Accordion-TTC Academies Day 1

10:00 AM - 4:00PM

Tree Disease/Insect TDA Academy
Receive 5 ISA Ceus and all 5 pesticide applicator Ceus required to maintain your pesticide license while looking at TREE related issues. (CA 5, CAM 5, BCMAS 1, BCMAP 2, BCMAM 2, CTC 1, TNLA 5, TDA 5)

Stephanie Adams, Texas A&M University and AgriLife Extension - Tree Health in Texas, Tree health in Texas is increasingly challenged by primary stressors such as drought, freeze events, soil compaction, and urban site disturbance. These abiotic conditions weaken trees, making them vulnerable to secondary issues like canker diseases, bark-boring insects, and decay fungi. This presentation explores how environmental stress compromises a tree’s immune system. We’ll examine how to identify and manage secondary problems while addressing the root causes. Understanding this relationship is key to long-term tree health and resilience in Texas landscapes.

Dr. Awinash Bhatkar, Texas Department of Agriculture - Regulatory compliance for the import and export of plant products, Regulatory approach is a strategy to safeguard the tree health through a legislative pest management for growing and protecting trees for esthetics and commerce. State and federal quarantines are developed to make interstate and international plant commerce feasible. The framework of nursery-floral licensing, inspection, compliance, monitoring, and certification procedures are implemented to facilitate plant production, protection and commerce through a continued interaction by the states with the State Plant Boards, National Plant Board, USDA, NAPPO and IPPC.

Mr. James Campos, Texas A&M Forest Service- Reviving the Post Oak: Grafting Innovation and Nursery Production, In response to the regional decline of Post Oaks (Quercus stellata), the Texas A&M Forest Service has initiated targeted restoration efforts. This presentation highlights the successful grafting of Post Oak scion onto Bur Oak rootstock and the launch of containerized Post Oak nursery production to support reestablishment in urban and natural landscapes. These efforts represent a scalable model for preserving a keystone native species through propagation and applied research.

Ms. Hannah Ayala, Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab - Annual Diagnostic Report from TPDDL. The Texas Plant Disease Diagnostic Lab (TPDDL) has been at the forefront of diagnosing and managing tree health issues across the state. This presentation will delve into the various tree-related diseases, insect infestations, and abiotic factors that have been identified at TPDDL and their geographic distribution. Other reports will be on the detection methods and distribution of oak wilt. Additionally, we will explore the innovative diagnostic methods being used and validated, including the latest advancements in molecular protocols for quicker and more accurate detection of pathogens, and how to submit a good sample for new testing.

Laura Miller, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension - "Who Wants to Be a Licensed Pesticide Applicator?" We will utilize an interactive format to review the requirements to earn and keep a Texas Department of Agriculture Pesticide Applicator license.