Carlin Sales: The weekly dirt: Your update on what's happening in the nursery industry.
 

Your update on what's happening in the nursery industry.
Compiled by Todd Davis, Editor

http://www.carlinsales.com

* A man killed 3 people at Gold Leaf Nursery in Boynton Beach, Fla.,
July 28, including co-founder Andrew Logan. Employees Catalina
Casarrubias and Romero Cortez also were killed. After Andres
Casarrubias shot the victims, employees wrestled him to the ground and
held him until police arrived. Donations are being accepted for the
victims' families, and on behalf of Logan, for the Hoskins/McDougald
Horticultural Scholarship Fund. Send scholarship donations to 3400
96th Court South, Boynton Beach, FL 33437. For family donations,
contact the nursery. (561) 736-6693.

* Emerald ash borer was discovered in Hicksville, Ohio, in Defiance
County. The pest was found on 8 properties, including a wholesale
nursery and a tool-handle manufacturer. The state's ag. department
issued emergency quarantines for the infested areas. The pest is found
in both Michigan and Ohio, but previously had been found only in 1
Ohio county (Lucas). Michigan extension specialists have posted a Web
site with ash alternatives. http://www.state.oh.us/agr ;
http://www.hrt.msu.edu/ash.alt/

* Minn. Dept. of Ag. found live gypsy moths in St. Paul, St. Cloud and
Blaine in trees apparently imported from East Coast nurseries.
Infested nursery stock was quarantined, and MDA is investigating
whether more infested trees have entered the state. Follow-up
inspections revealed dozens of moths, including females laying eggs.
"Our goal is to keep this destructive pest out of Minnesota for as
long as possible," said Geir Friisoe, MDA plant protection section
manager. http://www.mda.state.mn.us/

* USDA is making several amendments to its nursery stock importation
laws. These include additional certifications for importing lilac into
the U.S. Other changes are designed to clarify regulations and improve
their effectiveness, according to USDA. The new rules will be
effective Sept. 19. http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ppd/rad/webrepor.html

* Univ. of Fla. researchers say fire may be a key to dogwood
anthracnose resistance. They've found that trees in the wild survive
the disease better in areas that have been previously subject to
forest fires. Results of further research may lead to controlled burns
to help protect the trees, which have been threatened by the
anthracnose epidemic. It's estimated that the disease has killed 90%
of the native East Coast Cornus florida populations since the late
1970s. http://extlab1.entnem.ufl.edu/PestAlert/dogwood.htm