This month’s articles
§ Starting
2009
§
New
§ Greenhouse
insect management
§ What is sustainable disease management for a
greenhouse?
§ Check incoming cuttings for bugs
§
Farmworker Legal
Services of
§ Employee Dismissal
§ Civil rights in employment decisions
Greenhouse Energy
Survey
January 19, 2009 -- The MSU Floriculture Team at
We have also created a comprehensive index of articles from the past five years. Articles have been sorted by topic in the PDF file. Click on the dates in the pdf to go directly to an article.
Do you have a comment, article suggestion or question? Please write to the catalert@msu.edu.
Thank you for reading! – Andrea Buchholz, assistant editor
New
January 26, 2009 -- Greenhouse growers and others planning to increase
their pumping capacities over 70GPM or those planning to put in a new well or
surface water withdrawal with a pumping capacity of over 70 GPM need to be
aware of the Water Withdrawal Tool. This tool must be run before any new
withdrawals are permitted or wells are put in. If the new water withdrawal is
approved, it can be registered with this new web tool.
Effective July 9, 2009, everyone will need to use the
screening tool available online at www.miwwat.org/ or request a site
specific review from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Anyone
with new or increased withdrawals cannot have an adverse impact on the
watershed or limit the amount of water that others already using that watershed
have available.
Local well drillers and health departments
will probably ask you if the withdrawal has been registered before they begin
work or permits are approved. This is all part of the Great Lakes Compact that
was signed into law last summer to prohibit diversions of Great Lakes water to
other parts of the
Several workshops explaining how to use the tool, have been hosted across the state. One more workshop
is scheduled in
Those who have been unable to attend a workshop across the state to understand how the tool works can learn more by reviewing this pdf document.
Janaury 21, 2009 -- A group of
multidisciplinary researchers at Michigan State University (MSU) is conducting
a study on greenhouse energy use, and grower input is needed. Greenhouse growers in
In the analysis, we will evaluate the profitability of adopting alternative energy conserving technologies under different market scenarios. We will also investigate the implications of policy changes regarding carbon dioxide emissions and volatile energy prices on the industry.
The research results will help position the greenhouse industry to address energy and efficiency issues, and allow MSU Extension to develop programs that better meet grower needs. The research team consists of Zhengfei Guan, Steve Harsh, and Bob Myers (professors of Agricultural Economics), and Erik Runkle (professor of Horticulture) at MSU. A summary report from this research will be sent to those that request it.
What is sustainable disease management for a greenhouse?
Thomas Dudek
January 21, 2009 -- I attended a national workshop on Sustainable Greenhouse
Production near
As defined by some in the industry, sustainable greenhouse horticulture "produces and sells crops in a manner that provides a profit for the business, minimizes the impact upon the environment, maximizes employee well-being, and benefits the community."
Part of this concept is understanding disease management. Dr. Janna Beckerman
from
January
19, 2009 -- Do not carry-over insects
from one crop to another. Keep thrips numbers down to less than 10 per card per
week in the fall and winter on poinsettias and Dracaena. Avoid keeping houseplants or allowing weeds to grow in
the greenhouse. When each batch of media arrives for a new crop, check it for
fungus gnats by filling a one-gallon ziplock bag half-full
with moist soil. If fungus gnat adults emerge within two weeks, consider
applying a fungus gnat treatment at planting time. Check incoming plant
material carefully. If insects are found, treat them with an appropriate
product (listed below) to start with as clean a crop as possible.
Monitor thrips and whiteflies with yellow
sticky cards. Change cards once per week. Use at least one card per house or
one per 2,000 square feet. Check the first plants to flower for thrips. For
spider mites and aphids, check susceptible plants like marigolds (mites) and
pepper s(aphids), weekly. Potato wedges can be stuck
in soil and checked 24 hours later for fungus gnat larvae.
Use
If yellow sticky cards or scouting indicates
an increase in aphids, mites, thrips, fungus gnats or whiteflies, apply the
following materials once per week until populations decrease to acceptable
levels.
Thrips:
Avid, Mesurol,
Orthene 97, Pylon, Safari, Sanmite,
Tristar, and Conserve. Note: Some thrips populations may be resistant to Conserve.
Aphids: Aria, Azatin, BotaniGard,
Celero, Decathlon, Discus, Distance, Endeavor, Enstar II, Flagship, Marathon, Ornazin,
Orthene 97, Precision, Safari, Talstar,
Tristar
Whiteflies: Azatin, BotaniGard, Celero,
Decathlon, Distance, Endeavor, Enstar, Flagship,
Marathon, Ornazin, Orthene
97, Precision, Safari, Sanmite, Talus, Judo, Tame, Tristar (Note: many populations of silverleaf
whitefly are resistant to Marathon, and some may also be resistant to Flagship,
Tristar, Safari, Distance and Talus)
Mites: Akari, Avid, Floramite, Hexygon, Judo, Ovation, ProMite, Pylon,
Sanmite, Shuttle, Tetrasan.
Broad mites: Avid, Akari, Judo, Pylon, SanMite.
Fungus
gnats: Azatin XL, Adept (not on
poinsettias), Distance,
Mealybugs: Aria, Celero, Flagship, Orthene,
Safari, Talus and Tristar.
Sucrashield isfrom Natural Forces for controlling aphids, mites, thrips,
whiteflies and caterpillars on vegetables, herbs and spices in the greenhouse
and outdoors. It is also for use on ornamentals, flowers and bedding plants.
This new product is based on a tobacco plant extract and is available now. The active ingredients, sucrose octanoate esters , have an LD50 of 750 to 1500 ppm for whiteflies, and the label rate is 104 oz per 100 gallons (compared with 4 to 8 oz per 100 gallons for most products). This product is similar to some soap or oil products because it is classified by EPA as non-toxic to people, but requires an application rate of 0.8 to 1.0 percent every 7 to 10 days. Sucrashield bears a WARNING on the label because of eye sensitivity. There is no information on the label about phytotoxicity, so caution is recommended until you have tested it yourself, or until phytotoxicity test data is available.
This product will give herb growers another tool to add to the short list of products labeled for use on herbs.
Kontos is from OHP for controlling mites,
whiteflies, aphids, and mealybugs. Kontos can be used
in the greenhouse, nursery, and interiorscapes on
ornamentals and vegetables.
The active ingredient in Kontos is spirotetramat, a tetramic acid derivative similar to Judo. This is a relatively safe product for humans and pets with a CAUTION on the label. Kontos has good activity on spider mites and whiteflies, including highly resistant whiteflies, like the “Q” biotype. Kontos is expected to be available in spring 2009.
Check incoming cuttings for bugs
January 19, 2009 -- Greenhouse growers are already reporting insect activity in
some ranges in the area. It’s cold outside (3 degrees
above zero on January 15), but inside we have already seen warm weather insects
like two-spotted spider mites on ivy geranium and Lamium
cuttings. Inspect all incoming plant products for hitchhikers that you did
not pay for but may be getting when your cuttings come in. Look on the
underside of leaves with a 16-20x hand lens for mites, or tap cuttings as you
open the box over a white sheet of paper and look for the tiny, yellowish-red
specks moving on the paper.
Check incoming ivy geraniums and spikes also for thrips as low numbers have
been seen both on leaves and on sticky cards. Are cards up in your houses that
have product in them? Do not ignore the spikes as they are a magnet for thrips
and even spider mites this time of the year.
If you have any tropicals or herbs that you are
bringing in like Lantana, lavender and rosemary, pay attention for white flies
as we have seen some come along with cuttings from southern growing areas.
There is a good chance that they are Q-biotype silver leaf whiteflies which are
resistant to some insecticides. Click for a pdf on management strategies for
Q-biotype if it has been confirmed in your greenhouse.
See Dr. Dave Smitley's article on which insecticides
work best for the problems mentioned above in this Greenhouse Alert. Be sure to isolate your pest problems now and
control them before moving them to other houses as the season goes on.
If you’re not sure of the insect or plant problem, be sure to get it identified correctly before applying a pesticide. I still see growers putting on products that do not work for the pest they are dealing with. Especially in today’s economic times, indentify first then treat. If you’re not sure of the problem, contact your local MSU Greenhouse educator and we will be happy to come out and help you.
January 19, 2009 -- Farmworker
Legal Services of Michigan has developed a flyer on driving in
As residents, they would need a
Thanks goes to Farmworker
Legal Services (FLS) for making this material available. If anyone has specific issues based on their unique
situations, they may need to contact their own attorney/advisor(s) with follow
up questions. FLS is funded to advise and represent eligible, low-income
migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their
dependents.
January 19, 2009 -- Dismissal is the involuntary termination of an employee’s employment. Because emotions often are high, dismissals need to be handled with great care—or avoided. How can managers avoid dismissals? Careful selection, training, and management decisions serve to reduce the number of dismissals. In any case, a dismissal should only be considered after other options have been tried and did not lead to the desired results. Except in cases of gross misconduct, the dismissal should not come unexpected to the employee. Managers need to make sure that sufficient opportunities for changes were provided and a fair disciplinary process was followed. In addition, regular evaluation of an employee’s performance and a paper trail regarding performance appraisals and disciplinary actions is a must should a terminated employee challenge the dismissal in court.
The implied-contract exception is brought on by an employer’s oral or written assurances with respect to job security or disciplinary procedures. For example, an employee handbook describing procedures to be followed if disciplinary action becomes necessary or statements to the effect that no employee will be fired without just cause create an implied contract. Then the employer needs to follow the described procedures. Also, if a manager in charge of hiring or the employee’s supervisor tell him or her that the employment will continue for as long as the work performed is adequate, an implied contract is created.
If an employee’s dismissal does not comply with the law or does not comply with contractual agreements stated or implied in handbooks, application forms, or other company documents, it is considered a wrongful discharge. A wrongful discharge may be actionable in court. Even if a plaintiff does not prevail, management time and attorney costs are reasons to carefully review company policies before dismissal decisions, in particular when the dismissal is without cause. As a preventive measure employers need to review and regularly update their employment documents, if they want to ensure an at-will employment relationship with their employees. However, less job security may also result in less loyalty from the employees.
Other important decisions in dismissal are how to conduct a termination interview and whether to offer severance pay.
To read Dr. Bitsch’s complete
newsletter go to her website at http://www.msu.edu/user/bitsch.
Under “News” click on “Agricultural Labor Issues in
January 19, 2009 -- While many federal laws protecting equal
employment opportunity exempt small businesses,
Most laws apply to all employment decision, including
hiring, training, evaluation, promotion, compensation, discipline, and
termination. But questions on how to treat everybody fair and equally often
come up during the selection process. As a general rule, all questions during
the selection process should be relevant to the job to be filled. On an
application form such questions may include name, address, and phone number,
the job the applicant is applying for, and a summary of the applicant’s
background (e.g., education and training, work history, special qualifications
and skills). Citizenship and ethnicity are not typically relevant to agricultural
jobs and, therefore, need to be avoided on application forms. An employer
concerned about hiring applicants who will later fail to provide the required
documentation for the I-9 form, may include a question in the application form,
such as “Are you legally eligible to work in the
Everybody who participates in the hiring process must be
familiar with the relevant qualifications, skills, and experience of the job or
jobs to be filled. Often times, small differences in how a question is asked
differentiate a legitimate question from a discriminatory one. For example,
“When did you attend college? When did you graduate?” could be construed as
discriminatory on the basis of age; “How long did you attend college? Did you
graduate?” are legitimates question, if education is a relevant job
qualification. By writing up questions before an interview, discriminatory
practices can be avoided. In addition, interviewers should take notes during
the interview in a neutral language. All interviewers must be trained how to
ask legitimate questions and what topics to avoid with job applicants. If an applicant
brings up any of these topics, such as family and children, disability, or
religion, it is best to not dwell on such information and to not ask any
follow-up questions. The best practice is to follow the general rule to only
ask job related questions and avoid all others, even if they legally can be
asked in
This Alert serves educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For more information go to www.msu.edu/user/bitsch, under “News” click on “Civil Rights and the Hiring Process” or click on “Agricultural Labor Issues in Michigan” for a list of available newsletters.