Agenda

The Virginia Association of Forest Health Professionals

31st Annual Conference

February 13 – 14, 2023
The Inn at Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, Virginia

Monday, February 13th

8:00-9:00 Registration

9:00-9:15 Welcome and Introductions – VAFHP Committee

9:15-9:45 First come beetles, then come flies, watch out adelgids, it’s time to die!!!– Scott Salom, Ph.D., Virginia Tech Department of Entomology

9:45-10:15 Biocontrol of Ailanthus altissima and restoration of invaded sites – Tim Shively, Virginia Tech School of Plant and Environmental Sciences

10:15-10:45 Beetles and moths and pear trees oh my! An update on the Asian longhorned beetle, boxtree moth, and Callery pear situation – Dave Coyle, Ph.D., Clemson

10:45-11:00 Break

11:00-11:30 Shenandoah NP Updates: Spongy Moth and HWA Biocontrol – Rolf Gubler, Shenandoah National Park

11:30-12:00 Can we weather this?* – Eric Snodgrass, Nutrien

12:00-12:30 Healthy Soils for Healthy Trees – Dan Schwartz, Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District

12:30-1:20 LUNCH provided by VAFHP

1:20-1:30 Recertification Credit Form Process – Joan Allen, Fairfax County Urban Forest Management

1:30-2:00 Diagnosing and Managing Declining Trees* – Chelsi Abbott, Davey

2:00-2:45 Troublesome invasive grasses in forests: ecology, impact, and management– Jacob Barney, Ph.D., Virginia Tech the School of Plant and Environmental Sciences

2:45-3:30 Pesticide Applicator Safety – Meredith Hoggartt, Virginia Cooperative Extension

3:30-3:45 Break

3:45-4:15 Invasive Species Policies in Virginia and Adjacent States – Emily Reed, Virginia Tech Invasive Species Working Group

4:15-4:45 Watersheds and Prescribed Fire = Improved Water Quality – Julia DeFeo, Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservations

4:45 – 5:15 Factors influencing vegetation establishment and native plant composition on Virginia roadsides – Shawn Askew

5:15 Announcements and Adjourn

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

8:00-8:30 Registration

8:30-9:00 Habitat at Home – Stephen Living, Department of Wildlife Resources

9:00-9:30 Pesticide Application Jeopardy – Daniel Frank, Virginia Tech Pesticide Program

9:30-10:15 2022-2023 Pesticide Regulatory Update – Kate Hzreo, VDACS

10:15-10:30 Break

10:30-11:00 Improving Establishment of Container-grown Trees* – Bert Cregg, Michigan State University

11:00-11:30 Phosphorus Pollution: How Big is the Problem?– Rory Roten, SePRO

11:30-11:45 Fire Ant and SLF Quarantine – Eric Day, Virginia Tech

11:45-12:15 8 years of SLF; Lessons… Learned? (sort of?)– Brian Walsh, Penn State Extension

12:15 Wrap-up and adjourn / Lunch on your own

* Presentation will be delivered virtually

The VAFHP Conference Planning Committee is thankful... for you.

Not only for participating in this educational and networking event, but for

doing what you do.

Together we improve the lives of all Virginians, even those who don’t know

they depend on the trees and forests we tend to.