SUMMER 2020 ISSUE
S O U T H E R N C H A P T E R O F T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L S O C I E T Y O F A R B O R I C U LT U R E
ISA
S UTHERN
Storm Preparedness North Carolina puts USFS Southern Region funding to use for training and outreach. SEE STORY ON PAGE 12
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Release the ideas of:
Being squeezed. Crunching numbers. Balance sheets. Scarcity. Hurting your bottom line.
Embrace the concepts of:
Cultivating relationships. Growing partnerships within our community. Realizing what is truly important.
ARBORMETRICS — Reimagining how to streamline your vegetation management program.
w w w. A R B O R M E T R I C S . c o m
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Message from the President
Do you know someone who stands out in our industry? Be sure to check out the Southern Chapter’s online awards page. You’ll find an impressive list of honorees, award criteria descriptions, and a link to the nomination form.
I hope you all are healthy and staying as safe as possible. Despite conferences being canceled during much of 2020, there are plenty of opportunities to get your CEUs. TREE Fund, urban forest councils, state Cooperative Extension Services, and others are offering a multitude of online educational events. COVID-19 has pushed us into the 21st century, whether we wanted it or not. Your Southern Chapter leaders are busy planning the 2021 Conference in Atlanta (see Executive Director’s report on pg 10) as well as other events such as TRAQ. In particular, we’re excited about the Atlanta conference and hope to have a mix of the traditional conference format with new(ish) events including lightning presentations, a student workshop, and a roundtable discussion with sister organizations such as state urban forest councils. You will be amazed at how conference and lodging have changed since
by Jason Gordon
last year – we’re in a brave new world. Besides event planning, your Chapter Board has also begun working on a strategic plan. The Chapter will contract with a planning expert because strategic planning is as much an art as a science. Those of you who have participated in strategic planning know that a process which is not methodical results in a waste of participants’ time and a poor plan that is unutilized. Southern Chapter’s strategic plan will address the Chapter’s goals and operations for the next three years. It is a roadmap forward to better serve its mission and address members’ needs. We must work together to make this process as efficient and impactful as possible. Please expect requests for your input over the next year and don’t hesitate to contact your state representative with any comments or concerns. In the past, Southern Chapter has filled its committees with Board Representatives. We are now opening several of the committees to the general membership through co-opted positions. These committee members will have full speaking and voting rights. This is a great opportunity for Chapter members to continued on page 4
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2020-2021 Southern Chapter Officers
Message from the President
President: Jason Gordon UGA Warnell School of Forestry & Natural Resources (706) 542-1011 Jason.Gordon@uga.edu
participate actively in the Chapter without taking the bigger step of becoming a state Board Representative. We need your ideas and expertise! Committees currently available include scholarship, public relations, and tree climbing committees. You would only meet in person once per year (at our annual meeting). Please contact Skip Kincaid if you’re interested or if you need more information. The Southern Chapter scholarship application is currently available at www.isasouthern.org/scholarship. This scholarship was initiated in memory of past members Thomas Dedrick, Dustin Heitschmidt, Michael Zarichnak, and Rae Ann Ham. Thanks to Davey for adding considerably to the fund. The scholarship assists students pursuing a higher education in fields related to professional tree care and maintenance within the Southern Chapter and provides up to $1,500 for one academic year. The scholarship is awarded to students at 2-year or 4-year institutions and looks great on a resume. We need Chapter members to spread the word about the scholarship. Tell your siblings, friends, nieces and nephews, and anybody else who qualifies to apply so the review committee is challenged in selecting a recipient among a large group of worthy candidates. We are all aware of the labor challenges in the tree-care industry, so we should strengthen the industry’s future by supporting students who have an interest in the field. Finally, please feel free to submit articles for this newsletter. Articles can be about almost any arboriculture topic, although they shouldn’t be advertising products or services unless they are not-for-profit such as Cooperative Extension products. Please don’t be shy about your writing skills; the message is what’s most important and we can work with you on the writing. Sharing information among members is an important goal of the newsletter. Articles can be emailed to Sarah Mitchell at newsletter@isasouthern.org.
Executive Director: Skip Kincaid (888) 339-8733 skincaid@isasouthern.org President Elect: Kasey Krouse City of Knoxville (865) 215-6113 kkrouse@knoxvilletn.gov Vice President/Treasurer: Nancy Beckemeyer Georgia Power Company (404) 590-9376 nsbeckem@southernco.com Chapter CoR Representative: David Vandergriff Griff Arbor|Hort (865) 705-4983 griffarbor@gmail.com Tree Climbing Championship: Scott Winningham (931) 261-1967 sawinningham@charter.net TREE Fund Liaison: (open) Past President: Jimmy Walters Urban Forest Advisors LLC (864) 992-0252 jimmy.3t@gmail.com Media Director and Editor: Sarah Mitchell (336) 409-7805 sarahmitchell@live.com Conference Planner: Connie Hilson (217) 766-1044 conference@isasouthern.org
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Asian longhorned beetle: Update from South Carolina Information compiled from Dr. David R. Coyle, Assistant Professor, Forest Health and Invasive Species, Department of Forestry and Environmental Conservation, Clemson University, and Tom Hallman, Public Service and Agriculture, Clemson University
An invasive species of beetle discovered for the first time in South Carolina has state and federal officials conducting surveys in Charleston County to determine the extent of the insect’s spread. The Asian longhorned beetle was found by a homeowner in Hollywood, SC, who contacted Clemson University’s Department of Plant Industry (DPI) to report it. A DPI inspector collected the insect for identification and conducted a preliminary survey of the trees on the property. At least four maple trees appear to be infested and inspectors have captured live beetles. “We were very fortunate that the residents reported it when they did,” said Steven Long, Assistant Director of Clemson Regulatory Services who oversees DPI and invasive species. “We think it is confined just to this local area, but we are just getting started with our surveys.” Clemson’s Plant and Pest Diagnostic Clinic and the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service’s (APHIS) National Identification Services have confirmed the insect’s identity. The Asian longhorned beetle, Anoplophora glabripennis, is a wood-boring beetle that threatens a variety of hardwood trees, including maple, elm, ash, sycamore, poplar, and willow. It is not a pest of the oak species that are more abundant in South Carolina. South Carolina is the sixth state to detect an Asian longhorned beetle infestation. Residents in the town of Hollywood and in surrounding Charleston County communities are encouraged to allow state and federal access to property to survey for the pest. They can also help by looking for the beetle and examining the trees on their property for damage beetles may be caused. “The number one thing we need is access to property in the inspection area,” Long said. “Survey crews will be operating in the area for the next several weeks and possibly months as we determine the extent of the infestation. Landowners’ cooperation is vital to ensuring this pest doesn’t establish a foothold. “The second thing we need is for people to help us look,” he said. “Our inspectors are experienced in examining the tree for signs of the beetles’ presence, but the more eyes we have looking for the insect and the more obvious damage it causes, the more likely we are to find it.” Originally found in North America in 1996, infestations have occurred in Ontario (Canada), Illinois, Ohio, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and now South Carolina. The infestations in Ontario, Illinois, and some of the infestations in Ohio have been eradicated, and that is the goal with the current SC infestation as well. The beetle likely arrived here in wooden shipping material, such as pallets or dunnage. Adults can fly, but continued on page 8 PAGE 6
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Larvae of the Asian longhorned beetle munch during the winter inside their hardwood tree hosts. Image Credit: USDA - APHIS
Asian longhorned beetle
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they do not usually spread far on their own. Larvae feed on the phloem at first, then feed in the wood afterwards. As the beetle bores into the tree, it interrupts the flow of life-giving sap. The feeding in the wood destroys the structural integrity of the tree, and greatly increases the chance that branches or whole trees will break off. Adults are large (up to 1.5” long), shiny black beetles with small white spots, black and white striped antennae, and bluish feet. The Asian longhorned beetle also has white spots on its abnormally long antennae. “There are some lookalikes, including a native sawyer beetle that has long —although not quite this long— antennae,” Long said. “But the Asian longhorned is still rather unique. Personally, I’ve only seen one other insect like it.” Please look at the fact sheets on the Clemson Extension HGIC page to familiarize yourself with the beetle. Signs of ALB include large, pencil-sized holes on trees, conical divots that are “chewed out” on the trunk, and bleeding from wounds on the trunk. The beetle’s larvae feed by tunneling under the tree bark where they live through the winter, forming galleries in the trunk and branches. When mature they chew their way out creating round holes about 3/8 inch in diameter. South Carolinians who believe they have found the beetle may report it online at invasives@clemson.edu or by calling DPI at (864) 646-2140. They may also make a report by calling the USDA’s Asian longhorned beetle hotline at (866) 702-9938 or report online at www.AsianLonghornedBeetle.com. If possible, take pictures. If you capture a suspicious insect, store it in a durable container and freeze it, which will help with identification. To protect against the spread of this or other damaging insect pests, Long urges caution in moving firewood or other wood products. Even if no beetles are visible, an infestation may be spread by moving branches, logs, stumps, packing material, lumber, wood debris, and trimmings. PAGE 8
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Clemson HGIC fact sheet: https://hgic.clemson.edu/factsheet/asian-longhorned-beetle/ Clemson HGIC blog post: https://hgic.clemson.edu/asianlonghorned-beetle-a-new-invasive-tree-pest-in-south-carolina/ Clemson Regulatory services: https://www.clemson.edu/ public/regulatory/plant-industry/plant-pest-regulations/ state-plant-pest-information/pest-alerts/alb.html Video from Don’t Move Firewood on ALB: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BbxsJj68Ezc Don’t Move Firewood program: https://www.dontmovefirewood.org/ Dave Coyle’s homepage: https://www.clemson.edu/cafls/faculty_staff/profiles/dcoyle Dave’s Twitter (where he puts the most up-to-date info): https://twitter.com/drdavecoyle
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SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • SUMMER 2020
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Southern Chapter Update & Report by Skip Kincaid, Southern Chapter Executive Director
Can emerald-ash-borer-infested timber be reused? by Robert Dalheim, Woodworking Network www.woodworkingnetwork.com
ITHACA, N.Y. - In coordination with timber manufacturer Unalam, Ivy League school Cornell will research and develop methods to reuse wood infested by the emerald ash borer. “By introducing robotic fabrication technology, researchers will transform irregularly shaped ash lumber into engineered wood products,” writes Cornell in a release. The school recently accounced $1.1 million in funding toward various research projects. All research topics are on “high risk” issues. Other details weren’t released. Unalam is a New Yorkbased manufacturer of custom glulam and other wood used in construction. A native of Asia, emerald ash borers were found in the U.S. and Canada in 2002 and are considered one of the most destructive forest pests in North America, being responsible for millions of dollars in losses from the destruction of ash trees. In Maine alone, the estimated potential damage could be significant as the commercial ash tree value has been put at $320 million. Technology that destroys pests in wood moves closer to commercialization A technology that uses dielectric heating and radio frequency energy to destroy destructive pests lurking within wood products is closer to reaching the marketplace after a recent commercial trial at Penn State. Some states have quarantines in place, including Maine, where the pest’s presence is an increasing problem. Others, like New Hampshire and New York, lifted their ash quarantines in 2018, saying the restrictions were doing nothing in stopping its spread. The small metallic-looking beetles lay eggs on ash trees, and the hatching larvae tunnel under the trees’ bark, creating damage that usually kills a tree in as little as three to five years. PAGE 10
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In the last issue, I commented that the ultimate understatement is to say these are interesting times that we find ourselves. Well, it’s become even more interesting hasn’t it? Without venturing into too many details, I simply hope that you and yours are safe, that you are taking steps to keep other safe (please wear a mask!), and that you’ve taken some time to see how all of this goofiness can become a positive step to move us in to the future. I also commented in the last issue about how arborists are an interesting group of people. Amid all the goofiness, we are still carrying out our mission. We are essential indeed. Trees continue to grow and people still need the service we provide and the knowledge we possess. Part of our role here at ISA Southern Chapter is to make you aware of opportunities to grow as an arborist and to answer your questions about the profession. This issue of the newsletter contains an expanded section of educational opportunities. While the day-long face-to-face events are greatly reduced, there are many webinars and virtual events for you. Educators have answered the call to provide us with current and valuable information. Many thanks are due to the organizations and individuals that are developing these opportunities. If you get the chance and are so inclined, reach out to them and tell them you appreciate their efforts! The volume of emails to the Chapter office is way up with questions about event scheduling, exam opportunities, and CEU status. Please contact me at skincaid@isasouthern.org if you have any questions. We will keep you informed of any changes to event dates or locations as we make them. Here’s a quick review of event status: The TRAQ Renewal Class (one-day) is still planned for Sept 14 in the Charlotte, NC, area. We are working on a new location and will notify current registrants and update the website as soon as its secured. The TRAQ Course (2½ day) is still planned for September 15-17 in Charlotte, NC, area. Registration for this class is now closed as the class is full. We are working on a new location for this class as well and will notify current registrants and update the website as soon as its secured. 2020 Tree Climbing Championship is still a go for September 25-27 in Knoxville, TN, at Victor Ashe Park. Check here for details: https://www.isasouthern.org/tree-climbing-championship. The 2021 Annual Conference is scheduled for March 20-23 in Atlanta, GA. The program and details are currently being planned. All these events, along with three exam dates are listed on the Chapter website, https://www.isasouthern.org/upcoming-events. Lastly, I wanted to let you know that we are committed to the long-term vitality of the Southern Chapter. We are in very good shape, and plan to keep it that way! We are beginning the process to develop a three- to five-year strategic plan. You will likely see an email in the coming weeks that includes a short survey. And I know we all love filling out surveys about as much as mowing the lawn on a hot day. But I guarantee this won’t be THAT bad. It will be a great tool for us to make sure we are delivering the services you want and that the Chapter has a clear vision of how to do that. So, take a few minutes and help us out! I promise you; we will read them and listen. I just can’t bring you a cold glass of iced tea!
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Hurricane Irene damage in City of Greenville, NC, in 2011.
NC Storm Preparedness and Outreach We have all been dealing with life changes due to the pandemic, so let us throw the impending hurricane season into the mix and make life really fun. Hurricane season is always a challenging time of year, when municipalities and arborists prepare for whatever nature might throw our way. The NC Forest Service’s Urban & Community Forestry Program (U&CF) has recently been awarded special funding through the US Forest Service Southern Region to assist communities with recovery of urban canopy trees damaged during Hurricane Florence in 2018. The NC Urban Forest Council will partner with the NCFS U&CF Program to develop outreach materials, training opportunities, and guidance that will help arborists, local governments, and homeowners be better prepared for storm events. A portion of the funding will be used to develop publications and Public Service Announcements to help homeowners prepare their yards and associated trees for storms, and deal with a damaged tree following a storm. A critical message we hope to relay to homeowners is that trees provide important benefits in the urban landscape and fear should not be a reason to remove trees entirely from around our homes. The outreach will also address safety and liability issues related to hiring “Joe with a chainsaw” for debris clean-up after a storm event, supporting ISA’s efforts to encourage professionalism within the tree-care industry. Additionally, funding will be directed toward training, including workshops and webinars for local governments and arborists. Using the “Community Forest Storm Mitigation Planning Workbook,” we plan to work with NC communities to guide them PAGE 12
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by Leslie Moorman, North Carolina Director
through the process of developing a storm mitigation plan for their urban forest. Training efforts will familiarize municipal and private arborists in the Urban Forest Strike Team (UFST) concept. If you are not familiar with the UFST, its mission is to provide tree damage and risk assessments and Federal Emergency Management Agency public assistance information to a community or region whose urban forest has been impacted by a natural disaster. We plan to offer training for municipal and private arborists on UFST concepts and practices to increase the local resources available following a storm event. A final portion of the funds will be passed through directly to NC local governments to assist with recovery efforts, possibly involving tree-damage assessments, development of a management plan, and partial and full tree inventories in communities most impacted by the 2018 hurricane. Post-storm aerial surveys indicate damage to forest in 12 counties along the NC coast. There are 85 municipalities in this impact area, with an estimated 838,000 total trees and 83,800 trees on public properties. Of the 85 municipalities, 83 do not have urban forest management expertise on staff. It is estimated that 35% of urban trees suffered some degree of crown damage or were lost across the 12 counties surveyed. Some counties near or on the coast suffered damage rates as high as 69%, and some communities are reporting losses in the hundreds of trees. We are excited to begin this initiative over the next 18 months and working with the NCFS and our coastal communities. Email me at ncufc1@gmail.com for more information or to provide any input on our efforts.
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Upcoming Events
www.isasouthern.org
Expanded Complementary CEU Quizzes for ISA Members To assist ISA members who hold credentials in earning continuing education units (CEUs), ISA is now providing online quizzes from both Arborist News and Arboriculture and Urban Forestry dating back to the beginning of 2018 at no cost to members. New Detective Dendro online quizzes will also be made complimentary to ISA members as they are published throughout the year. You will receive notices as new serial publications are added to our online platform. Log-in to the ISA website and log-in to your MyISA account. Make your way to the page for Arborist News CEU quizzes, www. isa-arbor/store/ceuquizzes/110. Add the quiz to your cart, proceed to the checkout, and look for the content to appear on your personal dashboard under the header “My Quizzes.” Please note: CEUs for any given quiz/product may be earned only once per recertification cycle by each credential holder. Only online quizzes apply; mailed quizzes will not be accepted for CEUs. ISA will not issue refunds for previously purchased quizzes. WEBINAR DEVELOPERS AND HOSTS TREE Fund https://treefund.org/webinars. TREE Fund and the Southern Chapter are partnering to provide webinars featuring some of the speakers from the ISA Southern Chapter Conference that was canceled. Check out the links to these and other great webinars offered by TREE Fund and its partners. Urban Forestry Today www.urbanforestrytoday.org/ Forestry Webinars www.forestrywebinars.net/ Urban Forest Connections USDA Forest Service www.fs.fed.us/research/urban-webinars/ Utility Arborist Association www.gotouaa.org/project/webinars/ Utility Arborist Association members can access several webinars that highlight speakers that were scheduled to appear in the Utility Track at the ISA Southern Chapter Conference. ISA CEUs are available for the live broadcasts. UAA members can access the free webinar schedule at www.gotouaa.org/project/webinars/. After the live events are completed, the videos are archived and available to all, though ISA CEUs are not available for the archived videos. If you know of opportunities we haven’t listed, please share! Email skincaid@isasouthern.org.
July 21, 2020 9:00am Eastern WEBINAR: The Native Plant Paradox: Costs and Benefits of Using Native Trees in Urban Landscapes Presenter: Dr. Steve Frank, NC State University This presentation is hosted by the North Carolina Urban Forest Council and will explore the the topic of sustainable landscapes. Are natives “better” choices than “exotic” species? A webinar link will be emailed to registrants the day before the workshop. Register at https://www.ncufc.org/event.php?id=45 July 22, 2020 1:00pm Eastern UAA WEBINAR: Do Utilities and Vegetation Management contractors really need a Tree Risk Assessment Program? Presenter: Mike Neal Vegetation can be a serious challenge for arborists and utilities, causing service interruptions and even wildfires. Data-driven approaches based on reliable knowledge about the condition of vegetation support the transition from a cycle-based to condition and predictive-based maintenance, increasing the process efficiency and safety. Satellite data and space technology made actionable via artificial intelligence allow to identify and prioritize critical segments of overhead lines affected by vegetation and improve tasking and reporting processes for arborists and utilities. Register here. July 23, 2020 1:00pm Eastern WEBINAR: Community Forestry with the Alabama Forestry Commission: Free Trees, Strike Teams, and Hyperspectral Imaging Presenter: Dale Dickens Dale Dickens, the Urban Forestry Coordinator, for the State of Alabama presents the many urban and community forestry programs and projects that focus on the places where people live, work, and play. These range from the Urban Forest Strike Teams that assist in identifying tree risk following major storms to the Arbor Day Foundation recognition programs such as Tree City USA. The program also covers grants and a quick review of what was learned in phytoremediation, green infrastructure, and hyperspectral imaging projects. Register here. August 26-27, 2020 ISA Certified Arborist Prep Class Harbison State Forest Environmental Education Center 5600 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210 Speaker: Jimmy Walters Thinking about becoming an International Society of Arboriculture Certified Arborist or just need to review the basics? If so, join the ISA Southern Chapter and the South Carolina Forestry Commission for a two-day class reviewing the Arborist Certification Study Guide. Target Audience: Arborists, Tree Workers, Landscapers, Landscape Architects, Land Managers & Developers, & Nursery Care Professionals. ISA CEUs will be available for those that are already certified. For details and registration info, click here. August 28, 2020 ISA Certified Arborist, Utility Arborist, and Municipal Specialist EXAM Harbison State Forest Environmental Education Center 5600 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210 ISA Certified Arborist, Utility Arborist, and Municipal Specialist Exams are scheduled for Friday, August 28, 2020. Applicants for the exam must register by August 12, 2020 at the ISA website. Registering for an exam includes creating or logging in to your ISA account at https://www.isa-arbor.com/ and then clicking to find the test date and location. Registration deadline for this exam is August 12, 2020.
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September 9, 2020 ISA Certified Arborist, Utility Arborist, and Municipal Specialist EXAM Athens Classic Center (GVMA Conference), 300 N. Thomas St, Athens, GA ISA Certified Arborist, Utility Arborist, and Municipal Specialist Exams are scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, 2020. Registration application due August 21, 2020 at the ISA website. Registering for an exam includes creating or logging in to your ISA account at https://www.isa-arbor.com/ and then clicking to find the test date and location. September 14, 2020 TRAQ Renewal Course (one-day) Register for the Renewal Course here. September 15-17, 2020 TRAQ Full Course (only three spots remain!) Register for the Full Course here. City of Charlotte-Engineering and Property Management 701 Tuckaseegee Road, Charlotte, NC 28208 Please read the “ISA TRAQ Application Guide” to be very clear about full course application and renewal course requirements and details about the credential and the courses. Applicants for this course must register 30 days prior to the session they plan to attend. September 23-25, 2020 Tri-State Forestry Conference (Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi) Alexandria, Louisiana This is an SAF event with some urban forestry topics including a walking tour. Information and registration: https://www.eforester.org/texassaf September 29, 2020 1:00pm Eastern TREE Fund WEBINAR: Soil Assessment for Urban Trees - Part 2 Actions Presenter: Bryant C. Scharenbroch, PhD, University of Wisconsin This webinar is co-sponsored by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Agenda and registration information: https://treefund.org/ webinars. Registration typically begins about one month prior to the webinar.
October 13, 2020 1:00pm Eastern TREE Fund WEBINAR: Measuring Multi-Stemmed Trees Presenters: Mr. Yasha A.S. Magarik, Yale Schoo; of Forestry and Environmental Studies AND Lara Roman, PhD, USDA Forest Service, Philadelphia PA This webinar is co-sponsored by the Alabama Cooperative Extension System. Agenda and registration information can be found at https:// treefund.org/webinars Registration typically begins about one month prior to the webinar. October 22, 2020 South Carolina 2020 IPM Symposium Cannon Center, Greer, SC This annual one-day event is hosted by Clemson Cooperative Extension. Topics include invasive plants to chain-saw safety. Information and registration here. November 13, 2020 ISA Certified Arborist, Utility Arborist, and Municipal Specialist EXAM Harbison State Forest Environmental Education Center 5600 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29210 ISA Certified Arborist, Utility Arborist, and Municipal Specialist Exams are scheduled for November 13, 2020. Applicants for the exam must register by October 28, 2020 at the ISA website. Registering for an exam includes creating or logging in to your ISA account at https://www.isa-arbor.com/ and then clicking to find the test date and location. Registration deadline for this exam is October 28, 2020.
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News from Louisiana by Hallie Dozier, Louisiana State Director
Summer is here – in its fullest, finest, steamiest, and stormiest! Every summer, Louisiana arborists stay busy pruning and removing trees that may be hazards during high-wind events. That’s the good news. The bad news is that when the storms start rolling across the Atlantic or brewing up in the Gulf of Mexico, home and business owners alike begin taking a fearful look at their trees. And despite our best efforts, homeowners are sometimes (rightfully) frightened, and this frequently leads to unnecessary tree removals. Did I say “rightfully?” The sad truth is that many of the older trees in our landscapes have been neglected and abused for decades ... and they do pose a legitimate threat to life and property. Such removals are necessary, and the pity is that, had the trees not been taken for granted, abused and neglected, they could Spotted lanternfly at rest. Photo by Emelie Swackhamer, Penn State Univ. Extension be retained in the landscape for decades more to come. But with the South’s abundant moisture and long growing season, it seems to me that people take their trees for granted. NC Forest and Agriculture threat As I said, it is a pity. For example, a few weeks back a storm blew by Whitney Swink, State Entomologist, North Carolina through my neighborhood and topped out a seriously decayed Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services water oak (Quercus nigra). So that tree had to go. The trauma of In 2014, an invasive plant pest, spotted lanternfly (Lycorma the storm and the roof damage led the homeowner to also remove delicatula; SLF), was detected in Berks County, PA. The spotted three other large trees ... “just in case.” It did not help that the lanternfly is an attractive-looking planthopper that is approximately company who did the work (unlicensed scoundrels, by the way) 1” long and 1/2” wide as an adult. SLF is native to China and was gave her a rock-bottom price to wreak all of this damage. That introduced into Pennsylvania through international trade, which is to their shame. But I also believe that it is to the shame of the continues to be a growing trend. As international trade increases, homeowner to ask for healthy trees to be removed, unnecessarily. so does the potential risk for introducing exotic invasive plant I understand it, but I don’t like it. My hope is for a future when pests. Unfortunately, spotted lanternfly is easily moved through people pay closer (and tenderer) attention to their trees year-round. human-assisted movement and since 2014 SLF has spread further I call upon all tree-care professionals to help me educate tree into Pennsylvania as well as into parts of Delaware, Maryland, New owners about year-round tree care and maintenance. It could Jersey, Virginia, and West Virginia. This pest is not known to occur be as simple (and effective) as laying down some mulch and in North Carolina, but early detection is critical for protecting our ensuring the trees are adequately watered during dry spells, or businesses, agriculture, and forests. perhaps as complex as devising a tree-hazard-mitigation plan that Spotted lanternfly has a wide host range (it’s known to feed includes a professional to perform annual assessments. You, the on plants in more than 20 families) during its immature stages professional, are the expert on the ground. Use your expertise and of development and once adulthood is reached, their host range knowledge to benefit the trees! narrows to a few species (most notably tree of heaven, Ailanthus On another topic close to everyone’s hearts, the COVID-19 altissima, and grapes). These insects can multiply rapidly, as each pandemic is affecting all aspects of life here as it is elsewhere in female can lay between 70-250 eggs over her lifetime. Eggs may the country and around the globe. Louisiana’s first COVID-19 be laid on virtually any surface, making SLF high risk for being case was announced early in March, just a few weeks following accidentally transported out of quarantined areas and into nonMardi Gras. Quickly thereafter, the whole state came under stayinfested areas, especially over great distances. at-home orders, meaning that among other things, the rest of the Early-instar nymphs of SLF feed on young stems and leaves spring CEU programs for state licensed arborists were canceled. while late-instar nymphs and adults feed on woody plant parts This included Louisiana State University AgCenter’s first nightsuch as branches and trunks. The insects excrete large quantities class series for CEUs in New Orleans. Normal operations are still of honeydew which can lead to growth of sooty mold causing in a flux, even though we entered our Phase 2 in early June. And wilting and dying of understory plants due to blocking out sunlight. we are waiting, waiting, and waiting to see what direction we need Additionally, aggregations of late-instar nymphs and adults cause to go from here. When will we go back to normal? Rather, will weeping wounds on trunks which can lead to wilting and death of we go back to normal? Early July marks the third time back to the the affected plants. drawing board to reschedule educational sessions for the 500+ In states with infestations of spotted lanternfly, the insect is also men and women in Louisiana who hold state licenses. a residential and commercial nuisance because they climb homes At this point, it is safe to say (tentatively) that LSU AgCenter and buildings, causing sooty mold buildup on property, and in high CEU programs will begin again in late summer/early fall and we enough quantities can damage landscape trees. Thankfully SLF does will be offering ample opportunities for arborists to earn their not sting or bite, but the honeydew they produce can attract stinging ISA and Louisiana State CEUs. When we reach that point, we will insects such as wasps and ants. strive to keep everyone healthy and safe through very small classes, continued on page 18 social distancing, and other recommended protocols. Please visit www.lsuagcenter.com/arborist for schedule updates. PAGE 16
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • SUMMER 2020
OSHA explores standard for tree-care operation The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is taking preliminary steps to explore the potential for a standard concerning tree-care operations. Currently, OSHA is enforcing a patchwork of standards to our industry that are designed for other industries. OSHA estimates that arboriculture has a high rate of fatalities, estimated at 1 in 1000, while the national average is 3.5 per 100,000. OSHA estimates that this standard could affect 350,000 employees in 53,000 businesses and cost the industry $106 million a year. The potential standard is based in part on, and largely consistent with, the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health Program Tree Trimming Operations regulation and is also largely consistent with tree-care regulations published by Oregon, California, Maryland, as well as the ANSI Z133-2017. Line-clearance tree trimmers, fruit and tree nut farming, and spray techs could be exempt from this potential standard. Lineclearance tree trimmers are already covered by OSHA 1910.269. The fruit and nut industry are requesting to be excluded since their practices are performed differently than our industry. Spray techs could be excluded because they work from the ground and do not face the same tree-care-related hazards as workers engaged in tree trimming and pruning. One of the larger problems this potential standard faces is defining what a tree is. What is a tree? Search the web for a definition and you will find that there is not a standard definition. The Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA) has suggested to
by Gary Ickes, Alabama Director
OSHA that a tree be defined as any woody plant with a diameter at breast height of 4 inches and larger or at least 20 feet tall. There are several parts of the potential standard that might be areas of concern to our industry members: the requirements for employee qualifications (who qualifies the employee and what level of qualification would be needed?); a job-hazard analysis and job briefing to be conducted by a knowledgeable and experienced employee (what level of knowledge and experience?); the requirement for an AED at each jobsite (AEDs can be sensitive devices and riding around in dusty, hot/cold, bouncedaround-in tree-care trucks may render the AED inoperable); and the possible loss of the tree-care crane exemption for lifting an employee into a tree following the current standards. OSHA has completed the process of Small Business Advocacy Review (SBAR) and the comment period for this process has closed. The next step in the process is that OSHA will prepare and publish a proposed rule for public comments. That schedule will be determined by OSHA but usually takes a number of months. OSHA will also likely hold a public hearing to discuss the proposal. After that, a final rule could be issued. More information can be found here: Tree Care Operations Standard Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking Tree Care Operations Q&A
SAFETY IN NUMBERS SAFETY IS MORE THAN JUST A NUMBER. BUT IF WE STRIVE FOR ONE, IT’S 0. Programs like Davey Performance Excellence and The Road to Zero focus on holistic training, team goal setting and encouraging our industry professionals to proactively identify and correct unsafe behaviors and conditions towards achieving annual injury-free workplace goals. daveyutilitysolutions.com/safety
ASSET MANAGEMENT
ECO CONSULTING
LINE CLEARANCE
STORM RESPONSE
VEGETATION MANAGEMENT
TELECOM CONSTRUCTION
SOUTHERN CHAPTER ISA • SUMMER 2020
PAGE 17
Threat continued from page 16
This pest has the potential to seriously impact grape, apple, peach, maples, and many other commodities in our state. In North Carolina, we’ve been conducting a statewide survey for this pest and we are actively engaged with other state departments of agriculture as well as USDA in monitoring this pest. For more information and updates about spotted lanternfly, please visit our website. While we continue to survey for spotted lanternfly, we ask the public to remain vigilant. If you think you may have seen this pest, please take a photo or collect a specimen and contact us immediately by emailing us at or calling our new pest hotline at (800) 206-9333.
‘SQUISH IT!’ A Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, family is taking matters into their own hands after finding their spotted lanternfly problem only keeps getting bigger. They’re easy to spot with their white dots and red backs. Before last summer, spotted lanternflies had never been in Giancarlo Podio’s Huntingdon Valley yard. “These nets completely fill up by the evening. There’s no more room for them,” he explained, describing a trap made of rubber and netting from his 3D printer. He says he has thousands of spotted lanternflies and they’re multiplying. Entomologists say this is the time of year lanternflies transition from nymphs to adults. “They were literally everywhere. Like the tree was literally more lanternflies than it was tree at that point. It was ridiculous,” said Podio’s son, Nicola. “I like solving problems and this one presented itself in my backyard, so it’s just another project. It’s just something else to keep us busy— a good distraction from COVID-19,” said Podio. Researchers with the Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University say the real danger is the effect the bug can have on plants. “They’re a type of plant hopper that feeds on vines, but also some of our trees, like black walnuts and maples,” said Karen Verderame with the Academy of Natural Sciences. “Usually we like to say to respect wildlife, but the best thing to do if you see one is to squish it,” she said. With thousands of dead bugs on their tree’s base, the Podios just hope nature will take over. “I spread them around the base of the trees. I see a lot of birds and other insects coming to eat them. So I’m kind of hoping one of them will develop a taste for them and start hunting them,” said Podio. The Department of Agriculture is asking anyone who has an infestation to report it so it can trace and contain the bug.
2020-2021 State Directors Alabama: Gary Ickes Ickes Tree Service, Inc. (251) 945-5144 gary@ickestreeservice.com Arkansas: David Raines Raines Tree Care (479) 244-5228 david@rainestreecare.com
Mississippi: David Fulgham Fulgham’s Inc. (662) 255-5127 david@fulghamsinc.com North Carolina: Leslie Moorman NC Urban Forest Council (252) 653-6277 ncufc1@gmail.com
Georgia: Jeffrey Morgan Georgia Power Company (404) 821-8733 jgmorgan@southernco.com
Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands: (open)
Louisiana: Hallie Dozier LSU AgCenter (225) 281-3264 hdozier@agcenter.lsu.edu
South Carolina: Sara Hollar City of Columbia (803) 545-3862 Sara.Hollar@columbiasc.gov
Tennessee: Sam Adams University of Tennessee - Knoxville (865) 679-8710 smada.home@gmail.com At-Large: Perry Odom City of Tallahassee, FL (850) 891-5181 Perry.Odom@talgov.com
Southern Chapter ISA Website: www.isasouthern.org Phone: (888) 339-8733 E-mail: skincaid@isasouthern.org Skip Kincaid, Exec. Director 1609 Missouri Avenue St Louis, MO 63104