06/04/2008

NE Ohio Lawn Care Seminar Slated June 19 in Wooster

Writer:

Randi Espinoza
ct-oardc@osu.edu
330-263-3780

Source:

Kevin Thompson, OLCA
info@OhioLawnCare.org
800-510-5296- ext. 3151

WOOSTER, Ohio — If you’re involved in lawn and landscape maintenance, come to the sixth annual Northeast Ohio Lawn Care Seminar, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Thursday, June 19, to see what’s new in managing pests and weeds.

Sponsored by the Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center (OARDC) and the Ohio Lawn Care Association (OLCA), the program takes place on the OARDC campus, 1680 Madison Ave., Wooster.

“This year, the main emphasis of the seminar will be on identification of various turf and ornamental pests and on determination of weed and insect management timing,” said Parwinder Grewal, an entomologist and turfgrass specialist with OARDC and Ohio State University Extension. “Results of our new research on the chemical, biological and cultural control of weeds and insects will be presented also.”

Registration for OLCA members, if received by June 12, costs $35 for the first OLCA member from a company and $25 for each additional member from that company. OLCA members pay $40 per person after June 12, including at the event.

Registration for OLCA non-members costs $70 per person by June 12 and $85 per person after June 12 and at the event.

Non-members can join OLCA for the remainder of 2008 — the cost ranges from $25 to $125, depending on category — and register for free and pay $25 for each additional person.

Registration includes refreshments, lunch and instructional materials. Lunch is guaranteed only to pre-registrants.

For more information and to register, call (800) 510-5296, e-mail info@OhioLawnCare.org, or go to http://www.OhioLawnCare.org.

The event begins with registration at 8 a.m., followed by group sessions at 9 a.m. and lunch at noon. The group will be divided into smaller groups, spending 60 minutes at each station, to allow hands-on instruction.

The presentations:

• “Equipment Calibration for Ride-on Spreaders/Sprayers” by Rob Palmer, Weed Pro Ltd., and Kim Kellogg, Grasshopper Property Maintenance.

“There are several types of machines being used by lawn-care operators, and with the increasing cost of materials, proper calibration is very important for cost control and proper turf management,” said OLCA Executive Director Kevin Thompson.

• “Turf and Ornamental Insect Identification and Control” by David Shetlar, OARDC and OSU Extension, and Alfred Alumai, OARDC.

• “Weed Identification and Control” by John Cardina, OARDC and OSU Extension, and Dave Gardner OARDC.

• “Insect and Disease Calendar” (phenology) by Grewal and Ashley Font, OARDC.

“We also have planned a roundtable discussion, ‘Controlling Costs and Emerging Issues,’ at 2 p.m. for owners and managers of lawn-care companies to share ideas about growing concerns in the industry, including what they are doing to manage their fuel and fertilizer costs,” Thompson added.

The Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA) will hold Pesticide Applicators License testing from 2-5 p.m. Schedule a test by calling (800) 282-1955 or going to http://www.ohioagriculture.gov. Bring a photo ID with you to the exam.

Also ahead is the Ohio Lawn Care Outdoor Summer Seminar Aug. 14 in Columbus.

OARDC and OSU Extension are the research and outreach arms, respectively, of Ohio State’s College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences.

OLCA serves the lawn-care industry and affiliated industries by providing essential agronomic, business, education and legislative resources.

- 30 -