West Michigan Nursery Growers Winter Conference
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EmailNursery growers will be updated on the latest research-based information to deal with climate change. MSU nursery specialists will address various production issues at the Feb. 25 program in West Olive, Mich.
Climate change discussions are going on all around us these days. Some of us wonder if this winter’s extreme cold temperatures put the global warming issue to bed. Based on sound research information, that is not the case. So, back by popular demand, Michigan State University Extension has put together a day-long program that meets the needs of area nursery growers.
The conference will take place on Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014, at the Ottawa County Fillmore Complex Main Conference Room, 12220 Fillmore St., West Olive, MI. Cost for the conference is $50 per participant and includes lunch. Topics this year have been identified by area nursery growers and will be of benefit to you. Climate change is and will be a part of our business as we move farther into the 21st century.
We have assembled leading experts from all aspects of plant production and pest management at MSU to update you and your key staff on timely topics as we move into the 2014 growing season. Six RUP credits will be available for this program, so bring your pesticide license. Topics for this year’s program are listed below.
Historical and Projected Future Climate Trends in Michigan and the Great Lakes Region - Jeff Andresen, State Climatologist for Michigan, Department of Geography, Michigan State University
- Long-term historical and recent climate trends
- Projected future climate trends
- Trends in climate variability and extremes
Urban Tree and Selection in a Changing Climate – Bert Cregg, Nursery Extension Specialist, Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University
- Current climate projections for the Midwest
- Recent and future changes in hardiness zones
- Potential impact of climate change on landscape trees
- Effect of seed source on tree performance
- Assisted migration and phenotypic plasticity: watch words for the future
Diseases Noted in 2013 - Jan Byrne, Plant Pathologist, Diagnostic Services, Michigan State University
- Oak wilt detections
- Can bacterial leaf scorch be an issue in the nursery?
- More on black root rot
- Managing virus diseases in the nursery
- Where is Phytophthora ramorum?
Cover Crops Role in Mitigating Effects on Climate Variability - Christina Curell, Extension Educator, Cover Crops and Water Quality, MSU Extension
- Pest control
- Soil water holding capacity
- Soil improvements
Invasion of The Root Snatchers: Are plant-parasitic nematodes going to become even more of a serious problem in Michigan’s plant nurseries?” - Fred Warner, Nematologist, Diagnostic Services, Michigan State University
- Update on and current list of the nematode species that cause problems in nurseries in Michigan
- If winters get warmer, what species may be expected to successfully overwinter in Michigan
- Current management recommendations and how they may change if other species become established
RFID for Inventory Management and Decision Support - Tom Fernandez, Nursery Extension Specialist, Department of Horticulture, Michigan State University
- What is RFID
- Inventory management –the simplest use
- Decision support for management decisions, water, pesticides, fertility
How Does Climate Affect Our Nursery and Landscape Insect Pests? - David Smitley, Extension Specialist, Department of Entomology, Michigan State University
- A review our major pest problems, how much global warming affects them and how we manage them
- Some more southern pests that are creeping into Michigan
- How increased drought stress causes more problems, and how some pests will develop more rapidly and may even shift from one generation per year to two.
For more information, view the complete agenda and registration form, or contact Tom Dudek at dudek@anr.msu.edu or 616-994-4542. Registration deadline is Thursday, Feb. 20.
