Company says certification provides proof of its commitment to the environment, customers.

ForemostCo Inc., production facilities have begun the process of acquiring MPS certification (Ornamentales Sapo Verde, Phoenix Foliage, Vita Farms, Primeros en Follaje). MPS is the worldwide partner on sustainability for growers and demonstrates to what extent operations are ecologically sound. ForemostCo intends to use this certification to assure environmental performance, as well as lower the company’s environmental burden.

“ForemostCo has long been aware of its environmental impact” says Joseph Roberts, CEO of ForemostCo. “For example, at OSV in Costa Rica we have always reserved many acres of the farm to reforestation, now as we begin participating in MPS, we will also receive the benefits of the MPS reports concerning the use of chemicals, water, fertilizers and energy.”

“During the initial visits to the ForemostCo operations in Costa Rica (Ornamentales Sapo Verde), Guatemala (Vita Farms) and USA (Phoenix Foliage), the level of dedication and efforts already implemented towards sustainable production were impressive. Through the implementation of MPS-ABC we will offer the farms tools to measure and further improve these efforts, and we look forward to a long and successful cooperation,” says Arthij van der Veer, area manager at MPS.

MPS-ABC is the perfect registration tool to keep track on consumption of crop protection agents and fertilizers. Compliance with market requirements can be demonstrated using the quarterly reporting tool as a management instrument.

For more information about MPS Certification visit: https://my-mps.com/?lang=en

Visit www.foremostco.com for more information.

The workshop, hosted by Michigan State University Extension, will take place in Berrien County, Michigan. The event is free.

Anyone that grows or maintains trees, vines or any woody plants should learn about this exotic invasive insect before it appears in Michigan.

The spotted lanternfly (Lycorma delicatula) is an exotic insect introduced into the United States from Asia in 2014. First found in southeast Pennsylvania, it is now found in six states. While Michigan is not yet on that list, it has the potential to be. Should Michiganders be concerned? Will this be a problem for farmers? Nurseries? Homeowners?

The spotted lanternfly feeds on a wide variety of woody plants. Large numbers have been found in commercial plantings of apples, peaches, cherries, grapes and hops. They can also be found on black walnut trees, maples, sassafras, black cherry and locust, but their favorite is tree of heaven. Tree of heaven is a tree from Asia introduced as an ornamental and is now considered an invasive pest in most of the United States.

To help answer these questions, Michigan State University Extension and Berrien County Conservation District have teamed up to present a Spotted Lanternfly Workshop on March 6, from 1–4 p.m. at the Southwest Michigan Research and Extension Station, 1791 Hillandale Rd, Benton Harbor, Michigan 49022. Heather Leach from Pennsylvania State University will provide updates on spotted lanternfly biology, where it is currently found, current tools for management and research under way to find more ways to control it.

Eleanor Serocki from SWxSW Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area (CISMA) will help people understand more about tree of heaven, how it fits into the spotted lanternfly issue and what people can do to manage this invasive pest as well. Robert Miller from Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) will be on-hand to discuss plans in preparation for the arrival of spotted lanternfly.

The meeting is free, but space may be limited, so please register by either calling the Berrien Conservation District at 269-471-9111 etc. 3 or using the online registration. Three RUP credits should be available.

This article was published by Michigan State University Extension. For more information, visit https://extension.msu.edu.

Read the full article here.

Uniform application can conserve water, reduce energy costs and keep plants from being over or underwatered.

No matter what type of irrigation system you use, growers should strive to know their application uniformity. It's important because it helps not only conserve water, but to improve plant quality by keeping plants from being over or underwatered.

Uniformity is affected by nozzle selection, spacing and height, water pressure, pipe size and maintenance of the system. Distribution uniformity (DU), measured in percentage, is an easy method of checking and provides a visual picture of how the water is being applied.

The irrigation industry has developed the following DU ratings. Greater than 90% = excellent, 80–90% = good, 70–80% = fair and less than 70% = poor.

The DU method for drip systems consists of sampling the output from a number of emitters. Depending on the application and manufacturer, emitters can have outputs from ½ to 16 gallons/hour (gph). Collection containers should be sized to collect 1 minute of system operation. In one minute, a 1 gph emitter will put out about 1/8 pint (60 ml) whereas a 16 gph emitter will put out about 1 quart.

Three or four sampling locations should be chosen for each lateral line in the zone, one near each end and one or two evenly spaced in the center. Place a container under each emitter. Turn the irrigation system on for one minute then turn it off.

Prepare a data sheet to record the amount of water from each emitter. Use a graduated cylinder or beaker to measure the amount.

Next rank the emitters in order of how much water they put out. Now add up and record the output for the lowest 25 percent. Divide this by the number of emitters. To calculate the DU divide this number by the average rate for all the emmitters and multiply by 100. Refer to the industry DU ratings above to see how your system compares.

To calculate the amount of water in gph that is put out by any emitter or by the average, multiply the milliliter reading by 0.0159. For example, 60 ml/min x 0.0159 = 0.95 gph.

If the DU rating is fair or poor, clean and check filters/screens, nozzles or emitters that have the lowest output.

With the system in operation, check pump pressure with in-line gauges against the pressure at the beginning and end of lateral lines. Low pressure at the ends may indicate leaks, too small supply pipes or too many nozzles/emitters. Water supply should be limited to about 4 gallons per minute (gpm) for ½” pipe, 8 gpm for ¾” and 12 gpm for 1” pipe to keep friction loss at an acceptable level.

You may need to add new nozzles, replace worn nozzles or change to closer spacing to get greater uniformity of overhead systems.

More uniform watering results in more uniformity in plugs, seedlings and mature plants. Checking your system will help to see where changes should be made.

Shading your greenhouse can have a big impact on your energy costs and plant quality.

Nurseries that aim to grow under cover have options when it comes to plastic and poly film. From hoop houses to glass greenhouses, there are differing levels of structures and several types of materials that can be used to cover those structures.

The right one for you might depend on the crops you grow or the level of investment you want to make.

Shading is a popular technique for greenhouse growers, especially in the warmer climates. The most common materials are woven or knitted shade fabrics made from polypropylene, polyethylene or polyolefin. These are lightweight, easy to apply and available in several degrees of shade from 10% to 90%. Most materials are ultraviolet-stabilized. Knitted materials have an average life of seven to 10 years and woven materials a life of 10 to 12 years.

Shading will reduce light levels and heat gain while saving energy. It can also reduce leaf temperature. Although it is best over the glazing, it can be effective inside with a retractable screen system.

John Bartok is an agricultural engineer, an emeritus extension professor at the University of Connecticut and a regular contributor to Greenhouse Management. He is an author, consultant and certified technical service provider doing greenhouse energy audits for USDA grant programs in New England.

Here are Bartok’s takes on the different types of popular shading materials.

Polypropylene is strong, tough and highly resistant to flexing, abrasion and chemical attack. It will shrink about 1% when placed on the greenhouse. The knitted material resists tears and will not unravel at the edges. Aluminum strips can be added to reflect the heat. When used outside, this results in a lower roof temperature. Inside use of an open weave allows heat to pass through to escape through the roof vents.

The woven polyproplene requires that the edges be taped to prevent unraveling. Grommets are usually placed along the edges for attaching to the exterior of the greenhouse with rope or tie-downs. Woven material is usually heavier than knitted material.

High-density polyethylene is usually made as a knitted material with monofiliment yarn for strength and longevity. It resists tears, molds and mildew. An aluminized knitted material is also available. It reflects sunlight and doesn’t transmit heat to the glazing when used outside. Both indoor and outdoor materials are available. They are UV-resistant and recyclable.

Polyolefin is made of monofiliment yarn and interwoven with aluminum strips to reflect heat. It is also available with a combination black surface for heat retention and white surface for heat reflection. Polyolefin provides strength and longevity with limited stretching.

Colored shade material is a new tool with specific advantages. Photoselective shading can affect plant morphology and physiology. Shade material can also provide some pest control. By changing the ratio of the color, vegetative growth, flowering, fruit quality and yield can be enhanced.

When selecting the degree of shade, remember that the greenhouse structure and glazing already reduce the light level significantly. Typically in a single-layer glass greenhouse, the glazing and structure may reduce light transmission 20 to 30%. In a double poly house, Goldsberry and van der Salm found reductions of 35 to 40%. Adding a 50% shade will reduce the level an additional 20 to 30%.

This lighting system delivers performance, flexibility and high lumen output in any growing environment