FORUM A GROWING PLACE THE ULTIMATE DIGITAL EVENT FOR CHRISTMAS TREE GROWERS SEE INSIDE FOR MORE ON OUR FEATURED SPEAKERS Covering Industry Topics: Taking Care of Business | Succession Planning Integrated Pest Management | Fertility IF UNDELIVERABLE please return to: Box 8, Tatamagouche, Nova Scotia B0K 1V0 Thank You Health & Safety | BONUS 2020: Covid-19 Protocols Publication Mail Agreement No. 41043025 ABOUT THE SPEAKERS INDUSTRY LEADERS FROM ACROSS NORTH AMERICA Dr. Jill Sidebottom Integrated Pest Management Dr. Jill Sidebottom is originally from the Midwest and received her undergraduate degree in horticulture from the University of Illinois followed by an MS and PhD in plant pathology from NC State University. As an extension specialist with NC Cooperative Extension, she has developed and promoted integrated pest management techniques for the control of Christmas tree pests in western North Carolina for more than 31 years. Dr. Scott White Weed Management Dr. White is a faculty member at Dalhousie University Faculty of Agriculture and holds the position of Assistant Professor in Weed Science. His current research program focuses on basic and applied aspects of weed science, with the ultimate goal of utilizing basic aspects of plant biology and ecology to improve weed management. Dr. White regularly contributes to grower meetings, field days, and twilight meetings for the agricultural industry in Atlantic Canada, and has been conducting research on weed management for over 15 years. Treasa Pauly Responding to Covid-19 Treasa has been a professional within the Canadian AgriFood industry for over two decades but has grown up around agriculture her whole life. She achieved her formal training from Dalhousie University, acquiring a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and a Master of Science in Plant Physiology. Treasa has extensive expertise at the post-harvest and processor level. She has managed a consistently growing portfolio of clients spanning across the country and abroad, with project bud- gets totaling over $6 million. Her work experience has taken her beyond North America to the EU as well as China. Visit www.balsamfirforum.com to see more of our incredible lineup Meet Lienna CTPB Update NeCTA Report New Christmas Keeping it real The latest updates Tree Research for Christmas from NeCTA Assistant. Page 12 Page 24 Page 13 Nova Scotia Journal Christmas Tree Summer 2020 Volume 33 Number 4 ‘Tis the Season for Unwelcome Visitors : Identifying Insect Pests Jay Woodworth, MSc, P.Ag, Christmas Tree Specialist, Perennia Food and Agriculture ow that temperatures are finally starting to warm up, insect pests Nare on the move. Scouting for unwanted visitors may not be at the top of your list as the warmer weather provides an opportunity to start checking off to-dos, but a bit of prevention goes a long way in controlling insect populations in your lot(s). Many species of insects over- winter in Christmas tree lots and emerge in the spring and early summer hungry for new growth and fresh foliage. Make sure that you know they’re there before they become a problem. Your Lot Scouting Tool Box Gear Up pictured here or the one discussed in the Get it Right Scouting doesn’t have to be a formal Lot Scouting LunchBreak session, avail- Some symptoms are easy to spot. Red event; chances are you’re spending enough able on YouTube: needles, for example, can be identified time in the lot lately that you’d notice any from a drive-by but identifying the cause new issues. The trouble is- many common https://www.youtube.com/channel/ of red needles is much trickier. Most lot issues present the same symptoms. It’s UC-aVbmRhEVXJvPV7y--b54A diseases, disorders, and insect infestations important to correctly identify the cause will cause red needles. If there aren’t any of the problem so that treatment can obvious environmental causes such as be effective and efficient (and relatively mechanical damage or drainage issues, inexpensive). chances are the problem is insect related. It’s good practice to carry a notebook On the next page is a shortlist of some of with you when you’re out working so that the insect visitors that aren’t welcome on you can write down observations to help your tree lots accompanied by a cut-out you later with identification. A hand lens of their mugshots at the mature larval or and camera phone will amplify the quality adult stage. of your notes. Consider putting together a simple scouting tool kit like the one (Continued on page 5) Table of Contents Welcome 3 Identifying Insect Pests Brittany Frenette there- please do not forget about the Farm 4 Editors Welcome [email protected] Family Support Line 1.844.880.9142 4 President’s Message and many other resources available to us. 8 CTCNS E.D. Report We are a strong, tight-knit industry 9 Farm Safety pring is behind us and we are and we can work together to over come 10 CCTGA AGM Keynote Speakers heading into warmer weather. It has hard times- we have done it before and 11 LCCTPA President’s Report certainly been a different year than S will do it again. 12 Outreach Coordinator’s Report we are used to. I know we missed seeing We are looking forward to the launch 12 Price of Christmas Trees in 2019 you all out at the Spring meetings. I hope of our 1st Annual Balsam Fir Forum- and 13 NeCTA President’s Report you all took some time to slow down over hope you all take the time to attend! There 14 Research Assistant the past few months, and most of all hope is some great content in the works, and 15 Seffernvile Summer Report you got to spend some time enjoying the we are really looking forward to a great 15 Provincial Land Acquisition one thing we’re free to still enjoy, the great learning opportunity from the comfort of 16 NFSA Update outdoors! our own homes, on your own schedule. 16 Calendar of Events I know these unprecedented times can Thank you to our continuous support- 17 Regional Associations cause extra stress and hard times for folks, ers, contributors, advertisers, and all the 18 BTOC Barrington Update remember to always be kind, and help folks who make our Journal happen! We 19 Buy & Sell Classifieds your neighbour. There are resources out could not do it without you all. 20 SMART Tree President’s Letter • 21 Obit. Bernard Kenneth Banks 21 Obit. Leslie Ainsworth Corkum 22 CTCNS Merchandise 23 Christmas Tree Promotion Board President’s Message 23 Forestry Transition Team Update Richard Levy the Department of Lands and Forests / 24 CTPB Update Natural Resources in Nova Scotia, where 26 CCTPA President’s Report I spent the next 28.5 years working in s the newly elected president of the 27 NFSA CEBA Statement various locations throughout the Prov- Christmas Tree Council of Nova 28 NCTA 2021 Membership Form ince, until choosing to retire in 1999. I Scotia (CTCNS) I wish to say hello 30 COVID-19 Safety A even put a good effort into beef farming to all who are reading this publication, while maintaining a full-time job for introduce myself, and thank you for being ten plus years. It was my decision at the involved with Christmas tree industry age of 52 to retire, and I have been quite here in Nova Scotia. content to apply my learned skills along I got my start and spent my younger with growing and marketing Christmas years growing up on a dairy farm in Kings trees to supplement my pension. To be County. I attended a two room country Nova Scotia able to make my own decision about what school where, for a time, I had my mother Journal I will be doing tomorrow has been quite Christmas Tree as a teacher. In 1959 -1960, when school gratifying. consolidation was in full swing, it was off I have been involved in the production JOURNAL COMMITTEE to the newly-constructed Horton District of Christmas trees since the early 1970s. Angus Bonnyman, Mike Keddy High School, in Greenwich, Kings Co., for For the past 20 years, my brother Laurie LAYOUT and DESIGN grade seven. From there, it was on to the and I have been working approximately Scotia Systems Computer Support Inc Kings County Vocational High School in 43 acres on the south mountain Kings PHOTOS, IMAGES Kentville, graduating in 1966, from the County, N.S. During the 45-plus years All images prepared and styled by Automotive Mechanical course. I found since I began working in the production Scotia Systems Computer Support Inc that having my hands in automotive dirt of Christmas trees, I have gained experi- PRINTING 44.5 hours a week, at $1.08 per hour, ence in most aspects of the industry, from North Shore Signs & Graphics wasn’t going to fulfil my life’s ambitions, the establishment and management of DISCLAIMER so after 19 months of mechanic work, a tree lot through all aspects of growing The opinions expressed I wandered west to Alberta for a spell, trees, to exporting, and selling directly to by the contributors in the Journal and then it was back to Fredericton, New the consumer. I must say I do enjoy most (or supplements) may not reflect Brunswick, graduating as a Forest Techni- of the various and sometimes challenging those of the Journal Committee, cian in December, 1968. My next 3 years work associated with Christmas tree pro- Editor, CTCNS staff, journal advertisers, were spent working in various aspects of duction. If I had to choose the work best CTCNS nor its partners. the forest industry between Nova Scotia enjoyed it would be a shearing a tree to a and Alberta.