April 12, 2019 Issue #262
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Dear MNLGA Members:
Spring has certainly sprung! Alleluia; I think we’ve all been more than ready for it.
Please help us share the word of the availability of three MNLGA scholarships, each worth $5,000. To honor the memory of Dr. Frank Gouin, the board has designated one of the awards to be given in his name. Full information regarding the scholarships is below. Deadline for application is May 31st.
If you have not yet completed your 2018 horticulture industry survey, please do so. We need as high a percentage of participants as possible to really have a true picture of our industry’s impact and status. Survey questionnaires are available from the third party conducting and compiling the survey results, BEACON. Please contact BEACON directly if you need a questionnaire. The survey is available via paper or electronic. BEACON may be reached at 410-546-6001 or via
beacon@salisbury.edu. Please let me know if you’ve any questions about the survey.
Enjoy our spring weather; summer weather is lurking, I’m sure.
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2018 Statistical Profile and Economic Survey -
If your business has not yet completed the 2018 Hort Industry Economic and Statistical survey, please do so as soon as possible and definitely before the end of April. This survey is very important for measuring the impact our businesses have across the state. The results give us power, including information for making future business plans, such as availability of markets and products, and hard data about the strength of the industry when working with financiers and legislators. I can not underestimate the importance of high participation in this survey to arm us with the most accurate reflection of Maryland’s horticulture industry. Please complete your survey. If you need the link or a paper copy, please contact BEACON at
beacon@salisbury.edu or via 410-546-6001. MNLGA has hired BEACON, the Business, Economic, and Community Outreach Network at the Perdue School of Business at Salisbury University, to issue, conduct, and compile the survey results. No one outside of statisticians at BEACON will have access to any individual responses. All responses will remain confidential.
Spotted Lanternfly Quarantine in DE, PA, and NJ – Quarantine permits will be strictly enforced beginning May 1! Our neighboring states have added staff to enforce quarantine compliance and trucks not displaying the quarantine permits will be stopped and fined. Please get your quarantine training; it's easy and relatively quick, online. Please visit the
DDA website at this link to view the specifics regarding the Delaware quarantine. For a refresher on the
PA and NJ quarantines, please visit this link; PA and NJ go hand-in-hand with quarantine training.
Sincerely,
Vanessa A. Finney
MNLGA, Executive Director
410-823-8684
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Scholarships 2019
The MNLGA announces the availability of several scholarships for college-aged horticulture students.
The MNLGA Ornamental Horticulture Scholarship will award
three $5,000 scholarships for eligible students in ornamental horticulture and landscape programs.
Applications for this scholarship are due May 31st. Visit the
MNLGA website, for more information and the application.
In addition to the aforementioned scholarships, the MNLGA in conjunction with MANTS, sponsors the Carville M. Akehurst Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship is administered by the Horticulture Research Institute. Further information regarding this program
may be found here.
The MNLGA website also includes scholarship information for awards offered by the Southern Nursery Association. Detailed information regarding each of these opportunities
may be found here.
The Baltimore County Farm Bureau is also offering up to three $2,500 scholarships. The deadline to apply is April 26, 2019. Applicants must be at least high school seniors starting college in the fall of 2019 or full-time college students at any community college or four-year institution. Applicants or their parents/guardians MUST be members of Baltimore County Farm Bureau. Two of the scholarships will be offered to students majoring in an agricultural curriculum and one scholarship will be offered to a student majoring in any curriculum.
Learn More.
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Watershed Implementation Plan Workshops
Registration Open
Registration is open for three information sessions and one webinar that will be held in April and May 2019 as part of Maryland's engagement strategy for its most recent Chesapeake Bay Watershed Implementation Plan (WIP). The meetings and webinar will feature an overview of the current draft WIP and provide you with opportunities to ask questions of State agency representatives. There is no cost to participate in these sessions or the webinar.
Read More and find links to register.
- Monday, April 29, 2019 Western MD: Hagerstown Community College
- Friday, May 3, 2019 Eastern Shore: Chesapeake College, Todd Performing Arts Center
- Monday, May 6, 2019 Central MD: Harford Community College, Chesapeake Dining Rooms
- Friday, May 17, 2019 Webinar
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H2B Additional Workers Release
In Case You Missed It....
The MNLGA sent out a notice on April 1st to all of our members regarding this issue. AmericanHort was proud to announce the additional release of 30,000 H2B workers. In case you missed the notice -
here is the link to the full eblast.
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Box Tree Moth Findings Confirmed in Canada
HRI Press Release
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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) confirmed that box tree moth (BTM) was indeed found in three separate residential landscapes in Etobicoke, Ontario, a Toronto neighborhood in fall 2018. CFIA plans to assess the extent of spread and determine whether this is a transient, or not fully established, pest or if it is more widely distributed. Surveys and outreach efforts to educate the local public are planned as well. Control measures and future plans for delimitation will be coordinated among CFIA, the Ministry of Ontario, and the boxwood industry.
APHIS is still evaluating the need for a Federal Order requiring certification of boxwood entering the US from Canada; however, a Pest Alert bulletin was issued to ports of entry. Surveillance and monitoring along the border in addition to entry points will be heightened. Researchers are unsure how quickly BTM will spread in the US. Box tree forests do not exist here; so, less host material may (hopefully) translate to slower or less spread.
Read the full Press Release.
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State Soil Conservation Committee Meeting: April 18th
The State Soil Conservation Committee will meet Thursday, April 18, at 9:30 a.m. in the lower level conference rooms at the Maryland Department of Agriculture, 50 Harry S Truman Parkway, Annapolis. The meeting is open to the public and will focus on soil conservation and water quality program implementation and policy development. For more information, contact
Alisha Mulkey, Executive Secretary, at 410-841-5863.
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USDA Releases 2017 Census of Ag
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) published the results of the 2017 Census of Agriculture with new information about the 12,429 Maryland farms and those who operate them, including first-time data about on-farm decision making, down to the county level.
Read the full press release.
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Special Alert on Ambrosia Beetle
Special IPM Alert from UME
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From Stanton Gill: The morning of April 8th, the temperature started climbing and I asked Rachel Ross to check our alcohol baited Lindgren trap here at CMREC. The trap had over 18 beetles in it and they showed up since 8:00 this morning when I checked it early in the day. Four of the beetles were
Xylosandrus germanus. The others were native ambrosia beetle species.
The warm weather over the next couple of days is going to encourage the adult females to fly about looking for hosts.
Susceptible trees should be treated with either bifenthrin or permethrin with a spreader sticker added. Apply to the trunk and major branches. Be sure to protect very susceptible trees such as redbud, styrax and yellowwood.
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H2-A Compliance Webinar
In February, the UMD Ag Law Initiative hosted an H2-A Compliance Webinar. If you had any difficulty logging into the webinar or would like to view a recorded version, please see the link below.
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Members in the News: Taylor Pilker
On April 5th Cavano's released the following announcement: We are excited to announce that Cavano’s Perennials, Inc. Vice President, Taylor Pilker has been elected as the Mid-Atlantic Regional Director for the Perennial Plant Association (PPA), overseeing PA, NJ, MD, WV, VA and DC.
We are happy that one of our team leaders and longstanding sponsor of PPA has accepted this honor to represent the Association. Under Taylor’s leadership Cavano’s was awarded the Perennial Plant Association Grower Award in 2017.
PPA’s mission is to connect professionals, provide education, and promote perennial plants. For many years Cavano’s has supported PPA’s initiatives by sponsoring educational scholarships for horticultural students and persistently promotes the communication and connection between industry professionals.
Any inquiries regarding PPA can be made directly to Taylor Pilker directly
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UMD IPM Report - April 12th
Now that Spring is upon us - as many of you know UMD Extension releases a weekly Landscape and Nursery IPM Report. If you would like to be included on the distribution list -
please email Suzanne Klick.
The link below is for the most current IPM report.
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New MDA Site for Registering Nursery Locations for Spray Drift Prevention
This new site is a voluntary communication tool that enables crop producers, beekeepers, and pesticide applicators to work together to protect specialty crops and apiaries through use of mapping programs. It is not a substitute for any state regulatory requirements.
Learn More.
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AmericanHort - Impact Washington Summit
September 16-18 in D.C.
Impact Washington is a two-day advocacy summit where green industry business owners and leaders can take action in Washington, D.C. Providing a united front, this is an opportunity for the landscaper, plant grower, garden retailer, and entire green industry communities to personally and collectively advocate for decisions that help us continue the growth of our $193 billion industry.
Over the course of two days, participants will hear from elected leaders, their staff, and other policy experts on issues of great impact on green industry business success. Attendees will share their experiences directly with policy makers, providing real-world context and influence to the decisions being made.
Learn More.
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MD Turfgrass Association Jim Claxton Scholarship
Submit Applications by 5/31
The Jim Claxton Scholarship Fund was initiated during the Spring of 2011 in order to honor Jim and his contributions to the Mid-Atlantic area turfgrass industry and financially support students while pursuing a college degree.
Jim worked as a salesman for Newsom Seed from the early 1990's until soon before his passing on March 20, 2013. He made great contributions to turfgrass related businesses during this period, especially businesses involved in turf production.
The Jim Claxton Scholarship Fund allows for a single, annual $500.00 award to be issued to a winning applicant prior to the fall college semester.
Learn More and Apply Today.
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All About Maryland Festival: April 27 - 28
The Baltimore County Business Association reached out to the MNLGA to get some "green" involved in their All About Maryland Festival being held in April.
The festival will be showcasing the variety of talents we have in Maryland. Crafters, jewelers, artisans, retail and home services are welcome. The main requirement is that your business is based in Maryland or features some Maryland themed products. 100+ Vendors will be at The All About Maryland Festival.
Visit the festival website or take a look at the
vendor flyer.
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AG Literacy Opportunities
New Ways to Participate in the Ag Literacy Program
George Mayo would like to share the following information: This Ag in the Classroom program seeks to instill in Maryland students the importance of agriculture in their daily lives. Any group or individual wishing to promote agriculture is invited to participate – Farmer Bureau members, FFA students, Young Farmers, Commodity group leaders, retirees, or interested individuals.
Literacy Volunteers set up a time to visit in a nearby school and read to students in grades K-3. Following the reading of the book, volunteers conduct an activity with the students and share their experiences in agriculture. The book is then left in the classroom or media center.
For more information or to order a book for $10, contact Jeanne Mueller at
jmueller@maefonline.com or 410-848-4745.
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