8:30 AM – 9:15 AM  Trends in Pesticide Legislation
Paul Tukey, Founder SafeLawns Foundation
From phosphorus bans in many states, to rainy season regulation in Florida, to the pesticide revolution in Canada that is creeping to the U.S., the legislative tide is turning for municipalities across the U.S. Paul will talk about what the green industry and elected officials must know . . . Now.

9:15 AM – 10:00 AM  Exotic Invasive Pest Management:
Navigating the Politics
Peter Wild, Founder Arbor Jet and Boston Tree Preservation
With invasive insects such as the emerald ash borers, pine weevils and Asian longhorn beetles threatening to re-draw our urban landscape and forests, there are no easy answers. The public’s demand for safer products can be at odds with the elected officials’ role of saving the trees. Peter has been at ground zero for some of the country’s worst infestations and will show us what to look out for.

10:00 AM – 10:15 AM  Break

10:15 AM – 11:00 AM  Building and Managing Golf Courses
Amid Tighter Restrictions
Jeff Carlson, The Vineyard Golf Club
When golfers wanted a new course on Martha’s Vineyard, many locals declared “absolutely not.” Jeff’s careful shepherding of the permits and codes allowed the project to go forward. His talk will focus on how to build a bridge from the golf course to the community, so that the two can peacefully co-exist.

11:00 AM – 11:45 AM  Organics and the Bottom Line for your
Business or Town
Howard Garrett, “The Dirt Doctor” Landscape Architect
One of the primary objections to “going organic” is the perceived increase in costs, both in project design and later in maintenance. Howard will lead us through practical field examples to give us a real answer when all factors are considered.

11:45 AM – 12:30 PM  Open Forum Wrap-Up with Presenters
Paul Tukey, Jeff Carlson, Howard Garrett, Peter Wild

12:30 PM – 1:30 PM  Lunch and Trade Exhibition