ODA Invasive Plants Committee Update by Kyle Natorp

ODA INVASIVE PLANTS UPDATE

Kyle Natorp, Natorp's Inc.

Lythrum salicaria, purple loosestrife, is invasive in Ohio

As ONLA’s representative on the ODA Invasive Plants Advisory Committee below is an update on the committee’s proceedings.

In January, 2018, the Ohio Department of Agriculture established new rules prohibiting the sale and distribution of invasive plants in the state of Ohio. Further, as directed in chapter 901:5-30 of the Ohio revised code, the rules establish a committee designed to advise ODA on matters regarding invasive plants.

The committee has met a total of four times beginning in May of 2018. In the initial meeting, several grammatical and nomenclature changes were recommended by the committee to the original rule. The committee recommended that Japanese Knotweed be added as well. To date, the rule has not gone through the rule making process and therefore nothing has changed. It is expected that these changes to the rule will become effective sometime next spring assuming they all make it through the rule changing process.

Since this initial meeting, the committee voted to recommend adding the following species to the ODA invasive species list: Ulmus pumila (Siberian elm), Ligustrum vulgare (Common privet), Persicaria perfoliate (Mile-a-minute), Ampelopsis brevipedunculata (Porcelainberry), Morus alba (White mulberry), Paulownia tomentosa (Princess tree), and Phalaris arundinacea (Canary reed grass). These additions would be recommended as a rule change late next year and, if approved, would not make it into the ODA invasive species list until sometime in 2022 or beyond.

The ODA Invasive Plants Advisory Committee had its most recent meeting on Thursday, October 8. The committee chose not to discuss any additions to the list so as not to delay the rule changes already recommended. In addition, the Ohio Invasive Plant Council has also submitted a list of species they would like added to the invasive plant list based on the results of OIPC's Plant Assessment Protocol. Several of these, if deemed illegal to sell, would be problematic to the nursery industry, including Berberis thunbergii (Japanese Barberry), Euonymus fortune (Wintercreeper), and Miscanthus sinensis (Chinese Silvergrass).

The rule allows for the exemption of specific cultivars and the committee has discussed how to handle this but has not come to a consensus as to the process. Currently, there is little research that is addressing specific cultivars versus species that the committee could use to support specific exemptions. I see this as critical in protecting the industry as we move forward. Over the next few years, there will be continued pressure to add species to the ODA invasive plant list that are more important to the nursery industry. B

Contact Kyle at kylenatorp@natorp.com

ONLA HOSTS 5TH ANNUAL OHIO HIGH SCHOOL LANDSCAPE OLYMPICS

ONLA welcomed 77 high school students from four schools across Ohio for the fifth annual Ohio High School Landscape Olympics (OHLO) on October 15 at Willoway Nurseries, Inc. in Avon, OH.

OHLO is an educational competition where students can test their landscaping skills, meet sponsoring companies, and learn more about a career in the green industry.

Several modifications were made to this year's event to keep students and sponsoring companies safe, including hosting some events virtually. An additional four schools competed in the virtual competitions.

This event would not be possible without the support of the many green industry businesses listed on the following page.

Champion Team:

Jackson High School

Second Place Team:

Knox County Career Center

Third Place Team:

Upper Valley Career Center

Top Scoring Individuals

1. Christian Au, Ohio Hi-Point 2. Andy Young, Jackson High School 3. (Tie) Wyatt Strong, Knox County Career Center 3. (Tie) Max Riesenbeck, Upper Valley Career Center 4. Charley Fox, Jackson High School

Compact Excavator

1. Ethan Wernecke, Jackson High School 2. Nathan Barwell, Knox County Career Center 3. Max Riesenbeck, Upper Valley

Cost Estimating

1. Christian Au, Hi-Point 2. Scarlet Wagner, Buckeye Career Center 3. Josh Slack, Delaware Area Career Center

Hardscape

1. Riesenbeck & Cremeans, Upper Valley 2. Young & Young, Jackson High School 3. Strong & Brady, Knox County Career Center

Irrigation

1. Green & Hach, Jackson High School 2. Strong & Davis, Knox County Career Center 3. Walker & Young, Upper Valley

Knot Tying

1. Jackson High School 2. Hi-Point 3. Upper Valley

Low-Voltage Lighting

1. Colton Love, Knox County Career Center 2. Matt Orndorf, Jackson High School 3. Jermiah Davis, A-Tech

Landscape Maintenance

1. Wernecke & Young, Jackson High School 2. Tucker & Keeling, Knox County Career Center 3. Lowery & Johnson, A-Tech

Plant ID

1. Mossor Summer, Jackson High School 2.(TIE) Pearce Madison, A-Tech 2.(TIE) Hall Austin, A-Tech 2.(TIE) Lare Haylee, Jackson High School

Plant Installation

1. Jackson High School 2. Upper Valley 3. Knox County Career Center

Sales Presentation

1. Charley Fox, Jackson High School 2. Christian Au, Hi-Point 3. Emily Murton, A-Tech

Skid Steer

1. Andy Young, Jackson High School 2. Max Riesenbeck, Upper Valley 3. Tabby Lowery, A-Tech

Truck & Trailer

1. Traganza & Waltenbaugh, Jackson High School 2. Cremeans & Riesenbeck, Upper Valley 3. Parker & Barwell, Knox County Career Center

Turfgrass

1. Knox County Career Center 2. Hi-Point 3. Jackson High School

Thank You, Sponsors! THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS!