Commercial Horticulture Program

The CAT Alert newsletter is your connection to the experts at Michigan State University. During the busy growing season, we send you timely pest management information based on current conditions. Then throughout fall and winter you receive integrated crop management updates from MSU departments like Botany & Plant Pathology, Crop & Soil Sciences and Entomology and Horticulture.

MSU Extension's staff works as your team.

Members of the Crop Advisory Teams are Extension field staff and faculty representing more than seven departments. There is a separate team for each of the four CAT Alert editions: fruit, vegetable, field crops and landscape. Each team meets weekly through conference phone calls during the growing season to discuss pest and crop status. Field agents report on current pest problems and request advisory articles. The resulting information comes to you in the CAT Alert newsletter.

Our information is targeted to your needs.

The newsletter articles discuss both immediate and long term production concerns. These subjects are covered in all editions:

• Preventing insect, disease and nematode injury
• Weed management and fertilizer recommendations
• Pesticide and other pest management recommendations
• Pesticide regulations and registration status such as emergency registration
• Rodent and other vertebrate control
• Weather conditions, growing degree days and production implications.

Here are some of the specific features of each CAT Alert edition.

• .The Fruit edition addresses both trees and small fruit pest management. Tree health and general orchard management are also discussed. This edition includes a report on trap catches at the Trevor Nichols Research Complex for over 18 insect species.
• The Field Crops edition covers small grains, forages, soybeans, corn, dry beans, and sugar beets. This team emphasizes scouting and pest identification. Special features include soil management and some marketing updates.
• The Vegetable edition includes muck and upland vegetables. In addition to pest management, soil nutrition and potato production as well as late blight management are covered.

Landscape edition reports on pest management for landscape and nursery, turfgrass, Christmas trees, forestry and the home environment. Readers of this edition include golf course superintendents, landscapers, garden centers, nurserymen, foresters and lawn care professionals. Many report that they are better prepared to respond to their clientele's questions because of the Alert's information.

New year-round service. Beginning March 1, 1997, we will initiate year-round service by sending subscribers 20 issues throughout the year. Most issues will arrive during the growing season, but fall and winter updates will address preventative measures for pest management as well as applied research news.

ONE WAYS TO RECEIVE YOUR CROP ADVISORY TEAM (CAT) ALERTS.

• By mail

Cost for the different deliveries are as follows:

Mail is $35.00 for each category of the CAT Alerts or free on the Internet at www.msue.msu.edu/ipm

 

Make checks payable to Michigan State University

Subscription form and check or money order needs to be sent to the following:

CAT Alerts

Michigan State University

Room 11 Agriculture Hall

East Lansing, MI 48824-1039

For more information about the CAT Alerts call our office at 616-657-7745 or Joy Landis at 517-353-4951

Click here to print a subscription form.

Go to top of page

Fact Sheets

 

Christmas Trees

Effective Herbicide Use in Christmas Tree Plantations
Growing Christmas Trees in Michigan
Life History and Control of Pine Root Collar Weevil in Christmas Tree Fields
Scale Insects of Christmas Trees
Shearing Recommendations for Christmas Tree Producers
Shoot Boring Insects

Trees and Tree Care

Fertilizing Shade and Ornamental Trees
Identifying Trees of Michigan
Poison Ivy Control
Selecting Coniferous Planting Stock for Michigan Soil Management Groups Extension Bulletin E-721 • Reprinted August 1982
Tree Planting
Tree Planting in Michigan Extension Bulletin E-771 • June 1989 (Revision)

Forest Management & Economics

Aspen Management in Michigan Extension Bulletin E-1552 • December 1988
Michigan Consulting Foresters
Reduce Your Taxes with Conservation Easements
Timber Sales Contracts
The Status of the Maple-Birch Forest Type in Michigan Research Report 533 • May 1993
Why Manage Your Woodlot Extension Bulletin E-1492 • Reprinted December 1984

Forest Products

A Guide to Getting Started in Forest Products Exporting MSU Department of Forestry • September 1996
International Trade Information Sources for Forest Products

Forest Facts

Fact Sheet 1 - How to Recover Capital Costs When Selling Timber (1988)
Fact Sheet 2 - Fertilization of Christmas Trees in Michigan (1988)

Fact Sheet 3 - Alternative Forestry Related Farm Cash Crops (1988)

Fact Sheet 4 - So, you Need Some Cash From Your Farm Woodlot? (1988)

Fact Sheet 5 - Cutting and Selling Timber From Your Farm Woodlot (1988)

Fact Sheet 6 - Unassigned

Fact Sheet 7 - Pruning Red Pine (1989)

Fact Sheet 8 - Thinning Red Pine (1989)

Fact Sheet 9 - Wildlife Considerations in Red Pine Management (1989)

Fact Sheet 10 - How Much Are My Hardwoods Worth? (1998)

Fact Sheet 11 - Unassigned

Fact Sheet 12 - Increasing Hardwood Planting Success Using Tree Shelters (1989)

Fact Sheet 13 - Site Preparation and Release Herbicides for Tree Production (1989)

Fact Sheet 14 - Site Preparation and Release Herbicides for Christmas Tree Production (1989)

Fact Sheet 15 - Can I Deduct Forest Management Costs on My Income Taxes? (1989)

Fact Sheet 16 - Forest Resource Facts (1990) - [Updated by Fact Sheet 26 (1996)]

Fact Sheet 17 - Homemade Maple Syrup (1990)

Fact Sheet 18 - Protect Your Home From Wildfire (1991)

Fact Sheet 19 - Forestry Consultants (1998) Contact Forestry Extension Secretary for copy (517-355-0094)

Fact Sheet 20 - Pin Oak and Gypsy Moth (1992)

Fact Sheet 21 - Oak Wilt Update in Michigan (1992)

Fact Sheet 22 - Christmas Tree Growers & The Gypsy Moth (1993)

Fact Sheet 23 - You've Been Asked To Sell Your Timber: What Do You Do Next? (1993)

Fact Sheet 24 - Forest Landowner Tips for Filing 1998 Taxes (1999)

Fact Sheet 25 - Timber Sale Bids (1996)

Fact Sheet 26 - Forest Resource Facts (1996) Contact Forestry Extension Secretary for copy (517-355-0094)

Fact Sheet 27 - Building a Tree Root Display Board (1997)

Fact Sheet 28 - Getting the Mo$t From Your Farm Woodland (1999)

TARGET="_self"> 

Go to top of page

Home Page

MSU Extension-Genesee County is part of the statewide Michigan State University Extension system, which is part of the national Cooperative Extension Service and is funded jointly by Michigan State University, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and county government. Local support for the Genesee County Extension office is provided by the taxpayers of Genesee County Government through the Genesee County Board of Commissioners.

Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, or family status.