Director’s Corner

A Unique Resource

Recently, I was honored by being asked to speak with Virginia Tech’s President, Provost, and Board of Visitors. The topic? The value of the Hampton Roads Agricultural Research and Extension Center (HR-AREC). My presentation was critical because of actions being taken by some individuals seeking to relocate the Center. Here is a summary of what I discussed.

The HR-AREC has a unique focus. It is the only AREC devoted to the Green Industry, as defined by Nursery Growers, Lawn and Landscape Companies, Garden Centers, Arborists, Sports Fields, Golf Courses, and Sod Growers.

The HR-AREC has a deep financial impact on businesses across the state. In order to get a comprehensive picture of that impact, I contacted industry leaders, including wholesale nursery owners, turfgrass professionals, the president of the Mid Atlantic Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture, the vicepresident of the Virginia Nursery and Landscape Association, and many others. Here are a few of their comments:

• Presence of the AREC allows me to sleep at night. Work done by Drs. Hong, Del-Pozo, Derr, and others protects our $20,000,000 wholesale inventory from insects, diseases, weeds, and other pests.

• Boxwoods are a major part of our production. Dr. Hong’s research on Boxwood Blight enables us to continue to produce them.

• Crape Myrtle Bark Scale appeared out of nowhere. Overnight, our clients were complaining about trees covered with this pest. Drs. Shultz and Del-Pozo gave us valuable advice and direction.

• Last fall, many of my clients called because their lawns died overnight. Fall Armyworms were the culprit. Dr. Del-Pozo gave us great advice.

• Annual Bluegrass Weevil, a northern pest, and nematodes, a pest previously only in southern states, appeared in Virginia a few years ago. The AREC is enabling us to stay on top of these turfgrass destroying pests.

• The HR-AREC has been an outstanding arm for our business for the last few decades. To name a few, Dr. Jeff Derr and Dr. Chuan Hong have offered incredible insight and instruction for challenges facing us. We would not be where we are today without their help.

• As more and more challenges come our way including Boxwood Blight and the Spotted Lanternfly, we need professionals to help steer us and help our state growers be competitive.

• The AREC is the very first place we call or visit when we have a problem. We get answers in days, not weeks or months.

Tom Tracy, Ph.D.

VTC Executive Director