Professional Fertilizer & Pesticide
Applicator Re-Certification Class

December 6, 2022

RSVP to marketing@themillstores.com or register here by 11/30.

Agenda

Professional Fertilizer & Pesticide Applicator Re-Certification Class

Tuesday, December 6, 2022- Jarrettsville Gardens, 3825 Federal Hill Rd, Jarrettsville, MD 21084

7:45-8:15 Registration & Welcome - Henry Holloway, The Mill.

8:15-8:45 MD Nutrient Management Updates – John Vinson Class A Superintendent, The Mill Turf Agronomist.

8:45-9:15 Turf Nutrient Overview - David Boniface, CCA Certified Crop Agronomist. Understanding soil test results, application rates & high efficiency fertilizer, equipment calibration.

9:15-10:00 Proper pH and Conditioning of the Soil – Kristine Esdale, Solu-Cal USA. Soil pH and nutrient utilization, effects of lime processing on pH levels, products to improve plant health and affect rapid in-season pH change to increase nutrient efficiency.

10:00-10:30 Glyphosate Update and Alternatives – Howard Vlieger, Contact Organics. New alternatives to glyphosate in the landscape for those who are pesticide sensitive.

10:30-10:45 Break

10:45-11:15 Spotted Lantern Fly- Mark Merrick, University of Maryland, Vice President Genesis, Regional Director of Syngenta Turf. The pest, the problem, and best control practices once identified.

11:15-11:45 Sustainable Practices – Ben Hushon, Agronomy Manager, CCA Certified Crop Agronomist, The Mill. An intro to 4R principles and IPM, liquid fertilizer advantages and new technologies in liquid fertilizer and pesticides.

11:45-12:15 Chemical Safety – Andrew Kness, Harford County Cooperative Extension.

Safe handling and storage of turf and ornamental chemical products.

12:15-12:45 Lunch

12:45-1:15 Pesticide Updates – Kelly Love, MDA / Andrew Kness

1:15-1:45 Using New Technologies with Fertilizer and Pesticides– Christopher Gray, Product Manager, Lebanon Turf, Penn State. Increased sustainability utilizing new products in fertilizers and pesticides. Market conditions for fertilizer and pesticides for the upcoming year..

1:45-2:30 Turf Weed Identification and Control Post-Emergent- Brian Hoff, Turf Specialist, Winfield United. Pre and post emergent control products for annual and perennial weeds in turf and landscape.

2:30-3:10 Turf Diseases– David Boniface, The Mill / John Vinson, The Mill.

Identifying & managing diseases, best management practices to prevent and mitigate major turf diseases.

3:10-3:50 Choosing the Right Seed with Endophytes – Jon Straughn, Chesapeake Valley Seed. Seed quality, cultivars, and markets: Selecting the correct seed with endophytes for reducing drought and disease in turf: fertilizer recommendations at seeding time.

3:50-4:00 Wrap-up

Speaker Biographies

The Mill’s 2022 Turf Recertification Class Speaker Biographies

Kelly Love – MD Department of Agriculture

Agricultural Inspector Supervisor, Pesticide Dept.

Andrew Kness – Harford County Cooperative Extension Service, University of Maryland

Agriculture Extension agent
MS Plant Pathology, University of Delaware, 2015
Pesticide license (PVT, 1A, 10)
Instructor in pesticide safety for 5 years in Extension

David Boniface – Agronomist & Turf Specialist, The Mill

B.S. Agronomy & Environmental Science
Delaware Valley College, 1989
CCA Certified Crop Advisor and Nutrient Management Planner
25+ years turf management as a golf course superintendent and agronomist

John Vinson – Regional Turf Specialist, The Mill

1987-1989 Harford Community College, A.A. Degree Business Management
1989-1991 B.S. Towson State University Business Management, Graduated Cum Laude
1991-1993 University Maryland College Park Agronomy Turf Management, Graduated Highest Honors
1996-2001 Assistant Superintendent, Bidderman Golf Club, Wilmington, DE
2001- 2021 Superintendent, Maryland Golf & Country Club, Bel Air, Maryland
GCSAA (Golf Course Superintendents of America), Class A Member 33 years
MAAGCS (Mid Atlantic Association of Golf Course Superintendents), 33 years
Certified Commercial Pesticide Applicator Maryland, 30 years
Professional Fertilizer Applicator Maryland

Kristine Esdale – Manager of Sales and Marketing, Solu-Cal USA, Growmark FS

B.S. International Business, Merrimack College.
11 years working with Solu-Cal brand in turf and agronomy markets in the U.S. and
Provides sales and marketing support to the specialty crop market in the Mid-Atlantic and Mid-West markets for GROWMARK FS Mid-Atlantic.

Howard Vlieger - Contact Organics USA

Managing Director of Contact Organics USA
Experienced Crop & Livestock Nutrition Adviser since 1992 working with producers across the US & Canada
Primary Coordinator and coauthor of a first of a novel scientific study on pigs consuming Non-GMO & GMO feedstuffs diets.

Brian Hoff - Business Manager, WinField United

The Pennsylvania State University, Agriculture Business Management, 1988
CCA Certified Crop Agronomist

Ben Hushon, Partner since 2003, The Mill

Manager of The Mill Agronomy Division
CCA Certified Crop Advisor,
Pennsylvania 4R Advisory Board member
Supports sustainability and natural resource improvement through better NUE on farms, turf and yards.

Mark Merrick – Golf Course and Turf Management, University of MD

VP Sale & Marketing, Genesis Turfgrass, Inc.
Mid-Atlantic Territory Manager, Syngenta
Business Development/Marketing, Growing Solutions
Golf Course Superintendent, The Elkridge Club

Jon Straughn – Chesapeake Valley Seed

President CVS
B.S. Agronomy, University of Maryland College Park
MD Turfgrass Council, Former Board Member

Christopher Gray – Senior Brand Manager/Channel Expert, Lebanon Turf/Lebanon Seaboard Corporation

B.S. Agronomy, Purdue University
Senior Writer/Columnist, Superintendent Magazine
Business Development Manager, Precise Path Robotics
General Manager/Superintendent, Marvel Golf Club
Contributing Editor/Columnist, Golfdom Magazine/Questex Media
Marketing Manager-Writer/Producer, Epic Creative
Director of Golf Course Operations, Lost Marsh Golf Club
Golf Course Superintendent, Indian Ridge Golf Course

Credits

2022 credits

The Mill’s Turf Recertification Class – 12/06/22

Attendees are approved by PDA and MDA to receive credits for the following: (Pending category credit from MD)

MD Fertilizer / NM Credits:

4 credits for Nutrient Management for MD fertilizer applicators.

MD Pest Control Categories ( 8 Credits Approved) for the following categories:

Category:

2 - Forest
3A - Ornamental and Turf: Exterior - (e.g., insect, disease, control on plants in the landscape, and weed control in plant beds and around ornamental plantings)
3B - Ornamental and Turf: Interior - (e.g., insect or disease control on plants in interior landscapes)
3C - Ornamental and Turf: Turf - (e.g., weed, insect or disease control to lawns)
6 - Right of Way and Weed - (e.g., treatment of roadsides, utilities, railroads, non-croplands, fence lines, structural perimeters, or similar areas)
10 - Demonstration and Research - (e.g., demonstration of pesticide use or application, experimental plots, etc.)
CORE - CORE
PVT - PVT

CEUs:8

PA Pesticide Credits:

Credit 2	Category Core
6	PC - Private Category
3	06 - Ornamental and Shade Trees
5	07 - Lawn and Turf
7	18 - Demonstration and Research
7	23 - Park / School Pest Control

Coffee, donuts, and lunch will be provided. There is no cost to attend, we just request an RSVP by 12/1 to provide adequate seating and food. Please provide your applicator license numbers when registering. We will submit all paperwork to MDA and PDA following the class so that you will be assigned your points.