Event Details

Pesticide Applicator Recertification
Commercial Categories 3A, 3B, 10, 60
Note: this program is not approved for Category 8

2023 Winter Symposium and CVNLA Short Course

February 10, 2023
Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden

8:00 a.m. Registration

8:45 a.m. Welcome and Opening Remarks

9:00 a.m. Legal Aspects of Pesticide Use
Robert Christian, Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Office of Plant Industry Services, Pesticide Investigator.
This presentation will remind applicators of the legal issues surrounding pesticide use. Topics to be discussed include types of certification and associated fees; how to keep certification current; purchase and use of restricted-use pesticides; record keeping; and the penalties for law violations. Recent changes in relevant product registrations and/or labeling will be included.

9:45 a.m. Mysterious Blights and Nematodes
Dr. Matthew Borden, DPM, Plant Pathologist, Bartlett Tree Experts
This ornamental disease update will discuss several of the emerging blight diseases causing problems in nursery and landscape ornamental plants. As time allows, we will also discuss foliar nematode problems and how it relates to the rapidly-spreading beech leaf disease, a critical issue recently found in one Virginia county. We will focus on disease distributions, symptomology, and available research into management tactics.

10:45 a.m. BREAK

11:00 a.m. Crape Myrtle Bark Scale (CMBS) Update
Dr. Alejandro Del Pozo-Valdivia, Entomology, Virginia Tech
CMBS has been a pest in the tidewater region of Virginia for many years. It was found in the Richmond area in 2020 and since has exploded on the scene. Dr. Del Pozo will provide a review of crape myrtle bark scale, including identification, control and IPM recommendations.

12:00 p.m. LUNCH

1:00 p.m. Turfgrass Disease Update
Travis Roberson, Ph.D. candidate, Plant Pathology and Weed Sciences, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences, Virginia Tech and Research Director at Independence Golf Course for Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences.
Travis will provide an update on turf diseases, including their identification, IPM recommendations and chemical control recommendations (including appropriate application techniques such as equipment and/or calibration.)

2:00 p.m. Pesticide Safety Stations
Sierra Seekford, Nicole Shuman, Laura Maxey-Nay, Virginia Cooperative Extension

Stations focusing on the following topics: (1) Leaching Demonstration – showing the leaching potential of two different pesticides in sandy soil and discus the fate of pesticides in the environment; (2) Spot Applications of Pesticides and (3) Spill Clean-up Activity. Participants will rotate to each of the 3 stations so that each participant reviews each topic.

3:00 p.m. Quick Topics
Nicole Shuman, Sierra Seekford, Laura Maxey-Nay, ANR Extension Agents, Virginia Cooperative Extension
A Round Robin type presentation Red Imported Fire Ants (RIFA); Box Tree Moth; and Fall Army Worm.

3:45 p.m. Final Comments and Paperwork

4:00 p.m. ADJOURN

• Wednesday-Thursday Winter Symposium and CVNLA Short Course