New InsectXaminer on Willow Leaf Beetle from UMass Amherst Extension

The imported willow leaf beetle was first reported in the United States in 1911 in Staten Island, NY. This invasive insect is native to Europe and prefers willow (Salix spp.) but has also been recorded on poplar (Populus spp.)

At the July Board of Directors meeting tonight it was decided to suspend the 2020 Mike Stacy Memorial Scholarship Golf tournament.  This decision was an extremely difficult one, but understandable given the current circumstances.  As this golf tournament is the only fundraiser for our scholarship fund, we are hoping to host a fundraiser later this year.  Details to follow. 

The Department is pleased to announce that it will begin opening dates to hold exams for new exam applicants.  Individuals should be able to begin signing up for new exams beginning tomorrow.  The exams will be held at the Colonial Inn in Gardener under a covered tent. Safety precautions will be sent to the examinees ahead of time so that they can be prepared when coming to the exam site. Please be aware that space is still limited, but the Department is continuing to work on an online exam process.  Additionally, we will be adding some additional dates for the beginning of August.  I understand how frustrating this whole process has been and I appreciate everyone’s patience during this time.  Safety of examinees and Department employees has been our priority when organizing this.  I will continue to provide you with updates when we have them.  Please feel free to share this with others.  Thank you

July 13 @ 11:00 AM

Registration link: https://www.northeastipm.org/ipm-in-action/the-ipm-toolbox/tick-ipm-3-asian-longhorned-tick-ipm/?utm_source=standalone&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=tick-ipm-webinars

The Asian longhorned tick is a threat to companion animals, livestock, and potentially also to wildlife. Join Dr. Dina Fonseca and Matt Bickerton to learn more about the biology, ecology, and vectorial capacity of this tick species.

UMass Plant Diagnostic lab has reopened

The UMass Plant Diagnostic Laboratory has reopened for plant disease, insect pest and invasive plant/weed samples. At this time, we can only accept mail-in samples; walk-in samples cannot be accepted. Please refer to our website for instructions on sample submission and to access the submission form.

Webinars:

Northeast IPM Center Tick IPM Toolbox Series

UMass Extension's

Hort Notes: Clippings from the Garden 
June 2020, Vol. 31:4
https://ag.umass.edu/landscape/newsletters/hort-notes/hort-notes-2020-vol-314

A monthly e-newsletter from UMass Extension for landscapers, arborists, and other Green Industry professionals.

IN THIS ISSUE 

• TickReport Update
• MA Pesticide License Info: Licenses, Study Manuals, and Exams
• Humidity and Water Management are Critical for Lawn Disease Prevention
• Q&A about Viburnum Leaf Beetle, Hornets, European Elm Scale, Gypsy Moth, and Euonymus Caterpillar
• Yellow Nutsedge Management in Turf and Landscape
• Garden Clippings Tips of the Month
• Can Community Forests in the Northeast U.S. Keep Pace with a Changing Climate?
• Upcoming Events

The Department is pleased to announce that it will begin holding pesticide exams during the week of June 15^th.  The exams will be given in small numbers within the exam applicants vehicle. Exams will be scheduled in the order of cancellation with a focus on the Commercial Applicators License (Core) exam for the first few exams.  The applicants will be contacted with the rescheduled date via email.  The email will include a set of detailed instructions.  If an individual is not able to make the rescheduled date but would still like to take the exam, they will be placed at the end of the list for rescheduling. It is imperative that if an individual has opted to no longer take the test they notify the Department immediately.  Due to the small size of the exams every spot counts towards getting through the backlog as quickly as possible.  Once all or most of the cancelled exams have been given, the Department will open up the exam dates to allow for new exams to be offered.  I would like to note that the Department has put out a request for bids relative to an online exam proctoring service for a long term solution.  We will keep you posted as that option develops.

Taryn LaScola-Miner, Director

https://www.northeastipm.org/about-us/publications/may-2020/

MASSACHUSETTS | Pesticide Advisory Council meets, MDAR updates in response to COVID-19

The Massachusetts Pesticide Advisory Council met last Friday with the staff of the Department of Agricultural Resources to discuss policy issues. Director of Crop & Pest Services Taryn LaScola-Miner had some interesting developments to pass along including a deadline extension for the auditing of recertification credits until September 30, 2020. The certification and training portion of the state regulations is under review and a first draft is expected to be circulated in the coming weeks. Highlights of changes being proposed include requiring professional applicators who use EPA 25(b) products to obtain a state pesticide license, the combination of the shade trees & ornamentals and turfgrass categories into a single category, and updates to the insurance coverage required by pesticide applicators. 

Massachusetts has canceled all pesticide license examinations through the month of May, leaving over 450 people who had applied prior to the onset of the pandemic without an opportunity to become licensed. Due to the logistics of how MDAR holds its exams, it will be difficult to resume until almost all of state restrictions have been lifted. MDAR has been looking into alternative methods for holding the exams, including having pest control companies host exams in company conference rooms. Late this week we learned from MDAR that they were adopting the concept of holding exams in parking lots with applicants remaining in their vehicles to achieve social distancing.

With the onset of the pandemic making it plain that the method of holding exams was obsolete, MDAR announced that they had issued a request for proposals to establish an on-line proctored exam system to replace the OMR bubble sheet system that has been in use for decades. The new system will be very similar to those adopted in many other states that allow applicants to access examinations on demand and significantly reduce the amount of time necessary to complete the license process.