NDSU Horticulture Research Field Day Set for Aug. 20

If you are interested in learning more about woody landscape plants, tree diseases and small-fruit research, plan to attend the North Dakota State University Horticulture Research Field Day.

The tour begins at 5 p.m. at the NDSU Horticulture Research Farm and Dale E. Herman Research Arboretum near Absaraka. Beverages and cookies will be provided.

The tour will include NDSU tree and shrub selections, ongoing research, common and exotic species, and the dwarf conifer collection. Research trials on Juneberries and grapes will be featured. Information on hybrid poplar diseases, emerald ash borer and pine/spruce diseases also will be presented.

The 80-acre farm includes the 35-acre Dale E. Herman Research Arboretum, which has the largest collection of woody plants in the northern Plains, plus additional plot research areas.

Todd West, NDSU associate professor in woody plant selection and introduction research; Harlene Hatterman-Valenti, NDSU professor in high-value crop research; and Jared LeBoldus, NDSU assistant professor in tree pathology research, will do presentations on their research activities.

Joseph Zeleznik, NDSU Extension Service forester, and Aaron Bergdahl, North Dakota Forest Service forest health specialist, will provide updates on issues relating to North Dakota's woody plants.

Directions to the NDSU Horticulture Research Farm:

>From the east/west: Take Interstate 94 and turn north at Wheatland exit 324. Follow the pavement to the north. The road curves to the west shortly after passing through Wheatland. Turn north (right) on Cass County Road 5 (paved road). At the Absaraka corner, the road changes to gravel at a slight curve. Go north about three-fourths of a mile (sign posted). Turn east (right) on a field road and proceed one-half mile to the Horticulture Research Farm, which is bordered by trees.

>From the north: Take Interstate 29 south to Argusville exit 79. Go west approximately 20 miles on Cass County Road 4 (paved). Turn south on County Road 5 (gravel, sign posted) for approximately four miles. Turn east (left) prior to the Absaraka corner (sign posted) and proceed one-half mile to the Horticulture Research Farm, which is bordered by trees.

MDA advises consumers to be aware when buying landscaping plants

St. Paul, Minn. - The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is reminding consumers to check viability and cold hardiness before purchasing trees, shrubs and other plants for landscaping. Last summer, Minnesota state statute made it even easier for consumers to determine if a tree, shrub or other plant will successfully grow in Minnesota.

MDA defined "nonhardy" as a plant that cannot be expected to survive or reliably produce flowers and fruit in average minimum winter temperatures at the growing site. By law, all nursery stock not cold hardy for Minnesota must be labeled "nonhardy."

Already this spring, MDA nursery inspectors have found dead and damaged packaged plants, and some stores selling plants in poor condition. They have also found stores carrying plants that are mislabeled for Minnesota’s cold hardiness zones. Minnesota is generally zone 3 in the northern half of the state and zone 4 in the south.

Plants not meant for Minnesota’s climate are unlikely to thrive here, unless extra protection is provided. Fruit trees that are not hardy may survive but will not produce fruit as flower buds are killed by cold temperature.

“Consumers are protected from mislabeled or unhealthy plants by Minnesota laws we enforce,” said Geir Friisoe, MDA’s Plant Protection Division Director. “Proper care of plants displayed for sale is critical to survival. No green thumb can save a plant that has been significantly damaged in its early life stages.”

To ensure consumers are purchasing viable and hardy nursery plants, the MDA offers the following advice:

· Plan ahead and make sure the plants you select are hardy for the area where they will be planted.

· Plants in plastic bags should be kept dormant. Once growth begins these plants should be planted or potted immediately. Check for soft or mushy roots which could indicate rot.

· Dormant plants can be planted as soon as the ground has thawed. However, newly planted stock can be damaged by freezing and frost. It may be better to wait until potted plants are available instead of buying packaged plants when it may be too early to plant.

Consumers can find a Minnesota plant hardiness list and a map of Minnesota hardiness zones at http://www.mda.state.mn.us/en/licensing/licensetypes/nurseryprogram.aspx.

UMC hosts Mid-America Collegiate Horticultural Society Annual Conference

CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota, Crookston Horticulture Club is hosting the Mid-America Collegiate Horticultural Society (MACHS) 39th annual conference. This event will be from Thursday, October 20 to Sunday, October 23, 2011, and the theme is “Little Campus on the Prairie.” The MACHS conference is expected to bring more than 40 horticultural students from across the Midwest to the U of M, Crookston campus. This is the first time that the U of M, Crookston Horticulture Club has hosted this event.

MACHS is comprised of horticulture clubs from universities and two-year colleges in the Midwest Region including Colorado, Kansas, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. MACHS is a branch of the Association of Collegiate Branches (ACB) within the American Society for Horticultural Sciences (ASHS). ACB is a national forum comprised of undergraduate horticulture clubs within ASHS.

The objective of MACHS is to promote an awareness of the profession of horticulture, furnish a medium of communication for horticulture students, and exchange club and professional ideas. These objectives are met through a variety of activities taking place throughout the weekend conference.

Thursday night students will gather in the U of M, Crookston greenhouse classroom for registration, refreshments, and a campus welcome by Ron DelVechio, U of M, Crookston professor and head of the Agriculture and Natural Resources Department. Friday morning begins with a contest which includes a general knowledge exam, plant identification, and plant judging. Each school has a team of four students whose individual scores contribute to the team total. This contest is designed to challenge the horticulture students and allow them to see where they stand in relation to other universities.

Friday afternoon will include three guest speakers. Linda Kingery of the Northwest Regional and Sustainable Development Partnership will be talking to students about local foods. Kathleen Brokke, historian and horticulturalist, will be performing her interpretation of Fannie Manhood Heath, a pioneer horticulturalist in this region. Minnesota Nursery and Landscaping Association president Bert Swanson will also be sharing his industry perspective with the up and coming industry leaders. Friday evening will include a banquet meal with keynote speaker Rusty Schmidt, natural resource specialist with the Washing Conservation District. Schmidt is one of three authors of the Bluethumb Guide to Raingardens which has changed the way people think about using water in the Twin Cities area and beyond.

Saturday is a day of regional tours. Students will begin the day with naturalist Rhett Johnson leading the group through the Agassiz Dunes Scientific and Natural Area in Fertile, Minn. Traveling south to Detroit Lakes, Minn. the group will see the poinsettia growing operation of Bergen’s Greenhouse, Inc. In Park Rapids, Minn. students will visit the wholesale perennial growing operation of Bergen’s Nursery. The final stop for the group will be Itasca State Park where the group will take a tour of Minnesota’s conifers. Students will also have an opportunity to cross the headwaters of the Mississippi River which will be a first-time experience for many students who come from much farther downriver.

Sunday marks the end of the weekend conference as the MACHS students hold their annual business meeting. Awards from Friday’s team contest also will be presented. It will be a weekend of learning, networking, and growing as a horticulturalist for all students involved.

The entire event is being planned by the U of M, Crookston Horticulture Club students with support from U of M, Crookston staff and faculty. The MACHS annual conference is the largest undertaking in the history of the Horticulture Club, and they are excited to showcase their program, the campus, and the community to many other universities and technical colleges.

U of M, Crookston senior Kristine Neu currently serves as the chair of MACHS, and she works with a team of four other officers from South Dakota State University; the University of Wisconsin, River Falls; and Iowa State University. For more information about MACHS visit, www.umn.edu/events/machs.

MDA advises consumers to be aware when buying landscaping plants

St. Paul, Minn. - The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is reminding consumers to check viability and hardiness before purchasing trees, shrubs and other plants for landscaping. Already this spring, MDA nursery inspectors have found dead and damaged packaged plants in some Minnesota stores. Inspectors have found stores selling plants that are in poor condition. They’ve also found stores carrying plants that are labeled for growing in Minnesota’s hardiness zone (a temperature range based on location) but in reality will not likely survive our extreme low winter temperatures.

“Consumers are protected from mislabeled or unhealthy plants by Minnesota laws we enforce,” said Geir Friisoe, MDA’s Plant Protection Division Director. “Proper care of plants displayed for sale is critical to survival. No green thumb can save a plant that has been significantly damaged in its early life stages.”

Damage can occur due to improper care and handling. Plants packed in plastic bags are intended to be kept dormant until they are planted. To maintain dormancy, plants should be kept cold but protected from freezing. Stores often display dormant packaged plants inside the store where temperatures encourage growth. Once this growth has begun, energy stored in the plant is reduced and, though some growth may occur, the plant is stressed and is not likely to thrive. If this growth begins, retailers are required to remove these plants from sale.

Minnesota is in four separate hardiness zones and while state law requires label accuracy, including hardiness on the label is not required. Plants not meant for Minnesota’s climate are unlikely to thrive here, regardless of the care that is provided. Fruit trees that are not hardy may survive but will not likely produce fruit.

To ensure consumers are purchasing viable and hardy nursery plants, the MDA offers the following advice:
• Plan ahead and make sure the plants you select are hardy for the area where they will be planted.
• Plants in plastic bags should be kept dormant. Once growth begins these plants should be planted or potted immediately. Check for soft or mushy roots which could indicate rot.
• Dormant plants can be planted as soon as the ground has thawed. However, newly planted stock can be damaged by freezing and frost. It may be better to wait until potted plants are available instead of buying packaged plants when it may be too early to plant.

Consumers can refer to the University of Minnesota Extension website http://www.extension.umn.edu/garden/ for plant selection and planting recommendations.