NTNGA Memorial Greenhouse

The Northeast Texas Nursery Growers Association has established the NTNGA Memorial Fund. The mission of the NTNGA Memorial Fund is to promote the nursery industry, provide the most up to date and relevant information to our members, and to assist in the establishment and ongoing work of programs that provide our members with vital information. The first project the fund is supporting is the construction of NTNGA Memorial Greenhouse at the Texas AgriLife Research and Extension Center at Overton to provide the industry with vital research needed to support their industry.

This project was made possible through support from the following sponsors (as of 6/20/08):

Financial Contributions
Bruce Miller Nursery and Farm
Circle G Nursery
Kimbrew-Walter Roses, Inc.
Landmark Wholesale Nurseries
Northeast Texas Nursery Growers Association
OHP, Inc
Texas Nursery and Landscape Association, Region 3
Tru-Liner Nursery Company

Equipment Donated by:
Dosmatic U.S.A., Inc. (Injectors)
Dramm Corporation (Hoses, watering wands, etc)
Kinney Bonded Warehouse, Inc. (Reduced greenhouse price)
Texas IPM Program (Benches - partial)

If you are interested in helping sponsor the NTNGA Memorial Greenhouse project, please contact Jade Hopson at Circle G Nursery (jadehopson@sbcglobal.net) or (903) 963-5255.

For more information on the NTNGA Memorial Greenhouse and follow its construction visit http://etipm.tamu.edu/greenhouse.cfm.

New Scale on Croton

This spring a never described species of soft scale was discovered on crotons in Florida. The scale was first found on April 9th at a nursery in Marathon, FL. Since that time it has been found in 11 Florida counties.

Why is this important to Texas growers? Most crotons sold in Texas started off as liners in Florida. Although the scale have not been found in Texas, this is another example of the importance of properly inspecting liners, plugs, and any other plant material you bring into your facility.

For more information on this new scale species see the Florida DPI Pest Alert at
http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/ento/coccoidea_coccidae.html.

Photograph credit: Lyle Buss, University of Florida

Southwest Growers Conference

This years Southwest Growers Conference will be held in Conroe, TX on July 8-9, 2008. Meeting and registration information information is available on the conference website (http://swgrowers.tamu.edu).

On Tuesday, July 8, there will be tours to four innovative nursery/greenhouse operations.

On Wednesday, July 9, there will be a full day of timely educational sessions at the Lone Star Exposition Center. Two morning sessions will focus on the practical and economic applications of environmental sustainability. Afterwards, a session on hiring a legal work force will cap off the morning program. In the afternoon, there will be sessions on water quality and alkalinity, controlling new insect and disease pests, the use of PGR's, reducing weed control costs, and a laws/regs session to cap off the day. TDA Certified Pest Applicator CEU credits as well as TNLA CEU credits will be available.