News Release
For Immediate Release — Nov. 22, 2011
Conference to Emphasize New Threats to Regional Trees
Walk up registration is available
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – Thousand cankers disease and emerald ash borer are two threats to regional trees, and they are also the subject of an upcoming conference at the University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture.
On Wednesday, Nov. 30 through Friday, Dec. 2, the UT Department of Entomology and Plant Pathology, in cooperation with U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, will host the 2011 Conference on Thousand Cankers Disease and Emerald Ash Borer in the Eastern United States.
Forestry professionals, pest control personnel, gardeners and the general public are all invited to participate. Registration is $30 per day if only attending Wednesday or Thursday and $60 for all three days.
“East Tennessee is the focus of two new pests attacking our shade trees – emerald ash borer and thousand cankers disease,” said Elizabeth Long, a UT Extension specialist and coordinator of the conference. “Both threats were detected in July 2010 in Knox County. One attacks and kills black walnut, the other kills ash trees,” she said. “The conference is being held to help the general public, pest control personnel, master gardeners, and forest managers better understand these pests, how they are killing our trees and how we might be able to manage them now that they are here.”
Long said the conference will feature national experts who will help participants understand the pests. They will also learn what has and hasn’t worked in Michigan with emerald ash borer as well as what type of research is taking place to help control the infestations.
Pesticide certification points will be available.
The conference will take place on the agriculture campus in Knoxville and free parking will be available. For more information, contact Beth Long at 865-566-7516 or ealong@utk.edu. You may also visit http://protecttnforests.org to review the agenda and for a link to online conference registration.
The UT Institute of Agriculture provides instruction, research and public service through the UT College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, the UT College of Veterinary Medicine, UT AgResearch, including its system of 10 research and education centers, and UT Extension offices in every county in the state.
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Contact: Beth Long, 865-566-7516, ealong@utk.edu
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