Pesticide Efficacy Trial

We conduct trials to comply with pesticide registration requirements as outlined by the Pest Management Regulatory Agency. We have access to ornamental plants and fruit trees in landscapes, nurseries and greenhouse

 Examples of past trials:

- Screening of new insecticides for insect pests in conifer seed orchards, 2009 to 2012.
     Work done under contract with the Pest Management Center or the BC Ministry of Forests
- Efficacy testing of the herbicide flumioxazin for container and field nursery production
     Work done 2005 to 2007 for registration SureGuard and BroadStar.  Copy of poster
- Efficacy of the miticide bifenazate for spruce spider mites in conifer plants.
     Work done 2006 for registration of the product Floramite.  Summary of report
- Efficacy with mating disruption for control of peach tree borer.
     Work done in 2002 for registration of the product Isomate-P.
 

New Products Trials

We conduct trials to examine new products and help design their use pattern.
We have access to ornamental plants and fruit trees in landscapes,
nurseries and greenhouses

Examples of past trials:

- Use of mulches and disks for weed control in nursery container production.
     Work done 2003 to 2005 with funding from Canadian Nursery Landscape Association.  Copy of poster
- Use of mycorrhizal fungi In softwood propagation and perennials production.
     Work done 2000 to 2004 with funding from the cooperating grower.  Copy of talk and copy of paper
- Lawn maintenance with the organic fertilizer RainGrow.
     Done 2000 and 2001 for the manufacturer.  Copy of poster
 

Testing of production methods

We manage trials to improve the current production methods.
The work is done on-site and aims to modify one factor of the current program.

Examples of past trials:

- Preventing root defects during nursery tree production.
     Work done 2011 and 2012.  Copy of poster
- Fertilizer products for nursery container production
- Impact of plant growth regulators on greenhouse perennials in production
- Corn gluten meal for pre-emergent control of dandelion weeds in lawns
 

G.L.P. (Good Laboratory Practice)

 We hold a certificate of training from Pacific Rim Consulting
for the application of G.L.P to field studies.  Copy of certificate

GLP covers the organization and conduct of field studies,
including planning, monitoring, recording and reporting.
The intent is to promote the quality and validity of test data
and improve the international acceptance of data generated in these trial.

These practices have been implemented in many countries within the
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

For more information about G.L.P. consult the document “Regulatory Directive 98-01″
issued in 1998 by PMRA (Pest Management Regulatory Agency) at the webpage
http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/cps-spc/pubs/pest/_pol-guide/dir98-01/index-eng.php

Scientific Meetings

We attend scientific meetings to gain the latest information in horticulture.
We make presentations on research we have conducted.

Examples of past presentations:

- 12th International Workshop on Fire Blight (Warsaw, Poland in 2010)
     Poster presentation on fire blight in tree nurseries of South Alberta.  Copy of poster and Copy of paper
- Fifth International Symposium on Physiological Processes in Roots of Woody Plants (Victoria BC, 2010)
     Poster presentation on root management during nursery production.  Copy of poster
- Working group of the European Weed Research Society (EWRS) (Zaragoza, Spain in 2009)
     Presentation on weed control with mulches and disks in nursery container production.
     Copy of talk and Journal of Environmental Horticulture 2007 copy of publication
- 5th International Weed Science Congress (Vancouver, BC in 2008)
     Presentation on phytotoxicity symptoms associated with flumioxaxin.  Copy of talk and Copy of paper
- Working group of the International Organisation for Biocontrol (IOBC) (Holland in 2007)
     Presentation on biological control in outdoor nursery production in Canada.  Copy of paper
- Entomological Society of Alberta (Edmonton, AB in 2008)
     Poster on the ash borer Podosesia syringae, a new pest of nurseries.  Copy of poster and Copy of paper