Recycling Used Potting Soil for Reuse Workshop

If you are a nursery operator and have a pile of dumped plants and old soil in the back of the nursery somewhere (and I'm sure that you do), then here is a great workshop we are planning for you.  Please save the date for our February 26, 2015 Recycling Used Potting Soil Workshop.  This workshop will look at two methods of turning your waste into an input and save you money in the long run.  I will be reporting the findings of the Southern Agriculture Research and Education On-Farm Grant that was awarded to myself and John Pearson at Stardust Farms.  The project was using a large scale method of solarization to recycle used potting soil.  We have been working on this project for the last two years.  We will also have Dr. Monica Ozorez-Hampton to give you everything you will need to know about composting dumped soil and plants for safe reuse back into production.  You should walk away from this class with the recipe for two different ways to turn trash into treasure.  I will give more specific information as we get closer to the workshop. 

What: Recycling Used Potting Soil Workshop
When:  Feb. 26, 2015
Where:  TBD
Time: 10:00 - 14:00
Lunch:  Will be served
Cost:  Minimal

Sugarcane Mosaic Virus in St Augustine Grass

Photo from Phil Harmon EDIS #PP313

Here is a disease that has been showing up lately in our local area (Pinellas County) and growers should be aware of.  Mosaic disease of St. Augustinegrass was first reported in the 1960s in sugarcane producing areas of Palm Beach County, Florida. In September 2013, an outbreak of the disease occurred in Pinellas County. Leaf symptoms included mosaic, but turned necrotic and the severe dieback that completely killed some infected lawns.  Previously infected lawns as well as new ones started dying in both Pinellas and Palm Beach Counties. As of November 2014, all samples have tested positive for presence of Sugarcane Mosaic Virus. This 3-page fact sheet was written by Phil Harmon, and published by the UF Department of Plant Pathology, November 2014.  Here is a link to the factsheet.  http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/pp313

If you are a sod producer and suspect that this might be happening in your production field let your local Extension Agent know.