Page 65 - MNLGA Free State Spring 2024_WEB SPREADS

TOTAL PLANT MANAGEMENT A Stanton Gill to monitor and apply pesticides as well as beneficial
organisms. Both land and aerial drones have quickly
become prevalent in the nursery and greenhouse industry.
Staying Profitable by Adopting New Live Drone Demos

We will demonstrate irrigation management using field
Technology and Biological Control sensing devices and show how photon light meters measure
light quality in greenhouses. This is an opportunity for
technology leaders and machine enthusiasts to see the
benefits of the latest equipment in action.
XTE Land Drone

Technology Field Day is organized by the University of
Maryland Extension, University of Delaware Extension
and the Maryland Nursery, Landscape and Greenhouse
Association. You can find more information, including how to
an adopting a new approach help make you more sign-up, on the MNLGA website, https://mnlga.org/ A Biological control for greenhouse herb production
profitable? One thing’s for sure, if you’re not looking
Cat trends and new ways to conduct your horticulture
business, someone else just might beat you to the punch. Land and aerial drones have quickly
become prevalent in the nursery and
To help you adapt to the changing world, the University greenhouse industry.
of Maryland Extension is setting up two forward-thinking
conferences for the horticulture industry. The first is a two-
day Biological Control Conference including a hands-on
lab opportunity. The second is a Technology Field Day with
live demonstrations of cutting-edge tools that can keep you
profitable and relevant for the next decade.

Biological Control Conference – June 5-6, 2024
The Biological Control Conference will take place at the new
University of Maryland Research and Education Center and
can accommodate up to 85 participants. At this facility, we
have an updated pathology and entomology lab with liquid
crystal screens hooked to dissecting scopes that allow you to
easily see small predators, parasites, and fungi.

We have invited some of the top researchers and Liquid crystal screens hooked to dissecting scopes Extension Specialist in IPM and
practitioners in biological control including John Sanderson Entomology University of Maryland
of Cornell University, Michael Brownbridge and Eric Clifton of have a series of lectures about the use of biological control Extension, Central Maryland Research
BioWorks, Stephan Jaronski formerly with USDA, Tim Waller of in nursery and greenhouse operations. This part of the and Ed Center.
Rutgers University, Matt Krause of Lallemand Bio Company, program will be open to all 85 participants.
and Steve Hershfeld of Hillcrest Nursery who has been using This two-day conference is organized by the University of Sgill@umd.edu, 410-868-9400
biological control for greenhouse herb production. Drone Maryland Extension, the University of Delaware Extension
pilot, Kirk Floyd of KDrone Services, and our UMD drone and the Maryland Nursery, Landscape, and Greenhouse Additional credits:
team, will conduct a live demonstration showing how to use Association. You can find more information, including how David Clement, Extension Plant pathologist, HGIC, University of Maryland Extension,
drones to apply beneficial mites and low risk fungicides such to sign up, at our website http://extension.umd.edu/ipm. Clement@umd.edu
as MilStop. Andrew Ristvey, Extension Specialist in Irrigation and Nutrient Management, Aristvey@umd.edu
Technology Field Day – June 20, 2024
On the first day of the conference, we will hold two repeat Technology Field Day is designed to keep those working Hemendra Kumar, Extension Agriculture Engineer Specialist, University of MD Extension,
Hemendra@umd.edu
lab sessions where participants will have the opportunity in commercial horticulture up to date on the latest labor- Suzanne Klick, Lead Technician, University of Maryland Extension, Sklick@umd.edu
to handle beneficial organisms, nematodes, and plant saving devices available to the industry. Participants will Sheena O’Donnell, Technician, University of Maryland Extension
stimulants used in disease control. These lab sessions will be move from station to station observing live demonstrations Kirk Floyd, Drone pilot, Kdrone Company
limited to the first 28 participants. On the second day, we will
of machinery, monitoring devices, and drones used

64 SPRING 2024 • Free State News Membership Matters • SPRING 2024 65