Last month, a BYGL Alert was written as an intro or refresher to growing degree days followed by a second alert, Growing Degree Days (GDD) – Part 2, (March 16, 2020), https://bygl.osu.edu/index.php/node/1455 . And ealier this week, Joe Boggs authored a BYGL Alert, Observations on Phenology (April 13, 2020), https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1504 highlighting the sequence of plant bloom, insect activity and optimal timing for pest management. 

Tree benefits in terms of the economic benefits of the environmental services trees provide are many, from storm water remediation to energy savings. The i-Tree models help estimate these benefits and are presented here for a large maple in northeast Ohio.

From afar, COLTSFOOT (Tussilago farfara) may be confused as a dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) due to its yellow fluffy flower.  Both are herbaceous perennial members of the Asteraceae family.  Both non-native plants are thought to originate in Eurasia and are now naturalized species to North America. 

 

However, where dandelion has a deep taproot and grows a single plant (shown below)...

 

...

This spring pesticide applicators are likely to encounter a new challenge getting the personal protective equipment (PPE) required to make their pesticide applications. The emergency needs that first responders and medical care providers have for PPE in the COVID-19 battle have led to shortages of all types of PPE, even for types not typically worn by medical personnel. By the time that PPE become more readily available, it will likely be too late for many spring (or even summer) pesticide applications. What to do?

Beginning Wednesday, April 15, 2020 the Ohio State University (OSU) C. Wayne Ellett Plant & Pest Diagnostic Clinic, located in Reynoldsburg, will reopen on a part-time basis.  The Clinic will be accepting plant samples for disease diagnosis via package deliver only (USPS, UPS, etc.). No face-to-face drop off of samples can be accepted at this time.

March Madness was canceled, but OSU Extension has stepped up with "Agriculture and Natural Resource (ANR) Madness." These are a series of online educational events you can tap into and enjoy – free of charge - in the privacy of your own home. There's no need to distance yourself from educational opportunities as you social distance.

Amy Stone (OSU Extension, Lucas County) posted an informative BYGL Alert earlier this season on Growing Degree Days (GDDs) [click this hotlink: https://bygl.osu.edu/node/1448 ]. She highlighted and described our Ohio State Phenology Calendar that was developed by Dan Herms (Davey Tree) and during his time with us at OSU [click this hotlink: https://www.oardc.ohio-state.edu/gdd/default.asp ].

The conservation classic, "A Sand County Almanac" by Aldo Leopold is reviewed by OSU student Kendall Gilmore