February 19, 2019
Association Updates

Dear MAA Members,
We were pleased to host another successful Winter Seminar at the Turf Valley Resort and Conference Center on January 22-23, 2019. The 38th Annual Safety & Pesticide Recertification Seminar saw record-high attendance on both days of the event, with 121 attendees on Day 1 and 189 on Day 2. Attendees shared that they found the information presented during the seminar was interesting, informative, and useful to their operation. Highlights from the event included a hands-on plant diagnostic demonstration, keynote speaker John Ball, movement strategies from FX Physical Therapy, oak decline, and pollinator protection. Thank you to all of our speakers and sponsors of this event!

The Association will be busy this Spring, hosting Arborist Day on April 13, 2019 at Adkin's Arboretum on the Eastern Shore, and a Pest Walk on May 22 at Woodmont Country Club in Western Maryland. MD LTE credits will be offered at both of these events. Find more information about each in the Save the Date section below. 


Stay Safe!

Lindsay Thompson
MAA Executive Director
(443) 262-8491
Thank You to our White Oak Sponsors
Sugar Maple Sponsor
Spotted Lanternfly Facts
The following is provided by Stanton Gill, Extension Specialist in IPM for Greenhouses and Nursery, Central Maryland Research and Education center, University of Maryland and Professor, Montgomery College, Landscape Technology Program; Brian Kunkel, Extension Ornamental IPM Specialist, University of Delaware Cooperative Extension; and Mary Kay Malinoski, Extension Specialist, Home and Garden Information Center.

We have been flooded with problems with Japanese maple scale, Emerald Ash borer, exotic Ambrosia beetles, and Asian longhorned beetle. Now we have another to add to the list – in Maryland and Delaware “The Spotted Lanternfly” (Lycorma delicatula). This name is great – it sounds like a cool fly with some sort of lantern. Actually, it is a type of planthopper from Asia found in our trading partners homelands of China, Korea, India and Vietnam. It was found in Pennsylvania and confirmed in Berk County on September 22 of 2014. On November 1 of 2014 Pennsylvania put on a quarantine to try to restrict the movement of this pest.

In DE and MD, the spotted lantern fly was detected, and quarantine areas have not been established as of January 2019. If you find an egg mass, nymphs of adults of spotted lanternfly go to the website DontBug.MD@Maryland.gov and report your citing.

Emerald Ash Borer Information Network
The Emerald Ash Borer Information Network sponsored by Michigan University, Ohio State University and Perdue has been hosting free webinars that are archived. Don’t let the name mislead you, the webinars focus on timely updates on many new and emerging pests and research related to them. Webinars are archived as far back as 2015. Recent topics include Spotted Lanternfly, Gypsy Moth, post EAB management of trees and EAB resistance research.

Maryland Green Industry Council Update
Maryland’s 2019 Legislative Session began on January 9. MAA members are involved in Maryland’s legislative process through the Maryland Green Industry Council (MaGIC). MaGIC serves the horticulture industry as a legislative resource and unified voice providing expertise, insight, and testimony throughout the year on issues effecting Maryland’s Green Industry. MaGIC has taken a position on a few bills that may affect members that we would like to draw your attention to.

The first is HB0275/SB0270 which would prohibit the use of the insecticide Chlorpyrifos (trade name Lorsban/Dursban) in the state. The second is HB0808 which would make changes to Maryland’s Noxious Weed Law, including how changes are made to the plant list and penalties that apply. For more information on these issues, you may contact our office or your local legislator
New LTE's - Congratulations!
Congratulations to the following individuals who passed recent LTE   exams:
Joshua Bohannon
Julio Bonilla
Daniel Bopp
Ryan Cuccia
Elmer Lopez
Eduardo Medina
Matthew Owens
Daniel Slagel
Jared Souder
Jeffrey Weimer
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Follow the Maryland Arborist Association on Facebook by clicking here .
According to the newest ANSI Z-133-2017 what type of head protection shall be worn when working in proximity to electrical conductors? (Clue – See Sect 3.3)
                               A: Class L
                               B: Class A
                               C: Class C
                               D: Class E
                               E: None of the above
Electrical Wire Safety
Workers can be electrocuted when a tree limb, branch, or uninsulated aerial lift touches or comes into contact with a live electrical power line. Follow these tips from OSHA to prevent injury when working near electrical wires:
  • Train workers to identify and avoid power line hazards, before beginning work.
  • Treat all overhead power lines and communication cables as energized. Stay at least 10 feet (3 meters) away, unless specifically qualified.
  • Provide proper personal protective equipment.
  • Stay alert.
  • If an overhead power line falls near a worker or equipment, move away from the equipment with short, shuffling steps and keeping feet close together.
  • Do not trim trees in dangerous weather conditions.
  • Do not use corded electric power tools in trees near energized power lines.
  • Never use ladders made of metal or other conductive materials near overhead power lines. Only use wooden ladders or those made of synthetic material.

Join fellow MAA volunteers at our 41st Arborist Day! This year’s project will be located at the scenic Adkins Arboretum on the Eastern Shore. Morning coffee, juice and donuts, and lunch will be provided to all. All participants must bring their own climbing and personal protective equipment. All gear/equipment must be up to MOSH, ANSI ZI33, and TCIA standards. Proof of insurance is required. There will be 3 MD LTE Credits offered at this event.
2019 Spring Pest Walk - May 22, 2019 - Rockville, MD
The 2019 Spring Pest Walk at Woodmont Country Club will offer 2.5 MD LTE credits. More details coming soon. 
In conjunction with the New York State IPM Program and the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the Northeastern IPM Center will host a collection of webinars, titled "Spotted Lanternfly Basics." Each webinar will focus on, and be tailored to, a specific commodity group. The webinar for Nursery, Greenhouse, and Landscape Industries will be held on March 4, 2019 at 1pm.

All webinars will follow a similar format that covers spotted lanternfly biology, identification, and hosts, monitoring and management strategies, and a regulatory update. While the content may be relevant to audiences throughout the Northeast, management practices covered will be specific to New York. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions.
Boxwood Blight Training - March 14, 2019 - Annapolis, MD
Maryland Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) Plant Protection & Weed Management program will host a boxwood blight training seminar on March 14 at 10 a.m. at MDA, 50 Harry S Truman Pkwy, Annapolis, in Room 112. Boxwood blight, an exotic fungal disease, is a serious concern for Maryland’s nursery industry. Occurrence of this disease has been increasing in the nursery trade and beyond. The training will include a discussion on boxwood blight management, biology, exterior quarantines imposed by other states for boxwood plants leaving Maryland, new developments, and current issues facing the disease.

This free training is limited to 50 participants. If there are fewer than 15 attendees registered by March 5, the training may be cancelled. To register, please contact the department’s Plant Protection & Weed Management program at  ppwm.mda@maryland.gov  or 410-841-5920.
The Tree Risk Assessment Qualification Renewal Course is a one-day refresher, with five hours of instruction, and three hours to take the exam. Current TRAQ holders may complete the TRAQ Renewal Course as early as 18 months prior to your qualification expiration date. Registration for the March 21 course at the U.S. National Arboretum ends February 21, 2019.
This course has been designed to assist tree care professionals and other professionals who wish to become ISA Certified Arborists. It has been developed to help prepare individuals for the ISA certified arborist exam, which is usually scheduled the day after the course. The course content is consistent with the Arborist Certification Study Guide (2010 edition) and the domains of the exam. Exam will be held March 28, 2019. Registration ends March 10, 2019. 
The MAC-ISA Tree Climbing Championship is an event in which climbers of our chapter compete and showcase their climbing skills. All climbers rotate through five different stations, which are timed and judged by a team of volunteer judges. This year’s event will be held at Morven Park. 
Maryland Licensed Tree Expert exams are administered on the second Wednesday of each month at the Department of Natural Resources Headquarters in Annapolis. Upcoming exam date s are March 13, April 10, and May 8, 2019 . To register, please contact Ms. Romcesa Estep, 410-260-8531.  
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