The Scoop Online - July 2018

A Challenging Spring Season

Also Inside

Gardening in the Microbiome

Spotted Lanternfly Compost Tea Low-Input Turfgrass

MANAGING WATER Practicing wise stewardship of an indispensable resource

Vol: 41 No: 07 July 2018 T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E M I N N E S O TA N U R S E R Y & L A N D S C A P E A S S O C I AT I O N

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Volume 41 No. 07 July 2018

➾ S E CT I O N TITLE

CONTENTS 12

Mem ber

h Mont 54 30 IN THIS ISSUE 8

Events

10 A Challenging Spring Season President Frampton reflects on the frustrating beginning to the year.

42

24 Session Ends with Not Much to Show Government Affairs Director Larry Johnson describes where the legislature ended up.

12 A Beautiful Insect with an Ugly Impact Dr. James Calkins reports on spotted lanternfly — another destructive pest Minnesota doesn’t need.    22

Gardening in the Microbiome

53 Welcome New MNLA Members Each month, we celebrate the newest companies that have teamed up with MNLA. 53 Time to Renew Your MNLA Membership!

Faith Appelquist explains how the complex microbial world in soil protects

The MNLA Foundation provides you an easy

plants.   

way to demonstrate your commitment to our

30 Compost Tea and Its Use in Organic Turf Management

industry’s future.

54 Member Appreciation Day

Shay Lunseth writes about a way to maintain or increase living beneficial

August 14 will be a day of fun with free donuts

microorganisms in a lawn.   

and soft-serve ice cream at the MNLA office!

37 Consumer Preferences for Low-Input Turfgrasses

55 Northern Green 2019

Chengyan Yue’s research reveals different marketing strategies to reach

Everything green industry, all at one time, all in

different segments of consumers.    

one place.

42 Section: Managing Water A Winning Strategy for Water Conservation – by Russ Jundt, Conserva Irrigation Stopping Water Pollution in Its Tracks: The Case for Stormwater Management – by Nicole Peterson, DeepRoot #SmartWaterMonth – It’s time to post your videos and photos on social media!

Water, With a Splash of Politics – by John Farner, Irrigation Association 

 Landscape & Hardscape Install & Design  Garden Services & Landscape Management  Garden Centers  Growers: Nursery & Greenhouse  Irrigation & Water Management  Arborists & Tree Services  All

The Scoop, July 2018, Issue 7, is issued monthly, 12 times per year.

All original works, articles or formats published in The Scoop are © Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association, 2018, and may not be used without written permission of MNLA, 1813 Lexington Ave N., Roseville, MN 55113. Subscription price is $99 for one year, which is included with member dues. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Scoop, MNLA, 1813 Lexington Ave N., Roseville, MN 55113.

Editorial Contributions. You are invited to share your expertise and perspective. Article ideas and manuscripts should, whenever possible, reflect real and specific experiences. When submitting an article, please contact the publisher at jon@mnla.biz or 651-633-4987.

MNLA reserves the right to edit all Scoop content.

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MINNESOTA NURSERY & LANDSCAPE ASSOCIATION Successful Businesses Grow Here!

AD LIST Arborjet ............................................................................................................ 11

1813 Lexington Ave. N. Roseville, MN 55113 651-633-4987 • Fax: 651-633-4986 Outside the metro area, toll free: 888-886-MNLA, Fax: 888-266-4986 www.MNLA.biz • www.NorthernGreen.org

Bachman's Wholesale Nursery & Hardscapes .................................................... 3

MISSION: The mission of the Minnesota Nursery & Landscape Association is to help members grow successful businesses.

Bullis Insurance Agency .................................................................................... 34

BFG Supply ...................................................................................................... 51 Borgert Products, Inc. ....................................................................................... 32

Central Landscape Supply ................................................................................ 47

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

scott frampton, president

Landscape Renovations 651-769-0010 • sframpton@landscaperenovations.com

tim malooly, cid, clia, cic, VICE-PRESIDENT Water in Motion 763-559-7771 • timm@watermotion.com

randy berg, mnla-cp, SECRETARY-TREASURER Berg’s Nursery, Landscape/Garden Center 507-433-2823 • randy@bergsnursery.com

FAITH APPELQUIST

Tree Quality LLC 612-618-5244 • faith@treequality.com

matt mallas

Hedberg Supply 763-512-2849 • mmallas@hedbergaggregates.com

mike mcnamara

Hoffman & McNamara Nursery & Landscaping 651-437-9463 • mike.mcnamara@hoffmanandmcnamara.com

john o'reilly

Cushman Motor Co. Inc ................................................................................... 15 Edney Distributing Co., Inc. ............................................................................. 43 Frontier Ag & Turf ............................................................................................. 25 Fury Motors ...................................................................................................... 40 Gertens Wholesale & Professional Turf Supply .................................................. 2 Gopher State One-Call ..................................................................................... 33 Haag Companies, Inc. ...................................................................................... 20 Hedberg Landscape & Masonry Supplies .......................................................... 4 Jeff Belzer Chevrolet .................................................................................. 28–29

Otten Bros. Garden Center and Landscaping 952-473-5425 • j.oreilly@ottenbros.com

Landscape Alternatives Inc. .............................................................................. 11

jeff pilla, mnla-cp

Maguire Agency ............................................................................................... 41

Bachman’s, Inc. 612-861-7600 • jpilla@bachmans.com

nick sargent

Out Back Nursery ............................................................................................. 34

Sargent’s Landscape Nursery, Inc. 507-289-0022 • njsargent@sargentsgardens.com

Plaisted Companies ............................................................................................ 7

cassie larson, cae

Resultants for Business, Inc. (RFB) .................................................................... 15

MNLA Executive Director 651-633-4987 • cassie@mnla.biz

STAFF DIRECTORY

Rock Hard Landscape Supply ........................................................................... 41

executive director:

SMSC Organics Recycling Facility .................................................................... 25

membership director & trade show manager:

The Tessman Company .................................................................................... 18

Cassie Larson, CAE • cassie@mnla.biz Mary Dunn, CEM • mary@mnla.biz communications dir.: Jon Horsman, CAE • jon@mnla.biz education/cert. manager: Susan Flynn • susan@mnla.biz Government Affairs Dir: Larry Johnson • larry@mnla.biz

regulatory affairs manager: Jim Calkins • jim@mnla.biz administrative asst.: Gayle Anderson • gayle@mnla.biz accountant: Kris Peterson • kris@mnla.biz foundation program coordinator: Paulette Sorenson • paulette@mnla.biz

advertising sales: 952-934-2891 / 763-295-5420

Faith Jensen, Advertising Rep • faith@pierreproductions.com Betsy Pierre, Advertising Mgr • betsy@pierreproductions.com legislative affairs consultant: Doug Carnival

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Tri-State Bobcat, Inc. ........................................................................................ 36 Truck Utilities, Inc. ............................................................................................. 11 Unilock ............................................................................................................. 49 Versa-Lok Midwest ........................................................................................... 45 Wheeler Landscape Supply .............................................................................. 34 Xcel Energy ...................................................................................................... 33 Ziegler CAT ......................................................................................... Back Cover

Volume 41 No. 07 July 2018

➾ S E CT I O N TITLE

➾ C ALE N DAR

➾

JULY17

JULY24

 ➾

LANDSCAPE TO TABLE: Edibles Presentation & Garden Tour

MNLA.biz Join your fellow Hackers for Horticulture at the 28th Annual Widmer Golf Tournament.

Proceeds benefit the MNLA Foundation Research Fund.

MNLA.biz Learn about the “landscape to table movement.” Byron Emmons, Heidi’s Lifestyle Gardens, will discuss how to design, install, maintain and harvest edibles in the landscape.

An edibles garden tour will follow.

AUG14

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

MNLA NIGHT AT THE SAINTS GAME

AUG9 Earle Brown Heritage Center, Brooklyn Center Carlinsales.com BuyerFest is the annual trade show that brings everyone together under one roof: valued customers, vendor representatives and the Carlin/ProGreen staff.

MNLA FOUNDATION WIDMER GOLF TOURNAMENT Majestic Oaks Golf Club Ham Lake

Highland Park Library, St. Paul

CARLIN BUYERFEST



➾

CHS Field, St. Paul MNLA.biz You are invited to the 4th Annual MNLA Night at the Saints Game. We have reserved the Star Tribune Skybox for our group. Includes a ticket to the game and dinner.

AUG14



MEMBER APPRECIATION DAY MNLA Office, Roseville MNLA.biz We will be celebrating our awesome members with a full day of fun.

Stop by the MNLA office for donuts in the morning and ice cream in the afternoon. Then join us for an evening at CHS Field in St. Paul to watch the Saint Paul Saints take on the Sioux Falls Canaries.

JULY26 HORTICULTURE NIGHT AT THE WEST CENTRAL RESEARCH AND OUTREACH CENTER WCROC, Morris wcroc.cfans.umn.edu Featuring horticulture demonstrations, presentations, walking tours, and much more. Admission is free.

AUG 14–16 IGC SHOW Navy Pier, Chicago IGCshow.com Tradeshow and education sessions focused 100% on the special interests of independent garden centers.

2018 MNLA seminars generously supported by:

Bailey Nord Farm, Cottage Grove

Bailey Nord Farm, Cottage Grove This annual summer event is open to all Bailey Nurseries customers, and features displays, seminars, demonstrations and tours.

MNLA.biz Join us for a halfday outdoor plant identification skills training event. Whether you are a seasoned professional looking to improve your plant I.D. skills or are new to the green industry, this event is for you.

SEPT18 

SEPT19

LEADERSHIP PEER GROUP BEGINS

➾

MNLA Office, Roseville

Mystic Lake, Prior Lake Tessmanseed.com New show location for 2018! Ready to help with all your greenhouse, nursery, garden center and landscaping needs.

MNLA FOUNDATION SHOOTOUT

Don’t miss this annual sport clays charity event!

The course runs at a beginner’s level — the focus is on fun. Proceeds benefit the MNLA Foundation Scholarship fund.

D

MNLA.biz

➾

TIFIE ER

O PR

This effective and affordable soft skills development tool is facilitated by Rod Johnson. The group meets for six Tuesday sessions, and the autumn session has a sales, marketing, and customer service focus.

TESSMAN COMPANY BUYING SHOW & HORT ACADEMY



Minnesota Horse & Hunt Club, Prior Lake

MNLA.biz

AUG8

AUG7

FE

AL

➾

BAILEY SUMMER EXPO

NAME THAT PLANT: Plant I.D. Skills Training

C

JULY26



N

AUG2

SSIO



LANDSCAPE DESIGN TOUR MNLA.biz Join us for the annual design tour. This year we are partnering with ASLA-MN. Spend the day visiting inspiring landscapes and networking with your landscape design and landscape architect peers.

OCT26 & NOV2

 

MNLA CERTIFICATION EXAM MNLA Office, Roseville MNLA.biz Sit for the exam to become an MNLA Certified Professional.

KEY:

 Business

 Skills Training

 Leadership Development

 Networking

General ➾

All information on these and other industry events are online at MNLA.biz. july 18

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➾ F R OM THE PRESIDEN T

A Challenging Spring Season By the time you read this article spring will be a memory and we will be starting to think of summer vacations. However, this spring deserves some reflection!

Scott Frampton

Gardening in the Microbiome A Challenging Spring Season

Also Inside

MNLA President

Spotted Lanternfly Compost Tea Low-Input Turfgrass

MANAGING WATER Practicing wise stewardship of an indispensable resource

Vol: 41 No: 07 July 2018

T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E M I N N E S O TA N U R S E R Y & L A N D S C A P E A S S O C I AT I O N

Greetings, fellow members. For most of us in the product and service segments of our profession, 2018 has been a near-record late start. For those of us in the metro area with ice out on Lake Minnetonka officially on May 5th, (tied for the latest on record) we found ourselves performing spring clean ups, irrigation startups, and landscape construction with snow and ice on the ground simply for the sake of maintaining schedules and to not get too far behind. Designers were also delayed in getting properties measured and designs completed because of the late snow melt.

Nurseries had one of their shortest harvesting seasons and garden centers missed crucial retail opportunities.

Arborists had to perform time-sensitive applications in record time. This, coupled with a continuing short supply of a skilled and unskilled workforce is trying the patience of families, customers, business owners, and staff at every level. I have heard from some of you who have worked several weeks straight without a break!

Despite these realities the industry veterans are used to the volatility of spring and share stories about one experience or another. We often look back at these difficult seasons with fond memories of how the team pulled together to get the work done or to provide extraordinary service to a customer.

By now we have worked through one of my most challenging spring seasons. As we ease in to summer

remember to be patient, remain calm, and continue to thank your family for their patience, your customers for their business, your employees for their hard work and extra efforts. and thank God for the gifts of creativity and beauty for us all to enjoy. The beautiful trees, plants, flowers, landscape designs, and healthy landscapes we care for provide incredible satisfaction for many.

A friend of mine who owned a successful towing company once explained to me how lucky I was that when people call my company it’s because they are excited about doing something wonderful on their property.

Versus his business where they are complaining at all hours of the day and night because their car was towed or needed to be. I feel blessed to pursue my passion of creating and maintaining healthy landscapes. I hope all of you are pursuing your passion as well, which will help ease the pain of the late spring.

Please feel free to contact me regarding any questions you have about the MNLA or nursery and landscape business generally.

SCOTT FRAMPTON can

be reached at: sframpton@landsca-

perenovations.com.

ON THE COVER

For many years, the Irrigation Association (IA) has promoted the month of July as Smart Irrigation Month, and MNLA has participated in that effort. Because every segment of the green industry is affected by the challenges of managing water wisely, for the last couple years MNLA has used IA’s idea as a springboard during July. We use the hashtag #SmartWaterMonth on social media to raise awareness of water issues, to explore solutions, and to further the conversation about sensible water use.

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NEW

SCOOP COMING In January, MNLA will be introducing a redesigned Scoop. Our goal is to provide even greater value to you, the member, through this vital communication service. To do that, we need to know what your current needs are! We would like to gather your feedback on how you read The Scoop, which content you value most, and what you wish we would include. Please take five minutes and give us your opinions via a quick 5-question survey found here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ScoopFeedback. If you’d rather forward your comments via email, send those to jon@mnla.biz.

Arborjet provides cutting edge solutions to the green industry’s insect and disease problems.

From high tech equipment to formulations that change the way we think about plant health care, Arborjet offers the tools you need to save America’s landscapes.

arborjet.com 38

www.MNLA.biz | ocTober 2012

WRITERS WANTED We’re also looking for members who love to write – members who want to share useful information, ideas, and innovations with their fellow members in the association’s monthly magazine. Write from the perspective of your industry segment (landscape install, garden center, grower, etc.); share knowledge on business management or human resources; or offer insights via our soon-to-premiere features “Ideas That Work” and “My Favorite Tool.” To offer your services and/or receive information on deadlines and other parameters, email susan@mnla.biz or call Sue Flynn or Jon Horsman at 651-633-4987.

A BEAUTIFUL INSECT WITH AN

UGLY IMPACT Spotted lanternfly is another non-native and destructive insect pest Minnesota doesn’t need.

Dr. James Calkins | Research Information Director, MNLA Foundation

s is the case for many of Mother Nature’s creations, I am fascinated by insects and the spotted lanternfly is not an exception; without a doubt, it is a very interesting and beautiful insect. Demure and cryptic (camouflaged; pinkish-gray, reticulated forewings with black spots and rows of narrow, black, rectangular blocks near the tips that blend well with tree bark) with its wings folded, and strikingly colorful and dramatic (creamy-gray, black-spotted forewings plus exposed hindwings with bold bands of white, black, and scarlet-red with black spots and a conspicuous abdomen with black and yellow bands) with its wings open, the adults resemble colorful moths that are beautiful to behold. In addition, the spotted lanternfly is also an insect that has some of the cutest youngsters (four-stage nymphs; instars — the developmental stages of immature insects between molts before sexual maturity is reached) of any insect I have ever seen. At first, black with white spots during the first three instars, and with the addition of red markings during the fourth, and final instar, the wingless nymphs are curious-looking critters that almost any child could love. Their appearance makes me smile, but they are no laughing matter. As interesting and beautiful as it is to look at, the spotted lanternfly is a very destructive insect pest that we do not want to see, and will hopefully never see, in Minnesota.

Although it is neither a fly nor a moth, the spotted lanternfly or lanternmoth — Lycorma delicatula (White) is a species of planthopper (Order: Hemiptera; Family: Fulgoridae) that attacks grapes (Vitis spp.), apples (Malus spp.), and other fruits and a variety of woody tree and shrub species of commercial and environmental significance. The spotted lanternfly is native to northern China and possibly Taiwan, India, and Vietnam. It is also present in Japan, although whether it is native to Japan or is an introduced species is unclear. Spotted lanternfly has been introduced and become a widespread serious invasive pest in South Korea where it feeds on a wide variety of important horticultural and forest species including at least 25 species that are present in Pennsylvania and other places in North America. Unfortunately, as was previously reported in a Research for the Real World article in the February 2015 issue of The Scoop, a spotted lanternfly infestation was discovered in southeastern Pennsylvania in September, 2014, and was the first documented infestation of spotted lanternfly in North America. At that time, the infestation was limited to a 30- to 40-square-kilometer (11.6- to 15.4-square-mile) wooded area in Berks County in the southeastern corner of the state. Thousands of adult specimens and egg masses were initially found and there was considerable concern regarding whether the insect could be contained and successfully eradicated. Quarantine was initiated on November 1, 2014, with the goal of preventing the spread of spotted lanternfly to new areas and emergency federal funding was approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to help combat the spotted lanternfly infestation in Pennsylvania and prevent its spread to new areas. Since then, however, recent reports indicate the infestation has expanded into adjacent areas and spotted lanternflies have now been documented in 12 additional and contiguous counties in southeastern Pennsylvania. As a result, 13 counties are currently under

Figure 1. Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) adult with wings closed; an infestation of this invasive insect from Asia was discovered on September 22, 2014, in a woodland in southeastern Pennsylvania (Berks County) and was the first detection of this invasive insect pest in North America (Photo Credit: Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture; Bugwood.org).

Figure 2. Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) adult with wings open; although, at first glance, adult spotted lanternflies look like moths, they are actually a type of planthopper — a group of insects with piercing/ sucking mouthparts that feed on plant juices (Photo Credit: Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture; Bugwood.org).

quarantine in Pennsylvania. In addition, the insect had only been documented in Pennsylvania prior to November of last year (2017), but this changed when spotted lanternflies were subsequently confirmed in Delaware and New York (November 20 and November 29, 2017, respectively) and in Virginia earlier this year (January 10, 2018). The Delaware find consisted of a single, adult female spotted lanternfly in New Castle County in the Wilmington area and it remains unclear if this individual was a lone hitchhiker or evidence of an established population in the state. The New York find involved a single dead spotted lanternfly adult in Delaware County in western New York south-west of Albany. Officials believe the insect may have been transported to New York through interstate commerce and may not be an indication that spotted lanternfly has become established in New York. In Virginia, the situation appears to be quite different as spotted lanternfly populations have been documented in two neighboring locations in Frederick County in northern Virginia involving numerous adult lanternflies and egg masses at one location and more adults and egg masses at another site approximately 400 yards away. Clearly, the insect is on the move. july 18

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➾ S P OT TED LAN TERN F LY

Figure 3. Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) nymphs at multiple stages of development (instars); younger nymphs (the first three instars) are black with white spots while older nymphs (the fourth and final instar nymphs) are black and red with white spots (Photo Credit: Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture; Bugwood.org).

Once again, the spotted lanternfly is an eye-catching insect, drab pinkish-gray with distinct black spots and rows of narrow black rectangles near the tips of the forewings when the wings are folded (Figure 1), but strikingly black, white, scarlet-red with black spots, and yellow when the wings are open and the hind-wings and abdomen are exposed (Figure 2). They are quite large at about an inch long and a half-inch wide with wings folded and about two inches wide when the wings are expanded. Males are smaller than females. The wingless nymphs are also striking in appearance; black with distinct white spots with the addition of red markings, including distinctive, red wing pads, as they become older (Figures 3 & 4). At first glance, the older nymphs might initially be mistaken for boxelder bug nymphs (Boisea trivittata; same order, different family — Hemiptera and Rhopalidae, respectively) which are also wingless and red and black, but in a different pattern and lacking the distinct white spots of spotted lanternfly nymphs. Of course, while some consider boxelder bugs annoying and a nuisance, especially when they move indoors in the fall as they search for a place to survive the winter, boxelder bugs are native to North America (including Minnesota) and are generally considered harmless, while spotted lanternflies are not native to North America and are a serious plant pest outside their native range. Although they have well-developed wings, adult spotted lanternflies are poor fliers (but good jumpers; hence the term planthopper) and the primary method of spread to new areas is the human-mediated transport of juvenile and adult insects and egg masses to new locations rather than by flight.

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Although spotted lanternflies have few predators in non-native environments — a characteristic that enhances their invasive potential (and the invasive potential of other invasive species) — they have developed a variety of anti-predator, defensive adaptations that reduce the likelihood that they will be eaten where they are native and in non-native habitats. These defense mechanisms include camouflage (cryptic forewings; a passive, but primary defense characteristic that inhibits detection) and several active, sequential defense mechanisms that variously come into play once a spotted lanternfly has been detected and attacked including attempted escape (jumping away to elude predators), combined deimatic (startle) and aposematic (threat) display behavior (the sudden display of the conspicuously-colored hindwings and abdomen as a scare tactic or to momentarily distract predators and provide an opportunity for escape and as a warning signal indicating the spotted lanternfly prey is toxic and distasteful), jumping away combined with deimatic/aposematic display, and death feigning (with wings open in continued deimatic/aposematic display, but eventually closing). While the effectiveness of these defense strategies in non-native environments have not been studied, it is likely that some of these tactics would remain effective as survival mechanisms.

The spotted lanternfly produces one generation each year and is therefore considered a univoltine species (species with a life cycle that includes one generation/year) species wherein the eggs are laid in the fall, overwinter in a dormant state (i.e., diapause — a predetermined period of dormancy), and hatch in the spring to begin a

new generation. In Pennsylvania, spotted lanternfly females lay their eggs on smooth vertical surfaces (preferred) in the fall (late September through November or early December). Egg masses typically include 30–50 eggs and the inadvertent movement of egg masses is believed to pose the greatest risk for vectoring and introducing the spotted lanternfly to new areas including locations far away from existing infestations.

In addition to landscape elements like host trees, structures, wood, vinyl, and aluminum siding, and landscape stone and stone walls, egg masses may be found on vehicles, campers, lawn mowers, playground equipment, outdoor furniture, trash containers, picnic tables, boats, trailers, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), firewood, and essentially anything with a smooth surface that is stored outdoors. Even things like car batteries and gas tanks (oxygen, nitrogen, helium, etc.) can serve as egg-laying sites and modes of transport. Once again, human-mediated transport is the primary vector for the spread of spotted lanternflies to new areas.

As for any invasive species, preventing the introduction of the species in the first place should be the top priority relative to invasive species management; thereafter, as for invasive species in general, early detection and eradication are the critical elements in preventing the establishment of spotted lanternfly populations in new areas. In this regard, the remnants of hatched egg masses may persist for a year or more after the nymphs have emerged and have been used to help pinpoint the timing of new introductions. The first-instar nymphs typically begin to appear and commence feeding on the new growth of trees and shrubs once the eggs start hatching in early to mid-May. The wingless nymphs grow and molt three times as they progress from the first instar to the second, third, and fourth instar stages before becoming adults beginning in midJuly. Knowing what to look for and being on the lookout for egg masses and immature and adult insects throughout the growing season are important in early detection and eradication efforts.

In their native habitat, and when present in areas where the spotted lanternfly has been introduced, tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima; also called paradise tree and

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➾ S P OT TED LAN TERN F LY

Figure 4 (Opening Photo, page 13). Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) fourth-instar nymph; note the added red coloration and distinct wing pads compared to younger nymphs which are simply black with white spots (Photo Credit: Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture; Bugwood.org).

Figure 5. Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) adult and egg mass on tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima); the spotted lanternfly produces one generation each year (univoltine) wherein the eggs are laid in the fall, overwinter in a dormant state (diapause — a predetermined period of dormancy), and hatch in the spring to begin a new generation (Photo Credit: Lawrence Barringer, Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture; Bugwood.org).

Figure 6. Tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima) in early spring; tree of heaven is a fast-growing deciduous tree native to China and is the preferred host for egg-laying and as a food source for spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) in its native habitat and where both species have been introduced outside their native range; the distribution of tree of heaven in North America based on reported occurrences can be tracked using the Early Detection and Distribution Mapping System for invasive species (EDDMapS; University of Georgia, Center for Invasive Species and Ecosystem Health; https://www.eddmaps.org) (Photo Credit: James Calkins).

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Chinese or stinking sumac), a fast-growing, dioecious (individual trees male or female), smooth-barked tree native to China, is the preferred host for egg laying and as a food source, but other trees with smooth bark or any smooth, vertical surface can also serve as a viable site for egg-laying. Although present in North America, tree of heaven is not native to North America; it was first introduced in 1784 in Philadelphia, PA, and quickly became popular as a specimen and shade tree. Tree of heaven has subsequently escaped cultivation and become established (and in some cases become invasive) throughout most of the United States and eastern Canada. In the United States, it has been variously documented as an escape species in nearly every state with the exceptions of Montana, Wyoming, and North and South Dakota. At this time only two trees of heaven have been documented in Minnesota; one that was planted in a landscape setting in St. Paul and another along a roadside north of Brownsville on the eastern edge of Houston County, the southeastern-most county in the state. Tree of heaven was also introduced separately in California in the 1890s so its introduction and spread was initiated on both the east and west coasts of the United States.

Tree of heaven has smooth gray bark, large, pinnately compound leaves, stout twigs, large, heart-shaped leaf scars, and clusters of yellow-green flowers borne in large panicles at the ends of the current season’s growth followed by clusters of twisted, light-tan samaras (a dry, single-seeded, indehiscent, winged fruit) that can persist on the tree until the following spring. It is sometimes confused with several native species that also have pinnately-compound leaves including sumac (Rhus spp.), eastern black walnut (Juglans nigra), butternut (Juglans cinerea), hickory (Carya spp.), and ash (Fraxinus spp.).

Although tree of heaven is the preferred host of the spotted lanternfly when present (native or introduced), many other species, in addition to those mentioned previously, can also serve as hosts and incur significant damage when attacked by large populations of spotted lanternflies including oaks (Quercus spp.), lindens (Tilia spp.), grapes (Vitis spp.), apples and crabapples (Malus spp.), stone fruits (Prunus spp.), hops (Humulus

spp.), blueberries (Vaccinium spp.), mulberries (Morus spp.), walnuts (Juglans spp.), roses (Rosa spp.), and Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia). More than 70 species of primarily woody species are known to be attacked, including at least 40 species grown as agricultural crops including horticultural and forest species, but research has not assessed every species for their suitability as hosts for spotted lanternfly. Based on the research that has been done, there does appear to be variability among species relative to their ability to function as full-life-cycle hosts and research on host suitability continues.

Sadly, the threat of destructive invasive species like the spotted lanternfly continues to grow as new species continue to make their way to North American shores and make North American ecosystems and landscapes their home away from home. Although the rate of introduction has remained steady over the years, research indicates about 450 insect pests and 16 diseases that impact trees have invaded the United States since European settlement began and an average of about 2.5 new, non-native insect pests of trees become established in the United States each year. And even though a relatively small proportion of these introduced insects (14%) have become serious pests, the damage has been significant and the history of insect and disease introductions results in the sad and unfortunate reality that a new, serious plant pest is introduced about every 2.5 years. Remember, too, that this data is specific to tree pests and does not include invasive plants and other harmful invasive species. Given this history, it shouldn’t be surprising that new pests continue to reach our shores with spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula), Chinese long-horned beetle (Xylotrechus rufilius; a different species than the Asian longhorned beetle/Anoplophora glabripennis which is another introduced pest that was first documented as an invasive species in North America in Brooklyn, New York, in 1996), onion weed (Asphodelus fistulosus), a tortrix moth (Phaecasiophora fernaldana), a longhorned beetle (Eburia baroni), poplar hawk moth (Laothoe populi)), and a terrestrial snail (Acusta sp.) being examples of some of the most recent arrivals as reported by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. In recent years, it also appears that a disproportionate number of the insect pests that have been introduced (56%) have been phloem-feeders (e.g., spotted lanternfly) and borers (e.g., emerald ash borer) which have the potential to cause serious damage.

Unfortunately, spotted lanternflies have the potential to impact a variety of sectors within the green industry including nursery and landscape professionals, grape growers, apple and stone fruit growers, and the silvicultural (forestry) and wood products industries.

Over 70 species of plants are known to be affected. Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima), the preferred food and egg-laying host, is cold hardy to U.S.D.A. Cold Hardiness Zone 5, and sometimes reported as being cold hardy in Zone 4. It was listed as a Restricted Noxious Weed in 2016 and may not be sold in the state. Eggs are preferentially laid on smooth surfaces and tree of heaven and other smoothbarked trees and a variety of natural and manmade objects with relatively smooth surfaces fit the bill perfectly. Lanternfly nymphs and adults are phloem-feeders and use their piercing-sucking mouthparts to extract sap from the woody parts of plants (including larger stems and trunks) causing wounds that weep sap that can at-

Figure 7. Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima); close-up showing the smooth, shallowly-furrowed, gray bark on a young tree (Photo Credit: James Calkins).

tract other insects and serve as a medium for fungal growth resulting in fungal mats. As for aphids and a number of other insects, spotted lanternflies also produce large amounts of a sticky, sugary substance (waste product) called honeydew as they feed. The honeydew lands on surfaces like plant foliage, vehicles, and yard furniture located below the host plants and serves as a food source for a number of non-pathogenic, dark-colored fungi that cause unsightly sooty mold (dark patches of powdery fungal growth) on those surfaces. Interestingly, foliage and fruit are generally not a target of the feeding activities of spotted lanternflies, but large infestations can cause significant stress and wilting, dieback, and complete plant mortality of affected plants. The State of Pennsylvania quarantine restricts movement of any material or object that might serve as a vector for spreading spotted lanternflies to new locations including things like firewood, logs and woody debris, yard waste, lumber, construction materials, grapes (including grape vines for decorative purposes), nursery stock, and any outdoor household articles like lawn mowers, grills, tarps, and any other equipment, trucks or vehicles that are not stored indoors. Essentially any and all conveyances that might be attractive for egg laying and might serve as a vector for transporting spotted lanternflies to new locations are regulated.

The costs of invasive species management and the damage they cause are very real and wide-reaching. In addition to the serious july 18

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damage to horticultural crops, landscape plants, and forest species that can be caused by spotted lanternfly infestations, invasive species like the spotted lanternfly also have the potential to have detrimental impacts on property values, tourism, and native ecosystems. The added costs associated with the application of pesticides to reduce the negative impacts of invasive species, combined with the possibility of negative consequences for human health, non-target species, and native ecosystems, is another concern. And finally, the impacts caused by invasive species quarantines themselves can also have adverse effects on national, interstate, and local commerce as the added regulations complicate and increase the cost of doing business. Obviously, for these and other reasons, it is important to take invasive species like the spotted lanternfly seriously and prevent their introduction, establishment, and spread.

Does the spotted lanternfly pose a threat to Minnesota and neighboring states? The reality is that we do not know for sure.

The potential distribution of spotted lanternfly based on current meteorological data (i.e., climate modeling – minimum and maximum temperature, precipitation, and relative humidity) suggests spotted lanternfly may not be a threat to Minnesota, but these modeling results are hypothetical and there is evidence that they may be incorrect. For example, although spotted lanternfly was first documented in Pennsylvania in September 2014, based on the presence of older old egg masses, it is believed that the insect had been present since 2012. As a result, the Pennsylvania infestation survived the unusually cold winter of 2013/14 and it appears the eggs of spotted lanternfly may be more cold-tolerant than originally thought. Although on the edge of the range where it is believed spotted lanternfly may have the capacity to survive, southern Minnesota and southern Wisconsin may be at risk and this risk could increase depending on future temperature trends.

Not surprisingly, the risk in Iowa is higher.

As with spotted lanternfly, emerald ash borer (EAB; Agrilus planipennis) and many other introduced species, the activities of human beings are usually involved in the transport and introduction of invasive species to new areas whether the distance is large (intercontinental) or small (local). The movement of goods — globally or locally — including forest products (including pulpwood, lumber, and firewood), agricultural commodities, nursery stock and Christmas trees, or, in some cases, materials seemingly completely unrelated to plants and agriculture, can result in the introduction and spread of invasive species and serious damage to agriculture, designed landscapes, and native ecosystems. An awareness of this ever-present human factor — the role of daily commerce and the many, and sometimes completely innocent and unexpected, ways invasive species can be transported to new areas — combined with an intensive and sustained effort to prevent the introduction of invasive species must become the norm if the invasive species threat is to be mitigated. Clearly, the nursery and landscape industry has an important role to play if the spread of spotted lanternfly and other invasive species is to be prevented.

Figure 8. Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima); previous season’s fruit cluster (twisted samaras), smooth gray bark, and emerging spring growth (Photo Credit: James Calkins).

Figure 9. Tree of Heaven (Ailanthus altissima); close-up of emerging spring growth, stout twigs, and a heart-shaped leaf scar (Photo Credit: James Calkins).

For additional information about the spotted lanternfly, see the following selected references:

july 18

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➾ S P OT TED LAN TERN F LY

Dara, S.K., L. Barringer, and S.P. Arthurs. 2015. Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae): A New Invasive Pest in the United States. Journal of Integrated Pest Management 6(1):20. https://doi.org/10.1093/jipm/ pmv021; https://academic.oup.com/jipm/article/6/1/20/2936989 Barringer, L.E., L.R. Donovall, S.-E. Spichiger, D. Lynch, and D. Henry. 2015. The First New World Record of Lycorma delicatula (Insecta: Hemiptera: Fulgoridae). Entomological News 125(1):20-23. https://doi.org/10.3157/021.125.0105; http://www.bioone.org/doi/ abs/10.3157/021.125.0105 (abstract and literature cited only) Kang, C., H. Moon, T.N. Sherratt, S.-I. Lee, and P.G. Jablonski. 2017.

Multiple Lines of Anti-Predator Defense in the Spotted Lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae). Biological Journal of the Linnean Society 120(1):115-124. https://doi.org/10.1111/bij.12847; https://academic.oup.com/biolinnean/article/120/1/115/2864974 Jung, J.-M., S. Jung, D.-H. Byeon, and W.-H. Lee. 2017. Model-Based Prediction of Potential Distribution of the Invasive Insect Pest, Spotted Lanternfly Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae), by Using CLIMEX. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity 10(4):532-538. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.japb.2017.07.001; https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2287884X17300766 Lee, J.-S., I.-K. Kim, S.-H. Koh, S.J. Cho, S.-J. Jang, S.-H. Pyo, and W.I. Choi. 2011. Impact of Minimum Winter Temperature on Lycorma delicatula (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) Egg Mortality. Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology 14(1):123-125. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aspen.2010.09.004 (abstract only) Subbaiah, S. and T. Dejyong. 2017. Predicting the Potential Distribution of Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) in the United States using Maxent Model. Colorado State University. http://sites.warnercnr. colostate.edu/sbsuba/introduction/#1501537960173-369837b4-7ef1 (Accessed April 12, 2018) Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Spotted Lanternfly Program. http://www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/PlantIndustry/Entomology/spotted_lanternfly/program-information/Pages/default.aspx (Accessed April 12, 2018) PennState Extension. Information on a variety of topics and through a variety of media related to the spotted lanternfly. https://extension.psu. edu/shopby/spotted-lanternfly and https://extension.psu.edu/shopby/ spotted-lanternfly?p=2 (Accessed April 12, 2018) Swackhamer, E. and A. Korman. Spotted Lanternfly. Penn State Extension, Pennsylvania State University, College of Agricultural Sciences. https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly (Accessed April 12, 2018) Maher, K. 2014. New Invasive Pest Has Pennsylvania Towns on Alert.

The Wall Street Journal; November 10, 2014; updated November 18, 20124. https://www.wsj.com/articles/new-invasive-pest-has-pennsylvaniatowns-on-alert-1416335733 (full article available by subscription only).

https://issuu.com/minnesotanla/docs/escoop_feb15_final (Accessed April 12, 2014) Szubielski, J. and L. Koumjian. 2017. NYS Department of Agriculture and Markets Confirms Finding of Spotted Lanternfly Invasive Insect.

New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Agriculture News; November 29, 2017. https://www.agriculture.ny.gov/AD/release. asp?ReleaseID=3637 (Accessed April 14, 2018) Rhodes, D. Spotted Lanternfly: Living with the Quarantine (video).

Pennsylvania State University/PennState Extension and the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. https://extension.psu.edu/spottedlanternfly-living-with-the-quarantine (Accessed April 14, 2018) Day, E. 2018. Spotted Lanternfly in Virginia. Virginia Cooperative Extension. https://ext.vt.edu/agriculture/commercial-horticulture/spottedlanternfly.html (Accessed April 14, 2018).

D.G. Pfeiffer, E.R. Day, and P.A. Sisti. 2018. Spotted Lanternfly: Lycorma delicatula (White) (Hemiptera:Fulgoridae). Virginia Cooperative Extension. https://pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/ENTO/ ENTO-180/ENTO-264.pdf United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). 2014. Pest Alert: Spotted Lanternfly. https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&esp v=2&ie=UTF8#q=lanternfly United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). 2014. Pest Alert: Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula). https://www.aphis.usda.gov/publications/plant_ health/2014/alert_spotted_lanternfly.pdf United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Hungry Pests: The Threat – Top Invasive Pest Threats. https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/resources/pestsdiseases/hungry-pests/The-Threat (Accessed April 14, 2018) WFMZ-TV 69News. 2014. Federal Funding Sought in Fight Against Spotted Lanternfly. WFMZTV 69News; November 18, 2014. http://www. wfmz.com/news/news-regional-berks/federalfunding-sought-in-fightagainst-spotted-lanternfly/29801154 Dara, S.K. 2014. Spotted Lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a New Invasive Pest in the United States. Pest News; University of California, Agriculture and Plant Resources (UCANR); November 7, 2014. http:// ucanr.edu/blogs/blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=15861 Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA). Minnesota Noxious Weeds. https://www.mda.state.mn.us/plants/pestmanagement/weedcontrol/noxiouslist.aspx (Accessed April, 14, 2018)

Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture. Spotted Lanternfly. http:// www.agriculture.pa.gov/Plants_Land_Water/PlantIndustry/Entomology/ spotted_lanternfly/Pages/default.aspx (Accessed April 12, 2018) Delaware Department of Agriculture. 2017. Spotted Lanternfly Confirmed in Delaware. Delaware News (Delaware.gov); November 20, 2017. https://news.delaware.gov/2017/11/20/spotted-lanternflyconfirmed-delaware/ Dara, S.K. 2014. Spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is a New Invasive Pest in the United States. University of California, Agriculture and Plant Resources (UCANR) Newsletter Blog. http://ucanr.edu/blogs/ blogcore/postdetail.cfm?postnum=15861 (Accessed April 12, 2018) Calkins, J. 2015. A New Invasive Species; The Scoop, February 15, 2016 (Minnesota Nursery and Landscape Association), Pages 41-47.

To comment on this research update, suggest research topics of interest, or pass along a piece of research-based information that might be of interest to your industry colleagues, please email us at Research@ MNLA.biz.

This follow-up Research for the Real World article about spotted lanternfly was written in response to a suggestion from a long-time MNLA member — Betty Ann Addison, Gardens of Rice Creek, LLC, Minneapolis, MN. Thank you for the suggestion, Betty Ann.

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âž¾ S E CT I O N TITLE

GARDENING IN THE

MICROBIOME A pinch of rich topsoil contains tens of millions of bacteria, and scientists are working hard to understand what most of them are up to.

Faith Appelquist | Tree Quality

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(Left): The simplest solution for restoring fertility to the soil is to follow a prebiotic strategy and feed the beneficial microbes. Nature relies on prebiotics; organic matter, compost, and mulch to build fertile soil.

(Far Left): Natural soils are thriving with life. They contain an incredible diversity of microscopic bacteria, fungi, viruses and other organisms. A single handful of soil can contain tens of thousands of different species.

(Below): Yep, it’s dead. The absence of microbes and mycorrhizal fungi make it difficult to establish trees in the city. This has profound implications for human quality of life.

iscoveries about the diversity and workings of our gut bacteria have come on so thick and fast in the last couple of years, you can hardly open a newspaper or visit a grocery store without encountering the word ‘microbiome’ or hearing people talk ‘probiotics.’ This is a scientific revolution equivalent to the transformation of a horse- drawn cart to the automobile.

A pinch of rich topsoil contains tens of millions of bacteria and scientists are working hard to understand what most of them are up to. All plants have a microbiome, a cosmos-like mass of microbes that coat their roots, leaves, shoots, fruits, and seeds. Plants can’t get the nutrition they need from soil without the help of microbes — particularly bacteria and fungi — which create nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and other nutrients in a form the plant cells can absorb.

It turns out the complex microbial world in the soil may protect plants much like our gut microbiome protects our bodies. In a classic experiment, researchers grew plants in two types of soil.

They sterilized one soil to kill all the microbes and left the other soil unsterilized. Then they introduced a pathogen to each type of soil.

Plants grown in the sterilized soil succumbed to the pathogen, while the plants grown in unsterilized soil did fine. Researchers found when pathogens attack a plant, it responds by releasing chemicals into the soil that attract a number of microbial species. As those microbes gather around the plant, they release compounds that kill the pathogen. One can’t help but see the parallels between soil immunity and our own immune system.

How can you establish a favorable microbial ecosystem? Just as antibiotics indiscriminately kill both good and bad bacteria in the gut, you should avoid fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides which disrupt soil biology. Incorporate organic matter such as compost and manure to the soil. Use mulch, leaf litter, or plantings to cover bare soil. And increase diversity, for a diverse garden is a resilient garden.

Whether microbes are multiplying in the soil or going gangbusters in our guts, they are everywhere and will outlive us by an eternity.

FAITH APPELQUIST is

an ISA Board Certified Master Arborist, an

ISA Municipal Specialist MN, and an ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist®. Faith can be reached at faith@treequality.com.

july 18

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➾ G OV E RN MEN T AFFAI R S

Session Ends with Not Much to Show Unfortunately, our salt language was removed from consideration in the omnibus bill the last week of the legislative session.

Larry Johnson Government Affairs Director

Gideon Tucker, a New York newspaper editor and later New York Secretary of State in the 1800’s once wrote that “No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe when the legislature is in session.” He never dreamed he would be so right about that more than 100 years later but now that the Minnesota legislature have adjourned for the year we’re faced with figuring out the aftermath and effects of what they did and did not pass this year.

The legislature has adjourned “sine die” a Latin phrase meaning “without day” indicating they will not be returning this year.

In the final hours of the session, the legislature passed the Omnibus supplemental spending bill which the Governor has promised to veto. A new tax conformity bill with assorted rate cuts and other changes to bring us into alignment with the new federal tax code is also a part of the Governor’s pledge to veto, even though the bill also included $225 million in funding to schools that are experiencing budget short falls. Finally, they also passed a $1.4 billion bonding/capital investment bill whose fate is uncertain at this point.

If the tax conformity bill is vetoed, (and we’ll know for certain by the time you read this article) it will have a major impact on personal and business rates at the state level, because they will be out of sync with federal tax laws. At this point on May 21st, we have no clear 24

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details on the extent of this impact. Experts at the Department of Revenue are working to estimate the expected impacts of noncompliance and how it will impact Minnesotans more broadly. We are also still working to determine how any of the other bills passed at the very end of the session may influence our members.

Unfortunately, our salt language was removed from consideration in the omnibus bill the last week of the legislative session. This was disappointing after months of negotiating to get the bill language in the right form and supported by multiple groups and organizations.

But since the Governor has promised a veto of the entire 900+ page bill we didn’t lose too much. We scrambled to find a good alternative bill to amend our language on to over the next few days, but we ended up falling short at the end.

Overall, a record number of bills were introduced this biennium, however only approximately 200 passed — which may also be a record by volume. Many ideas were proposed, but only a few became law. Major conflicts between different factions intensified this session. At the risk of sounding like a proverbial Cubs’ fan, “there’s always next year!” The 2019 legislative session is scheduled to start on January 8, 2019.

LARRY JOHNSON can

be reached at: larry@mnla.biz.

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âž¾ C OMPOST TEA

COMPOST TEA AND ITS USE IN

ORGANIC TURF MA

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Shay Lunseth | Organic Lawns by LUNSETH

ANAGEMENT

Compost tea is a relatively new tool for turfgrass managers. It is the water-extract of compost that is brewed in a way that transfers a large microbial biomass and organic matter into a lawn.

Photo courtesy of: Organic Lawns by LUNSETH

july 18

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➾ C OMPOST TEA

he purpose is to maintain or increase the living beneficial microorganisms in the lawn. Compost tea use in organic turf management is a viable option, in lieu of chemically-based alternatives, because of restrictions on the use of pesticides, restrictions on reentry wait times, and the demand for chemical alternatives. Reliance on chemically-based, non-renewable resources for our turf management can end up reducing soil biodiversity, eliminating non-targeted pests, increasing soil degradation, increasing toxic and chemical residues in the soil and food, and increasing health risks to applicators and those that utilize the turf area after chemical-based applications.

With proper formulation, compost tea can positively affect plant health and soil health to suppress disease, insect, and weed pressure.

Why should you apply compost tea?

Weed Prevention: Weeds can be negatively

affected by the application of compost tea.

Compost tea can help improve the soil quality or provide the missing nutrient that is otherwise aiding in weed growth.

Nutrient Provision: Nutrients necessary for plant growth consist of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), iron (Fe), Zinc (Zn), Copper (Cu), Boron (B), chloride (Cl), Molybdenum (Mo) and Manganese (Mn). Increasing the levels of these nutrients in soil can improve the nutritional value of that soil and compost tea has been found to provide both soluble macro- and micro-nutrients.

Disease and Insect Suppression: Disease suppression is an important component to compost tea. It can provide biological control in five general ways:

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• Competition • Parasitism • Microbiostasis • Release of extracellular enzymes • Host-mediated resistance Compost tea can also suppress insects, as leaves with a fresh compost tea application can be repugnant for insects. More generally, compost tea improves health, so the plant is no longer susceptible to insect damage.

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A Deeper Shade of Green Local Genetic Origins

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➾ C OMPOST TEA

Graphic by: Allegra Azzopardi

Increase Organic Matter improve Nutritional Uptake

Protect Roots

Re ns pe Plant Health: With a constant supply of microbial biomass found ec ll ts in compost tea, it can positively affect plant nutrition and productivity from the physical and chemical properties of its nutrients. Compost teas improve organic matter content and water-holding capacity, and can improve overall plant health and growth by increasing nutritional uptake/use and improving cation exchange capacity.

Cost Savings: The cost of a lawn care program can decrease with the addition of compost tea because you can reduce the need for other inputs. The low cost to spray large amounts of microorganisms and organic matter to increase readily-available nutrients for the plant makes this cultural practice an attractive option for organic lawn care. Not only can compost tea applications reduce fertilization and weed control needs, but it can reduce the need for fungicides because compost tea has been linked to soil-borne disease suppression, resistance and protection.

How to apply compost tea

Compost tea can be applied either to the root zone or directly onto the plant — affecting the health of grass differently. Soil-applied compost tea allows it to move into the root zone and positively affect the rhizosphere of a plant. The rhizosphere is the area around the roots of plants, which provides a place where microbes gather and fight pathogens for space and food. Dry compost or mulch does not add microorganisms directly to the rhizosphere, so liquid compost tea is a great way to do so. The soil application should target the base of the plant and the root zone.

Foliar-applied compost tea also improves plant health. Foliar applications give direct nutrients to the plant and circumvent one

Good Organisms Fight Bad

Increase Water Holding Capacity

fundamental rule of organic lawn care — feed the soil, not the plant. When applied at a level that doesn’t increase the microbial biomass of the soil (30 mL of tea per 200 g of soil), compost tea has the ability to affect the grass plant directly by feeding it, cycling soil nutrients necessary for plant growth, and protecting the surface of the plant from insects and disease.

Timing your application

The timing of the compost tea application is important. It is best if applied in the fall immediately after leaves fall or in the spring before plants start regrowth, typically two weeks before bud break.

Application time should coincide with low-environmental stress (i.e. early morning), which helps establish microbial epiphytes (plant getting nutrients from the air). Another strategy would be to apply compost tea right before the environmental conditions are favorable for certain diseases, thus helping to prevent pathogen infection.

As more and more customers demand chemical alternatives for their turf care, the choices for organic turf products will also increase. The current research on compost tea has a tremendous number of variables, yet the inexpensiveness of this application combined with the positive health improvements and disease/weed/insect prevention make it a useful addition to an organic turf management program.

SHAY LUNSETH

is a member of MNLA’s Communications +

Technology Committee and can be reached at organiclawnsbylunseth@gmail.com.

july 18

MNLA .biz

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âžž S E CT I O N TITLE

CONSUMER PREFERENCES FOR

LOW-INPUT TURFGRASSES Chengyan Yue | Professor, Department of Horticultural Science and Department of Applied Economics,

Bachman Endowed Chair in Horticultural Marketing, University of Minnesota

Jingjing Wang | PhD student, Department of Applied Economics, University of Minnesota Eric Watkins | Professor, Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota Brian Horgan | Professor, Department of Horticultural Science, University of Minnesota

july 18

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➾ T U RF GRASS

urfgrasses have the potential to enhance the built/anthropogenic environment and provide functional and environmental benefits such as soil erosion and water runoff control, water quality protection, and microclimate moderation. Turfgrasses are also important landscape components that contribute to quality of life by providing recreational and aesthetic benefits. In the United States, turfgrasses occupy 1.9% of the continental surface and cover an area three times larger than any irrigated crop. The growth of urban development has led to expanding lawn coverage, which has led to an increased demand for resources (e.g., water, pesticides, fertilizer) and potential environmental problems such as excess nutrients and pesticides in urban watersheds. In the past decades, turfgrass breeders have developed turfgrasses that exhibit low-input characteristics such as drought tolerance and reduced nitrogen requirements.

Although previous studies document the relative strengths and comparable advantages of low-input turfgrass species, little is known about consumers’ preferences for turfgrass attributes at a national or international level. Our specific objectives were to (1) estimate U.S. and Canadian consumers’ willingness to pay for various turfgrass attributes, (2) identify the possible consumer preference heterogeneity and market segments, and (3) draw marketing implications based on identified consumer preferences and market segments.

The Method and Findings

An online survey on turfgrass consumer preferences was conducted in 2014, with 1,934 usable US responses and 723 usable Canada responses. The average age of US participants was 51. Among them, 49% were male, 61% were married, and 23% had one or more children under 12 years old. The average household size was two to three people, the mean education level was some college to a college diploma, and the average annual household income was $50,000.

This sample was consistent with the US census data (United States 38

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Census Bureau 2014) in terms of age (age group 15–83), gender, household size, education level, and income. Compared to the US participants, Canadian participants were younger (average age of 41), more educated, with a larger household size as well as a higher household income level.

Using the online survey data, consumer preference was estimated based on statistical analysis and the willingness to pay (the maximum price at which an individual was willing to buy one unit of the product) for each improved turfgrass trait was calculated. The estimated willingness to pay (WTP) premiums are shown in Figure 1.

The overall rankings of WTP premiums reflected similar preferences for turfgrass attributes among US and Canadian participants, but Canadian participants had higher WTP premiums.

In general, both US and Canadian consumers were willing to pay the highest premium for turfgrass attributes such as better ability to withstand foot traffic (around $16 for US consumers), followed by low mowing frequency (around $13 for US consumers), low fertilizer requirement ($6 for US consumers), and low water usage ($6 for US consumers).

For the appearance attributes, participants would pay a high premium for turfgrass with no weeds ($9 for US consumers and $15 for Canadian consumers). Texture (wide or narrow leaf ) was not as important as other traits.

Although the consumer demographics differ between United States and Canada, the overall preferences and relative WTP for turfgrass traits are consistent across these two countries.

Another objective for this study was to identify potential market segments with differentiated preference for turfgrass attributes. Specifically, we aimed to find the answers for the following questions: Are there different consumer segments with different preferences for turfgrass traits in the U.S. and Canada? If so, what are the characteristics of the different consumer segments? What strategies should the turfgrass industry adopt to better target these consumer segments?

The analytical results suggested that consumers exhibit different preference patterns for turfgrass traits. In both the United States and Canada, three consumer segments were identified and they are named as Balanced Consumers, Low-input Conscious Consumers, and Appearance Conscious Consumers (the shares of segments are displayed in Figure 2). Each segment’s preferences for turfgrass traits are shown in Table 1.

Balanced Consumers accounted for 33% of the US sample and 25% of Canadian sample. Consumers in this segment were most sensitive to price change. They cared about the majority of the studied attributes except for layover/standup. More specifically, they preferred light green grass to dark green grass; they also preferred turfgrasses that need less irrigation and with better ability to withstand foot traffic.

Low-input Conscious Consumers accounted for 30% of the US and more than 40% of Canadian participants. Low-input Conscious Consumers had the strongest preferences for low-input attributes, such as lower irrigation, fertilization, and mowing requirements as well as better ability to withstand foot traffic. They also preferred standup turfgrasses with fewer weeds. Color and texture were not their primary concerns.

Table 1. Characteristics of different Consumer segments Balanced Consumers • Are most sensitive to price.

• Care about most of the turfgrass traits.

Low-input Conscious Consumers • Exhibit the strongest preferences for low-input characteristics.

Appearance Conscious Consumers • Have the strongest preferences for appearance attributes.

lower irrigation

light green color

less irrigation

less mowing

upright leaves

better wearing ability

less fertilizer

and less weed

light green

better wearing ability

• Prefer

• Care less about the maintenance attributes.

• Prefer standup fewer weeds • Are least knowledgeable about lawn maintenance • Maintain home lawn least frequently • Are likely to be Baby Boomers and females

• Are most knowledgeable about lawn maintenance • Water and fertilize home lawns with modest frequency • Are most likely to be Generation X

• Have modest knowledge about lawn maintenance • Water and fertilize home lawns most frequently • Are likely to be Generation Y consumers

consumers

About 37% of US participants and 32% of Canadian participants belonged to the Appearance Conscious Consumers group.

Participants in this group cared most about the appearance attributes; they would pay the highest premiums for turfgrasses with light green color, upright leaves, and low numbers of weeds. Although they exhibited preferences for home lawns with better ability to withstand foot traffic, this preference was not as strong as that of the other two groups. The Appearance Conscious Consumers were distinguishable from Low-input Conscious Consumers in that they cared little about the maintenance attributes.

Takeaways

Different consumer segments have different preferences and specific needs. With this in mind, turfgrass growers and marketers can take different marketing strategies to promote different turfgrass species with different characteristics.

The market segment of Appearance Conscious Consumers accounted for more than one-third of both US and Canadian participants, and we also found that they were more likely to be Generation Y consumers.

This group of consumers only have modest knowledge about lawn maintenance. Therefore, they tend to irrigate and apply fertilizer more frequently in order to keep their home lawns looking good. Seed producers and

Figure 1. Willingness to Pay Premiums for Turfgrass Attributes (in $USD for seeds to cover 1,000 ft2)

Figure 2. Consumer segments in U.S. and Canada

july 18

MNLA .biz

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➾ T U RF GRASS

By promoting low-input turfgrasses through advertisement and public media, the suppliers of low-input turfgrass could reach out to more consumers. retailers could use this information to target and market to Appearance Conscious Consumers by providing photos on the seed package or exhibiting in-store samples of turfgrass patches to attract this consumer group. In addition, educating this group about how to maintain their home lawns more efficiently could benefit homeowners both economically and environmentally.

Balanced Consumers consisted of more females and more Baby Boomers. Since this group was least knowledgeable about turfgrass maintenance and most sensitive to price change, it is not surprising that they maintain their home lawns least frequently. Turfgrass breeders and producers could focus on breeding and growing cultivars with the “balanced” traits. Retailers could use this information to adopt target marketing strategies to attract Balanced Consumers.

Marketing strategies such as setting competitive prices for turfgrass seed mixes and providing in-store coupons can help retailers attract Balanced Consumers. Turfgrass suppliers can also educate and inform Balanced Consumers about more efficiency lawn maintenance methods. Thus, price-sensitive Balanced Consumers can have goodlooking home lawns without spending too much money.

The identification of low-input turfgrass consumers suggested that there exists a large potential market for low-input turfgrasses in both United States and Canada. Low-input turfgrasses become one solution to fulfill consumers’ needs without sacrificing the environment because they support the use of less water, energy, and fertilizer. Breeders should consider the size of the Low-input Conscious Consumers market segment when prioritizing low-input attributes during the development of turfgrasses. In fact, a large proportion of the consumer market was not aware of the existence of low-input turfgrass species. By promoting low-input turfgrasses through advertisement and public media, the suppliers of low-input turfgrass could reach out to more consumers. In addition, consumers could be more informed about the benefits of low-input turfgrass, not only lower maintenance costs but also environmental benefits, such as water conservation and reduction in chemical use.

Acknowledgement: This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Specialty Crops Research Initiative under award number 2012-51181-19932.

CHENGYAN YUE

holds the Todd and Barbara Bachman En-

dowed Chair in Horticultural Marketing, Professor at the Department of Horticultural Science and Department of Applied Economics at the University of Minnesota. By better understanding consumers’ and other stakeholders’ preferences, Dr. Yue’s research provides guidance and implications for marketing horticultural products in strategic ways, which help increase the products’ success in the marketplace. Photo credit: David Hansen

BRIAN FERGASON, CPCU 651.635.2781 612.247.7346 Cell bfergason@maguireagency.com www.maguireagency.com 1970 Oakcrest Avenue, Suite 300 Roseville, MN 55113 july 18

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âž¾ MANAGIN S E CT I O N TITLE G WATER

A WINNING STRATEGY FOR

WATER CONSERVATION There are approximately 45+ million residential irrigation systems in the United States.

Russ Jundt | Conserva Irrigation

42

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he growth of urban and suburban areas has drastically increased water demand, but water is still a finite natural resource. A recent U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) survey of water managers showed that 36 states were anticipating local, regional, or statewide water shortages in the years ahead, even under non-drought conditions. Additionally, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicates that 50% of water used outdoors is wasted, with irrigation water waste accounting for up to 1.5 billion gallons a day.

As the biggest culprit, the irrigation industry has a significant opportunity to be a force of positive change for water conservation and to bring to the forefront simple step-by-step assessments that can make long-lasting impacts. Yes, fixing a faulty faucet, toilet or showerhead will reduce water waste, but 59% of water is used outdoors through the sprinkler system. With July recognized as Smart Irrigation Month, everyone is talking about water conservation and what it means for the irrigation industry. But I have to take a step back and ask, “What does water conservation really mean?” To me, and at the company I founded, Conserva Irrigation, it means going back to the basics and being a smart contractor.

In fact, conserving substantial amounts of water throughout the country does not require huge investments in infrastructure, governmental intervention, or new legislation. As irrigation contractors, it’s as simple as methodically assessing the systems that we service. Are they working as efficiently as possible? In other words, are they applying the right amount of water at the right time by the right mechanisms?

Below are seven steps that we use at Conserva Irrigation to best determine when systems are wasteful and how to correct the issues, saving thousands of gallons of water a day in the process.

#1

Step 1: Audit

Assign values to a water budgeting tool to determine how much water should be used. Whether it’s a residential or commercial property, the first

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➾ MANAGIN G WATER

step for any irrigation contractor should be to use a proper water budgeting tool to identify how much water the system should be using in a normal year. At Conserva, we use a proprietary process to assess residential irrigation systems called the “System Efficiency Score™” to rate the water efficiency of a system based on a numerical scale. For commercial irrigation systems we perform a more robust version, called a Commercial Site Assessment (CSA). These signature assessment systems are based on studies published by the Irrigation Association and the EPA.

#2 Step 2: Compare How much water is actually being used and how much water is being wasted? By comparing these two differentiating numbers, you can determine the extent of water waste caused by an inefficient system. Broken sprinkler heads and ground runoff can have a bigger impact in how much water is wasted than most people realize, and result in disappointing outcomes when it comes to the appearance of lawns and landscapes. #3

Step 4: Repair & Monitor

Apply a strategy to fix broken components. After the water consumption level is established along with a strategy on how to increase the efficiency, it’s time to make those critical repairs and adjustments, which should be prioritized in order of importance. The goal here is to create the most eco-friendly irrigation system possible — at each job, regardless of size.

Step 5: Retrofit

Swap out all inefficient spray nozzles with high-efficiency spray nozzles. Once the critical repairs and adjustments are completed, you should continue exploring other opportunities to enhance the irrigation system’s performance and water use.

These activities include optimizing head placement, adjusting sprinkler heads correctly, and ensuring uniform distribution of water throughout the landscape, especially around the slopes making a difference in the landscape.

You can easily swap out all the inefficient spray nozzles with highly efficient ones. Toro Precision™ Spray Nozzles, for instance, will immediately reduce water usage by up to 35% overnight, providing instant results and gratification.

#6

Step 3: Put Boots on the Ground

Discerning what is broken takes a hands-on approach.

There is no shortcut to having boots on the ground to go through a detailed assessment of each sprinkler head and main or lateral line to look for any leaks or broken components that could be causing the inefficiencies. Only by walking the entire system zone by zone and head by head will you be able to properly identify assets, and put together a strategic plan to tighten up the system and stop the bleeding.

While tedious, this is one of the most important parts of the process, because without conducting a thorough assessment of the full system, true conservation of wasted water cannot happen.

#4

#5

#7

Step 6: Monitor (Yes, Again)

Once the retrofits have been made, its time to once again monitor the system’s water usage zone by zone to determine if efficiency has risen and water consumption has dropped.

If neither of these things have happened, contractors should return to step 3 to once again look for breaks and inconsistencies in the system.

Step 7: Install Smart Controller Technology

Now, and only now, should smart controller technology be introduced into the system. Loading into it 40 years of weather data for the exact latitude and longitude of your home or business, smart controller technology utilizes this information and gauges how much water should be used for that location based on past weather conditions and patterns.

The onsite weather sensor will also adjust and modify to exact weather factors at that time.

It is imperative for our industry, and community as a whole, to recognize that water consumption is becoming a bigger issue impacting more and more communities each day. As industry leaders and inhabitants of this planet, it is our duty to use these alarming statistics to raise awareness and educate others on simple methods we can all apply to make an impact on conserving water, one of the most valuable resources to our planet.

RUSS JUNDT

is the founder of Conserva Irrigation, the only

national outdoor irrigation company founded on the concept of water conservation. You can reach Russ at Russ.Jundt@ ConservaIrrigation.com.

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âž¾ MANAGIN G WATER

STOPPING WATER POLLUTION IN ITS TRACKS:

THE CASE FOR STORMWATER MANAGEMENT Nicole Peterson | This content has been reprinted from the DeepRoot Green Infrastructure blog (www.deeproot.com/blog).

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➾ S E CT I O N TITLE

ater pollution is a serious problem worldwide, whether in rivers and lakes or massive oceans. After the famous Cuyahoga River fire of 1969, environmental regulations were put into place in the U.S. which have helped curb the amount of pollutants we put into our water and reversed some, but not all, of the problems stemming from water pollution. Unfortunately, even with strict policies and treatment facilities, water pollution is still a big issue. Tracking polluters is difficult as these infractions often happen silently and in remote areas, and sometimes unintentionally.

Two pollutants that are difficult to tame are nitrogen and phosphorus. Found in fertilizers and pet waste, these two chemical elements run off into bodies of water during rain events. Both nitrogen and phosphorus are a part of a healthy aquatic ecosystem, supporting the growth of underwater plants, which produce oxygen, and habitat that support aquatic organisms. Nitrogen and phosphorus also support the growth of algae, a natural and important resident of many aquatic ecosystems. However, an excess of nitrogen and phosphorus can cause too much plant and algae growth, known as algae blooms, which affect nearby water bodies.

If there are too many algae blooms, they can decrease the amount of oxygen in the water (known as hypoxia) which harms the environment. When the algae die, they settle on the bottom of the water bed where bacteria feed and grow. This can produce toxins, foul smells, and make the water unusable for recreational activities.

Much of this runoff comes from non-point sources — uncontrolled sources such as lawn fertilizer runoff and septic tanks – that channel pollutants to our waterways. During storm events, rainwater sheets off of paved, impervious areas such as streets, sidewalks, and roofs, and pours into our storm drains, which in turn empty into our water bodies. There is a strong correlation between land use and water quality.

Any time people alter the natural landscape, its ability to absorb stormwater runoff and the nutrients it carries decreases. As this diminishes, more pollutants end up in surrounding bodies of water.

Myriad studies have been done regarding this type of pollution.

The majority of these studies conclude that strong and significant correlations exist between water quality and different land use types (Mehaffey et al., 2005; Stutter et al., 2007; Williams et al., 2014).

Some studies have gone further, demonstrating that stream water nutrient levels were a function of percentage of urban land use (Osborne and Wiley, 1988; Sliva and Williams, 2001). It is not surprising that more developed areas show higher median levels of both phosphorous and nitrogen in surrounding lakes, streams, and rivers. Research (Tasdighi et al., 2017) suggests that these negative effects from urban development can be mitigated if stormwater is captured and treated before it is sent into nearby bodies of water — an excellent approach if the wastewater treatment capacity allows for it.

More often than not, though, wastewater infrastructure is aging and overloaded. This is when grey infrastructure can get a helping hand from green infrastructure. Cities can lighten the stormwater july 18

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➾ MANAGIN G WATER

Toxic algae bloom in Lake Erie by Jesse Allen and Robert Simmon (NASA Earth Observatory) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons.

load on pipes and basins and keep excessive nutrients and pollution out of the water by using simple best management practices (BMPs) for low impact development. BMPs can range from implementing a small raingarden to installing large swaths of permeable pavement.

The concept is the same regardless of scale — get the water back into the soil, and therefore back into the water table.

Any kind of porous landscape will help keep more water where it falls, and plants with extensive root systems help absorption rates.

For this reason, trees are an important stormwater management tool. Their deep root systems and big appetite for water reduce runoff, plus the leafy canopy intercepts more water than you might imagine, collecting water on its leaves and later evaporating the moisture back into the atmosphere.

More and more cities are taking action against water pollution. In 2014, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo allotted $39.5 million to improve water quality across the state by controlling polluted runoff from non-farm sources and providing funding for municipal wastewater treatment facilities to install equipment to disinfect effluent, or treated sewage. Just a few days ago, Cuomo announced another $2.05 million to further improve water quality and stop brown tide blooms near Long Island. The brown tide consists of several species of phytoplankton that thrive in environments with nitrogen pollution. While they aren’t toxic, they can wreak havoc on an aquatic ecosystem, negatively impacting fisheries due to depleting oxygen levels and decreasing plant populations. Cuomo says of this new initiative, “While the federal government threatens to defund vital ocean research at a time when we need it most, New York is stepping up and investing resources to keep this cutting-edge research moving forward, improve water quality, support the local economy, and protect the health of current and future generations.”

As humans continue to alter our landscapes, exacerbating stormwater runoff and the pollution it brings to our lakes, rivers, and streams, it’s important to remember that every bit helps when it comes to intercepting runoff. If you are a homeowner, consider a raingarden on your property, plant trees, and avoid over fertilizing your lawn (some states have already banned fertilizers containing phosphorus). If you are a designer, consider ways that pervious pavements, trees, void spaces, and grading can improve your project’s 48

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ability to keep stormwater in place, thereby keeping nitrogen and phosphorus out of our waters.

Sources “Governor Cuomo Announces More Than $2 Million to Improve Water Quality and Prevent Brown Tide Blooms on Long Island.” Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. Governor’s Press Office, 2 June. 2017. Web. 6 June 2017.

“Governor Cuomo Announces $39.5 Million for Water Quality Improvement Projects Across the State.” Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. Governor’s Press Office, 28 Oct. 2017. Web. 6 June 2017.

Mehaffey, M.H., M.S. Nash, T.G. Wade, D.W. Ebert, K.B. Jones, and A. Rager. 2005. Linking land cover and water quality in New York City’s water supply watersheds. Environ. Monit. Assess. 107:29–44. doi:10.1007/ s10661-005-2018-5 Miller, Kristen L. “State Laws Banning Phosphorus Fertilizer Use.” State Laws Banning Phosphorus Fertilizers. Connecticut General Assembly, 1 Feb. 2012. Web. 24 May 2017.

“Nutrient Pollution.” Be Freshwater Friendly. South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, n.d. Web. 24 May 2017.

Osborne, L.L., and M.J. Wiley. 1988. Empirical relationships between land-use cover and stream water-quality in an agricultural watershed. J. Environ. Manage. 26:9–27.

Sliva, L., and D.D. Williams. 2001. Buffer zone versus whole catchment approaches to studying land use impact on river water quality. Water Res. 35:3462–3472. doi:10.1016/S0043-1354(01)00062-8 Stutter, M.I., S.J. Langan, and B.O. Demars. 2007. River sediments provide a link between catchment pressures and ecological status in a mixed land use Scottish River system. Water Res. 41:2803–2815. doi:10.1016/j.watres.2007.03.006 Tasdighi, Ali, Mazdak Arabi, and Deanna L. Osmond. “The Relationship between Land Use and Vulnerability to Nitrogen and Phosphorus Pollution in an Urban Watershed.” Journal of Environment Quality 46.1 (2017): 113. Web. Williams, R., M. Arabi, J. Loftis, and G.K. Elmund. 2014. Monitoring design for assessing compliance with numeric nutrient standards for rivers and streams using geospatial variables. J. Environ. Qual. 43:1713–1724. doi:10.2134/jeq2013.12.0528 NICOLE PETERSOn

is a contributor to the DeepRoot Infrastructure Blog

(www.deeproot.com/blog).

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Lawn maintenance is no longer a concern for the owner of the urban entrance pictured above. A herringbone pattern of Copthorne® 3-color blend was bordered with Brussels Block ® to create visual interest in this segmented walkway. Formal, yet low-maintenance, plantings further refine the look.

➾ MANAGIN WAT E R SECTION G WATER

#SMART WATERMONTH Is your business doing something innovative with water harvest and reuse?

Maybe you installed a rain garden recently, used permeable pavers to mitigate stormwater SMART runoff on a project, or updated a consumer’s IRRIGATION irrigation system with water efficient technology.

MONTH Share photos and videos with us using the hashtag Did you know that July is Smart Irrigation #SmartWaterMonth throughout July, and we’ll Month?

By founding Smart Irrigation Month post the content on our social media pages — in 2005, the Irrigation Association aimed to Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook! This a great “increase awareness of the value of water use and opportunity to demonstrate the many grow demand for water-saving products, practices, ways in which our green industry is and services” — goals they’re still working to leading the charge toward accomplish today by providing marketing and water conservation. communications tools for industry professionals as well as informational resources for the public at large. Visit http://bit.ly/2pTYV2F and check out the many Smart Irrigation Month resources they offer!

BRINGING WATER

TO LIFE PODCAST

Looking for a unique way to discover news and information about the irrigation industry? Check out the Irrigation Association’s podcast, “Bringing Water to Life.” Hosted by IA’s Government & Public Affairs Director, John Farner, “Bringing Water to Life” offers thirty-minute episodes on a variety of topics — from water stewardship to workforce development. Learn more and follow along at http://bwtlpodcast. weebly.com/

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➾ MANAGIN G WATER

Water, With a Splash of Politics While July is Smart Irrigation Month (happy Smart Irrigation Month, by the way), Congress has been hard at work since January on many issues relating to irrigation and water policy.

(Left to Right:) John Farner, Government and Public Affairs Director, Irrigation Association; Ryan Weber, Marketing Manager, T-L Irrigation; Deborah Hamlin, CAE, FASAE, CEO, Irrigation Association.

John Farner Irrigation Association

As it is an election year, the amount of legislative action on the horizon is murky at best; however, that has not stopped Congress and the Administration from turning a keen eye on water — specifically policies that will have a direct impact on the agricultural and green industries.

First, the theme of this year’s Smart Irrigation Month is “what does smart irrigation mean to you?” Of course, smart irrigation means a lot of things to a lot of people, but unfortunately, for many policymakers and regulators, smart irrigation means one thing: conservation. While conservation is often an important outcome of efficiency, it’s not always the case. Our job, as the irrigation industry and those who irrigate, is to promote all benefits of smart and efficient irrigation, even if conservation is not the outcome.

With that said, it’s farm bill time on Capitol Hill. At the time this article was written, the House of Representatives voted on their version of the farm bill and came up short due to concerns over work requirements from the Democrats and spending from the Freedom Caucus (conservatives). With a new vote scheduled for late June in the House, the GOP leadership and President Trump remain positive that passing a farm bill before the September 30, 2018, deadline is still possible.

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While the controversy regarding the farm bill swirls around Title I, the commodity title and Title IV, the nutrition title, the conservation title houses many of the programs farmers use to invest in water-use efficiency.

The Irrigation Association, along with our agricultural partners, has been hard at work not only supporting more funding for programs like the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), but also seeking programmatic changes that balance farmers’ productivity along with conservation. This is an important nuance, as more and more farm land is being lost to development and environmental regulations.

More information about the farm bill and the IA’s efforts can be found by visiting irrigation.org/farmbill.

While issues like the farm bill and the Clean Water Act play out in the spotlight, many other issues affecting the irrigation industry enjoy a much lower profile in Congress.

One such program is the EPA’s WaterSense program.

Since WaterSense was formed by the Bush Administration in 2006, it has been allocated approximately $3.5 million per year from the EPA Administrator’s discretionary fund. Because WaterSense is not a congressionally authorized program, it is not funded directly from the congressional appropriations process.

Seeking more stability and permanence in the program, the IA has been working with its partners to congressionally authorize the WaterSense program, and with the Trump Administration seeking WaterSense’s elimination, the time to authorize is more important now than ever.

The IA is working on two bills in particular. The IA-supported legislation is S. 1700, which was introduced by Senators Udall (NM) and Portman (OH). The other bill is S. 2800, which is the America’s Water and Infrastructure Act. This legislation recently passed the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and is now slated for consideration of the full Senate.

Like the farm bill, WaterSense’s future, as it relates to congressional action, is up in the air. But the IA, along with its partners and members, are advocating for a sustainable program that both benefits the industry and is funded appropriately.

With all of this going on in Congress, it is too easy to forget that all the hard work is being done in and on the ground (literally). It is those in agriculture and the green industry that are taking irrigation technologies and growing the food we eat and the plants we love. To me, smart irrigation means a lot of things: conservation, productivity, healthy landscapes, and most importantly, the people behind the magic.

JOHN FARNER

is the Government & Public Affairs Director for the Irrigation

Association, and can be reached at johnfarner@irrigation.org.

WELCOME NEW MNLA MEMBERS! Bank Cherokee Roger Hamilton North Oaks, MN, 651-291-6263

H & H Masonry LLC Bruce Holbrook Deerwood, MN, 218-820-9763

Bluhm Brothers Landscaping, Inc. Eden Bluhm St. Paul, MN, 651-227-2584

Mama Terra Landscaping Kayla Nortrup Minneapolis, MN, 612-222-1691

CMT Group, Inc. Christopher Astor Eden Prairie, MN, 952-334-2525 Country Side Services Jeremy Anderson Anoka, MN, 763-441-4943 Dynamic Sealing Technologies Jeff Meister Andover, MN, 612-802-5292

Openair Enterprises LLC Derick Netter St. Cloud, MN, 320-774-3555 RALC & Associates LLC Randy Danielson Cottage Grove, MN, 651-459-8027

TIME TO RENEW!

MNLA MEMBERSHIP RENEWAL NOTICES HAVE BEEN MAILED! It’s that time of year to keep an eye out for your 2018-2019 MNLA membership renewal notice. Please take a moment to review your company information, including list of employees, so that we have the most accurate information for your company. Once you have reviewed your company information, please return your membership renewal form promptly.

If you prefer, you can renew your membership online — it is now easier than ever! Go to www.MNLA.biz, click “Sign in” in the upper right hand corner, and enter your username and password. While signed in, you will be asked to review and update your company’s information, which will be published in the MNLA Membership Directory and online directory.

DID YOU KNOW? You now have the option of delaying your dues payment until August 15, 2018. Just complete the online form (link provided in the renewal notice emailed to you) or select the delayed payment option on the paper renewal form and include your credit card information.

Feel free to contact the MNLA office if we can be of any assistance to you during the renewal process or for more information on any of our products and services. We are available at 651.633.4987 or mnla@mnla.biz.

VALUE OF MEMBERSHIP • Federal state & local legislative/government affairs advocacy • Dedicated representation on issues affecting you Your continued support and involvement as a member of MNLA is greatly appreciated. Among other membership benefits is personal in-depth support of issues affecting you and your customers at the federal, state and municipal levels. The MNLA Government Affairs Team is deeply involved at various levels of government representing your interests and advocating for the green industry with elected officials and regulatory agency staff. To learn more about what MNLA has to offer to our members, visit www.mnla.biz.

july 18

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Tuesday, August 14

Member Appreciation Day Mem ber

Donuts in the morning! (FREE) Ice cream in the afternoon! (FREE) A summer buffet and baseball in the evening! ($28)

Day At MNLA Headquarters 1813 Lexington Ave N, Roseville, MN 55113

7:00-10:00 am

12:30-3:00 pm

(FREE, NO RSVP REQUIRED!)

(FREE, NO RSVP REQUIRED!)

Drive-in for donuts & coffee!

Stop by for soft-serve!

At CHS Field

360 N Broadway St, St Paul, MN 55101

5:30 pm

Kick back with a cold brew and a baseball game! $28 gets you a summer buffet and a great spot to watch the Saints game with MNLA friends! Bring your co-workers, friends, and family for this fun outing! Seats are limited and registration is required.

Visit www.MNLA.biz or call Sue Flynn at 651-633-4987 to secure your spots now!

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