel in Traverse City, MI  Why should you attend? The conference will bring you up to date on the most important issues impacting efforts to preserve and augment pollinators in the urban habitats, such as bee and butterfly biology in urban areas, impact of pesticides, plants that attract pollinators, and how to manage landscape pests with minimal impact on pollinators. Opportunities to meet others and facilitate discussions will be maximized.

40 Exclusive Educational Sessions at LANDSCAPES 2017 We’re putting together a blockbuster program for LANDSCAPES 2017, one that will help you look at your business from every angle. From staffing to marketing, operations to leadership, we’re tackling all the issues that matter most to landscape and lawncare professionals like you.

Attend four jam-packed sessions on finding, keeping and motivating great staff Power-up your marketing efforts with industry-specific tools and strategies Get up to speed on regulatory changes that affect your business Hear CEOs Unplugged on lawn care, landscape management and design build Improve lawn care with sessions on enhanced fertilizers and building healthy turfgrass Join us in Louisville, KY from October 18-20. Start planning now & register! https://www.landscapeprofessionals.org/annual-convention/landscapes/home.aspx

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VNLA Newsletter 42

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42 VNLA Newsletter

Congratulations to these New Virginia Certified Horticulturist!!!

FirstName LastName CompanyName Jeffrey Klindienst Associate ‐ Klindienst Tim Ohlwiler Associate ‐ Ohlwiler Mithat Percinel Associate ‐ Percinel Lauren Samay Associate ‐ Samay Susan Hayes Blue Sky Landscaping Robert Pitcher Blue Sky Landscaping Thomas Collier JW Townsend Inc Timmy Gentry JW Townsend Inc Jordan Knick JW Townsend Inc Ricardo Serrato‐Leon JW Townsend Inc Jamie Owen Liberty University Alexander Bates Monroe Technical Center Natalie Hernandez Monroe Technical Center Jovia Ho Monroe Technical Center Valerie Knowles Monroe Technical Center Lindsey Long Monroe Technical Center Kaela Patterson Monroe Technical Center Peter Spradling Monroe Technical Center Paris Towner Monroe Technical Center Kim Thoures Perfect Landscapes Randolph Thomas Jr Robbins Landscaping Inc William Adams Shoosmith Scholarship James Donelan South Riding Nurseries Jesse Kirlin Surrounds Inc Dave Larson Surrounds Inc Tyler Maly Surrounds Inc Scott Mendenhall Surrounds Inc Julie Borneman Watermark Woods Jordan Hoffman Associate ‐ Hoffman

City Virginia Beach Warrenton Herndon Charlottesville Leesburg Leesburg Charlottesville Charlottesville Charlottesville Charlottesville Lynchburg Leesburg Leesburg Leesburg Leesburg Leesburg Leesburg Leesburg Leesburg Sterling Colonial Heights Stuart Winchester Sterling Sterling Sterling Sterling Hamilton Fredericksburg

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$4.40

6.09” x 3” Stickers

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11” x 5.49 Magnet

$4.99

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Proudly display your accomplishment.

Use on hard hats, vehicles entrance doors, laptops and more.

VNLA Newsletter VNLA Newsletter

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43 43

MANTS

®

JANUARY 10-12, 2018

BALTIMORE CONVENTION CENTER

THE MASTERPIECE OF TRADE SHOWS™ Technology has certainly changed our lives, but in the nursery industry there still remains a vital need to conduct business face to face. And MANTS has been fulfilling that need artfully for 48 years now. Over 11,000 attendees, representing over 3,600 buying companies and nearly 1,000 exhibiting companies, attended our most recent show.

Buyers and sellers come together at our 300,000 square feet of exhibit space every January to conduct serious business, with no distractions.

But when the work day is over, and it is time to unwind and relax, Baltimore’s Inner Harbor offers an impressive list of fine restaurants and attractions.

Sure, you can find plenty of important information on the web. But you still need to attend MANTS to get the job done.

Remember, MANTS means business.

www.mants.com

P.O. Box 818 Brooklandville, MD 21022 410-296-6959 800-431-0066 fax 410-296-8288

On-line Registration is available 24/7 beginning October 1.

@mantsbaltimore #mants

Upcoming Events September 29 - October 1, 2017, TRI-STATE NATIVE PLANT CONFERENCE, ‘Nature Knows No Boundaries’, Shepherdstown, WV www.vnps.org October 9-11, 2017, AMERICANHORT PRODUCTION TECHNOLOGY CONFERENCE, Dallas, TX http://americanhort.org/AH/Events_Programs/2017/Production_Technology/Home_Production_Technology.aspx October 9-11, 2017, POLLINATOR PROTECTION CONFERENCE, National Conference for Protecting Pollinators in Urban Landscapes, Park Place Hotel, Traverse City, MI http://ecoipm.org/protecting-pollinators-conference/ October 18-20, 2017, LANDSCAPES 2017 by NALP, Louisville, KY www.landscapeprofessionals.org

November 2 - 3, 2017, TURNING A NEW LEAF CONFERENCE, Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council, Hilton Washington Dulles Airport, Herndon, VA www.chesapeakelandscape.org/ November 29 - December, 2017, NEW ENGLAND GROWS, Boston Convention and Exhibition Center, www.NewEnglandGrows.org, 508-653-3009 January 10-12, 2018, MANTS Trade Show, Baltimore, MD http://www.mants.com/

January 15-19, 2018, GREEN & GROWN’18, Greensboro, NC http://greenandgrowin.com/ March 3-11, 2008, PHILADELPHIA FLOWER SHOW, Wonders of Water, www.theflowershow.com

September 21, 2017, VNLA Webinar: “Invasives”

by Jeff Derr and Jacob Barney, VA Tech HRAREC, VA Beach Noon - 1 pm, www.vnla.org 1-540-382-0943 November 16, 2017, VNLA Webinar: “Rose Rosette / Emerging Pests, by Dr. Chuan Hong, VA Tech HRAREC, VA Beach Noon - 1 pm, www.vnla.org 1-540-382-0943

Test Schedule 2017 September 14, 2017, 6-10 pm, Thursday, Richmond, Henrico County Extension Office,

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VNLA Newsletter 46

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46 VNLA Newsletter

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