| BUILDING A GREENER WISCONSIN TOGETHER |
2022 Spring Newsletter
Executive Director's Message To Members
Welcome New Members
WELCOME NEW MEMBERSColonial Tree Service -Waukesha, WI
LandscapeHub- Chicago, IL
Wheelers Chevrolet GMC of Marshfield -Marshfield, WI
2021 Hall of Fame and Distinguished Service Awards
Click here to submit your 2022 Hall of Fame Nominations
Upcoming WNLA & Green Industry Events
Do not miss this event. The leading experts will educate, encourage, and inspire you as you begin a brand new Spring season. WNLA offers keynote speaker & meet and greet former Green Bay Packer Santana Dotson. Following the workshop join in the Professional Awards Dinner with live music, auction, and raffles.
Share this event with your industry partners and co-workers!
Workshop Schedule
MEET THE SPEAKERS
Exhibit & Sponsorship Opportunity
Register Workshop & Awards Dinner
Wisconsin Center Milwaukee, WI
August 9-11, 2022
www.gardencentershow.com
NALP Advocacy News
Wisconsin
Commercial use of pesticides and fertilizers to care for lawns, landscapes and trees requires strict compliance with applicable state and federal laws. Below are some resources pertaining to applicable state laws and regulations for pesticide and fertilizer use by professional applicators, information on certification and training requirements for professional applicators for their specific area of use and information on how to contact your regulators with questions or concerns.
Contact Your Pesticide Regulators
Contact Your Fertilizer Regulators
Fertilizer Application Compliance
Recruiting, protecting, maintaining and growing the workforce is of paramount importance to the Landscape industry. There are a myriad of state specific laws and regulations concerning labor and safety issues; along with many opportunities to engage local and state officials to ensure compliance and tap into resources to assist you in growing the workforce. Below is some information on key state specific labor laws and regulations along with recruitment opportunities and state agency contacts.
Minimum Wage
OSHA State Contacts
Job Boards/Employment Tools
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Announcements & Articles
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Press Release Contact:Ben Addington(608) 433-7199baddington@dlfna.comDLF Brings Seed Enhancement Investment to North America
HALSEY, Ore. (February 7, 2022) – DLF is excited to announce plans for significant investment in its seed enhancement capabilities including a new, state of the art facility and equipment, and begins with the hiring of two of the industry’s best to lead and support this important development.
Brian Jaasko and Robert Keeter have joined DLF to head the company’s seed enhancement and coating strategy. Jaasko is a leading expert worldwide in seed enhancement technology and its strategic applications, while Keeter has excelled alongside Jaasko in operations for much of his career. Their experience will help ensure a successful build and startup of DLF’s first seed enhancement facility to be located near Corvallis, Ore.
“We make this leap forward with great confidence knowing we have Brian and Robert’s experience and leadership,” said Claus Ikjaer, CEO for DLF Pickseed USA. “This allows us to bring an integrated experience to customers and positions us to lead the delivery of seed enhancement technology to the market.”
This advancement will allow DLF to not only serve customers more efficiently, but also deliver added value. The team will focus on driving value by leveraging DLF’s research and development teams to validate technologies and partnering with customers to support training and education on seed enhancements.
“We are thrilled to have both Brian and Robert on board to develop DLF into an industry leader for seed enhancements. This is an area that is developing rapidly and adds significant value to our customers and products,” said Ikjaer.
About DLF
DLF was founded in 1906 and is the global market leader in the research, development, production, and distribution of turfgrass and forage crop seed. DLF is owned by 3,000 Danish seed growers and has subsidiaries or sales offices in 22 countries around the world. Information on DLF’s North American operations can be found at www.dlfpickseed.com.
Gypsy Moth Population Continues to Increase
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 2, 2021
Contacts:
Stephanie Jentz, Forest Pest Public Information Officer, (608) 347-1082, stephanie.jentz@wisconsin.gov
Leeann Duwe, DATCP Public Information Officer, (608) 224-5130, leeannm.duwe@wisconsin.gov
MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) caught 99,647 gypsy moths (Lymantria dispar, the scientific name for gypsy moth) in 10,787 traps in Wisconsin this summer as part of the federal Slow the Spread Gypsy Moth Program. The following graph shows the number of moths trapped for the past five years:
“Wisconsin experienced far less rainfall than usual during the spring and early summer,” said Michael Falk, DATCP’s trapping coordinator. “These dry conditions limited the spread of diseases known to kill L. dispar caterpillars. As a result, more caterpillars survived to adulthood and populations increased for a second consecutive year.”
DATCP uses trapping to help track the size and location of moth populations. Trapping data helps determine potential sites for next year’s aerial spray treatments. For 2021, DATCP treated about 88,977 acres across 14 counties. Information about next year’s treatment sites will be available in the spring.
How to Help Lower Populations
From now until next spring, anyone can help reduce the population of caterpillars next year by treating or removing L. dispar egg masses. An egg mass is tan, oval or bulb-shaped, and a little bigger than a quarter. It has a velvety texture and can hold 500 to 1,000 eggs. These can be found on trees, vehicles, fences, playground equipment, buildings, or any outdoor item.
To remove an egg mass, use a putty knife, stiff brush, or similar hand tool and place the mass into warm, soapy water. Soak for a few days and then discard in the trash. You can also spray horticultural oil onto egg masses. Simply crushing an egg mass will not destroy it.
More Information
l dispar is an invasive pest that has been spreading westward since its introduction to North America in 1869. Caterpillars feed on the leaves of many species of trees and shrubs, especially oaks, and can cause severe leaf loss when feeding in large numbers. For more information, call 1-800-642-MOTH (6684), email gypsymoth@wisconsin.gov, or visit www.gypsymoth.wi.gov.
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Note: The Entomological Society of America (ESA) has discontinued gypsy moth as the common name for Lymantria dispar and is in the process of determining a new common name for this species. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we transition through the name change process.
Find more DATCP news in our newsroom, on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Dear Wisconsin nursery growers, Christmas tree growers, and gardeners,
Winter in Wisconsin is such a great time of the year to visit tradeshows, renew outstanding nursery licenses, review highlights from the past season, and learn about pests to be watching for when the snow melts. Enjoy!
Please send any feedback, questions, or ideas for future e-news updates to datcpnursery@wisconsin.gov.
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Tips for Renewing Your Nursery License
Nursery and Christmas tree licenses for this growing season (LY2022) will expire on February 20, 2022. Expiration notices with instructions on how to renew your license for the next growing season (LY2023) will be mailed to all current license holders in early December. Please let us know of any address or contact changes since your last renewal, and renew by the deadline to avoid late fees.
When renewing your nursery and/or Christmas tree license(s), remember to review and update your sources of plant materials that can survive outdoors in a Wisconsin winter such as trees, shrubs, and woody and herbaceous perennials. Disclosure of your nursery source(s) is voluntary, and this information is used for traceback purposes only. By sharing your nursery sources and keeping them current on your license, we will be able to notify you in the event of a plant pest and/or disease outbreak.
Also, if you need to add a new field or retail location to your license after your renewal has been submitted or your annual license has been issued, call us at (608) 224-4574 or send us an email at datcpnursery@wisconsin.gov. Let us know the name, address, city, zip code, county, and township of your new location. For growers, please provide road directions to the new field location and the number of acres. No additional application or fee is required to add a new field or retail location to an existing license. Finally, please let us know if you are no longer in business so that we may close your license and avoid any enforcement actions, which may result for entities who fail to contact us or renew by the February 20, 2022 deadline.
MyDATCP online service portal can be used to renew your nursery license by the February 20 deadline
Stump-Cultured Christmas Trees: A Model of Sustainability and Efficiency from Western Wisconsin
A wide variety of Christmas tree field management styles can be seen when inspecting Christmas tree fields throughout Wisconsin. An example of a very sustainable practice is known as stump-cultured Christmas tree production. In many northern counties of Wisconsin, where native balsam fir trees are found, families of Christmas tree growers have produced stump-cultured Christmas trees over several generations. Most of these Christmas tree fields are wild-grown, native balsam fir trees that have naturally seeded and grown. The Christmas tree farmer comes in to shear them into that capital A-shaped form that buyers want. By leaving a row or two of lower branches when cutting down a Christmas tree, the remaining branches will send up shoots that use the energy stored in the roots to form a new tree faster than the original one grew. Eventually the less-than-perfect shoots get cut away, leaving the straightest, most vigorous one to become that next Christmas tree, typically in about half the time it took before. By leaving the lowest branches intact when cutting this next tree, the stump culturing process can continue for several more tree generations on the same stump. Inspector Konnie Jerabek has noticed instances where growers have harvested four Christmas trees off the same stump over 20 years or more. Boughs can also be harvested from stumpage to supply the growing market for local material in wreaths, porch pots, and other holiday décor.
Don't Bring Forest-Killing Pests on Firewood to the Cabin This Year
Heading to your deer camp for hunting? Please recognize that firewood can transport non-native, invasive insects and diseases that can devastate forests and degrade wildlife habitat. For instance, transporting firewood from oak-wilt-killed trees could inadvertently move oak wilt into new areas. If oaks become infected, the fungus can spread from tree-to-tree and kill oaks, especially red oaks, relatively quickly. Dead oaks result in a loss of acorn production, and will lead to fewer animals like deer and turkey visiting the area. Lymantria dispar is another hitchhiking pest that can easily move on firewood. If unburned firewood contains egg masses, they will hatch in the spring and create new infestations of this voracious leaf defoliator. Hungry caterpillars lead to stressed trees, which can also reduce mast production and degrade wildlife habitat. Help preserve trees and wildlife habitat by buying DATCP-certified firewood or by using only local firewood
Wisconsin forest with family in blaze orange hunting clothing
Pine Pitch Midge Observed on White Pine
While inspecting Christmas trees this past September in Taylor County, inspectors observed white pine with yellowing needles and oozing pitch along trunks due to insect feeding at the base of branches on mid to upper whorls of the tree. Upon dissection of pitch masses, several small (¼”), bright pink-orange larvae were detected. DATCP's Bureau of Plant Industry lab identified the larval samples as pine pitch midge (Cecidomyia candidipes). First confirmed in Wisconsin in 1997, C. candidipes had been detected in Clark, Chippewa, Door, Dunn, Eau Claire, Iowa, Jackson, and St. Croix counties prior to the Taylor County detection in 2021. Reported distribution also includes areas of Canada from Quebec to Ontario, south to Illinois and east to Maryland. Christmas tree producers should note that pitch masses on white pine can be made by Zimmerman pine moth, fir coneworm, or pine pitch midge. To correctly identify the pest, you will need to get sticky, by gently digging through the pitch mass to distinguish small, bright orange midge larvae from larger purplish pink caterpillars or brown pupae of Zimmerman pine moth or fir coneworm. Unlike these caterpillar pests, pine pitch midge larvae leave the pitch mass to pupate in white cocoons on nearby needles. Growers may observe yellow needles on impacted branches and oozing pitch masses on the trunk of the tree. Large populations can even girdle trees. Because pine pitch midge populations fluctuate greatly, management may be unnecessary. If control is warranted, target adults using a contact insecticide by monitoring emergence, by collecting an infested branch cutting in a plastic bag in early spring (stored at room temperature, out of direct sunlight). Systemic control may have limited effects due to pine pitch midge's protected feeding habits.
Pinkish orange pine pitch midge on white pine
Statewide Potato Survey Underway
In 2020, potato mop top virus (PMTV) was detected for the first time in a Wisconsin grown potato tuber. This virus is of economic importance to potato producers as it can compromise the quality of potato tubers. In response to the detection of this virus, DATCP's Bureau of Plant Industry applied for a specialty crop block grant in order to conduct a two-year statewide survey for PMTV and its vector, powdery scab (Spongospora subterranea f. sp. subterranea). The last time DATCP surveyed for these pathogens was in 2009 and 2010. The current survey effort will update knowledge of disease distribution in the state, highlight areas of risk and allow growers to develop proactive management strategies to protect their crops. The first phase of this survey is now underway with tubers being collected from potato storage facilities and tested for the presence of PMTV and powdery scab. The second phase of the survey will occur in fall 2022 with collection of soil samples from potato fields to test for the presence of PMTV and powdery scab. For current survey information and county level survey results please check DATCP's potato survey reports. If you are a grower and interested in participating in this survey, contact Sam Fieweger, lab director, at sam.fieweger@wisconsin.gov.
Learn More
For more information about Wisconsin's Nursery Program, visit DATCP's Nursery and Christmas Tree Program webpage.
Division of Agricultural Resource Management | Bureau of Plant Industry
WNLA Committees
- Serve as WNLA interface with state government
- Build relationships with state agencies that regulate our industry
- Works to make the profession of “Green Industry “visible and relevant
to our state legislators and government officials. - Provides updates to membership on relevant governmental issues
- Support Workforce Development Skills
- Review national groups for public awareness opportunities
- Look for collaborations in business development for member companies
MEMBERSHIP Committee
- Grow Membeship by recruiting new members
- Launch recruiting campaign to aggressively attract and recruit members
- Develop and implement Retention Campaigns to keep existing members
- Target younger potential members
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Stage engagement experiences and events (coordinate new member and networking social events)
MARKETING AND BRANDING Committee
- Promote conferences and industry events
- Promote professional development seminars and offerings
- Develop brand statements
- Maintain social media presence via Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, etc.
- Build on the Spring Start up Workshop
- Hall of Fame & Distinguished Service Awards
- Seek Potential SpeakersProvide on-site support
- Coordinate educational workshops, seminars, garden & landscape events
NETWORKING/SOCIAL EVENTS Committee
- To plan and facilitate WNLA networking and social events
- Solicit Sponsorship, auction items, and raffle prizes
- Provide on-site support
- Golf Outing
- Brewer Game
- Holiday Party
All Committee’s will work with association management office to execute the events successfully.
If you are interested in joining a WNLA committee please email jeanine@wamllc.net, for details.
WNLA 2020-2022 Strategic Plan
MISSIONOur mission is to bring inspiration and innovation to every landscape and nursery professional inWisconsin.
VISION STATEMENTThe Wisconsin Nursery and Landscape Association is the recognized go-to source in the green industry
providing indispensable value to companies, employees, clients, peers, and the communities we serve.
VALUE STATEMENTAs professionals, we passionately embrace and impact quality of life through green space design,
creating important, valuable and sustainable environments for homes, businesses, and communities.
Read More CLICK HERE for the WNLA Strategic Plan 2020-2022
Sponsors
WNLA Annual Sponsorship Opportunity
2022 Sponsorship Advertising
Advertising in the WNLA website gives your company unbeatable exposure to current and potential customers! You will also be listed in each WNLA Enews. Website Scolling Logo on Home Page with link to your own website. Listing in WNLA Newsletter for 1 year The logo, once clicked, will direct to your company website. For more info email jeanine@wamllc.net.
Call for Articles
This is a call for articles or events happening with your company. Any news or press releases pertaining to your organization or if you are holding an event at your location that you would like others to hear about, pass them along to us and we will add them into our newsletters! Send any content to Jeanine. jeanine@wamllc.net