Nursery and Landscape - South Jersey Conference

The following is information on the South Jersey Landscape Conference and Nursery Growers Meeting being held this coming Wednesday.

The 2008 South Jersey Landscape Conference and Nursery Growers Meeting will be held on Wednesday, December 3, 2008 from 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. at Masso’s Crystal Manor, South Delsea Drive in Glassboro, NJ. A general session in the morning will be for all growers and landscape professionals. The afternoon session will be spilt into two concurrent sessions. All commercial producers and marketers of trees, shrubs, and perennials are invited to the growers meeting. The landscape conference will be for all landscapers and ground maintenance professionals. Professional certification credits and NJ pesticide applicator units will be given at the conclusion of each session.

The general session for both groups will feature a keynote address on the “Outlook for the Future of the Nursery and Landscape Industry” by Corey Connors, Director of Legislative Relations of the American Nursery and Landscape Association (ANLA) in Washington, D.C. Dr. Chris Obropta, Specialist in Water Resources, for Rutgers NJAES, Cooperative Extension will address “Impervious Cover and Its Impact on Water Runoff and Management”. “This topic is increasingly important to all landscape and nursery professionals” said Carl Nordstrom, moderator and director of the New Jersey Nursery and Landscape Association. Ms. Pat Hastings, Pesticide Education Coordinator with Rutgers NJAES, Cooperative Extension, will review pesticide safety issues. Two NJDEP Pesticide Applicator Core units will be given to all New Jersey Pesticide Applicators attending this talk. Mr. Mike Korpit of the US Department of Labor OSHA will discuss some new and review some old safety regulations for nurserymen and landscapers.

The Nursery Growers sessions will focus on Weed Management by Dr. Steve Hart, Specialist in Ornamental Weed Science with Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension, and New Ornamental Native Plants by Bruce Crawford, Director of the famous Rutgers Gardens in New Brunswick. Mr. Marc Teffeau, Director of Research and Regulatory Affairs at the ANLA in Washington will discuss New Research Initiatives to help the Industry. Dr. Zinati, Specialist in Nursery Management at Rutgers NJAES Cooperative Extension will share her research results on using mycorrhizae for nursery plants with growers.

The Landscape Conference, chaired by Jerome Frecon, Agricultural Agent with Rutgers NJAES, Cooperative Extension in Gloucester County, will feature presentations on Proper Tree Planting and Management, Leaf Scald and its Impact on Tree Decline, and Developing an Organic Landscape Management Business. Said Mr. Frecon, “We will close the conference with our popular panel of landscapers sharing ideas that have made their business successful”. Certified Nursery and Landscape Professionals will also receive 7 credits for participating in the entire conference.

Regular information will be posted on the web site at http://gloucester.njaes.rutgers.edu including a detailed copy of the program. Pre-registration is required. Contact Jerry Frecon at (856) 307-6450 Ext. 1 for more information. Call Carl Nordstrom at (800) 314-4836 to register for the conference and meeting.