REMINDER: “Potential Solutions for Parvispinus” Webinar TOMORROW!

Join us for a GrowON webinar tomorrow (Tuesday May 30th) on potential solutions for Thrips parvisipinus from “boots on the ground” folks. This includes technical reps, industry consultants, and extension specialists.

Read on for more information and how to register.

Potential Solutions for Parvispinus: Lessons from the Field

What:

Previous webinars (from the University of Florida on May 4th and the Horticultural Research Institute on May 10th) have brought you critical information on the history and spread of this pest, monitoring tips, and potential pesticide options from lab-based tests.

With this webinar, we want to give you potential IPM solutions based on field observations and on-farm trials. Although we are a long way away from a tried-and-true IPM program for T. parvispinus, every success – and failure – in the field can help guide other growers.

When:

Tuesday May 30th, from 12-1:30pm.

Where:

Register at https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_FR-qlIs-RUO_X1hoJynAnw

Any issues with registration can be directed to sarah.jandricic@ontario.ca

Who:

12:00 – 12:05 pm : Welcome and Intro by Dr. Sarah Jandricic, OMAFRA.

12:05- 12:25 pm: Suzanne Wainwright-Evans, Buglady Consulting. For the past 25 years, Suzanne (buglady@bugladyconsulting.com) has provided expert horticultural/entomological advice to the industry. She specializes in biological control, IPM, pesticides, biopesticides, organics, and sustainable pest management. Her crop focuses include ornamentals, cannabis, hemp, and herbs/vegetables. 

Talk: “Identification, damage and biocontrol options for T. parvispinus in ornamental crops”. Description: with a wealth of photos, the Buglady will teach you what to look for to determine if you have Parvispinus on your farm. She’ll also discuss potential biocontrol options, from mites to nematodes.

12:25-12:45 pm :Steven Arthurs: Technical Sales Specialist at BIOBEE USA. Dr. Arthurs is an Entomologist with 20+ years’ academic and industry experience in arthropod pest management and plant protection. Steven’s current work focuses on implementing and expanding the use of beneficial arthropods in both horticultural and open field crops.

Talk: “Thrips parvispinus, experiences from the field and potential biocontrols“. Description: Dr. Arthurs will share preliminary observations of using beneficial mites and insects to control T. parvispinus in the nursery (gardenia and mandevilla). He will also cover the likely compatibility of such beneficials with insecticides currently being used against T. parvispinus and discuss potential strategies that might be more effective for sustainable control of this pest.

12: 45 – 1:15 pm: Sarah Jandricic, Greenhouse Floriculture IPM Specialist, OMAFRA. Dr. Sarah Jandricic has worked in floriculture IPM for over 25 years in academia, industry and government. Her work focuses on long-term, economical solutions for both pests and diseases plaguing floriculture growers.

Talk: “An IPM program for T. parvispinus in mandevilla: results of an on-farm trial”. Description: This talk will cover efforts to control this pest with mass trapping, biological control and chemical pesticides over 8 months in a greenhouse in Ontario, Canada. We’ll discuss what worked and what didn’t, concerns over pesticide resistance, as well as what we’re trying this year.

1:15 – 1:30pm: Q&A Period.

Upcoming GrowON Webinar on May 30th! “Potential Solutions for Parvispinus: Lessons from the Field”

Webinars on Thrips parvispinus are coming fast and hard lately, as scientists and extension agents try to get you the very latest information on this serious pest of ornamentals and peppers.

Join us for a GrowON webinar next Tuesday on potential solutions for this pest from “boots on the ground” folks. This includes technical reps, industry consultants, an your friendly neighborhood extension specialist in Ontario.

Read on for more information and how to register.

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Japanese Beetle Control 2023: Changes to Allowable Pesticides and Updates to Infographic

It will soon be that time of year again, when Japanese beetle (JB) adults begin to fly! However, there have been some changes to acceptable control products for JB growers need to be aware of in order to be in compliance with certification programs for this pest.

This post highlights changes to treatments and also provides an updated infographic for JB control for those exporting to non-JB areas (both domestically and to the United States).

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Webinars on Thrips parvispinus TOMORROW and May 10th!

Sorry for the short notice folks, but even sometimes I’m out of the loop! There are two upcoming webinars on Thrips parvispinus, the new invasive thrips that is a serious pest of tropical ornamentals and pepper crops.

The first is by the University of Florida Extension folks, and should be a great update on what’s happening at the source. That webinar is TOMORROW (May 4) at 10am-12pm ET, so hopefully you see this in time! Hopefully it will be recorded for those that miss it.

The next webinar is on May 10th, and is being put on jointly by the Horticultural Research Institute, AmericanHort, the Canadian Nursery & Landscape Association, and American Floral Endowment.

For more details on these webinars and how to register, keep reading.

Continue reading “Webinars on Thrips parvispinus TOMORROW and May 10th!”

Thrips parvispinus (“Pepper Thrips”): The Importance of Inspecting Plants and Dipping Cuttings from Florida

I’ve written about the tropical pest Thrips parvispinus, now being called “pepper thrips”, infesting certain tropical ornamentals in Canada before. But it appears this pest has become widespread in Florida.

As Ontario sources much of its plant material from Florida, it’s a good idea to exercise caution, even on non-tropical plants. The known host range of this pest is evolving, and thrips have the potential to hitch-hike on less-preferred plant hosts and spread to more preferred hosts in your greenhouse.

Read on for information on the situation in Florida and what you can do to help protect your greenhouse from this pest.

Continue reading “Thrips parvispinus (“Pepper Thrips”): The Importance of Inspecting Plants and Dipping Cuttings from Florida”

MSU Webinar: “The Trouble with Tropicals” – March 16th

The recent boom in tropical plant production over the past few years means growers are encountering different and more challenging pests in greenhouses. Please join me and Judy Colley (Biological Technical Rep for Plant Products) for an upcoming webinar with Michigan State University Extension, where we talk about how to manage the “usual suspects” on various tropicals, as well as some of the more unique problems!

Keep reading for more information on registration.

Continue reading “MSU Webinar: “The Trouble with Tropicals” – March 16th”

Thrips: Going Dark for Winter

It turns out thrips and I have something very important in common – we both like to change up our look depending on the season!

Although you (probably) have no trouble recognizing me with a change of hair colour, different colour morphs within certain thrips species can throw growers for a loop when it comes to identification.

Read on for which thrips like to shake it up seasonally, so you don’t get fooled.

This post was written by Dr. S. Jandricic (OMAFRA) and A. Summerfield (Vineland).

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New Tool to Fight Mites and Bemisia Whitefly in Greenhouse Floriculture: Magister SC

As growers are continuously battling new pests, as well as old nemeses, any new tool is a welcome addition in the pesticide toolbox.

The Pest Management Regulatory Agency recently registered an interesting new product: Magister SC (fenazaquin), which is a miticide, insecticide AND a fungicide!

Although registered against powdery mildew in some crops, only the miticide/insecticide use pattern is allowed in greenhouse ornamentals. More information on this product is available below.

Continue reading “New Tool to Fight Mites and Bemisia Whitefly in Greenhouse Floriculture: Magister SC”

Looking Ahead to 2023: Preparing for Spring Crops

This post was jointly written by Dr. Chevonne Dayboll and Dr. Sarah Jandricic

It’s hard to believe, but as the first snow hits the ground here in Niagara, that means its time to think about spring crops again!

This post gathers some of the most important things to plan and prep for in the greenhouse, including ordering inputs, preventative maintenance, and your pest management and PGR plans!

Think of this post as your “to-do” check list for the month of December, as the time to plan all this is NOW, before your spring production begins.

We’ve also linked to some helpful videos we’ve recorded from our GrowON webinar series that are relevant to spring crops. They’re worth a re-watch – or a first watch – if you haven’t seen them before!

Continue reading “Looking Ahead to 2023: Preparing for Spring Crops”

REMINDER: GrowON Webinar on Onion Thrips Control TOMORROW! (Thurs Aug. 25th)

Onion thrips (Thrips tabaci) are an increasing pest of greenhouse ornamentals, strawberries, vegetables, and even cannabis. Why is this, and what can growers do about it?

To learn more about this emerging pest, register for the latest GrowON webinar – a webinar series JUST for covered crops!

Click on the image to register or see the link below!

Continue reading “REMINDER: GrowON Webinar on Onion Thrips Control TOMORROW! (Thurs Aug. 25th)”