2015 has been named the “International Year of Soil” (IYS) and the Soil Science Society of America (SSSA) has developed activities to support educational outreach, assigning a theme for each month of the year. March’s theme is “Soils Support Agriculture”. Soil is the source of the nutrients that human bodies require; we acquire these nutrients…
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Black vine weevils, Otiorhynchus sulcatus, are primarily pests of species in the genera Taxus and Rhododendron. The weevils also target azaleas, mountain laurel and Euonymous. Adult black vine weevils feed on the leaf and needle margins, leaving distinct half-circular notches. Larvae appear similar to grubs you would find in your lawn except they are less “C” shaped…
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An English oak, Quercus robur, living on a football (soccer) field in Estonia has won the European Tree of the Year award with nearly 60,000 votes! The Estonian tree earned 59, 836 votes, approximately one third of the total 185,000 votes cast in this year’s contest. This 150 year old specimen stands in a soccer…
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The black cottonwood, Populus balsamifera, native to the northwestern United States and western Canada are under a new threat from a deadly fungal disease. The black cottonwoods along coastal British Columbia are integral to the ecosystem; they provide habitat and forage for wildlife, prevent erosion and improve water quality, however, unless researchers can determine a…
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Hawaii is not only paradise for people seeking adventure, relaxation, big waves and fun, it is also a haven for invasive species. State legislature in Hawaii has proclaimed the invasives problem “…the single greatest threat to Hawaii’s economy, natural environment and to the health and lifestyle of Hawaii’s people.” Among the offenders are little fire ants,…
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Conifer bark beetles are tree pests of the genera Dendroctonus, Ips, Scolytus who prey primarily on pines (Pinus) but also additional evergreens such as fir (Abies), spruce (Picea), arborvitae (Thuja), others. Trees that are already under stress from drought, insufficient root area or damage, transplanting or disease are at higher risk for a bark beetle infestation. Young, healthy trees…
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Invasive species find their way into the country via unchecked boxes, pallets, luggage and hitchhiking on animals. Once here they can multiply and spread unchecked due to the lack of natural predators and because it may take some time before we realize there is a problem, containment and elimination becomes near impossible. Unfortunately, often the…
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A new mandate to conserve the genetic diversity of their forests spurred the Natural Resources Institute of Finland to launch a new seed banking venture. The Svalbard Global Seed Vault opened on February 26, 2015, located on Spitsbergen Island, it is heavily guarded by permafrost. Prior to opening the seed bank the primary method for…
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Precision agriculture is a modern farming practice employed to make production more efficient. Precision agriculture, also referred to as “site-specific agriculture”, allows farmers to work smarter rather than harder by tailoring management and cultivation practices according the actual needs of the site. Farmers and site managers can take vast expanses of fields and treat them…
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Desiccation is injury incurred by plants when water is transpired through leaves faster than it can be uptaken by roots. This is usually caused by extended periods of cold, dry weather, winter winds and/or instances of freezing and thawing. Antidesiccant treatments apply a waxy coating to the leaves of broadleaved evergreens which helps stem water…
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