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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.