Keeping Trees Across CT Safe, Healthy & Beautiful
The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station is holding a free Nursery & Landscape Tour on September 15, 2016 at the Valley Laboratory, 153 Cook Hill Road in Windsor, CT. Registration begins at 8:30 am. There will be a walking tour followed by indoor talks. The day will adjourn at 1pm with 3.25 Pesticide Re-certification Credits being given.
Please click here to print out the agenda.
Is EAB a threat? Are you willing to bet your ash?
On September 22, 2016, The CTPA will hold a full day workshop and field tour on the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). This workshop will take place in Monroe and will run from 8 am to 3 pm.
Arborists, tree wardens foresters, forest practitioners, and all tree and landscape professionals are invited to attend, along with anyone with an interest in the health of our trees and forests. In the course of the day, attendees will learn about the biology of the insect and the means by which it attacks ash trees. They will also first hear about and then see in the field the indicators of an emerald ash borer infestation, and about the options available to protect ask trees from EAB.
Attendees should meet at the Monroe Fire House – Station #1, 18 Shelton Road (Rte 110), Monroe
The speakers include:
Chris Donnelly, CT State Urban Forester, speaking on the regulatory response to EAB
Dr. Claire Rutledge, Entomologist at the CT Agricultural Experiment Station, speaking on the biology of EAB.
Dr. Richard Cowles, Entomologist at the CT Agricultural Experiment Station, speaking on how EAB affects trees and the mechanisms by which pesticides protect ask trees from EAB.
There will be a field tour that will demonstrate the use of pesticides and visits to infested trees, to see directly the effect EAB has on these trees. Peeling stations will be set up so that people have a chance to see an emerald ash borer within a tree.
Attendees should register in advance with CTPA. The cost of attending is $45 for CTPA members and $55 for non-members. Monroe residence are invited to attend and a donation of $20 to cover lunch and refreshments is requested.
CEU’s :CT Arborist Lic. 3D/6, ISA /6, Forest Practicioner/2, TCIA CTSP/3.5, Tree Wardens Advanced Certified/6
If you have any questions, please call the office at (203)484-2512 or cathy@ctpa.org
Included are links to two articles regarding the emerald ash borer that arborists, tree workers and tree wardens should find useful.
The first article is entitled The Economics of Dying Ash Trees in Connecticut and was put together by Dr. Rich Cowles of the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. This informal discussion piece reviews various strategies that municipalities might consider in the face of EAB. Essentially, the article suggests that the use of insecticides may be much more affordable for EAB control than people give them credit for, including in the municipal setting.. The article is intended to introduce the topic and not be a full exploration. It can be very helpful reading for anyone considering how to manage public ash trees within the State of Connecticut.
Dr. Cowles will be speaking at the CTPA Summer Meeting on Thursday, July 21. During this talk, he will reference ideas brought forward in this short article.
The second article, called Dead Ash Tree Removal? Think Twice!, is reprinted from the Summer 2016 edition of the CTPA newsletter and is written by Emmett Shutts of Shutts Tree Service. In this article, Emmett explores some of the safety concerns relating to ash trees that have been heavily infested or killed by the EAB. Research alongside of experience finds that these trees pose an increased and often unanticipated safety risk, especially to tree care workers charged with their removal. It is reprinted here in order to allow this article to be easily forwarded to others who might be interested.
The CTPA would like to hear from its members regarding the ‘Go to the Top’ campaign it initiated earlier this year. Using Survey Monkey software, we have put together a short survey that we invite you as a member to fill out. It should not take long – we figure less than 10 minutes. Through the survey, we are trying to do two things. We would like your feedback regarding the messages behind the Go to the Top campaign. Also, we are interested in hearing from you the extent to which you, as members, are willing to get involved in this campaign.
This post is just a follow-up of the email sent last week – it takes you to the exact same survey as linked in that email. The Public Relations Committee, led by Allan Fenner, has put a lot of time into this campaign and this survey, so your input is very much appreciated. We also look forward to learning a great deal. This will help us keep this campaign moving forward.
Please Click Here to Take the Survey
For those of you who may have lost track of the ‘Go to the Top’ campaign, we encourage you to take a look at this earlier post on the subject. Essentially, the purpose of the campaign is to reach out to the public, in order to help them recognize the value of the arborist license and the benefit, to them, of hiring a licensed arborist. We are still in the early stages, although we do have a logo and are pulling together a plan.
So, please help us by filling out the survey. We request that all responses be submitted by August 5th – but why wait?
Thank you.
The 2016 CTCC was another successful, interest-filled day, despite being overcast with an occasional shower. The spirit, though, is in the competition, and in the climbing, and not in the weather. The climbers, the judges and officials, the volunteers and the crowd that came to watch all contributed towards a good, solid competition.
Congratulations to Dan Severino, Joe Cleary and Matt Reynolds for making it to the Masters Challenge, with high-fives to Matt Reynolds for making it into the winner’s circle.
Commendations, as well, to all of the competitors,who made it such a good day, with special mention of Rachel Brudzinski and Kathleen Tarkington, for so ably representing the women climbers.
Full results of this year’s competition are now available.
Getting the 2016 CTCC off to a great start. The throwline is one of five preliminary events.
CTPA is very happy to announce that a fully updated edition of the Disease Management Guide for Connecticut Arborists has been released. This electronic form (pdf – 22.5 MB) has the advantages of including both color pictures and activated links. Heartfelt thanks go to Dr. Sharon Douglas, Emeritus Plant Pathologist at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station. It is Sharon who put together the original version of this publication as well as subsequent versions that have been produced over the years.
A paper version of the publication is also available for sale through the CTPA office. Please contact the office for price and mailing details.
email: info@ctpa.org
phone: 203-484-2512
Also, please visit the Tree Disease Page on the CTPA website.
Download the Disease Management Guide for CT Arborists.
Are you looking to volunteer some time? The Arbor Day Committee is looking for volunteers who would like to get involved. If you are interested please contact Cathy in the office at (203)484-2512 or email at cathy@ctpa.org for more details.
Dr. Ted Andreadis of the CT Agricultural Experiment Station giving an update at the Annual Meeting.
Registration for Exhibitors for the Annual Meeting taking place on January 21, 2016 is now available.
This year we are offering two size booths. 8’x10′ for $325.00 and 8’x8′ for $275.00. Please download and refer to the exhibitor flyer for details.
The Winners from the 2015 CTPA Arbor Day Poster Contest have now been announced. The winning posters along with the names and schools of the winners can be viewed on the Poster Contest Web Page.
The Winners were honored at an Arbor Day tree planting ceremony held at the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station in New Haven.
Redbud planted at CAES with the help of the 2015 Arbor Day Poster Contest Winners.
